Wednesday morning, March 12, 2014
I have begun oral English exams with my primary students this morning. Today it's been those cute third graders, struggling to pronounce thirteen when their front teeth haven't come in yet or wrinkling up their noses and staring at the ceiling to recall all the days of the week. One boy was golden, at first, "Sunday, Monday, Tuesday— " Then he stalled, seeming sick, until he brightened, finishing with, "How, are, you!" With such enthusiasm, he'll get it eventually.
When the third graders went to lunch, I had time to finished correcting rough drafts of eleventh grade pen pal letters. These letters to their friends in Pennsylvania contain such an account of what's happening lately that I decided to ask the students permission to share them with you.
Hi, Trent,
Last week my school celebrated its 20th anniversary. It was a beautiful celebration. We took three days to celebrate with our school. On the first day, we paraded in the street with the school's band. There were many Americans who came to celebrate with us. On the second day, there was a big concert in the school. The concert was full of activities. There was a magician who did magic tricks for us. On the third day, we were in the sports park at Manquette to watch the
performance of the school choir which sang many beautiful songs for us. It was the best celebration of my life because we were all in the same place, at the same time, enjoying ourselves.
Last week was also very important for all Haitians because it was Carnival in our country. There were many Mardi Gras revelers who wore masks. Some had whips which they cracked in the street. Sometimes they carried a box with a frog or a snake in it. They frightened people, with the snake to make them give money. There were other young men who had black oil on their bodies. We call them "siray" in Haiti. They would soil people who didn't give them money.
The president of the country was in Gonaïves, the city of our independence. The biggest celebration of the Carnival was there. People all around the country went to Gonaïves for dancing and drinking. There were many floats which were ridden by musicians playing their music. My favorite musical float was BC. It's a Creole rap band. There were a lot of people around that float. There were many people who got hurt during the celebration but no one died. It was the first time that many people didn't die during the Carnival in Haiti. It was a success. After the Carnival, people who didn't live in Gonaïves returned to their cities.
My older brother and his wife were in Gonaïves too but I have never had the chance to attend the Carnival. I watched it on TV. What is your favorite celebration? Have you already traveled to another country? I hope to hear back from you soon.
I have begun oral English exams with my primary students this morning. Today it's been those cute third graders, struggling to pronounce thirteen when their front teeth haven't come in yet or wrinkling up their noses and staring at the ceiling to recall all the days of the week. One boy was golden, at first, "Sunday, Monday, Tuesday— " Then he stalled, seeming sick, until he brightened, finishing with, "How, are, you!" With such enthusiasm, he'll get it eventually.
When the third graders went to lunch, I had time to finished correcting rough drafts of eleventh grade pen pal letters. These letters to their friends in Pennsylvania contain such an account of what's happening lately that I decided to ask the students permission to share them with you.
Hi, Trent,
Last week my school celebrated its 20th anniversary. It was a beautiful celebration. We took three days to celebrate with our school. On the first day, we paraded in the street with the school's band. There were many Americans who came to celebrate with us. On the second day, there was a big concert in the school. The concert was full of activities. There was a magician who did magic tricks for us. On the third day, we were in the sports park at Manquette to watch the
performance of the school choir which sang many beautiful songs for us. It was the best celebration of my life because we were all in the same place, at the same time, enjoying ourselves.
Last week was also very important for all Haitians because it was Carnival in our country. There were many Mardi Gras revelers who wore masks. Some had whips which they cracked in the street. Sometimes they carried a box with a frog or a snake in it. They frightened people, with the snake to make them give money. There were other young men who had black oil on their bodies. We call them "siray" in Haiti. They would soil people who didn't give them money.
The president of the country was in Gonaïves, the city of our independence. The biggest celebration of the Carnival was there. People all around the country went to Gonaïves for dancing and drinking. There were many floats which were ridden by musicians playing their music. My favorite musical float was BC. It's a Creole rap band. There were a lot of people around that float. There were many people who got hurt during the celebration but no one died. It was the first time that many people didn't die during the Carnival in Haiti. It was a success. After the Carnival, people who didn't live in Gonaïves returned to their cities.
