It's been a whirlwind here!
Tuesday was a pretty normal day at the library. We both went early and did stats and such, then worked on a new display of staff picks. We're even trying to get the cleaners and gardeners to pitch in.
I elected to go back in the afternoon to see what the WordWorks class looks like when staff teaches. I chatted with the staff in charge while we waited for the kids and was disappointed to find out they did no teaching or lesson planning--just handed out word find puzzles. That's too bad. WordWorks will only be sustainable if staff takes ownership, number one, and also if they engage the kids. Not surprisingly, the kids didn't show up that afternoon. The students talk to each other, so if it wasn't fun, they might not have come for that reason. Also, they're writing exams this week, so they must be exhausted.
Yesterday we headed to Gabs for some business and met for lunch with Angelina and Ethelene to discuss the internship. We stayed with Angelina last night and had a good time socializing and talking about the program with Ethelene. She has been an enormous help, and her visit has been better than I could have even predicted.
This morning we got up very early and fought traffic to get to BNLS, where we managed a meeting with the director of BNLS. A big deal! Several other BNLS officers came, too. We talked about the program, some about challenges, and a lot about what we have been doing. I think she was impressed, and she's going to try to squeeze in visits to us before we leave, despite her very busy schedule talking to parliament and speaking at library openings. It seemed, in my short visit, that she's very capable, very smart, and very intuitive. We had a quick cup of tea and headed off.
Tomorrow we have an "outing" to a game reserve with Ethelene before she heads back to the US. We'll miss her!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thank goodness for UW professors!
Today Ethelene visited from UW. I was kind of nervous, oddly. I guess I wanted her to be proud and impressed? It was so good to see a familiar face and get a hug. We talked with the family for a good long while, trying once more to explain the program--it's purpose, parameters, and especially the fact that we're not getting paid. Mma and the Kgosi were pretty gracious. Then we headed to the library and met with Max, who had glowing things to say. He's a kind man, and I'm grateful to have him. We gave Ethelene a pretty thorough tour of the library, then got to head out to the new one for another look--it's still huge and gorgeous! The internship would truly be a different experience there.
We decided on the spur of the moment that Ashley and I would ride down to Gabs with Ethelene and Angelina, for lunch at NewsCafe. We chatted on the way, then Angelina headed to the office so the three Wisconsonians could catch up and discuss the program. That was wonderful, to really reflect for a good long while. I truly felt heard, and I was able to realize yet again and even more how much I've learned and accomplished, and also where I might've made mistakes.
Angelina had scheduled an appointment with Mnjama for the afternoon, so Ashley and I had to catch a combi back to the station to head back to Moleps. It was a long day but wonderful. Now we need to decide what to do Friday, on our "outing"!
We decided on the spur of the moment that Ashley and I would ride down to Gabs with Ethelene and Angelina, for lunch at NewsCafe. We chatted on the way, then Angelina headed to the office so the three Wisconsonians could catch up and discuss the program. That was wonderful, to really reflect for a good long while. I truly felt heard, and I was able to realize yet again and even more how much I've learned and accomplished, and also where I might've made mistakes.
Angelina had scheduled an appointment with Mnjama for the afternoon, so Ashley and I had to catch a combi back to the station to head back to Moleps. It was a long day but wonderful. Now we need to decide what to do Friday, on our "outing"!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Week's end
It's Friday already!
This morning was slow at the library. I was ecstatic that Njama came to visit, though. He came for about 15 minutes, in which we showed him our displays and discussed what we've been doing. The meeting was much too brief for my taste, especially after 7 weeks without seeing him! Apparently we'll probably see him next week during Ethelene's visit.
I spent quite some time looking for some good beginning typing freeware on the library's very slow dial-up connection, but couldn't seem to pull up a download. Not sure why.
I also replaced the "please do not reshelve" books that have been disintegrating all over the library. It looks much better now. I will never understand the globally universal tendency for patrons to incorrectly reshelve books instead of leaving them lazily out on the table like we want them to. It's a human behavior mystery.
