Vendredi 20.10.06 Madinia
On n’a jamais finir d’apprendre… Every day’s a school day! It’s Friday so it is indeed another school day. I have the same classes as on Tuesday though there are some minor, unexpected changes in today’s timetable:
8,00 – 8,45 CM2 A – Christophe Carval
9,00 – 9,45 CM2 B – Dominique Bois
BREAK
10,00 – 10,45 CE2 A – Madame Pamphile
10,45 – 11,30 CE2 D – Catherine Edragas
I’m in early so I pop into Christophe’s classroom to set-up. I’m certain I’m in the correct classroom but there’s a lady at the back, writing away. It turns out she’s a trainee teacher from the IUFM and she always sits in on these Friday classes. She took Spanish as her language so she knows Theresa, the Spanish assistante, at the IUFM. As per yesterday’s lesson plan I recap on the previous class by bringing up the map work and the phrases we learnt. We eventually progress on to new names after everyone has adequately conversed. Of course there are some students who speak more than they should but I’m amazed that the first class seems to be full of fatigued children. It’s only the first class of the day but most of them need to prop themselves up whether they are seated or standing, and others are nearly flat out on their desks. I wonder how many of these children have actually had breakfast or a good night’s sleep; my suspicions are confirmed later…
For la deuxième heure the CM2 classes are all off to Madinia Cinema in Schoelcher. I don’t feel so cheated that I can’t go too because since its La Semaine de Science (Science Week) they’re actually going to see an exposition not a film. So instead of taking Dominique’s class I have a meeting with Jossylene, my responsable. She obviously knew that an outing was organised and that we’d have this time to talk. Not that it really makes much difference whether I was told in advance that I wouldn’t have a class but it would still be nice to be notified. My wish is granted. Jossylene informs me of a rèunion I have next Wednesday at the CAFOC in Didier for my «Allocation Logement». Apart from imparting administrative information Jossylene also gives me some helpful advice and resources for my classes. She also listens to my ideas and answers the various questions that I’ve amassed regarding school life and daily life in Martinique. She also sits in on my next class. She says that it went very well for my first time and advises me to use more songs and rhymes to get the children to remember what we’ve learnt.
I spot Christophe in the library later on and I think to myself that it’s odd he’s back so soon with the CM2 class. He tells me that one of the children collapsed and had to be taken to hospital. The child had not had any breakfast. The whole class were now back with their trip cut short and Christophe left to fill out multiple insurance forms!
Before I came to Chateauboeuf I was told that the school was situated in one of the less advantageous quartiers. Even though there are some attractive residential areas it’s the contrasting communities and a lack of local amenities which contribute to this categorisation. Most of the teachers do not live nearby; and it shows. They are all well dressed and well presented, and even by Irish standards most of them have flash cars. The majority of school kids are friendly and well mannered (despite the fatigue) and they seem to all wear Nike or Puma trainers and have new schoolbags and stationary. Though underneath all the material means there is the sad fact that some of them have to leave the house hours before school starts, whether it is to get to school on time or to escape any early morning aggression that may take place at home. As a result of this they often skip breakfast with their next meal not being until 13,00. And who knows what they get when they go home? A slab of meat, or a slap?
It’s lunchtime and I get a lift into Fort-de-France with Madame Thuly, Elizabeth the Martiniquais assistante and another teacher. I tell them about my plans for the holidays and the mystery teacher tells me about a discothèque ferry with a pool, bars and music which leaves Martinique at night and arrives in Guadeloupe in the morning. We’ll have to suss that out! While we’re stopped at the lights two men approach the car with their wares: pineapples and piments (chilli peppers). Elizabeth looks for money for some peppers. She doesn’t find it by the time the lights change but even though we’re about 300 metres down the road the vendor comes running after us with his multi-coloured peppers. Catherine drops us off at La Savane. We pass on our regards for the weekend, “bon weekend” and go our separate ways. Nicola and I have planned to meet for lunch. En route to our rendezvous I follow a Rasta with hair down to his ankles. He’s quite a tall man so his dreadlocks seem extra chunky. He has too much hair to keep under his hat so instead they are neatly tied back with two side strands. It would have made such a great picture but at the time I thought it would be slightly invasive and a bit risky to take out my camera in the middle of Fort-de-France.
I save my pictures instead for the view from our lunchtime location: La Croisière, 98 Rue Ernest Deproge. It’s looks over the TaxiCo rank, with Fort Royal beyond that and the sea in the background. It’s not exceptionally stunning but it’s possibly the safest way to take pictures of the bay. Nicola has to get back to school so she just has time for the Poulet Colombo. I get the lunchtime menu with accras de morrue to start, le râgout boeuf et cous-cous for mains and flan coco for sweets. I stay for a while longer to take my time eating, to take in the view and to take snaps.
Just as I’m setting off the heavens open and I find myself under a canopy with about 30 other people. I’ve been between two minds all day whether to get a TaxiCo to Rachel and Sara’s house in Diamant though the clammy, drizzly weather and my weary body tell me otherwise. Plus, the fact that I was in Diamant last weekend, and the reassurance that there will be plenty of other parties, helps me make up my mind. I arrive home about 16,00 and fall into bed a while later for what becomes a night of splendid slumber and absorbing dreams.
