Now that football season is over and hockey season has yet to begin, to keep fit and active the varsity football boys have organized a weekly game of indoor football supervised by M. Lotze. These game are always a lot of fun. Meeting on Saturday's from 9-11. This activity has always been a challenging one because, even though we all love plating football, it is extremely tiring and requires a lot of perseverance and determination. Also because the ground in the gym is hard it takes courage to go into some of the more dangerous tackles. All in all, this activity is an extremely good workout, which has enhanced my perseverance, determination and courageousness.
Last year, Arnold Fomete brought a local team to play us in an indoor football game. This was a great experirence not only for us boys but also for them. They must have never played in such close quarters and , from the looks of it, really enjoyed showing off their skills. Playing with this local team allowed me to get to know some of the other players better and discuss with them their strengths and weaknesses. Also similar to the experience in Babong, when we mixed the teams, we were all communicating adequately, which showed me again that i can always communicate with someone without necessarily knowing their lamguage.In the coming weeks we may decide to organize another match similar to this.
Friday, 18 November 2011
Teaching at Arya Vedic school
Along with one my friends, Giri, i decided that it would be a good experience for me to teach classrooms in a public school called Arya Vedic. For two weekends I went to this school taught different aspects of science and mathematics. In my classroom there were only a few students which made it easier for me to interact with children and also allowed to me to pay attention to the children's individual problems with understanding different topics.
I found it quite challenging when a child asked me explain a certain aspect in a different manner, maybe because i was only taught it one way but when i went home and mulled over the question i found that there were so many possibilities to answer the question. The next day i explained to the child and immediately he understood the problem. This demonstrated to me that solving problems need a broader view so that you can look at a problem through a number of perspectives.
This experience enabled me to enhance my leadership and communicating skills. It was interesting to see how i am able to explain aspects in different ways thereby enabling the children to receive a broader view of the subject. Also i had to become extremely organized as i had to prepare the lessons on advance and also get any materials that may be needed for the classroom on the day. The children were enthusiastic and enjoyed learning from me, which was great to witness.
I found it quite challenging when a child asked me explain a certain aspect in a different manner, maybe because i was only taught it one way but when i went home and mulled over the question i found that there were so many possibilities to answer the question. The next day i explained to the child and immediately he understood the problem. This demonstrated to me that solving problems need a broader view so that you can look at a problem through a number of perspectives.
This experience enabled me to enhance my leadership and communicating skills. It was interesting to see how i am able to explain aspects in different ways thereby enabling the children to receive a broader view of the subject. Also i had to become extremely organized as i had to prepare the lessons on advance and also get any materials that may be needed for the classroom on the day. The children were enthusiastic and enjoyed learning from me, which was great to witness.
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Painting a school at Babong
Last year for the class trips i opted to go for the trip into the highlands known as Babong. In Babong there is quite a large community school whom are always welcoming and entertaining. As a group we decided that we should paint one of their newly built classrooms. Personally, i had never walls before and so i was extremely eager to learn form this experience. I learnt the different types of paint of paint used and also learned to use different techniques of painting. It took us about an hour and a half to complete painting the whole classroom. It was simply a pleasure to see all the students so appreciative of our hard work. Painting the classrooms may have only been an hours work for us and i maybe only learnt to paint walls but the smiles and gratefulness of the children is something that i will cherish forever and something the school may not forget for many years to come.
After painting the classrooms, the older children challenged us to a football match and so we played...the school some good players and it was great to mix up the teams, which really challenged our communication skills. However, as we began to play the game, we began to communicate very easily and therefore played very well. It was surprising for me to see that when people from different cultures and backgrounds do the same thing, cooperating with each other, they communicate without even realizing it for they begin to grow a special understanding with each other.
After an exhausting game in the heat, the whole school gathered together and the head master of the school thanked us for all our help and we generously donated books, pencils and mosquito nets, after which all the students sung a song of thankfulness for us.
Cooperating not only with my peers, whilst painting the classroom, but also with the students, during the football game, allowed for a mixture of cultures to interact and enjoy each others company.
After painting the classrooms, the older children challenged us to a football match and so we played...the school some good players and it was great to mix up the teams, which really challenged our communication skills. However, as we began to play the game, we began to communicate very easily and therefore played very well. It was surprising for me to see that when people from different cultures and backgrounds do the same thing, cooperating with each other, they communicate without even realizing it for they begin to grow a special understanding with each other.
After an exhausting game in the heat, the whole school gathered together and the head master of the school thanked us for all our help and we generously donated books, pencils and mosquito nets, after which all the students sung a song of thankfulness for us.
Cooperating not only with my peers, whilst painting the classroom, but also with the students, during the football game, allowed for a mixture of cultures to interact and enjoy each others company.
Special needs department at Oshwal school
Reflecting back onto the service i completed last year, i would say that the experience i had at the special needs section at Oshwal school was, without a doubt, one of the most fulfilling. It was the summer of 2010 and my sister had finished her A-Levels and was preparing to go off to university. Her career choice in Physiotherapy, led her to find work experience at the Oshwal, Special needs department. She invited me to volunteer, for two weeks, along with her. Having no idea about the forthcoming experience i reluctantly agreed to join her.