Monday Ethelene will visit our home and work. I will need to make sure to leave nothing out--I know I'll be excited!
This morning was slow at the library. I was ecstatic that Njama came to visit, though. He came for about 15 minutes, in which we showed him our displays and discussed what we've been doing. The meeting was much too brief for my taste, especially after 7 weeks without seeing him! Apparently we'll probably see him next week during Ethelene's visit.
I spent quite some time looking for some good beginning typing freeware on the library's very slow dial-up connection, but couldn't seem to pull up a download. Not sure why.
I also replaced the "please do not reshelve" books that have been disintegrating all over the library. It looks much better now. I will never understand the globally universal tendency for patrons to incorrectly reshelve books instead of leaving them lazily out on the table like we want them to. It's a human behavior mystery.
Monday Ethelene will visit our home and work. I will need to make sure to leave nothing out--I know I'll be excited!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Today I decided I had finally had enough of the sign that says "geograyhy" and made all new Dewey guide signs for the shelves. Hooray!
Kedi brought up the chair incident from yesterday and actually had a really good point that I hadn't thought of: if we turn away patrons or don't have enough chairs, that can actually be a good thing, because they might complain to BNLS and push BNLS to open the new library or make other much-needed changes. It's often simply impossible to understand the context behind seemingly irrational behavior and decisions, and I need to remind myself that often the natives know best. Even with all my education and good intentions, I fall into Amerocentric thinking.
As I flipped through today's Daily News, I saw that the Sesigo launch in Kanye finally received notice, almost two weeks later. Imagine a two week news cycle in the US! Everything is paced very differently here.
Just when we had concluded that Njama had disappeared or forgotten about us, he gave me a call yesterday. Apparently his vacation in Kenya turned into a trip to Zimbabwe and South Africa, too. Wish someone had told us! He's coming tomorrow to visit me and Ashley, then on to Cara.
Ashley and I left the library a bit early and began our marketing strategy, taping colorful, informative posters outside post offices, clinics, AIDS/HIV counseling/testing sites, grocery stores, etc. I hope they will generate traffic and interest.
Kedi brought up the chair incident from yesterday and actually had a really good point that I hadn't thought of: if we turn away patrons or don't have enough chairs, that can actually be a good thing, because they might complain to BNLS and push BNLS to open the new library or make other much-needed changes. It's often simply impossible to understand the context behind seemingly irrational behavior and decisions, and I need to remind myself that often the natives know best. Even with all my education and good intentions, I fall into Amerocentric thinking.
As I flipped through today's Daily News, I saw that the Sesigo launch in Kanye finally received notice, almost two weeks later. Imagine a two week news cycle in the US! Everything is paced very differently here.
Just when we had concluded that Njama had disappeared or forgotten about us, he gave me a call yesterday. Apparently his vacation in Kenya turned into a trip to Zimbabwe and South Africa, too. Wish someone had told us! He's coming tomorrow to visit me and Ashley, then on to Cara.
Ashley and I left the library a bit early and began our marketing strategy, taping colorful, informative posters outside post offices, clinics, AIDS/HIV counseling/testing sites, grocery stores, etc. I hope they will generate traffic and interest.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Back to the grind
After a much-needed long holiday weekend, it was back to work today. Since the kids have a "mini vac" this week, we are free from our usual teaching duties, which is kind of nice. And with Ethelene arriving next week and the itinerary undecided, the staff will be in charge of lesson planning for next week.
So, freed from the seventh-grader yoke--ha--we began compiling the data from our user survey. Already there are some interesting things to note: users absolutely want free internet access and computer training above all else. We have some work and write-up to do!
The library was BUSY today. I love it. There weren't enough places to sit, so I gave users the couple of staff chairs--no workers were in the building anyway, since Max is away and the mice will play. But wow, did I cause an unexpected crisis. One staff member went to Kedi, the administrative woman, and accused the gatekeeper of stealing or misplacing the chairs. When the gatekeeper and Kedi came to me, I immediately owned up, but the anger was interesting. In my mind, no one was using the chairs and the users' needs come first. But Kedi told me that, if there are no chairs, patrons need to just leave. There is a clear demarcation of what chairs belong where. In fact, I witnessed an argument over a chair earlier in the internship. I should have known better! Easily solved--a couple of chairs had emptied by then and I returned them to the staff areas. Phew!
