This week I experienced some major culture shock. I am getting quite used to being at school and realizing I have no idea what is going on or what is happening. For example this Monday I was going to read to one class, around 50-60 kids, but then when I got there it was actually over 100 kids because three different classes did not have teachers. They were the Reception (kindergarten), Class one and Class two students and they listened to me and the story and asked questions for 15 mins. I was kind of shocked. I have realized that it is normal for me to get to a classroom and there to be no teachers around and the kids are doing what ever they kind of want.
The Major Culture Shock that I got this week was on Wednesday at school. My host brother was playing on one of the roundabout play pumps. And another kid pushed him backwards into the center, he hit is head and had a huge gash on the back of his head (He is fine do not worry). It happened at the end of lunch and there were no teachers around because they were all in a two hour staff meeting, about a field trip, that went through all the afternoon classes. So while the teachers were busy in a meeting the kids ran around free doing what ever. I read to some of the classes I was scheduled in but had no idea what to do with the rest.
When they were done the staff meeting about a field trip they then had another meeting, a prayer/bible study time. During the prayer time my host brother came in and showed the teacher what had happened to his head. By that time it had stopped bleeding and that is when I really felt out of place. I did not know how to comfort a child from Lesotho, did not know if they were going to give him first aid. They did give him first aid, I watched to make sure that it was not negative but it was not the best. Then they told him to go home and maybe go to the clinic the next day.
When I go home my host brother had gone off to play with friends and everything seemed to be okay. I did not know if I should tell them that he needs to go and see a doctor or if that was not something they would do for that type of injury. I looked to make sure that everything was alright and he was not going to have major complications. I also told him that we needed to change the dressings sometime and I would help with that. He seemed fine before bed and I thought that he might not need any more medical attention.
Then in the morning he did not feel well and was still in bed when it was time to go to school. I check to see how he was doing and told my nkhono that he should go to a doctor. I made it quite clear and he looked like he was not feeling well. When I got home from school he was doing great and he had gotten the cut cleaned and got medicine and he is heading back on Monday.
The whole time I felt that I was totally out of place, did not know what the cultural norms were. I did not even know the very basic things that I should be doing or saying. It was the first time that I felt not apart of the culture in a way that I was not expecting. I knew in some areas, especially the school that I would not know what to do, but this just took me by surprise.
On another note: I have heard from some people that they would like some more information about the school, my home life here and the food that I have been eating. I also want to share some of the crazy weather we have been having as well. Those all will be blog posts coming up. Unless something else crazy or exciting happens.
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