Abraham Lincoln Never Did This

A Lincolnphile acting as an English Language Facilitator for Peace Corps in the horn of Africa for 27 months.

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

Lake Chamo

After our first miserable night of sleep (if you can even call it that) in Arba Minch, the six of us rented a boat with our hosts and went out onto Lake Chamo. We eagerly searched the water for wildlife and we were lucky to see pelicans and other fascinating birds, looming crocodiles, warthogs, monkeys and FOUR hippos! It was the perfect way to escape the heat for a few hours. I was tempted to jump in the water...but those hippos were giving me a “I double-dog-dare-you,” look. So that was a no-go. But hey, at least sweating in the boat is better than getting charged by a territorial hippo.

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

Arba Minch wasn’t a Synch

In the early twilight hours, the girls and I set off for our next destination: Arba Minch, the land of 40 springs. Location: Just about as close to the Kenyan border as Peace Corps would allow. One of our friend’s land-family had a sister who lived in Arba Minch, and generously offered to host us for our stay.  Upon arrival, my friends and I were instantly bogged down by the heat and humidity and somehow, it only got worse after the sun went down. As we were sitting in our host’s living/dining room waiting for dinner to be ready, each of us was gleaming with sweat and trying to distract ourselves from the stifling heat and swarming mosquitos with a couple competitive games of Catan (which I won…if anyone was wondering). But alas, the distraction wasn’t enough to thoroughly enjoy our meal. While the fish soup was delicious in a way that homemade dishes only can be, the heat of it (both in temperature and spice) set our tongues ablaze and bodies in heat-stroke territory. We all felt obligated to be polite and finish our ‘Fire Fish Soup,’ while mutually commiserating with each other through eye contact. How we got through that meal without laughing…or tears…is still a mystery to me. We then started getting ready for bed, only to realize that the 6 of us would be sharing a tiny room with two twin size mattresses. We embraced it in the beginning—we were PCVs after all; we could handle it. But ohhhh, were we wrong. If we thought the living room was stifling, it is nothing compared to our bedroom. The window was only able to open about 3 inches because a wardrobe blocked it from being opened any further, so the fresh air was hard to come by (and we were desperate for it). And because the window was screen-less, those nasty little mosquitos found it much too easy to find their way into our room to bite every inch of our skin and buzz around in our ears to the point of insanity. Luckily for us, we found a racquet-shaped bug zapper readily-charged to massacre as many mosquitos as possible every hour throughout the night. In just one swing, the zapper popped and crackled continuously like a sparkler. Jumping around and swinging the racquet around was the comic relief we needed to make it through that first night…and the second. It was pure satisfaction…and the only satisfaction we got in those dreadful hours. Unfortunately, the mosquitos weren’t the only bugs wreaking havoc among us. The three of us on the floor mattress were laying on it perpendicularly, so that only about half of our bodies were off the floor. And that mattress was riddled with bed bugs. I had had my bad case of bed bugs many times over the two years living in Sheno, but this episode was in an entirely different league. Out of the 6 of us, it seemed like I was the most sensitive to them and to put it lightly…it looked as if I had contracted small pox. Ask the masseuse that gave me a full-body massage at the resort on our 3rd day…she was reluctant to touch me, fearing that she too would contract these hideous spots. The 343 bites (yes, we made it a competition and counted) that I had acquired over our two-night stay covered my calves, ankles, lower back, hands, arms, neck and face. Basically, anywhere where my clothing shifted while sleeping, exposing my skin. Thinking about it in such detail now is giving me the heeby-jeebies, so I apologize if it’s having the same effect on you. Originally, we were supposed to stay 3 nights, but we couldn’t bare it. Instead, we told our hosts that we had changed our plans to head home a day early…but really, we splurged on a ‘luxurious’ hotel where I had MY OWN twin mattress with a BED NET. And for the first time in days, we were able to get a solid, good night’s sleep.

For weeks to come, I would wake each morning with the fear that malaria would surface, or I would come down with another bout of typhus. It felt as if the gallons of mosquito repellent or malaria meds that I had cautioned myself with didn’t make a difference; I was bit so many times that I was convinced that that would be how I ended my Peace Corps service. But...that fate never came to be, and for that, I can look back at this experience and laugh at this miserable experience (almost fondly). After all, it is now one of my favorite stories to tell.

