world teacher day

October 6, 2011

Yesterday was one of my favorite days here so far. I think that the US needs to get in on World Teacher Day. It is fun that all the volunteers had different types of things at their schools from going to the beach, to a teacher sports fest turned into a trip to the bar, to post-typhoon clean ups.

Here is what the student teachers did for us, I’ll do separate posts just for the pictures because I for once took a bunch.

The opening ceremony was the most feel good part. They called us all up on stage based on grade level and then had the students bring up gifts. I got cards, flowers, paper medals, and another mug (mug count is now up to 8). They then called us up on stage and a student sang some song about a hero. Then we went to the canteen for breakfast of sliced bread, boiled eggs, and pink hot dogs.

After we went and prepared for a talent show. Grade 5 was going to dance. Little known fact, I was in show choir and did ok, but not great. This was so different. We had about 2 hours to learn the dance and 5^th graders are not the best choreographers, especially when they don’t stop the music, don’t allow for mastery before adding new moves, and you’ve got other teachers adding their own moves. It was fun nonetheless and the group of pupils watching seemed to think I was doing ok.

We worked up quite an appetite. For lunch we had chicken, pork, fish, rice, rice, rice, and not a vegetable in sight. The big hit was fruit salad, but not the kind with cheese, corn, and elbow macaroni. This had Filipino fruit cocktail, Tang, and ice. It was scooped into glasses and a drink salad. Very good.

After eating it was time for the contest. Most grades just danced. Some sang and danced. One sang only. One had a poem and a dance. It was fun to see what people prepared with such short notice.

The student teachers also had parlor games for us. This is also when they brought out the tuba. I love parlor games in the Philippines because you get to see adults do things they would never do at home with such great enthusiasm. I also learned that most relays and races are very difficult when you are sometimes a foot taller than your team mates. We didn’t do much winning, but it wasn’t always my fault.

To end the day they gave away prizes and then I walked home exhausted after a good but very long day.