On n’a jamais finir d’apprendre… Every day’s a school day! It’s Friday so it is indeed another school day. I have the same classes as on Tuesday though there are some minor, unexpected changes in today’s timetable:
8,00 – 8,45 CM2 A – Christophe Carval
9,00 – 9,45 CM2 B – Dominique Bois
BREAK
10,00 – 10,45 CE2 A – Madame Pamphile
10,45 – 11,30 CE2 D – Catherine Edragas
I’m in early so I pop into Christophe’s classroom to set-up. I’m certain I’m in the correct classroom but there’s a lady at the back, writing away. It turns out she’s a trainee teacher from the IUFM and she always sits in on these Friday classes. She took Spanish as her language so she knows Theresa, the Spanish assistante, at the IUFM. As per yesterday’s lesson plan I recap on the previous class by bringing up the map work and the phrases we learnt. We eventually progress on to new names after everyone has adequately conversed. Of course there are some students who speak more than they should but I’m amazed that the first class seems to be full of fatigued children. It’s only the first class of the day but most of them need to prop themselves up whether they are seated or standing, and others are nearly flat out on their desks. I wonder how many of these children have actually had breakfast or a good night’s sleep; my suspicions are confirmed later…
For la deuxième heure the CM2 classes are all off to Madinia Cinema in Schoelcher. I don’t feel so cheated that I can’t go too because since its La Semaine de Science (Science Week) they’re actually going to see an exposition not a film. So instead of taking Dominique’s class I have a meeting with Jossylene, my responsable. She obviously knew that an outing was organised and that we’d have this time to talk. Not that it really makes much difference whether I was told in advance that I wouldn’t have a class but it would still be nice to be notified. My wish is granted. Jossylene informs me of a rèunion I have next Wednesday at the CAFOC in Didier for my «Allocation Logement». Apart from imparting administrative information Jossylene also gives me some helpful advice and resources for my classes. She also listens to my ideas and answers the various questions that I’ve amassed regarding school life and daily life in Martinique. She also sits in on my next class. She says that it went very well for my first time and advises me to use more songs and rhymes to get the children to remember what we’ve learnt.
I spot Christophe in the library later on and I think to myself that it’s odd he’s back so soon with the CM2 class. He tells me that one of the children collapsed and had to be taken to hospital. The child had not had any breakfast. The whole class were now back with their trip cut short and Christophe left to fill out multiple insurance forms!
Before I came to Chateauboeuf I was told that the school was situated in one of the less advantageous quartiers. Even though there are some attractive residential areas it’s the contrasting communities and a lack of local amenities which contribute to this categorisation. Most of the teachers do not live nearby; and it shows. They are all well dressed and well presented, and even by Irish standards most of them have flash cars. The majority of school kids are friendly and well mannered (despite the fatigue) and they seem to all wear Nike or Puma trainers and have new schoolbags and stationary. Though underneath all the material means there is the sad fact that some of them have to leave the house hours before school starts, whether it is to get to school on time or to escape any early morning aggression that may take place at home. As a result of this they often skip breakfast with their next meal not being until 13,00. And who knows what they get when they go home? A slab of meat, or a slap?
It’s lunchtime and I get a lift into Fort-de-France with Madame Thuly, Elizabeth the Martiniquais assistante and another teacher. I tell them about my plans for the holidays and the mystery teacher tells me about a discothèque ferry with a pool, bars and music which leaves Martinique at night and arrives in Guadeloupe in the morning. We’ll have to suss that out! While we’re stopped at the lights two men approach the car with their wares: pineapples and piments (chilli peppers). Elizabeth looks for money for some peppers. She doesn’t find it by the time the lights change but even though we’re about 300 metres down the road the vendor comes running after us with his multi-coloured peppers. Catherine drops us off at La Savane. We pass on our regards for the weekend, “bon weekend” and go our separate ways. Nicola and I have planned to meet for lunch. En route to our rendezvous I follow a Rasta with hair down to his ankles. He’s quite a tall man so his dreadlocks seem extra chunky. He has too much hair to keep under his hat so instead they are neatly tied back with two side strands. It would have made such a great picture but at the time I thought it would be slightly invasive and a bit risky to take out my camera in the middle of Fort-de-France.
I save my pictures instead for the view from our lunchtime location: La Croisière, 98 Rue Ernest Deproge. It’s looks over the TaxiCo rank, with Fort Royal beyond that and the sea in the background. It’s not exceptionally stunning but it’s possibly the safest way to take pictures of the bay. Nicola has to get back to school so she just has time for the Poulet Colombo. I get the lunchtime menu with accras de morrue to start, le râgout boeuf et cous-cous for mains and flan coco for sweets. I stay for a while longer to take my time eating, to take in the view and to take snaps.
Just as I’m setting off the heavens open and I find myself under a canopy with about 30 other people. I’ve been between two minds all day whether to get a TaxiCo to Rachel and Sara’s house in Diamant though the clammy, drizzly weather and my weary body tell me otherwise. Plus, the fact that I was in Diamant last weekend, and the reassurance that there will be plenty of other parties, helps me make up my mind. I arrive home about 16,00 and fall into bed a while later for what becomes a night of splendid slumber and absorbing dreams.
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