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

After we had all turned in our final grades for our final semester in May 2016, a group of friends and I decided to go on a girl’s trip down to SNNPR, Ethiopia’s most southern region. Our first stop: Hawassa, SNNPR’s capital.  We enjoyed sunset drinks on the lake, sunbathing and playing Catan by the pool at Haile Resort, GELATO (an incredibly rare treat in Ethiopia), the most incredible fresh fruit juices (avocado/mango/guava), beautiful scenery and a trip to the Monkey Park, where we had Colobus monkeys hopping around on our shoulders after feeding them peanuts. It was hard to believe that a tropical resort town was such an easy weekend getaway destination for so many volunteers. The envy was real. And with all due respect, Trump, this is no #shithole country.  Special shout-out to #CundiffCreative for some of her beautiful shots.

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

Girls Leading Our World 

(2 of 2)  Too much love to fit in one single post. ♡  Collection of photos continued from previous post.

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

Girls Leading Our World 

(1 of 2)

In light of recent women empowerment movements here in the US, I felt inspired to share how I was able to partake in the empowerment of Ethiopian girls during my service. After my first year of teaching (Summer 2015), I had the opportunity to join forces with a group of 11 other Peace Corps Volunteers in my area to facilitate a Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World). I chose 2 of my most promising students and brought them to Debre Brehan with me for 5 days of mind, body and soul empowerment. And along the way, we all made unforgettable memories and friendships. 

Over the course of those 5 days, the girls spoke with strong women community leaders to open their eyes and minds to possible paths for themselves. They learned about HIV prevention, sexual and bodily health, menstrual cycles, and even participated in a “condom relay.” They watched a film about fistulas and the dangers of child marriage practices. They learned about and discussed gender-based violence and ways to overcome it. They explored their dreams, found their voice and the power of using it. 

In a world where women are second-class citizens whose needs are often overlooked, finding our voices might be the most important lesson we’ll ever learn. 

It is them. You. Me. Us. All girls everywhere. We all are the reason I am so passionately feminist. And with their voices, OUR voices, we will rise.

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

The 3rd Goal, pt. 3

After exploring Gondar’s town center, Fasil Castle, we took a bajaj over to one of Ethiopia’s most beloved churches, the Debre Berhan Selassie Church, which is shown in the first 4 photos.  

“If it weren’t for a swarm of bees, the beautiful church of Debre Berhan Selassie would have probably been destroyed like most of Gondar’s other churches by the marauding Sudanese Dervishes in the 1880s. When the Dervishes showed up outside the gates of the church, a giant swarm of bees surged out of the compound and chased the invaders away. This was a lucky intervention: with its stone walls, arched doors, two-tiered thatch roof and well-preserved paintings, Debre Berhan Selassie is one of the most beautiful churches in Ethiopia.

The roof, with its rows and rows of winged cherubs, representing the omnipresence of God, draws most eyes. There’s space for 135 cherubs, though 13 have been erased by water damage. Aside from the cherubs the highlights have to be the devilish Bosch-like depiction of hell and the Prophet Mohammed atop a camel being led by a devil. Although local tradition attributes most paintings to the 17th-century artist Haile Meskel, this is unlikely because the building only dates back to the late 18th century. The original circular church, created in the 1690s by Iyasu I, was destroyed by lightening.

A large stone wall with 12 rounded towers surrounds the compound and these represent the 12 apostles. The larger 13th tower [the entrance gate that can be seen through the arch that Ryan and I are standing under] symbolises Christ and is shaped to resemble the Lion of Judah.“ Additionally, you can see a lion’s tail above the archway. -http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ethiopia/northern-ethiopia/gonder/sights/religious/debre-berhan-selassie

Next, we headed over to what is shown in the final 6 photos: Fasilides’ Bath. “Although the complex was used for swimming (royalty used to don inflated goat-skin lifejackets for their refreshing dips!), it was likely to have been constructed for religious celebrations, the likes of which still go on today. Once a year, it’s filled with water for the Timkat [January 19th] celebration. After the water is blessed by the bishop, the pool becomes a riot of splashing water, shouts and laughter as a crowd of hundreds jumps in. The ceremony replicates Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River and is seen as an important renewal of faith.

