We are actually doubling our teaching time to get more time each day with the students. Last year we taught forms 1&2 and now we are teaching forms 2 and 3 which were last years students with the addition of the new students from form 1. Since Margaret had the "freshman" last year, I got them this year, only fair.
The students continue to be great, exceeding our expectations with everything they do. Our day started with warm greetings from the students and excitement about us being there. To back track, yesterday we bought supplies and got them ready so today was a very plug and play experience.
The forms 1 class was excited and very quiet. Margaret's experience with the 2008 form 1's were that they were load, gregarious and a bundle of energy. This class seems subdued. I am sure that I just set my self up for them all being load and energetic going forward. They were excited to engage about art and when asked what they think Art is, they give canned answers that I am aware will change as they learn what art is to them.
Margaret's form 2's have matured in the year and she was so excited that they remembered the famous artists that we taught them last year and that they were engaged and ready. They clapped for her when she walked into the class and they were excited and ready. We could not be happier.
Forms 3 will start tomorrow as they finished exams today and they are starting with me after lunch tomorrow. I cannot wait. This group was wonderful to work with and last year and they are so excited to start again. Jacob, Collins and Hellen approached us after class to say that they wanted to share with us their progress. I was nearly in tears. They continued on with their art and they get together after school on a regular basis and create art. I was dumbfounded by what they have done. I just stood there in shock. I could not believe that they continued with the art with such ardent enthusiasm. I felt so proud of them and I said to them that I was so proud of them and they responded, no, we are proud of you and Margaret. I stopped breathing and realized, that we have given so little to get some much back from these amazing students. The art that they have created since we left shows a definite refinement from the cliche of "Practice makes perfect". They have also had them framed, sold some of them at the St. Al's event and half the money goes to the school and half goes to an account that supports them engaging in another art organization. Margaret and I were in awe and are so excited to be part of who they are becoming. I looked at Margaret today and said, think, we can be with them on this whole Journey. She looked at me and said, thanks, I guess you made me realize I may do this for a very long time.......
Tomorrow we have the addition of form 3 that I will teach and Margaret will take on Studio time. This is exciting. We are teaching 105 students a day. It is hard and probably one of the most rewarding experiences we both have had.
After class we went to lunch with David Dinda Ohdiambo. I believe many of you have met him if you have been on the trip but for sure have seen him in a St. Als video or the smiling man on the invites. He, to me, is like a son. We are in regular contact and it is great to have him so intertwined in my life. He will be graduating from Social Work College in October and deciding where he would like to go to University. He is amazing. He has started the Hope foundation to help youth in Kibera give back. He also runs the sports program at St. Als. He may have graduated from St. Al's but he has never left. He is a key part of why they are so successful and he lives life totally with the perspective that the glass is more than Half Full.
We were talking about success at lunch and he said it simply, people serve others and experience success when they do what they are passionate about. Enough said!
Passionately,
Charles and Margaret
Charles & Margaret,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to hear things are going so nicely. I can feel the amazement of it all through your words...