So, freed from the seventh-grader yoke--ha--we began compiling the data from our user survey. Already there are some interesting things to note: users absolutely want free internet access and computer training above all else. We have some work and write-up to do!
The library was BUSY today. I love it. There weren't enough places to sit, so I gave users the couple of staff chairs--no workers were in the building anyway, since Max is away and the mice will play. But wow, did I cause an unexpected crisis. One staff member went to Kedi, the administrative woman, and accused the gatekeeper of stealing or misplacing the chairs. When the gatekeeper and Kedi came to me, I immediately owned up, but the anger was interesting. In my mind, no one was using the chairs and the users' needs come first. But Kedi told me that, if there are no chairs, patrons need to just leave. There is a clear demarcation of what chairs belong where. In fact, I witnessed an argument over a chair earlier in the internship. I should have known better! Easily solved--a couple of chairs had emptied by then and I returned them to the staff areas. Phew!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
A day late
Yesterday was rough, and I had a sticky keyboard at the internet cafe, so I didn't update. My apologies.
In WordWorks, we worked on verbs and adjectives. It's amazing how rote memorization trains the brain. We said, "who knows what a verb is?" Everyone replied, "A verb is a doing word." Whoa. So we tried to make sure they actually knew WHAT A VERB IS, not what they've been told to check on a standardized exam. Reminds me a bit of No Child Left Behind, no? We also worked on adjectives. So, we did things like describing something and they would have to name the noun (like "I Spy") and verb charades, where they acted out a verb and everyone guessed it, etc. We ended by reading a news article together. Then we split the group into three teams: one each in charge of nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and asked them to list examples of those parts of speech that they found in the article. To my semi-surprise, almost no one could do it--even the best students. I really believe that school is way more helpful if material can be used in real life, and it was too bad that they couldn't translate their grammar knowledge to a real text. More work to be done! There's also one boy who just doesn't understand a word, I don't think. I'm not sure how to help him without singling him out...
This morning, our "father" the kgosi gave a (rather long) lecture on the history of Botswana, Molepolole, and our tribe, the Bakwena, to a large group from Kaeleboga seventh graders. I couldn't understand most of it, as it was in Setswana, but the kids behaved, at least. I was delighted that the staff pulled together to set up for the event and even managed to get a couple dozen chairs from the community center at the last minute. Mazunga had been disappointed yesterday when those tasks hadn't been done. Afterward, the staff shared tea and biscuits--I guess to celebrate a job (well) done. One staff member, who shall remain nameless, said that a lot of what the kgosi said was incorrect. I believe it. He told all the kids, for instance, that "Ottoman" is spelled "O-T-T-O-R-M-A-N." But the staff member immediately said, "I can't say he's wrong. He's my chief." That scared me. To me, one of the most important things in an operational democracy is speaking truth to power. If the kgosi is incorrect or is doing something wrong, his people should be able to speak up, or no one will be able to advance. This was especially troubling given the current political climate in the nation as a whole, which I don't completely understand, but is a bit volatile at the moment and features a bit of an autocratic, royal-born president.
This afternoon, our WordWorks group didn't show up. Curses! I was disappointed. They have a lot to learn, and it makes me feel like I've done something worthwhile.
Almost Friday!