Just east of the main compound is Zobel’s Mausoleum. Local legend states it’s named after Yohannes I’s horse, which ran so fast that he was able to escape some bandits he encountered while out hunting buffalo. Or, another tale says that it heroically brought Iyasu (Yohannes’ son) back from Sudan after his father’s death. Not only was the horse a good walker, but it could jump 25m in a single leap.“ - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ethiopia/northern-ethiopia/gonder/sights/historic/fasiladas-bath

Unsurprisingly, those nine days with Ryan were some of the most incredible moments I had spent in Ethiopia. A photograph may say a thousand words, a blog post can describe an event in vivid detail, and a letter can bleed with emotion, but it’s not until you step off that plane and touch the foreign land with your own feet where you can truly experience a place. After nearly 14 months of trying to explain my daily life in Ethiopia to my loved ones back home, I finally had someone in the States that truly understood what it feels like to walk the streets of my town, wake up in my tiny house, endure a typical mini bus ride, and have 15 pairs of eyes on me at all times. That’s why we have the 3rd Goal; I will always have those nine days to cherish with Ryan, and what a wonderful feeling that is.

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

The 3rd Goal, pt. 2

After saying goodbye to Amy and Bahir Dar, Ryan, Andre and I hopped on a bus to Gondar where we were able to explore Ethiopia’s famous Fasil Ghebbi (Fasil Castle compound). In 1636 Emperor Fasilides settled in Gondar and established it as a permanent capital, which functioned as the centre of the Ethiopian government until 1864. “Surrounded by a 900-m-long wall, Fasil Ghebbi contains palaces, churches, monasteries, a lion cage and unique public and private buildings marked by Hindu and Arab influences, subsequently transformed by the Baroque style brought to Gondar by the Jesuit missionaries.” I felt really lucky to have been able to walk through this compound, to be immersed in a rich history and see how nature can take its course on remnants of a once-powerful empire. 

*Information taken from the UNESCO website.

… …Ryan’s Ethiopian adventure continued onto next blog post (The 3rd Goal, pt. 3)…

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

The 3rd Goal

The Peace Corps Mission  To promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals: 1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained Volunteers. 2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served. 3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Before I received my invitation to serve in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia, I honestly knew close to nothing about where I would be spending the next 2 years of life. I had an idea of where it was on a map, but I had to Google which language was spoken and just how many miles I’d have to travel to get there. So, in my opinion, I think the 3rd Goal of the Peace Corps Mission is pivotal to a greater world community. When there is more understanding, there are more doors open to peace.

After three incredible weeks traveling around Italy and a few hours in Istanbul, my new fiance, Ryan, accompanied me back to Ethiopia for nine days at the end of August last year. I was beyond thrilled to finally be able to show off my town of Sheno to someone from back home. Ryan was able to meet people that I had spent hours talking about, eat dishes that I can’t get enough of, and experience all that Ethiopia has to offer in its boundless generosity and natural beauty. Ryan visited my classrooms, my bank, posta bet, favorite cafes, and many of the people that make Sheno one of my favorite places on Earth. After three short days in Sheno, Ryan and I were both able to enjoy new Ethiopian destinations together. Our first stop: Bahir Dar. Ryan learned traditional dances at the local Asmari bet (Culture House), sipped on tej (local honey wine) and even got to try the famous dorowat that I often crave. We hiked to the Blue Nile Falls, got caught in an Ethiopian rainstorm, and relaxed along the shores of Lake Tana with two of my best Peace Corps friends, Amy and Andre. It was a little unexpected bit of paradise. …Ryan’s Ethiopian adventure continued onto next blog post (The 3rd Goal, pt. 2)…

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

Caught in Costantinople

What is one to do with an 8 hour layover in Istanbul? Buy a Turkey Visa. 

