On Wednesday all the girls finally came to school for a short meet-and-greet with the teachers. I was nervous, it felt like I was going to teach for the first time and at the same time it reminded me of my first day at school. The feeling of not knowing anyone and being mushed in a colage of new faces and sounds. I won't lie, but I did spend a good hour in my classroom hiding from the girls, trying to sort myself. I looked at the 54 empty seats that will be filled with life. Soon they all came in one by one. Some of them were lost like little sheep that needed to be guided and some majestically walked in and greeted me with perfect English.
I introduced myself and said that I was a South African English teacher and that I will make sure that by the end of their course they will be able to speak and write in English according to their ability. They looked rest assured.
Soon they told me about their families. One girl actually has 21 brothers and sisters!!!! I was so shocked and I told her that I only have a 1 blood brother and that is it. They were more shocked about my small family than me being shocked about their mega families.
Soon we were all sharing tips on the best make-up and the best holiday places in Saudi Arabia. They also told me which foods are the best to prepare at home! Soon they were explaining to me how to make Jareesh, which is my favorite Saudi dish that I have ever tasted.
After a while, I knew they would ask me the question that I dread so much! "Teacher, are you married?" I hate this question like I hate the gum under my shoe. Why ? Well, because my answer is "no" to that question and that answer is always followed by a "why". Then I have to be creative with my answer. "Well, I am not interested in marriage yet. Actually I still want to see the world." With whatever reason I give them, they are never really satisfied, because then they start to introduce the idea that I can just marry on of their brothers. Of course being a South African, the idea of marrying some dude that is living some where some how in this world of ours that I have never met nor seen is a bit obscene.
I told my brother about this and his response was plain and simple "sis, marriage is a gamble really, you never know what you are going to get." I guess he hit the nail on the head, but I am not sure if I am ready to take a gamble yet.
With all the questions and answers that were being spilled in my class, the girls didn't even realise that they could speak English. Some of them explained things to me. One thing that is the road block of most students learning a langauge is the not the langauge itself, it is the confidence. It is the fear of the spot-light being placed on that person to actually speak in a tongue that he/she don't use in their every day life. The fear of making a mistake and being judged for it. However, if the atmosphere and the area is confident and conversational, the often fall into the trap of speaking without fear or worry.
After meeting and greeting the girls, they left for home, I stayed behind and all I was left with was a stuffy room with two fans swirling hot air around. I just knew that this bunch of new girls are going to be good and make teaching more than what I thought.
So, here is to a new year full of adve
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