Rainy Season

It is now rainy season.

It could be a hot beautiful sunny morning, without a cloud in the sky, but by the time I get to school it could be raining and freezing cold. It does not rain for long but it might rain a few times during the day and when it does it gets very chilly.

During rainy season it is wise to carry a sweater and a rain coat with you at all times because you just never know when it will rain.

...I may or may not have learned this the hard way :)

Soccer??

I was talking with the new PE teacher of the primary school at Green Hills today. I was asking him how things were going and if he enjoyed teaching. I asked him if the students were playing soccer in PE and I told him that I over heard the kids wanting to start a soccer team.

I realized he was looking at me like I was crazy.... then I remembered I live in Africa and soccer is really called football :)

After I told him I was really talking about football, we both chucked a little at the fact that this conversation was so confusing but, we worked it out and maybe Green Hills will start a football team this year.

Time Table

I walked in to my classroom today and I could not believe it...

All the students were in the right area, the aids were teaching the correct lesson, the timer was running, the students were engaged, the room was decorated, and they all knew what to do next!

Time tables, also known as a schedule, work wonders!

The special education program is far from finished, far from perfect, but it is running and it has a time table, which is more than they had last year.

Mr. Chips

This might look like a Coca-Cola stan but it is a restaurant that is called Mr. Chips.

It is the closest thing to McDonald's you can find here in Rwanda! And believe it or not the burgers and fries (known as chips here) are really good!

One of my favorite places to go :)

Awareness

We had a workshop for all of the teacher assistants. They are the teachers that work closely with the children that have special needs.

I opened up the workshop by doing a simulation on what it feels like to have autism. All the teachers had to do was write one sentence...while wearing blue tinted goggles, using their non-dominant hand, with a red pen, on a line that was rounded and slanted up, with music in the background, with someone running all around the room, with someone talking in their ear about nonsense and pointing at their paper...but all they had to do was listen to what I was saying and write it down.

The teachers could no believe that is what these students were going through all the time.

Autism: a life long developmental disability which alters the development of language, sensory and social.

The teachers quickly understood that these students were not asking the way they were because they were being disobedient or lazy but because they have a disability.

Yeah these students might have special needs but, they are people...kids...created by God, in His perfect way....they were made special...just like you....and me.

If you want to see the world through they eyes of a child with autism click here
(scroll down to the video).

Day Off

This is when you just say 'you know when you live in Rwanda when....'

Our teaching calendar said we had school tomorrow.

That is until the government came on the radio and declared it a national holiday due to the fact that it is a muslim holiday.

So we went to all the classroom and told the students not to come to school tomorrow. As you can imagine the kids were very distraught but I think they will be ok :)

The Big 5

One of my students turned 5 today!

Her teacher assistant and I went to her birthday party. It was fun.

Violation of Moto Code

Today I was walking and saw a mzungu (white person) clearly violating the unwritten moto code.

She was violating code number 6 which (no so) clearly states "hold on to the bar behind you (not the driver)". Yep that is right...she was holding on to the driver!!

I might not know all the unwritten codes of Rwanda yet but I am learning. I am very glad I know the moto code!

Big School

Green Hills is down a little hill and on top of it (on the road) is a store/restaurant. I went in and could see part of the school.
All of the buildings with blue roofs are part Green Hills:
The far right, three story building is the main office and some secondary classrooms.
Moving left, the building that looks like stairs, is the 5-6 grade classes, art and computer lab
In front, the canopy is where the kids line up to go home
Then there is a play ground
The long strip of classrooms are the 1-2 grade classes
Then some grass and sand
Just past the trees are the 3-4 grade classes and my office

What you cannot see in the pictures is my classroom (which is to the left), a playground, dinning hall (behind secondary building, down the hill) the nursery, gym and football (soccer) field.

Tea and Bread

I love bread and here in Rwanda it comes in all forms. Tonight we had chapatti. It is like pizza dough but better! And of course we drank it with tea. It is more like chi and is delicious.

(a picture soon to come; when the internet is a little faster)

Dry or Rainy

Currently we are in Dry Season but it rained today. It was nice to have rain but it was so cold! I wore a long sleeve shirt and a jacket to work today and pants. I took the jacket off after a while but still...It's supposed to be hot.

I'm not complaining though...it is great sleeping weather :)

First Day

Today was the first day of school for students.