After three magical weeks in Italy last August, Ryan and I hopped on a plane back to Ethiopia where we found ourselves with another adventure ahead of us. It was an easy decision to get ourselves a visa and go explore a city I’ve been dreaming about since I learned of its existence back in middle school. So, we got our passports stamped, stored our bags at a luggage keep, and quickly jumped on the train to see as much as we possibly could. Our list consisted of: 1. Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) –Probably the most iconic landmark of Istanbul, the Blue Mosque was constructed between 1609 and 1616. It was simply magnificent and I could’ve easily spent our entire time in Istanbul admiring it. 2. Hagia Sophia –Translating to “Holy Wisdom,” this Byzantine giant was incredible. It was originally constructed in 537AD as a Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica, but eventually transformed into an imperial mosque and now serves as an impressive museum. 3. Arasta Bazaar –One of the many bazaars found throughout the city, the Arasta Bazaar dazzled us with its plethora of beautiful fabrics, rich aromas of spices and teas and bright, bold colors. While I wanted to bring just about one of everything back to Ethiopia with me, Ryan and I only walked away with a box of ‘turkish delights’. 4. Obelisk of Theodosius –Roman Emperor Constantius II had it and one other obelisk transported along the river Nile to Alexandria to commemorate his ventennalia (his 20 year reign in 357AD). It remained there until 390AD when he had it moved to Constantinople where we were lucky enough to see it. Ironically enough, we saw its ‘brother,’ the Lateran Obelisk, in Rome only the day before. 5. Topkapi Palace –Starting in 1453, the Topkapi Palace was one of the major residences of the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years and now serves as a fantastic museum; it actually houses Muhammad’s cloak and sword.

Even though our time was short, I am so grateful that I was able to experience such a small part of the amazing Constantinople before it became too unsafe to leave the airport. I just hope that one day I will be able to return.

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Ethiopia Edition.

To make my Peace Corps journey even more special, I was lucky enough to explore so much of the beauty that I'm sure will have tourists putting Ethiopia on the top of their bucket lists for years to come. From the Great Rift Valley in my backyard to the ancient rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, and the Blue Nile Falls outside of Bahir Dar to the lakes of the South, the places my feet took me in the place I've called my home over the past two years were absolutely breathtaking. And I hope that one day my feet will lead me back here. ♡

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

So many things can, and do change in 2 years. Especially in the Peace Corps. But one thing that didn’t was the bond and love I share with my host family. They were my first comfort in a land that made little sense, a place where I didn’t know how to find my niche or simply say hello. These beautiful people welcomed me into their home with opens arms, treating me as their own daughter and sister. I will be eternally grateful for all that they taught me--language, gestures, how to eat injera, replacing a washing machine with buckets and two strong arms, and that little gasps of air mean “yes” or strong approval. But above all, they taught me that family has no geographical limits. No matter how many kilometers remain between us, Seleshi, Hirut, Yeabsira, Shalom and Nahome will always be my home...wherever I go. 

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

Last week, my fellow group of G11 PCVs celebrated our 2 years of service at our COS Conference at the beautiful Adulala Resort in Debre Zeit. While i was bogged down with food poisoning, I was still able to enjoy the views and company of the 44 other PCVs that made it to this point with me. During one of our sessions, we were given the letters that we wrote to ourselves at our Mid-Service Conference in September last year. My words filled my eyes with tears and my heart with pride. I did it. I really did it.

25 September 2015

Dear Alexandra,

You never thought this day would come and yet, here you are. Nearly TWO years ago, you left everything and everyone you knew and loved behind. What for? For this moment. This feeling. You did it, babe. You survived typhus and countless other illnesses, 730ish days of life in Ethiopia. It’s been anything but easy, but you are SO much stronger for it. You have found strength in people and places you would’ve never known if you never got on that plane. You have never loved so deeply or hoped so profoundly. This experience may have come with more hardship than you bargained for, but you wouldn’t be the person you are now without it. I simply can’t wait to meet you. Think about all of the people you have touched in one way or another. And even better, think of all of the people that have enriched your soul. In a few short weeks, you will be returning to Colorado and everything that is waiting for you. I am so unbelievably proud of you. To be you. To have enriched your life in a way that Peace Corps only can. And one of the best parts? You will always have “I served in Peace Corps Ethiopia” up your sleeve. No matter how hard it gets, remember what you did here. I love you.

Love, AJR

P.s. Never stop trying to inspire yourself or the ones around you.

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

A Day in the Thoughts & Emotions of an Education PCV in Ethiopia

Peace Corps service is, if nothing else, an emotional roller coaster. Most times I can look back over the day and just laugh at the vast high's and low's I experienced in just a few hours' time. I'd like to say that the following hourly marker for thoughts and emotions of a typical day here as a PCV is exaggerated. But...it's not. Fun fact: I get to experience a rainbow of emotions Every. Single. Day. Never have I felt so ridiculously human as I have in Ethiopia.

7:30am: Give up on the fight for sleep. Really, the mosque beat you at 5am. But the rooster or cow or neighbor yelling into their phone really did the trick.

