My parents sent me these updates and asked me to send them out to you all.
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Subject: Update #43 Tembari-Trouble
Arrived at Tembari with lesson plans and materials to start teaching small groups of 15 first graders. Playing follow the leader, we lead our group out under the shade of a tree. We worked on letter ID & sounds & counting with finger ID. Kids were very hesitant about answering or doing anything individually but the many parents sitting around kept encouraging them. We were working with the second small group when we got word--school was closing early & there would be no school tomorrow (Fri). Big boss was here and called a meeting. So just like that, kids left...many walking home for over an hour having only been in school an hour. Teachers and us sat around another hour guessing what was going to happen at the meeting. Evidently this wasn't the first time. Penny...who stated several times she was the founder & director...addressed the staff sternly and emphatically saying she is to make all decisions. She said this was not the first warning for several of the staff and she would be terminating three of them. She welcomed us and apologized to us for having to hear about these issues. Several teachers tried to explained why they had called a previous parent meeting without her knowledge and why they had spent the $ we offered already. She kept repeating...But I am the founder & director and I alone have the vision. Hayward...her husband...said he knew we were coming...though we had no contact or knowledge of him or Penny. Near the end of the meeting, Roger and I both spoke up saying we'd prayed to God to make sure our church funds were spent well and we felt arriving just as the teachers were in distress about what they'd do next...seemed to us the answer to our prayers. As teachers, we totally understood their needs and could see it in every classroom. We were glad to see the money put to good use immediately. We complimented the teachers for doing so well in such challenging conditions. Penny just said thank you for your input. After the meeting--while we waited for our ride--the teachers insisted on waiting with us. They said they would continue to explain & probably no one would be fired. We certainly hope not!! We expressed our concerns but they dismissed them saying "We were like a drink of cold water for them." Humbling. We got back to our room about 1 and sweated the afternoon away by reading while lying on the floor wherever we could feel a small breeze. Lucky for us we had our peanut butter, bread, apples...even a few cookies & cold milk...AND I had one cold Coke Zero saved for times like this!! It was a looooooong afternoon. After it cooled down, we visited with our landlord's family and some of the workers who have been working on this house. It has been in the building process since 2012 and still looks like a construction site complete with piles of broken cement blocks, various torn bags, rears in multitude of sizes & shapes, piles of bits & pieces of lumber, 2 junk cars, 3 lazy dogs scratching and several quite pretty blooming plants. Our view.
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Subject: Update #44 Cemetery & Wildlife Park
Since Penny called school off today, we asked Jr & Kay to take us to the Wildlife Park we'd read about--actually the only thing we'd read about in this area that interested us. It had closed up months ago...but they knew of another. On the way, we stopped at a WWII Memorial Cemetery. Immaculate! Each of the thousands of markers had a lovely blooming plant next to it and everyone was trimmed neatly. Amazing! Jr said it looked this nice because many Australians were buried there and it was cared for by them. There was a good 3 D map of the Kokodo Trail where soldiers from PNG, Aus & US fought off the Japanese. The wildlife park was also very well groomed and they were working on building a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round & playground. I was excited to see the bird of paradise--deepest yellow& red colors with long slender tail feathers! And another treat--tree kangaroos! They have a thick & fuzzy looking fur. Some had climbed way up in a tree so we could barely see them. Later in town, I saw a couple people trying to sell caged baby tree kangaroos--poor things!! One of the zoo keepers...who was deaf & didn't speak... followed us bringing out food so the animals would come closer...even the crocodile! He climbed right into the cage, splashed his hand in the water & then petted the croc when it appeared! One of his arms was noticeable crippled. Wonder how that happened?! Around noon it was really hot--felt like we were in a frying pan--so we went to the Nat'l Library. It was not so cool--or nice--but it had wifi!! Caught up on news, emails & got off an update. Always good to hear all is well at home. Left looking for food and had to stop at 3 restaurants before finding one that had at least 1/2 of what was on their menu--it was like a KFC. Final stop was JMart--mostly grocery store. Got lots more water, bread & Coke Zero. Came home to shower & sit in front of our fan.
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Subject: Update #45 Port Moresby/Ear Problem/Heat & Books Galore!!
Kay was at church this am so we spent the am reading, sweating, writing, sweating, watching the dogs' tails swat flies, sweating, noticing each passing vehicle...and sweating. It's hot. Though I've always been a hot weather lover...think I found my max! There really is no place safe to walk around here, so here we stay. Heat really does diminish appetites. We barely eat anything...even Roger!! We make a pbj sandwich & nibble on it, slowly munch on some granola or peanuts...but guzzle down water...which we purchase every time we go to town. Water is being rationed in Port Moresby area...turned off from 8 - 2 ...which of course we learned when we tried to shower around 8:15. Kay & Jr picked us up @2 and we first toured Port Moresby. It is quite a modern city with lots of tall buildings & some construction...a long beach area that Jr said use to be quite nice...a big port area...over all it didn't take us long to see what was there. Since my ear has been plugged since our last snorkel trip...and the prescription only med the pharmacist gave me a couple days ago hasn't helped...we headed for a clinic. For $18 a young Filipino Doctor quickly diagnosed my problem: wax exposed to so much water had swollen & closed up my ear (sound familiar Bob??). He had the Rx give me some pure baby oil & said come back in a week to flush it out. Earlier this week I was telling our neighbor, Ruby how sad I was that Tembari students didn't have any books...we'd shopped for them at the mall but they were over $10 each. She suggested going to a 2nd hand store...so that is where we headed right from the clinic. JACKPOT! For $50 we got over 60 books! I was like a kid in a candy store! Most the books appeared to have come from Australia. Many were familiar titles/authors. Can't wait to use them!!
