May 12, 2007

We have had an unusual amount of rain for this time of year, and it is starting to cool off. The Tongans wear fleece jackets and sweatshirts (one of our student’s wears a parka) while we remain in short sleeves and still sweat!

After having completed the required theory in Term 1, Cliff has found a better way to teach his practical application classes, giving the students self-paced assignments to learn and practice new computer skills. On the one hand, he has been able to cut his prep time down significantly. On the other hand, the students are still not doing much work. Much to the students’ dismay, Cliff has found a way to block unwanted web sites and is now busily working on remote desktop access. You would think that, with nothing else to do, the students might get to work. But, no; only a few have demonstrated any motivation. Oh well, you can lead a horse to water….

Jen is in the midst of assessments for her students, which have only been recently introduced. She has been directed to give a few standardized tests - her nemesis - and she cooperates with only minimal griping.

She single-handedly took her class to downtown Nuku’alofa for two half-days to gather information for their “Boxtown” project. After studying the history, architecture, the riots, government, city planning, geometry, measuring and mapping, they will map and build three-dimensional models of a block that they want to improve.

Cliff is recovering from a flu that now has laid Kira up. Jen, knock on wood, has not been catching too many of these viruses. It must be all those years in the classroom that has helped build up her resistance.

After much contemplation and discussion, we have taken in one of the Year of Service students to live with us on the three days that she is not committed to working in Nuku’alofa.

We have been trying to keep our noses out of the politics and administration of the school and various community activities, but it has been difficult, because we are witness to transpires on many fronts. Tonga is an extremely small place, and we have been privy to many aspects in our brief time here. Since we both have graduate degrees in organization and management, it is hard to turn a blind eye to decisions that appear to us misguided. People want us to step in, but we do not feel that it is our place or role in the school. Yet, it is extremely frustrating to stand by and watch. Are we minding our own business? Or are we withholding our skills and talents where they may be needed? If we get involved will it be resented as a hit and run since we are only here one year? Should we act more and complain less?

We contemplate our place often. Do we let the Year of Service Student get shuffled from house to house, because no one will take her in when we have the space and resources to help? Should we call the Sanitation Department when the fishing company makes a garbage dump at the end of our road and plugs up the drainage flow with fill or should we hope another neighbor will do something (they haven’t)? Do we speak up for the teachers who feel they are not being heard or just stay in our classrooms?