It is one of my last mornings here, and I am watching the sunrise. It feels like the perfect time to do what I always irrationally do - give you a sketch of a typical day here, right before I leave.
Most mornings, like this one, I'm the first one awake. I usually get up between 6:00 and 7:00, take a shower, and then spend an hour or so by myself, reading or writing or thinking or praying. It's my only alone time of the day, and I cherish it.
Life at the compound is dictated by meal times, which means that everyone starts heading downstairs around 8:00 for breakfast. Breakfast is the best meal of the day, and I try to savor it. I'm actually going to miss having fresh coffee, eggs, and oatmeal made for me every morning.
After eating and chatting for a bit, I usually head back upstairs and get to work. Work means different things on different days; maybe I'm making lesson plans, or grading papers, or writing a test, or doing research. If there's power, I'm usually on the computer. Sometimes, I get pulled in to help out with other programs, like summer camp or the garden.
At 12:30 or so, meal time rolls around again, and we all head back downstairs. Lunch is usually pretty underwhelming, but it's nice to sit and eat together for a little bit. After lunch, I continue doing my work.
I teach from 2:30 until 5:00 or so. I have my Level 2 (out of 6) first, and then at 3:45 or so, I start phonetics class. After class, it's usually time to eat again. The rest of the night is pretty low-key, especially if there's no internet - a few hours spent chatting, reading, watching movies, doing research, replying to emails, or lusting after pictures of food. Around 11:00 or 12:00, it's time for bed. I cover myself in bug spray, lay down underneath the mosquito net that retains more heat than seems possible, and listen to the compound noises (roosters crowing/ducks quacking/dogs barking/rats clicking/goats wailing) as I wait for sleep to come.
So, not too exciting, but it's life. We'll see how that compares to the American life that's waiting for me...!
0 comments :
Post a Comment