Back to School

Although Eric and I have both been working at the school since we got to Ukarumpa, this past week was our first week with a full load of classes. You may be wondering, what is the same about teaching in Ukarumpa as it is in the US and what is different?

What is the same?

• Students take most of the same subjects that are offered in the US, such as English, social studies, science, math, languages, and some electives like music and computers. In fact, the curriculum is based on a US-curriculum to allow for ease of transition when students go back to the US.
• The secondary school has basketball, volleyball, soccer, softball, and track teams (as well as girls’ and boys’ rugby!).
• Around campus, you’ll see a lot of familiar sights: libraries at both schools, a playground at the primary campus, a track of sorts at the secondary campus, computer labs, etc.
• Bells ring to dismiss students from their classes.

What is different?

• I can’t go to Target or a school supply store to buy something when I want to do a hands-on activity in class. We do have school supplies here, but we have to get creative (or do without) if we want something that can’t be found in the school supply room or the grocery store. There also aren’t any back-to-school sales!
• Homeroom only happens once a week at the secondary school—in the middle of the day—and it is used as a time for student government representatives to meet with their grade levels.
• There are no hallways. There are several buildings around the campus (both at the primary and secondary schools) that house two or more classrooms. Each classroom has a door that opens directly to the sidewalk.
  
  
  
• Most secondary students go home for lunch, while parents are invited to the primary school on Fridays to eat lunch with their students.
• There were only five weeks to prepare between the end of last school year and the start of this one! School starts in July instead of August or September.
• Eric’s classes are the smallest he’s ever had (ranging from 5-14 students), and mine are the biggest I’ve ever had (12-18)!
• Some non-native English speaking students are able to take classes in their mother tongue if a teacher is available.