(Originally written 7 February. Published with previous post "Bus chicken craic.")
"My frustration for this place is almost always all consuming. There are chickens in the medical clinic which has used needles and any amount of medical waste thrown around outside. The children are almost always great but unfortunately for the masses there are always a few that are nightmares. Throwing rubbish is simply what they do (I mean who would use a bin?) and animals are seemingly there to be kicked. A particular low point was seeing a small girl from my class standing on a kittens head. I'm not coping very well!"
The above is the original start to this blog. I started a few days ago but then those few amazing days happened. Il admit it, Sumbawa has for me at times been one of the most frustrating things I have ever done. I know that mostly my problems are first world. I mean I have seen real problems first hand here but who can blame me for wanting a little electricity sometimes? If for nothing else it keeps the poisonous snake (now living and digging behind my wall) and cockroaches (that I have found on my face at night) from coming out to play.
On the other hand Sumbawa and my work with The Harapan Project has been amazing! Today was a particular highlight as we finished an art class with the children of the local village then they proceeded to take us up onto the mountain on the edge of the jungle to find their place to jump off rocks and swim in the river.
I've made some great friends in the project founder Carlos and project manager Amanda but unfortunately for me it's taking a little longer with some of the kids. It's frustrating because I would love to teach so much but it seems every time I start I end up needing to be saved, usually by Amanda.
In the next few days i will be teaching more and armed with a few fresh lesson plans Im undetermined to win the kids hearts.
We have already planned another trip to the river...
No comments:
Post a Comment