My older brother and his wife were in Gonaïves too but I have never had the chance to attend the Carnival. I watched it on TV. What is your favorite celebration? Have you already traveled to another country? I hope to hear back from you soon.
Here is an interesting sociological excerpt from Coldweene
Saintilnord's letter:
Dear Francesca,
Dear Francesca,
Hi! I'm doing well, thanks to Jesus. How are you? Your
activities? Your school? I'm so happy to learn from you about dating
in the USA. In Haiti, it's different. There are several reasons why a
parent doesn't allow his child to date at our age. Haiti is a poor
country. Parents must work very hard to educate their kids. Dating at
our age is dangerous because many high school students don't
Your friend,
Caleb Delva
understand the word "love". They think it's a sexual thing at their age. They understand love in a bad
way. That's why a good parent in Haiti won't ever allow his child to date at a young age.
Here's a newsy excerpt from Samuel Alcius:
During Easter vacation week, I will participate with my school in the national knowledge competition. There are six players on the team. It will be organized in Cap-Haitian with the best schools in the country. Our objective is to win the competition this year and we are very motivated to do that!
Christophe Metellus has been having an inter-faith dialogue by
correspondence with his Jewish pen pal. His last letter was so biting I nearly censored it and then decided to apologize to our Jewish friend for Christophe's lack of tack.
There simply aren't Jews in Ouanaminthe to broaden our students' experience. Christophe's pen pal and her mother spent some time together explaining what motivates someone to be Jewish. She then asked him why he was Catholic. He wrote:
My religion is Catholic. I practice Catholicism for many reasons. First of all, my mother is Catholic so Catholicism is our matrilineal [Ed. Note: I did not teach that vocabulary word.] religion. Another reason that I am Catholic is that I like following the laws in the Ten Commandments. I believe in Jesus. He triumphed over the cross for us. I can never forget that!
After secondary school, I want to be an engineer because I would like to build many buildings. Then I will have much money in my pocket to build an orphanage. What do you think?
My favorite sport is basketball. And you, do you have a favorite sport?
Tell me about your Easter celebration. [Ed. Note: The opportunity for inter-faith dialogue continues.]
I close with the conclusion of Franck Junior's letter:
I think going to church is very important. So you must read your Bible a lot and if there is some sentence you don't understand, you may ask someone to explain it. For that, I encourage you to go to church.
It is not a problem that you didn't come to Carnival Camp in March. But I hope one day you will come to visit Haiti and I can hang out with you.
Your Friend for Life, Franck Junior
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!…
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life evermore.
Psalm 133:1. 3
Here's a newsy excerpt from Samuel Alcius:
During Easter vacation week, I will participate with my school in the national knowledge competition. There are six players on the team. It will be organized in Cap-Haitian with the best schools in the country. Our objective is to win the competition this year and we are very motivated to do that!
Christophe Metellus has been having an inter-faith dialogue by
correspondence with his Jewish pen pal. His last letter was so biting I nearly censored it and then decided to apologize to our Jewish friend for Christophe's lack of tack.
There simply aren't Jews in Ouanaminthe to broaden our students' experience. Christophe's pen pal and her mother spent some time together explaining what motivates someone to be Jewish. She then asked him why he was Catholic. He wrote:
My religion is Catholic. I practice Catholicism for many reasons. First of all, my mother is Catholic so Catholicism is our matrilineal [Ed. Note: I did not teach that vocabulary word.] religion. Another reason that I am Catholic is that I like following the laws in the Ten Commandments. I believe in Jesus. He triumphed over the cross for us. I can never forget that!
After secondary school, I want to be an engineer because I would like to build many buildings. Then I will have much money in my pocket to build an orphanage. What do you think?
My favorite sport is basketball. And you, do you have a favorite sport?
Tell me about your Easter celebration. [Ed. Note: The opportunity for inter-faith dialogue continues.]
I close with the conclusion of Franck Junior's letter:
I think going to church is very important. So you must read your Bible a lot and if there is some sentence you don't understand, you may ask someone to explain it. For that, I encourage you to go to church.
It is not a problem that you didn't come to Carnival Camp in March. But I hope one day you will come to visit Haiti and I can hang out with you.
Your Friend for Life, Franck Junior
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!…
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life evermore.
Psalm 133:1. 3
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