7:45am: Grunt and grumble as you make your way to the shint bet in the drizzly, cold morning.

8:00am: Breakfast! What to eat? Oh, right. Oatmeal. Again. 78th day in a row.

8:02am: Just kidding, the power's out.

8:45am: Might as well get ready for class. Yep, wearing the same outfit I have worn this entire week. I'm going to be SUCH a weirdo back in the States.

9:00am: Power's back! Mad dash to the stove to boil water.

9:22am: Lock up the house, leave for school.

9:24am: Bell rings, time for class! Pick up the pace, arrive at the classroom door just as the previous teacher is exiting.

9:55am: See your students' gears turning; They get it!

10:06am: Class ends. Feeling elated from a successful grammar lesson.

10:15am: A co-teachers sits next to you and asks, “Do you eat injera?” You think, “Really? I've lived here for 2 years. Do you really think it's possible that I HAVEN'T eaten injera?” But instead say, “Yes, I love injera.”

11:03am: Time to teach those little devils in Section N. Let's do this!

11:21am: Bang head against chalk board because the incessant hum/murmuring coming from your 97 students keeps. Getting. Louder.

11:43: Desperately open the door 2 minutes early to escape the classroom before yelling/crying out in frustration.  

11:50am: Walk home with your eyes glued to the ground to avoid running into someone you know.

12:15pm: Back in your sanctuary. But you don't want rice for lunch. Or pasta. Or any form of potato. Might as well go into town and grab some lunch.

12:28pm: Leave the compound and run into your favorite shopkeeper. She says, “TEFASH!” (You disappeared). You laugh politely and say “Ishi ishi,” (okay, okay), but what you're really thinking is: “Dude, I just saw you yesterday.”

12:30-12:37pm: Shake hands with, wave to, fist pump friends, kids and neighbors on the way into town. Beam at the fact that every person you passed gave you a smile or called you by your name.

12:38pm: A man waits for you to pass him before he gets the courage to yell out CHINA CHINA CHINA!!! When you turn to glare at him, he yells in your face, “ANCHI FERNEJ!” (You are foreign/you are white/you are different—take your pick). You mutter, “Wow, gobez.” (Clever.) And keep walking.

12:45pm: Your friend sees you sitting alone at a table at the cafe. He comes over and offers to buy you lunch. Innibila! (Let's eat!) You gladly accept.

1:10pm: As you are chewing a mouthful of injera, your friend says, “BI BI BI!” (Eat, eat, eat). You think, “What do you think I'm doing??”

2:00pm: Return home, change into house clothes.  Pick up a pen and paper and write a letter home, saying how hard it will be to say goodbye to your friends and this simplistic life. Tearing up because you're not ready for this experience to be over in just 3.5 months.

5:30pm: Stomach is gurgling. Body is aching. Oh no, it's a parasite. ETHIOPIA HATES ME! Get me the hell out of this country!!!! How am I going to survive another 3.5 months!??

8:30pm: Feel soothed by the light rain on your tin roof. I'm sure going to miss this.

8:45pm: Ugh, it's getting late. Need to start planning for tomorrow's lesson.

8:48pm: Power's out again. OF COURSE IT IS. Finish the lesson plan by candlelight.

8:50-9:30ish pm: Daydream of America: Land of Electricity.

9:40pm: Start a new book on your kindle. I love having so much time to read; I'm going to hate going back to an 8-5 work day where I won't have time or the energy to read as much.

10:20-something pm: Drift off to sleep because you're bored. And really, the day just did you in.

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

Injera Firfir

Injera firfir is injera soaked and mixed in oil, berbere (the Ethiopian essential spice), and onions that is served with fresh injera. It is a food I gagged at the thought of for my first 18 months in country. I used to think, injera with injera? Really? WHY is that a thing?? I had tried it twice during Pre-Service Training and couldn’t eat more than a couple of bites because I was choking on the spice, as well as the soggy texture. 

