Today the students (and I) had the first full Saturday class. They arrived at 9:00 a.m. (we'll usually start at 9:30) for a campus tour; the parents had an orientation and tour as well, led by Ellen (the ILEA Executive Director). We had class until 2:30 p.m., with an hour break for lunch. One of the most common comments I got leading up to this trip was, "Oh, I love Ethiopian food; you're going to eat so well." Today's school lunch was my first "Ethiopian" meal, and it did not disappoint. For all of 20 birr apiece (roughly $1.10), we all at a delicious meal - specially prepared by the woman who runs the college cafeteria.
The 20 students are all 8th graders, but they come from four different schools. They are eager and focused - and decreasingly shy with each passing hour. The classes are focused on developing English fluency in reading, writing, and speaking. Even though it is not the home language for any of them, their regular classes are taught in English starting in 5th grade, and the national exams (coming in 10th and 12th grades) are administered in English. We are also working on leadership skills, critical thinking, and community building.
It was a long and exhausting day (I blame jet lag and altitude), but it was also terrific to get the program off to such a spirited and productive start!
The day ended with a celebratory dinner out with some NWS alum parents who are living and working in Addis.
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| Eating in the Hope University College cafeteria. |
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| The girls relax after lunch... |
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| while the boys try their hands at tossing the disc. |
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