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Subject: Update #46 Evening Visit with Ruby-Grace-Workers
Late last night, Ruby brought us some rice, cooked cabbage & chicken. Such a gift! We'd already eaten so we put it in Grace's (our landlady) refrigerator. While there we sat and visited with the workers who were awaiting the supper that Grace was fixing them. They were excited to talk about USA. So tonight...with the help of Grace...I heated up Ruby's gift to us...talking to Grace as it heated. She never went to school but could speak a bit of English and definitely knew how to laugh heartily. We watch the sunset from her kitchen table. Taking the food down to the common area at the end of our hall, we started eating. Soon Ruby asked to join us. We easily chatted with her for the next hour or so. She told us about her village...seems everyone always identifies their village with pride. She has 4 kids who live with her Mom in her village about an hour away. Most jobs besides small stands are in PM so here she stays. She works for Australian Aid--PNG is part of the Commonwealth & call Australia their Mother Country. She use to work for the airlines and was sad that most foreigners had such a bad image of PNG. Lack of jobs...2/3 are unemployed...corrupt Gov't that is selling off their land and resources to foreigners and general poverty...especially the fact that they were exporting their gas & it was refined in other countries & then sold back to them at a high $$...all upset her and rightly so. Ruby asked us lots about USA and we tried to be honest and point out the good and bads...yet without a doubt, we do have it sooo much better. We showed her the books we'd purchased and told her to pick one out for each of her children. She was delighted. Ruby said all the neighbors been asking why Americans would be staying here in this neighborhood. We told her that we are here so we can visit with PNG people, like her & Grace & the workers. If we stayed in a hotel, our visits would be with expats, Asians, Europeans...not PNG people. We might as well just be on a cruise ship floating by. We relish the opportunities to talk to locals...so we don't have AC, bed with thick mattress, wifi, pool, share a bathroom & have to eat pb & j...at least we have a true PNG experience!!
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Subject: #47 Sunday AfternoonDrive in the Mtns
We'd thought about going to church today but the closest is behind a tall fence around it's community & it'd be a long walk to get to where the gate was. So we didn't. We were in the shower before 8 this morning, we learn quickly! Kay had to take his wife to Drs. so it was around 11 when we heard his honk...Junior was out looking for another ride for us but we soon met up with him. We headed to the mountains. Such cool and refreshing winds up there with grand views!! We made several stops--to see all the action on the river: swimming, washing clothes & cars. We saw a car that had missed a curve & landed in the river too. We bought some roasted potatoes served on a leaf...Mmm. We all put our heads under a pipe with cold water flowing out. Ahhh. People we passed smiled and waved. People at places we stopped wanted pictures of us...and for us to take their pictures. So many people just sitting under shade trees. Our last stop was at a beautiful college campus run by 7th Day Adv. where we too sat under a shade tree to rest. I had a good discussion with a young girl who will soon be a teacher. We talked about rote learning vs. small group with individuals responding. She said PNG kids are not use to telling you what they think but she was hoping to do the small groups...but with a new Gov't policy of no fee education..the pupil #s have sky rocketed...so chances were slim. I told her whatever happens, teaching is truly a wonderful job and she smiled ear to ear agreeing. Arrived back to our room around 5--took cool showers...not a problems that there is no hot water!! Looking forward to being back at Tembari tomorrow ...with books!!
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Subject: Update #48 Teaching Again
I only opened a book and they came...over 100 big & little ones sat in the dirt mesmerized by the words and pictures. I simply love reading aloud to kids--and reading aloud to kids who don't have books or anyone to read to them--it's an absolute thrill!! This time alone makes it all worth it!! Rog and I have been pulling small groups of kids from the lower classes. Some are just learning to write the letter A...others trying to learn to ID letters and a few ready for letter sounds. Today we even worked a tiny bit on blending sounds in word families. In the afternoon, we've been working with the 4th & 5th graders. Rog is doing math & science. I am reading aloud a story asking comp & inference question...discussing main idea, setting, characters & trying to make personal connections...a few catch on which I know when their eyes sparkle! Trying to get any kid..young or old...to answer individually is like pulling teeth...like so many other students we have worked with in our travels. But we coax with a smile and slowly some begin to speak. At recess & lunch, we play games, read aloud and sing songs. Another countries kids have learned to play Doggie, Doggie; Blue Bird, Blue Bird, London Bridges & Follow the Leader! The only games we have seen them play is pick up sticks with pencils, drop kicking a ball and a jumping game called Jingle Jangle. According to the posted schedule, the youngest kids leave at 10, next group at noonand oldest at 2...though in the week & a half we've been here...it hasn't happened yet. Kids sent home cause boss calls teacher meeting or just cancels, rain is coming so need to leave in case streams flood, no water...or it's too hot. During times when they are in session, kids randomly get up and leave to purchase something from nearby vendor or just go for a walk. Since there are sooooo many in a class, don't think the teachers even notice. K class is about 60, Prep class( between K & 1) has 76 & 1st grade 88...all sitting in a hot, shipping container!!! Between the inconsistent and the conditions, it's a wonder they learn anything!!
