Village teaching

Before I begin my post (because I know everyone is dying to know how being a village teacher is going) I would like to share one of the oddest incidents ever. I was at a church in New York. I forget the name of the church but it was after church and I was standing outside between the parking lot and the church. I was waiting for the people who invited me to wind up their meets & greets. That was when a boy who was walking from the church to the parking lot kissed me on the lips. Ofcourse I was shocked. I was confused. When he leaned in, I thought he wanted to welcome me with a hug because I had stood up when they asked first timers to identify themselves by standing up. Anyways, he kissed me and walked away. Not a word, not a smile.

The teaching, it's going alright so far. I have met my students: JSS3A & JSS3B. When I was introduced as their English teacher, they screamed and clapped. And I followed with a "shut up jor, why are you making noise, don't u have your own names?" As corny as it was, it made them laugh.

So, catch this, the period is 40mins long and I must have spent the whole 40mins trying to quiet them down. I really wanted to try the 'no beating thing'. After all, it worked on us when I was in middle school and high school in Toronto. But I feel that the kids don't respect Corpers especially people like me because they are almost as big as I am. So, I have decided to engage in corporal punishment. Before I made my decision, I wondered why that should be the answer to getting the students to cooperate. Mind you, these students of mine speak perfect Yoruba in the Osun dialect, not regular Yoruba(not that it has anything to do with corporal punishment but I want you all to know). They actually took turns to read in English and it wasn't bad at all. I was quite impressed. They pronounced big words properly in most cases.

While I wondered why corporal punishment was the answer, I figured it's because parents have no patience for their children and beating your child is usually the fastest punishment. The maximum force becomes the only way to get a kid's cooperation. In the West, they threatened us with writing lines and we shut up. Then punishment escalates to detention, getting written up by the principal and what not. So, anyways, I have decided to give them a trial with physical punishments and lines even though I'm convinced I'll be wasting my time. I'll still try.

I got my curriculum and I already gave them homework due on Monday. They were really loud so I doubt some of them heard, neither will they bother doing it because I didn't write it down and they might think I forgot. I will make those who do not hand in their homework scapegoats and see if that will serve as a deterrent. I'm on a quest to attain respect from my students even when I'm playing with them.

They made fun of my accent. I tried my hardest to dull down the phonetics but I can only try so hard. I even speak Yoruba sometimes when I wanna say something funny.

#randomthot: One thing downtown Toronto and Osogbo have in common is that you can wear a hair net on the road and no one gives a shit. I couldn't try that in Lagos. I like the freedom cuz I don't always enjoy combing my weave. But not to my PPA ofcourse. Just to buy something, walk someone or even go to the market.

I didn't find my crush at CDS. I wasnt even able to locate my CDS group (EFCC). Even the workers at the LG had no information to give Corpers on where certain groups meet. Only in Nigeria. I give up on my crush for now. Im hoping I see him at general CDS meeting, which holds on the first Thursday of every month at the LG and EVERY single Corper registered with the Osogbo LG is supposed to be present and if I don't see him there, it's over.

I'm going to church after a year and change today. #dontjudgeme. I'll blog about it if it's worth it.

~kdamsel~