From the first to the very last day of this journey these children gave a whole other outlook on life. These were children who were born with all sorts of abilities, and they managed to always have a smile on their face. No matter how much pain they would undergo, they would still find those few happy moments that can change your day. I was working was a teacher's assistant in the classes for the older aged students. I found no uncomfortableness or nervousness whenever i was either helping or teaching any of the students. It was also great to observe the different ways of learning employed by the teachers and how all these ways ameliorate different senses in the children' body. Also working with the teachers really enhanced my team cooperative skills, as we had to in tangent during the lessons.
Being with these Kids was like joining an extremely amiable family. The teachers at in this department of Oshwal school are doing a terrific job of looking after these children. Unfortunatley, a few months ago, the principle of this sector passed away from illness. I went and visited the children during this tough period for them because Mr. Benson was very close to all the children. His development of this sector will not be forgotten neither will his love for the children.
From the first to the very last day of this journey these children gave a whole other outlook on life. These were children who were born with all sorts of abilities, and they managed to always have a smile on their face. No matter how much pain they would undergo, they would still find those few happy moments that can change your day. I was working was a teacher's assistant in the classes for the older aged students. I found no uncomfortableness or nervousness whenever i was either helping or teaching any of the students. It was also great to observe the different ways of learning employed by the teachers and how all these ways ameliorate different senses in the children' body. Also working with the teachers really enhanced my team cooperative skills, as we had to in tangent during the lessons.
Being with these Kids was like joining an extremely amiable family. The teachers at in this department of Oshwal school are doing a terrific job of looking after these children. Unfortunatley, a few months ago, the principle of this sector passed away from illness. I went and visited the children during this tough period for them because Mr. Benson was very close to all the children. His development of this sector will not be forgotten neither will his love for the children.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
ISSEA football
This year the ISSEA football tournament was to be held in Zambia, Lusaka. It was the first time i had been selected in any ISSEA team and was therefore, extremely excited to go. The preparation before the tournament was tough but all of the players knew that the tournament is both mentally and physically demanding. We left in the early morning of November 2nd. This was the first time i was ever going to Central Africa. It was interesting to see how different, it terms of development, Zambia and Kenya are as countries. Zambia is a very calm place with lots of unused land which can be used later for further development. Upon our arrival at the school, we were introduced to the organizers of the event and given a tour of AISL (American International School of Lusaka). Similarly to ISK, their school os quite open and spread out. After our introductions and a little training session on their beautiful fields we were introduced to our hosts for the next few days. Our hosts Mr. and Mrs. Mekeb were in fact Kenyan. They were very amiable people and myself and Arnold felt at home with them.
The next day the tournament began. We knew it was going to be a tough day for us as we playing four matches. We didn't have the greatest of starts. losing to the defending cha,pions Uganda. However, from here it just got better. We won our next three games against Tanzania, Zimbabwe and the hosts, Zambia, respectively. Apart from our first game we showed our qualities in the passing game we enjoy playing.
The second day of the tournament was even tougher than the first even though we had only two games on the day. Our bodies were sore and we were tired. However, we pushed through and gave the best team in the tournament thus far, Ethiopia, their toughest game. We kept our heads up after the loss to Ethiopia and convincingly beat South Africa. Our good performances had led to us the semi-final which was to be played the next day against Uganda.
I remember being quite nervous on the day of the semi final and final. We prepared thoroughly for our game against Uganda and put out our best performance of the tournament. We were confident, aggressive and composed which enabled us to be deserved 3-2 victors. We carried all the excitement and emotion into our final. The final was a great experience for all of us. Some of us, like myself, had never really played on such a stage. From the beginning to the end of the game we gave everything and in the end it all paid off because when the final whistle blew, we were ISSEA CHAMPIONS. The first ISK team ever to win this prestigious tournament.
This ISSEA experience was one of the greatest experiences in my life. It pushed me to limits i thought i could never reach. It made overcome obstacles and show my true character. The team shared a great bond and we were all as excited to be the first ever ISK champions. It is moments like these that really define you as a person.
The next day the tournament began. We knew it was going to be a tough day for us as we playing four matches. We didn't have the greatest of starts. losing to the defending cha,pions Uganda. However, from here it just got better. We won our next three games against Tanzania, Zimbabwe and the hosts, Zambia, respectively. Apart from our first game we showed our qualities in the passing game we enjoy playing.
The second day of the tournament was even tougher than the first even though we had only two games on the day. Our bodies were sore and we were tired. However, we pushed through and gave the best team in the tournament thus far, Ethiopia, their toughest game. We kept our heads up after the loss to Ethiopia and convincingly beat South Africa. Our good performances had led to us the semi-final which was to be played the next day against Uganda.
I remember being quite nervous on the day of the semi final and final. We prepared thoroughly for our game against Uganda and put out our best performance of the tournament. We were confident, aggressive and composed which enabled us to be deserved 3-2 victors. We carried all the excitement and emotion into our final. The final was a great experience for all of us. Some of us, like myself, had never really played on such a stage. From the beginning to the end of the game we gave everything and in the end it all paid off because when the final whistle blew, we were ISSEA CHAMPIONS. The first ISK team ever to win this prestigious tournament.
This ISSEA experience was one of the greatest experiences in my life. It pushed me to limits i thought i could never reach. It made overcome obstacles and show my true character. The team shared a great bond and we were all as excited to be the first ever ISK champions. It is moments like these that really define you as a person.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)