So the power’s gone out again a few times in the last few days (hence no blog yesterday)—something I dig in part because it makes you look for much more immediate ways to occupy yourself, but which is a bit frustrating when it gets to be about that journal-writing time o’ night, and your typing speed is a whole lot faster than your writing speed.
Yesterday had one huge high point when we were visiting in Inhamízua (another of the communities where we work)—Ana Micas, the teacher/coordinator who’s easily had the hardest time learning the interactive methodology that I was sent here partly to teach (FAMA, by ProLiteracy Worldwide), did an amazing job with her class. It was the best I’ve ever seen her teach. I had seriously the biggest high after that—she’s in charge of the health classes, an older lady who’s been a nurse for most of her adult life, and though she knows everything there is to know about all of the most common diseases and maladies here and has an amazing motherly bedside manner when visiting sick people, she is very, very much not a teacher, and I’d almost given up on her learning the teaching techniques we’ve spent a few days a month learning in trainings. But today, man—she was just on. It was amazing. She followed the FAMA steps of discussion, but did so so fluidly you would never guess she was following any sort of pattern or technique. She looked as gracefully in her element as a dolphin going for a morning swim. It really made me feel, especially after all I’d been thinking about the day before, that with all the flaws and fall-backs of what I’ve done here, I have accomplished something. I seriously felt like I had just run a half-marathon, that they-should-make-an-inspirational-poster-of-this-moment feeling. Amazing.
In other cool news, I have a second phone interview with South Bronx Classical (a charter school that I’d interviewed with before) next week with their Executive Director/founder (last time it was with the principal), which will be the deciding point of whether they want me or not. I be pumped.
2 comments:
I have no doubt Ms. Micas' transformation had so much to do with a certain curriculum I look forward to reading the rest of. Whoever wrote that deserves lots of rest right about now. Lots.
I'm so glad to hear that you have the blessing of seeing what you've labored so hard for come to fruition in individual people's lives like that. For me, that's one of the most rewarding things about life, and why I'm into what I'm into (you know, the whole psychologist gig). Especially after your profound thoughts a couple of days ago about your work out here: I'm thrilled you had that experience with Ana Micas.
Well, for honesty's sake I still hold all the same doubts about the worthwhileness of the program itself--but on that day I was able to feel a lot more at peace knowing that at least my part, which will have some lasting effect no matter what else happens, was done well.
Thanks, missy. :)
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