Monday, April 25, 2011

An average not-so-average morning

This week at my school we are invigilating (proctoring) the exams for the fifth sequence. School is divided into 3 terms, and each term has 2 sequences (Almost done!). At my school we harmonize tests. This means every subject test will be happening at the same time. For example, today the entire school took Biology, Physics, Computer, and Food/Nutrition tests. Every teacher will proctor a class's tests, so one teacher would give the biology, physics, computer, and F/N tests. I checked the timetable last week and I wasn't scheduled to invigilate at all. The Vice Principal did this for me last sequence also since I have a ton of tests to grade. Anyways, I woke up this morning and went in to school early for a few reasons. One, I needed to hand in my test questions and work in the lab fixing computers. Two, my friend gave me the keys to the main office since she was traveling and I had to hand them off to the other secretary. So I walk my 20 minutes to school, get there a few minutes before 8, and promptly start working. As always, the students start begging to come in. I was hesitant at first since they were supposed to be taking tests, but most of the needed teachers weren't there yet, so I decided to let them in for a bit. Around 9:00, a teacher comes in and asks if I am ready to start invigilating yet. Since I wasn't on the timetable Friday, I am a bit confused, but I kick out all the students and start looking around for a timetable so I know which class I am in. All but one have been taken down and I can see where someone else's name was removed and mine put in (Sometime between good friday and easter sunday. As a side note I was the only one there Good Friday, because I was working on the computers). I was written in for Form 2B, so I waited around with the teacher for Form 2A for the 2C teacher to come. I am trying to give exams on the computers this term, so I didn't have a written test. Form 2 doesn't have a food/nutrition teacher, so that just left Physics and Biology. The 2C teacher had the biology questions, and by 9:30 she still hadn't arrived. So we went ahead and just gave the 30 minute physics test. I accidentally walked into the 2C classroom first (the layout of classrooms is a bit strange) and all the students stood up and cheered that I would be their teacher. My assumption is this means I let them get away with cheating more often than the others. They were very disappointed when I left. After the test I went to get the 1A class to take to the lab. For various reasons I haven't had them at all this sequence, so I was trying to give them some lab time. We wrote letters to American students, which they all loved. I was much more impressed with their work than my other form 1 students. Unfortunately, The power went out right as most were finishing, and most had not saved yet. So, after the power went out, I closed the lab down and went to talk to the teachers for a few minutes before leaving. One of my conversations was interrupted by a chorus of honking. A huge cavalcade of motorcycles and cars made their way down the hill into the school valley, while the school administration ran around getting all the teachers in a row. It turns out that the DO (I don't remember what it stands for - Divisional Officer?) was driving by and decided to visit. The DO and his entourage made a reception line while all the teachers shuffled past -in order of hierarchy of course, although for some reason they put me directly after all the administration. Luckily they were just stopping by and it wasn't a formal occasion, or I would have been stuck there much longer. As it was, I left almost immediately after them so I could go to town. I walked about 30 minutes before the school bus (a large van) passed me, and the bus driver told me to hop in. On one hand, I was appreciative, because it is a free ride to Bamenda. On the other, it means I exit the vehicle with a large group of students. In today's case it was entertaining however, because a large group of form 3 girls surrounded me. When people heckled me in the market ("hey baby", or even just "hello") they would heckle them back ("don't you talk like that to our madam!" "Our madam doesn't want to talk to you!") Their possessiveness was cute. I grabbed another taxi to bring me to the Peace Corps office to check email and type up some things -arriving here about 1:00.

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