On the last Sunday of March we had visitation day for the boarding students. This is a day when parents are encouraged to come to the school. They have a conference with their child’s teacher(s), spend time with their children, and bring any supplies or things that their child has used up or worn out.
We enjoyed the opportunity to meet most of the parents. Many of them expressed how much of a blessing the school is to them. Our school’s tuition is lower than most schools and significantly lower than schools in the capital. For that reason, many of our students are children who wouldn't be able to attend school otherwise, or they were attending poor quality schools. The parents were grateful that we have good buildings, professional teachers, and even that we are here as well.
Whether we like it or not, there is a common perception that when a westerner is involved, the education is better. While many schools in the capital have westerners involved, and others have financial support from the west, it is completely uncommon for westerners to live in the villages. Since we live on the property, right next to the school, the parents saw that our kids are living like their kids. Many of them could not believe that our kids are here and we didn't leave them in the US.
As a parent I can relate to why our family living here would give them some comfort. When someone comes for the day and then leaves, they are interested in the school and they care about it, but they aren't necessarily completely invested. Since we live here, we are 100% invested in this property. What affects these kids also affects us. If the well is broken and the pond is dry, we are affected. If the rain doesn't come or the ants are running rampant, we are affected. If the power is cut off, we are affected. You get the idea.
I’m not saying that those who live off property aren't really invested; I can just understand the parent’s perception.
Anyway, it was a good day for the most part, but there was one big down side. We had a few parents that did not make it. Even though I had never seen the parents and I wasn't sure which parent went with which child, I knew whose parent came and who’s didn't. When you saw the face of one whose parent hadn't arrived, you knew immediately. They were so sad! I noticed one little girl that was sad pretty early in the afternoon and it only got worse as the day passed by. Seeing her eyes full of tears was heart breaking, but there wasn't anything we could do. We could hug her and encourage her that the rain had caused delays on the roads, but that didn't really change anything for her.
There was one boy in particular whose parents Floyd and I were hoping to see. I had noticed on Thursday that he had a wound on his knee and I felt that it was infected. I talked with the head mistress and she asked that we not take him to the doctor until the parent came on Sunday. The mom had said she was coming, but she never arrived. The head mistress called her several times, but there was no answer. His knee was still a problem, so on Monday we took him to town to visit the clinic. Sure enough, the wound was infected but they did not need to “I & D” (incision and drain, it’s the local lingo). :) They prescribed antibiotic and steroid to kill the infection and some pain killer.
While in town we also bought him some new flip flops (his were being held together with binding wire). I walked into a small shop and they had very many red, blue, and black flip flops. I saw a pair of nice green ones that I thought was about his size. I put it on the floor and said, “try this one.” He looked confused at first, but Floyd told him to go ahead and put his foot in. They fit quite nicely. We told him he could pick any of the colors, even red like his old pair. He assured us that he wanted the green ones. I wish I could adequately describe his face. He was so excited and so proud of those new flip flops. The lady put them in a bag for him and he carried it out. The next evening we saw him wearing his old flip flops and Floyd asked him why he was wearing them. He proudly said, “I've washed mine.” He had worn them in the day and then washed them when he bathed, so they were drying.
Once again, our supporters made a specific impact for a little boy that they don’t even know.
We enjoyed the opportunity to meet most of the parents. Many of them expressed how much of a blessing the school is to them. Our school’s tuition is lower than most schools and significantly lower than schools in the capital. For that reason, many of our students are children who wouldn't be able to attend school otherwise, or they were attending poor quality schools. The parents were grateful that we have good buildings, professional teachers, and even that we are here as well.
Whether we like it or not, there is a common perception that when a westerner is involved, the education is better. While many schools in the capital have westerners involved, and others have financial support from the west, it is completely uncommon for westerners to live in the villages. Since we live on the property, right next to the school, the parents saw that our kids are living like their kids. Many of them could not believe that our kids are here and we didn't leave them in the US.
As a parent I can relate to why our family living here would give them some comfort. When someone comes for the day and then leaves, they are interested in the school and they care about it, but they aren't necessarily completely invested. Since we live here, we are 100% invested in this property. What affects these kids also affects us. If the well is broken and the pond is dry, we are affected. If the rain doesn't come or the ants are running rampant, we are affected. If the power is cut off, we are affected. You get the idea.
I’m not saying that those who live off property aren't really invested; I can just understand the parent’s perception.
Anyway, it was a good day for the most part, but there was one big down side. We had a few parents that did not make it. Even though I had never seen the parents and I wasn't sure which parent went with which child, I knew whose parent came and who’s didn't. When you saw the face of one whose parent hadn't arrived, you knew immediately. They were so sad! I noticed one little girl that was sad pretty early in the afternoon and it only got worse as the day passed by. Seeing her eyes full of tears was heart breaking, but there wasn't anything we could do. We could hug her and encourage her that the rain had caused delays on the roads, but that didn't really change anything for her.
There was one boy in particular whose parents Floyd and I were hoping to see. I had noticed on Thursday that he had a wound on his knee and I felt that it was infected. I talked with the head mistress and she asked that we not take him to the doctor until the parent came on Sunday. The mom had said she was coming, but she never arrived. The head mistress called her several times, but there was no answer. His knee was still a problem, so on Monday we took him to town to visit the clinic. Sure enough, the wound was infected but they did not need to “I & D” (incision and drain, it’s the local lingo). :) They prescribed antibiotic and steroid to kill the infection and some pain killer.
While in town we also bought him some new flip flops (his were being held together with binding wire). I walked into a small shop and they had very many red, blue, and black flip flops. I saw a pair of nice green ones that I thought was about his size. I put it on the floor and said, “try this one.” He looked confused at first, but Floyd told him to go ahead and put his foot in. They fit quite nicely. We told him he could pick any of the colors, even red like his old pair. He assured us that he wanted the green ones. I wish I could adequately describe his face. He was so excited and so proud of those new flip flops. The lady put them in a bag for him and he carried it out. The next evening we saw him wearing his old flip flops and Floyd asked him why he was wearing them. He proudly said, “I've washed mine.” He had worn them in the day and then washed them when he bathed, so they were drying.
Once again, our supporters made a specific impact for a little boy that they don’t even know.
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