But about two months ago, something changed. I was now craving that berbere-soaked injera.  It has amazingly become one of my favorite Ethiopian dishes. And my local friends told me that this means that I have truly converted to be habesha...and it breaks my heart knowing that Ethiopian restaurants back home will never have this ‘street food.’ So in my short time that I have left, I will be ordering myself a plate of hot, steaming firfir every chance I get!! <3  

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

The DO’s & DON’T’s of being a Peace Corps Trainer

DO: Accept that you will be given little to no time to prepare for a training. DON’T: Be surprised; this is Peace Corps. DO: Make 5 million poster charts and use 10,000 markers for visual aids. DON’T: Cry over a sore wrist; you just had to show that you had good handwriting during pre-service training. DO: Expect to have a  ‘brain melt’ because more often than not, you are both receiving and giving the training simultaneously.  DON’T: Have a meltdown in front of the trainees; that discourages them.  DO: Expect to be completely exhausted at the end of the day. DON’T: Complain about it; real jobs actually have an 8-5 schedule.

Over the weekend of April 22nd-24th, a fellow PCV and I were asked by our Program Manager, Daniel Okubit, to help lead the Project Design Management (PDM) training for the new group of Education Volunteers in Debre Brehan. Since we were given only 2 days notice to prepare our sessions, we were up to the wee hours of the morning of each day of training getting together the materials and notes we would need for the next day. Each of the Ed Volunteers were able to bring a Counterpart where together, they came up with a project that they could then implement in their towns through the end of the PCV’s service and onward. At the end of the second day of training, the PCVs and counterparts participated in “Bajaj Pitches,” which is Ethiopia’s version of an “Elevator Pitch.” Either the PCV or CP would pitch their project idea to the other as they are acting as a school director or town official while riding in one of Ethiopia’s form of public transportation, the Bajaj.

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

Bringing JEOPARDY to Sheno!!

Exam time in Ethiopia, just like anywhere else in the world, is hectic and stressful. Due to the fact that exams make up a huge percentage of a student's final grades, the students know that it is imperative to do well in order to pass their classes and stay in school. During my time here, it has been difficult for me to watch my students stress themselves into sickness over their exams and feel the need to continue the strong 'cheating culture' that is prevalent in the Ethiopian school system. So this school year, I decided that I would find a way to make my students feel confident and prepared for their English Exams in attempt to avoid the crutch of cheating. This year, English Department at Sheno Secondary School had entrusted me with composing the school-wide English Exams, so I was lucky to know how exactly to prepare my students. After much consideration of different avenues I could take, I decided on "Review Jeopardy."

Over the course of two days in the weeks prior to Mid-Exams and Final Exams, my class played "Review Jeopardy!" In preparation for these two exciting days in class, I composed a variety of multiple choice questions from different categories that we had covered over the course of the semester and were likely to show up on the exam. I then assigned each of the five categories a color and wrote their paired questions on that color of paper. For example, vocabulary was assigned blue, words of obligation were green, parts of an informal letter were yellow, uncountable/countable nouns were orange, etc. On the first day of jeopardy, my students were mystified by the rows of different colored paper that I spent several minutes taping to the board. Since Ethiopians absolutely love competition, I split my classes into three teams, which they were able to name themselves. When it was their team's turn, they would choose a category and read the question. Instead of having one spokesperson for a team of +/- 30 students, I made it so that every student had to vote on which answer they thought was correct by raising their hands. The answer that had the most hand raises was chosen for their final answer. If the answer was correct, their team earned a point. If it was incorrect, however, the question was passed on to the next team who could then answer the question for a point. Once a question was answered correctly, I would pause and go over the question so that the students could better understand why it was correct. There was not enough time to finish all of the questions the first day, and so we could continue the following day, which the students were thrilled that the game could continue. That night, I made sure to add questions to categories as well as add questions that I noticed my students were having trouble with. On the second day of jeopardy, my students sped through the questions with a growing confidence and once all the questions were answered, I awarded the team with the most points a round of high fives. When I asked them at the end of class if they felt ready for their exam on Monday, they all yelled YES! and threw a "thumbs up" in the air for me to see.

After I had collected my students' tests on their Exam day, I quickly set to grading them. I was pleased to see that a majority of my students not only passed the exam, but received noteworthy grades. When I showed the English Department Head and my Director my students' marks, and even compared them with my co-teachers, they were extremely pleased, especially once they realized that I had not needed to curve their grades. So, I brought Jeopardy to Sheno Secondary School and even better, a way to inspire confidence in my students where they now know they are capable of receiving high marks without resorting to cheating.

[abrahamlincolnneverdidthis]

From GOLBA, with LOVE. 

One of my favorite things about Mestewat is her smile and spirit, so I made sure to break out my camera and try to capture it as best I could. It is simply contagious. <3