COUNTRY: Maldives
PROGRAM: UniBreak
PROJECT: Teaching & Sports Coaching
WRITTEN BY: Amanda Maitland
After a fabulous welcome ceremony and well awaited sleep, Assad took us to GA Atoll School to meet with the principal and fellow teachers. We were introduced to Mr. Abdullah the school principal who spoke with us about what subjects and grades we would like to teach. After some discussion and explanation of how the school system works we were introduced to our associate teachers who would be guiding us through the majority of the placement.
After we had met our associate teachers, we were more than eager to start teaching and getting to know the school community but before the teaching began Assad had organised one more snorkeling trip to an uninhabited island. This was our third day as a group but felt like we had know each other for a life time.
This experience has been one containing many first attempts at new feats including, accessing a boat via a thin wooden plank, climbing up to the second story of a building via a thin creaking wooden ladder with missing steps, actually enjoying cold showers and driving ourselves across the Indian ocean with Luisa taking the first leg.
Captain Luisa began our snorkeling trip, roaring open the engine of the dingy and out across more Maldivian blue, crystal clear water. We arrived at 'James Island' (which James himself had fittingly named and claimed) with high expectations as each island we visit surpasses the previous in its divine surroundings and amazing sea life. After some name writing in the sand and more photos of 'postcard perfect surroundings' we set off snorkeling. Sure enough we were all stoked to be visiting the 'drop off' where we not only found Nemo and Dory but also many other familiar Disney characters.
Heading back to Kolamaafushi we captured another surreal photograph of the hot Maldivian sun setting over James Island, marking the end of our mini holiday before starting our teaching adventures the following morning.
Our first day at school started with an assembly introducing the Maldives June 2012 team to the school community. We then had a staff meeting where we became acquainted with majority of the faculty and most importantly chose our school house teams from a hat. Our timing of arrival coincided with the islands inter-house football and netball tournaments with both games beings played on alternate days. We were lucky enough to witness the grand final of both sports and add our own Aussie influence by teaching the students the chant, "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi."
The sports tournament was played in the late afternoons when the Maldivian sun is a little less harsh. The timing didn't stop us unaccustomed Aussies from sweating out the majority of the water we consume. With our sweaty foreheads we battled through the heat supporting our house teams with cheers, drumming and teaching the students the Macarena. Our famous chant has become a regular call of hello with many students chanting, "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" when approaching us in the streets or at school.
Tired, ecstatic and sweaty we made it to the end of our first week! A common feeling brought up during our spicy dinners is how amazed we are that we can fit so many activities in the hours of the day. A typical day is,
6:20am - Alarms sound to start the day (but are snoozed for that extra 10 mins to avoid getting dressed in our head to toe clothing)
6:30am – We’re up and starting the day
6:50am - Breakfast normally consisting of strawberry cornflakes, mini bananas, jam, cheese or honey on toast.
7:20am - Arrive at school.
7:30am - First period begins
At school being studious teachers
12:45pm - school finishes
1:00pm - Lunch
2:00pm - Peel our sweaty selves off the chairs and make our way home to escape the heat.
midday showers to cool off, naps, sometimes swimming and chilling in the boys 'hut.'
4:15pm - Get ready to make our way to support our teams in the house tournament.
House tournament
6:00pm - quick swim to cool off
7:00pm- Dinner.
8:00pm-
Assad's activity time, consisting of pool, badminton, music sessions and supply shopping time.
10:00pm - Debrief of the day in the girls lounge room with iPods.
Bed time!
6:20am - Start again!
The end of the school week was marked with a football match between the island's men's team and the winner of the school tournament. Our very own, 'Elephant' and 'Stallion' starred in the line up for the island match and helped lead the school team to victory for the first time, with the match ending in a penalty shoot out!
Our long days are soothed with cold showers and the comfort of drinking Iced Milo's. The celebrity effect we have here hasn't worn off yet and neither have our Cheshire cat grins or positive attitudes. Clinching our empty milo glasses together we celebrate making it to our one week anniversary and look forward to the adventures yet to come....
End of first week stats:
Total photo count: 2099
Iced milo count: 36
Showers per day: 4
500ml water bottles consumed (drinking only): 448
Doctors visits: 2
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