Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!
I did not have a chance to update the blog yesterday because the internet is being very sketchy. It is still being very sketchy today. Yesterday, I taught my last lesson for observation. I really enjoyed the lesson and I think the students did too. In class, we read a poem and then the students were put into cooperative learning groups. In groups, the students need to write up a paragraph about their interpretation of the poem and also draw a picture. I gave each group some colored pencils. They loved the chance to draw. I had not planned on this activity taking so much time, but the students were working so hard and enjoying themselves, I had to let me keep working! It was great. After each group presented their work, I assigned another poem in which the students had to do the same thing but on their own with this new poem. I then gave each student a pack of colored pencils and told them they could keep them. Now, the majority of the students I have are not poor, but they were so happy I gave them the colored pencils, which came as a pleasant surprise. The students here are not given a chance to be creative or a chance to express themselves or their opinions. There is no doubt these students are smart, but I believe it is import to express yourself in way besides pen and paper. Every assignment turned in is done in blue pen on the same paper, which the school provides. I went into the art room the other day. These students are so talented. The paintings are phemonmal. The art teacher then told me that the art work around the school is from the students. I was shocked. I thought the work was professional. Also, there is a mosaic in the hallway that some of the students did as an after school activity. It is just so surprising to me that these students have so much talent but are only really allowed to demonstrate their “book smarts.” Either way, I really enjoyed giving the students the colored pencils. They were so excited and happy. For being in the equivalent of 9th grade, it was surprising to see how happy they were. So, I must say thank you to the 6th graders and their families from my first student teaching placements. The students here really appreciated the gifts you provided them!
After school yesterday, we headed to the Accra Mall. The taxi ride there was, as always, an adventure. We noticed that the speedometer, gas gauge and engine temperature gauge did not work. Accra is the next town over, so we were heading on a 30 or so mininute drive not knowing how fast we were going, how must gas, or if the engine was going to overheat. About half were there, when we were getting on the expressway, which is a toll road, we stalled out a few times. For a few minutes, I thought we might be walking down the expressway to the mall. Lucky for us, the taxi started back up after each stall out. The mall was somewhat of a disappointment. It appeared bigger from the outside. It was basically the same as an American mall. The mall was quite expensive, too. There was only two stores that we seen which had traditional African things, but it was VERY expensive. Basically, we went into the grocery store and that was it. Oh, I did by some CDs of Africa music. I am pretty excited about that! After the mall, we got another taxi for the way back. This taxi was pretty nice. As always, a taxi ride here is always an adventure. We get up to the toll booth and pay. Well, the arm doesn’t go up because apparently it is broken. So, the taxi driver starts inching closer. (The arm thing is pretty high.) We thought for sure he was just going to try to drive under it, which you could tell that other cars clearly have before. After we got the whole front end of the car under the arm, the driver pulls the parking brake and gets out. During this whole time, people are being horns like crazy! He runs over to the other cab, (there as 8 of us so we took 2 cabs), and I think told them what was going on. The other group was in a little Ford Fiesta looking car. The taxi driver of their car decides he is going to turn around. Well, that was crazy to watch. He did like a 10point turn around. The ladies that sell things to cars where running from the driver, then the driver almost backs into a charter bus, who is pounding on its horn. It was crazy! Finally, we make it back for dinner. After dinner we headed to seminar before bed! Today is Friday and I have been at school for 2 hours, but I have yet to see my teacher. I went to the assembly and then to the form meeting, which is a class she is supposed to advise, but the students seem to have it under control. She has a class in a little less than 2 hours, I wonder what will happen if she doesn’t come. From what the other student teachers I am here with say, if the teacher doesn’t come to class, the students just sit in class during the lesson time. When the bell rings, they leave. I do not think substitute teachers are an option here.
Well, that is all for now. This weekend we are off to Wli Falls, the monkey sanctuary, possibly climbing to highest mountain in Ghana! Sounds exciting!