In WordWorks, we worked on verbs and adjectives. It's amazing how rote memorization trains the brain. We said, "who knows what a verb is?" Everyone replied, "A verb is a doing word." Whoa. So we tried to make sure they actually knew WHAT A VERB IS, not what they've been told to check on a standardized exam. Reminds me a bit of No Child Left Behind, no? We also worked on adjectives. So, we did things like describing something and they would have to name the noun (like "I Spy") and verb charades, where they acted out a verb and everyone guessed it, etc. We ended by reading a news article together. Then we split the group into three teams: one each in charge of nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and asked them to list examples of those parts of speech that they found in the article. To my semi-surprise, almost no one could do it--even the best students. I really believe that school is way more helpful if material can be used in real life, and it was too bad that they couldn't translate their grammar knowledge to a real text. More work to be done! There's also one boy who just doesn't understand a word, I don't think. I'm not sure how to help him without singling him out...
This morning, our "father" the kgosi gave a (rather long) lecture on the history of Botswana, Molepolole, and our tribe, the Bakwena, to a large group from Kaeleboga seventh graders. I couldn't understand most of it, as it was in Setswana, but the kids behaved, at least. I was delighted that the staff pulled together to set up for the event and even managed to get a couple dozen chairs from the community center at the last minute. Mazunga had been disappointed yesterday when those tasks hadn't been done. Afterward, the staff shared tea and biscuits--I guess to celebrate a job (well) done. One staff member, who shall remain nameless, said that a lot of what the kgosi said was incorrect. I believe it. He told all the kids, for instance, that "Ottoman" is spelled "O-T-T-O-R-M-A-N." But the staff member immediately said, "I can't say he's wrong. He's my chief." That scared me. To me, one of the most important things in an operational democracy is speaking truth to power. If the kgosi is incorrect or is doing something wrong, his people should be able to speak up, or no one will be able to advance. This was especially troubling given the current political climate in the nation as a whole, which I don't completely understand, but is a bit volatile at the moment and features a bit of an autocratic, royal-born president.
This afternoon, our WordWorks group didn't show up. Curses! I was disappointed. They have a lot to learn, and it makes me feel like I've done something worthwhile.
Almost Friday!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
I started compiling and graphing my personal statistics project today. I hope it yields some good material for coursework and for Max/BNLS. I already know it will, and it's a good opportunity to learn some new Excel tricks that I can turn around and teach.
We had the second of the two newly formed groups today and worked on nouns again. Somehow the hour class was done in 35 minutes! Oops. We'll devise some strategies for filling the extra time productively in the future.
One thing I've forgotten to note: apparently the contract for periodicals and newspapers (besides the Daily News, which the government distributes for free) lapsed, so there are no new issues of anything at the library. BNLS must not have gotten on top of the vendor/contract issue until it was too late. I hope a new contract can be put together and begun soon, because the periodicals are very very popular with users and their absence will definitely cut into our "footsteps."
Sort of unrelated but interesting: yesterday the entrance yard between the clinic, library, and community center was full of folks--mostly women and children. After some asking around, we found out the reason: the news has been reporting a certain wealthy ex-pat auto dealer who's been donating free warm blankets to the needy. Well, yesterday was his visit to Molepolole. It's terrible to think some of the coldest days of winter have already passed, and these folks didn't have a way to keep warm. We knew when the blankets arrived, even though we were inside, by the loud ululations ringing out from the lot. Hooray!
We had the second of the two newly formed groups today and worked on nouns again. Somehow the hour class was done in 35 minutes! Oops. We'll devise some strategies for filling the extra time productively in the future.
One thing I've forgotten to note: apparently the contract for periodicals and newspapers (besides the Daily News, which the government distributes for free) lapsed, so there are no new issues of anything at the library. BNLS must not have gotten on top of the vendor/contract issue until it was too late. I hope a new contract can be put together and begun soon, because the periodicals are very very popular with users and their absence will definitely cut into our "footsteps."
Sort of unrelated but interesting: yesterday the entrance yard between the clinic, library, and community center was full of folks--mostly women and children. After some asking around, we found out the reason: the news has been reporting a certain wealthy ex-pat auto dealer who's been donating free warm blankets to the needy. Well, yesterday was his visit to Molepolole. It's terrible to think some of the coldest days of winter have already passed, and these folks didn't have a way to keep warm. We knew when the blankets arrived, even though we were inside, by the loud ululations ringing out from the lot. Hooray!
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