Orientation and Blog Title

Several weeks ago Fulbright held an orientation for all incoming international teachers and all outgoing American teachers. It was a wonderful experience. I met, for the first time, my exchange partner Eric Dzakuma as well as the two other teachers going to Ghana: one from Springfield, Illinois and one from Rockville, Maryland, and their exchange partners, and a woman who just returned from her Fulbright year teaching in Ghana who was able to provide great insights into our futures. In addition we had a terrific crossing cultures orientation and had a seminar led by Harry Wong (of The First Days of School fame – there were a lot of teacher groupies getting autographs and photos with Harry). Much of what I have learned about Ghanaian schools was imparted to me during this orientation week. I was also grateful to meet my fellow American exchange participants and to find out that we will be living and teaching within relative proximity to each other; it is nice to know that there will be people who will understand the transitions and emotions I am likely to be going through.

The name for this blog comes from a fortune cookie I got at lunch one day during orientation: “Beauty will surround you – open your eyes to see it.” My goal is to approach my year on exchange with this attitude: that there is beauty everywhere, in every experience, and I just have to be open to it.

I have much packing to do before I leave, and more shopping (I have never shopped so much in my entire life as I have this past month), and will lose my internet connection as well, so will likely not post until I arrive in Ghana. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you all!

Back Story

Last fall I applied for a Fulbright teaching exchange; the process included a lengthy application complete with essay and recommendations, and later an interview. Then I waited, and waited, and waited. In May I was told that I would probably not be matched with anyone for the upcoming school year. However, approximately two weeks later I was notified that they had found a match for me in Ghana (my first choice location). I have spent the summer preparing physically and emotionally for the year to come. The physical part, although arduous, is by far the easier part (although I have no idea how to pack for a year abroad). The emotional part is still a work in progress: sometimes I am able to think that “whatever will be will be” and other times I lose sleep because I wonder if I will do well teaching in a new environment subjects somewhat different than those I teach in the United States. I will be teaching one section of Government, mostly government theory rather than a study of Ghanaian government, and two sections of Social Studies, which seems to be a little bit of everything. I will have approximately 50 students in each class. The method of teaching, I have been told, is direct instruction (lecture) rather than the student-centered instruction we aim for at my home school. I am told there will be many other differences as well – education in America is very focused on the use of technology, my classroom here has a television, DVD player and VCR, an overhead projector, and I have a laptop. Other teachers in my school have LCD projectors and Smartboards. In Ghana I will have a blackboard (really a section of wall painted black); there is also a computer lab where the students take computer classes. I asked about using an overhead projector, and was told that I could borrow one, or an LCD projector, from the American Embassy in Ghana; however, the rooms are likely too bright (no blinds on the windows) to use them effectively. This year will challenge me to be creative in how I share information with my students and how we make sure they learn it!

I leave this coming Saturday (August 30) and arrive in Ghana the following morning to begin my year-long adventure. The school year is three terms long. First term is September through December with a two or three week break for Christmas, Second term is from January through the beginning of April followed by a three week break for Easter, Third term is from the end of April through the beginning of August followed by a five week summer break.