Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life* (*Monty Python whistling optional)

Oh dear. I've done it again. I've let blogging slip down my ever-increasing to-do list, and am now resisting the urge to start a post with an apology: the very thing I said I shouldn't do.

In my defence, the last four weeks of term since we returned from our holidays have been completely and utterly hectic. One of our teachers was on study leave - apparently in Windhoek observing Grade 12 teaching and not the infamous lounging-around-at-home-watching-sitcoms-on-E4 kind - and for whatever reason, Caitlin and I were left to cover his classes. Last time I blogged, this was a challenge. This was character building. Character building, I thought to myself, I can do.

This is what happens when you leave me alone with an empty classroom and new stationery...

Exhibit A: the 'Spelling Superstars' wall, the cause of much intrigue, excitement and hysteria

What happened in between posts was something I don't think I had ever anticipated. Another of the teachers disappeared on study leave for one week, and again, for whatever reason, C and I found ourselves juggling 2 full-time teachers' timetables and our own work. This, I thought to myself, I am not sure whether I can do- at least, not with the energy and enthusiasm that I'd like to. I freely admit that it was, at times, exceedingly frustrating and, at times, it felt like Namibia had never pushed us so hard. Fortunately, it was, at times, great fun and. I figured that if there were no rules, there were none to break: I did the work with them that I wanted to do. I'm reasonably sure my kids think I'm mad as a box of frogs, but I gave up caring - eccentricity was inevitable. We had wall decorations, grammar posters, and the introduction of weekly spelling tests, dreaded by most UK students across the board, went down bizarrely well. The 'Spelling Superstars' wall became the single most controversial square metre of wall space in the entire school; I found myself giving up at least 5 minutes of my lesson on a Thursday morning to let each class scrutinise their scores and the names on the wall. Certificates are another ball game all together. Have you ever tried unleashing certificates on a class of 10 year olds? Oh my giddy aunt. Grade 6A got so jealous of the three students that won them that I had to invite them back to talk to me after school about their complaints! Apparently, one girl is so angry, she is going to write a letter to the Minister. However, I also have a dedicated fan club of 19 certificate winners, and despite the raucous I may have caused, I had classes that cared about their work, classes that were motivated to win, and ultimately, classes whose spelling test scores were largely excellent. Lily - 1, Rest of the World - not quite 0, but I think I won anyway. Moral victory, or something.



Much to my delight, all of our staff have returned and I have had two brilliant days at school this week. That to-do list is being well and truly obliterated! I have finally joined in with Grade 6 and Grade 7 Afrikaans classes, and I'm having my Nama dress for our upcoming culture weekend in July fitted today with one of the other teachers. The nature of our work is due to change slightly, with us teaching less of our Arts/BIS lessons and taking on learning support for the students that have serious literacy problems - quite a startling number, even in the upper primary grades. This is a challenge; but this, I think I can do.

Time is flying uncomfortably quickly, and I am struggling to believe that it is mid-June already. However, if I get too bothered by it, I remember that I found Pimm's (of all things in all places) in my local Spar last weekend, and suddenly all is well with the world again. Bright indeed.