Half way through 2nd period it all sunk in... I had the realization that there really is not much for children with special needs.

Sure, I have been talking about it for a while now but it was not a reality until a student got over stimulated while in class and it all could have been prevented with basic knowledge of autism and could have been stopped with a schedule, a weighted vest, a squishy ball, or even a picture.

That is when it hit me: I am not just teaching children with special needs but I am teaching the aids how work with children with disabilities, giving basic knowledge to classroom teachers on how to teach and writing lesson plans without any type of curriculum (then teaching the aids how to administer the lesson so I can assess other children).

The visionary in me can see a great program for special education but the practical part of me is focused on the details. For now I need to remember to be patient and enjoy the challenges as they come because I know it will all work out in the end.

Green Hills Academy

I have always had a passion for children with special needs and God has called me here to Rwanda to share my passion with others. There are so many things that can be, or rather need to be, done for children with special needs; like an integrated school with educated teachers for children with disabilities. But before this can be done, I need to learn about the education system, the culture, find resources and the language of Rwanda.

The amazing part is, God knew I had to learn some things before He can use me to help others. He has given me the opportunity to work at Green Hills Academy. This school has created a new program called Special Needs and they have asked me to be the Special Needs Coordinator. What a perfect opportunity to learn and grow!

As much as I want to be in the village helping the children there, I have to remember that to better help the village, I need to learn some things first. God has put me here and I trust He knows what he is doing.

Tuesday is the first day the students come! I have many students on my case load and more to come. It will be a crazy day but I am excited to dive into things. Here is my classroom:It is a cirlce room with a little extention in the back and the decorations are in proccess :)

Traditional Wedding

Here in Rwanda weddings are a very big celebration. There are three parts: civil, traditional, ceremony (in that order).

Dorah's (my house-mate) best friend, Alice, had her traditional wedding today. I got a chance to go. This is when the groom's family asks the bride's family for her hand in marriage. They often offer cows, wine or money for the bride. They wear a traditional dress as well.

Me, Kaitlyn (an intern), Alice (the bride), Dorah (my house-mate)

Met some Kids!

I went to Kayonza that is the village where the school is going to go. I was able to talk to two families that have children with special needs. One child is deaf and the other is mentally handicap but high functioning. I got a great idea of who the child is and how they function at home.

The other kids in neighborhood are not nice to the children with special needs but in my short time there I was able to push back the stigma that having a disability is not bad. We are all created with a purpose and in God's image so be nice to everyone.


This is where the school is going to go!!

Tips for Moto Rides

There is public transportation here; bus, taxi, moto (motorcycle), bicycle.

The best way to travel to and from my house is by moto.

Tips:

1) hsss like a snake and wave hello like you would to a baby

2) try your best to pronounce the neighborhood you are going to

3) say 'you know ____' insert big land mark they might know

4) confirm cost (you can haggle a little)

5) take helmet and get on

6) hold on to the bar behind you (not the driver)

Because I am a female and I am white the moto drivers tend to drive a little safer with me on the bak but I do not mind that at all.

My Room

Here is a video of my room.

Click here: My Room in Rwanda

Enjoy!

Meet Dorah

This is Dorah. She is my house mate. Dorah is a few years older than me and works for the company in Rwanda that imports and exports goods. Along with her full time job she is going to school to get a degree in business. She attends the church I go to and really loves the Lord. I am excited (and lucky) to be her house mate.

Maddy Made it Safe!!!!

Maddy just called - she is safely in Rwanda - Picked up by Jen (thanks) and they took her many, many bags to her new home - Now they are at Church for end of Day camp!!!

Maddy will get a phone and internet soon - and will be posting then - but I wanted everyone to know she is there safe!!!! She slept a lot on flights and is not exhausted from travels so can enjoy the day!

Thanks everyone for all the prayers - it is hard to watch your daughter follow God so far from home but so proud of all she has done and is doing - Please post comments to her when you can so she knows how much she is loved and supported!!!!

Have a Happy Day! Sandy

Lots of Bags

~ 8 bags at 50lb each are being checked

~ 2 bags are coming with me

~ And pictures of my family and friends

I think I might be ready to move to Rwanda! Crazy!! I cannot believe it is already time.

I have been talking about moving to Africa since I was in 6th grade and in 10hrs I will be on my way. Africa...here I come.