Everyone is Running Around Yelling....

If any of y'all were with me on my Namibian journey you may remember the disorganization and drama that is the Southern African exam system. We started our first day today, meaning we're in for a few WEEKS of testing blocks followed by mayhem when the learners are supposed to be in class (...I think...?) but just scream and cause trouble for the rest of the shortened day. I told all my kids to come to school today (some thought it was a holiday?) because I was going to teach and tell them what was on the exam, but instead I've spent the entire day in my cold class room lonely and confused.

This has been a super roller coaster week anyways-I shed my first tears at school and because I'm still kinda embarrassed about it I'll tell yah later....

Life lately however, has been a collection of hilarious and weird microcosms that describe the constant randomness that is teaching at my school.

-on Wednesday, in the span of 10 mins I wrestled a cell phone out of a girl's hands as she tried to shove it down her shirt, had a learner ask for a stapler only to have him raise up his leg and start stapling his pants, and had a teacher ask me to cover her class because she had to go deal with "spiritual matters." It was something with a learner and seeing "The Black Lady," who I guess is like "Bloody Mary?" and needing to inform the grandmother about the small curses he has been experiencing being put on him week.

-also on Wednesday, a Grade 10 learner who has become my shadow (and sings Rihanna's "Work, Work, Work" to me whenever he sees me...) started enthusiastically explaining some American movie he watched last night. It was possibly the funniest half understood conversation I've had here yet. Apparently some character had to lick either an ice sculpture or statue (...unclear...) to make friends because no one liked her. When I asked the name of the movie he said, "Slap Her...She's French." I absolutely LOST it. There is no way that is the real name of a movie. Apparently though, 2002 was a tough year for the cinematic industry, because that is in fact, a real and actual movie.

-on Thursday I had library duty, where I usually play some sort of music quietly because I can't handle silence. I flipped on the Frank Ocean albums and looked up to see the heads of the eight Grade 11 and Grade 12 boys in there start to nod to the beat. A few songs in, one learner was totally unproductive; his glasses were off, and he was singing the lyrics to his homework paper-not writing, not reading, but in the zone. Another was rocking a cobalt blue afro pic in his school-cropped short hair, rocking back and forth doing math and singing the harmony. Earnestly and genuinely he looked up at me said, "Miss, can you please raise the volume?" All the other learners whipped their heads around and agreed. I don’t know if I’m helping their education or shaking their concentration but hey, whatever I need to do to get my boyz in the library....thanks Frank Ocean for making me cool.

-and right now, as I type this, tired and feeling kinda sick, there is a tiny tiny 10th Grade learner dancing next to me, alone, to the South African rap music I'm playing. I'm actually hoping his English isn't very good so he doesn't know I'm typing this exact sentence about him.