That high school life

Our principal, Walter John, assigns us short paragraphs to write about the going-ons at Chuuk SDA School. So I thought that a compilation of these would give you some good snapshots of what that high school life is like here outside of teaching.
So, here we go.

High School Picnic 

What was supposed to be a “Welcome Freshman!” picnic held at the beginning of the year turned into a “Well it’s the second quarter, let’s have a party!” picnic. The high school students headed over to Anna’s Resort on October 31 to enjoy fellowship and the uniqueness of Chuuk. After being let into the resort by the super tight security the group had a short worship and then the students were free to do whatever their hearts desired – within reason. Food was quickly prepared and fun was had. The resort is on the other side of Weno and consists of two concrete pools with a bit of grime and rainwater at the bottom, a dirty pool with some depressed sea turtles, a bunch of coconut trees, a random house, and many coconut palm-covered huts lining the main paths along the two short peninsulas. The day was spent kayaking around the coast, jumping into the ocean, bumping a volleyball around, and for one of the people there more than the others – getting burned. 

As you probably could guess, as the only pale person in attendance, I was said "one." It seems that no matter how much sunscreen I apply the sun always gets the last laugh. There are abandoned ships all around Chuuk, and I was able to go snorkel around one that was there. I scratched myself on the ship and spent a couple seconds worrying about sharks and manta rays but then decided they couldn't hurt me. After that I kind of just spent two hours in a hammock, swaying to the sound of the wind in the coconut leaves and Chuukese voices.

Iowa Testing 

From September 22-26 grades 3-12 at the Chuuk SDA School underwent a week of repetitive, scholastic, and energy-draining tests called the Iowa Tests. The Iowa tests are based out of the University of Iowa in the United States, and since the school is now under the North American Division its students are required to take the same tests that students in the States are taking. The Iowa tests are annual tests that are meant to show administrators where their students are academically compared to the national norm and how well their students can fill in bubbles using a number 2 pencil. Tests were taken in the morning and then classes resumed as usual in the afternoon; this week proved to be an excellent time for the staff to exercise their flexibility. The students took tests that included, but were not limited to: Computation, Vocabulary, Science, and Math. 

For once, I was able to be the person who got to say: "Please read the directions silently while I read them aloud." Yippee!

IOM Conference 

On September 11 and 12, the senior class at Chuuk SDA School took a couple days off their usual Physics and Bible classes to attend a different sort of class – a two-day conference held by the International Organization for Migration at their office. The meetings covered many topics about life and culture in Guam or the United States, and presentations ranged everywhere from how much to tip at a restaurant to how to prepare for an interview. The time proved to be very informative to anybody who had not traveled out of Chuuk. The students were in meetings from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm, and were given a lovely hour lunch break. This conference gave time for the students to talk to people who have been to or are from the United States and to ask any questions they wanted to in a relaxed setting. As an added benefit we finished the material around 1:00 pm on the second day and were able to leave early.

Since I am American and ergo all-knowledgeable about American culture, I was volunteered to present that part of the material. Fun stuff like: 'what to do when you first meet somebody' and 'don't spit' stuff.

Seniors’ Car Wash  

Class of 2015

Occasionally a car needs to be washed, and one of the ways to fix that problem is to go outside during one of Chuuk’s many rainstorms and use a rag to clean the gray dirt off of the lower part of your vehicle. Or, the other way is to benefit a good cause and pay a bunch of teens one dollar to wash your car for you. The senior class picked this method as one of their ways to raise money for graduation; on October 3^rd we stocked up on laundry soap and kitchen sponges and headed into town to get some money. A few of the students stood by the road with their handheld signs and yelled “Car Wash!” over and over again, and when a driver made the excellent decision to get his ride squeaky-clean the rest of the students were quick to pounce on the vehicle and give it the royal treatment. Chuukese music played from one of the student’s cars, a potluck lunch was shared by all, and the students were able to raise around $80 to put towards graduation costs.

This was actually a lot of fun! I learned how to say car wash in Chuukese, I don't know the exact spelling but it's pronounced duh-duh terack-tuh. And I may be saying it wrong because Minako keeps asking me to say it for her weeks after the car wash and she laughs every time. Also, a couple of my senior guys write their own music and record it on CD's, and they sound really good! I just have to convince them to sing for graduation...

So that's a little taste of what being in high school is like in Chuuk, at least the mostly non-academic part of it. Teaching high school is drastically different than teaching elementary school. Back in Kosrae and in my fourth grade science class here my students are climbing on top of their desks when they know the answer to a question or when they want to tell me what sort of thing they did last weekend.

Me and LaLa, the locals are so used to
the salinity that they can just open
their eyes underwater...
Me? Not so much

But high school has proven to be a little more difficult to get the students engaged and excited about learning. The students in my other five classes - which include the eighth grade science and the four high school science classes - are largely unmotivated and are constantly asking me if they can just take a nap or watch a movie. Umm... NO. I know that copying notes from a green chalkboard isn't even close to the Top-Billion-Fun-Things-To-Do-Ever List, but is it too much for you to quietly write down the notes so we can get to some fun stuff?
Thank you so much to everybody who has sent me encouragement, things for the kids, and science materials. You are making my day and a difference!