Time for School: Thursday

Time for school!

Thursday morning:

After going to dinner with Justice and Irene, we were excited to again visit their home again Thursday morning.

I really wanted to follow Joyce to school and see what that was like.

It was another early wake up call for Sue and I. No roosters crowing on this day. The marimba chimes from my I-phone awoke me at 5 as the early morning Africa sun shined brightly through my window and net-covered bed.

After a quick shower and dress I went next door to the guest house Sue was staying at.

The Guest House known at "K-1"

Quick tangent: After leaving Justice’s house earlier in the week, Sue and I moved to the guest houses run by the Blantyre Malaria project. We had to stay in separate houses because of other guests already there.  Sue’s house was the main house where we hung out during down time. Mine was merely for sleeping as a family of 4 from Nigeria had just moved in there for a few months and I wanted to give them their privacy. End of tangent.

The Msini family with Sue and Bob

Turns out Sue’s alarm didn’t go off and, with no nearby roosters, I had to wake her up by calling her through her bedroom window. A little startled, but grateful for the human wake-up call, she stumbled to the front door to let me in so I could get breakfast.

After some fresh juice, some peanut buttered wheat bread and a “Danone yoghurt”, trusty George arrived in the Peacock and we were off to Ndirande.

We arrived at Justice’s house by “Half Six” and everyone was awake and waiting for us. We visited a bit and then headed out of the church compound. Sue and I walked alongside Joyce with my video camera rolling. George followed behind in the Peacock-mobile.

I was a bit nervous as we walked through the village and the local marketplace, because Justice wouldn’t let me shoot earlier in the week in this area. He thought it would be early enough, but the natives were a bit restless and the marketplace was

Joyce walks to school

already bustling with locals. Joyce was laughing a bit because she heard people making comments about me in their native language, Chichewa. She suggested I go to the back of the Peacock and sit on the tailgate and shoot her walking as the truck moved in front of her…sort of like a very large “dolly shot.” We did that for a bit until we got out of the market area and on to the main road.

We encountered many other students on the way to her school and others.

Once on the main road, George, our driver (who by the way is one of the most competent people I’ve ever met), suggested he get ahead to the school to secure permission to shoot video in the classroom.

Joyce in front of school

As we arrived at the entrance some 30 minutes after our departure, Joyce pointed out the sign.The name of the school was Elishama The school building was set back quite a ways from the road.  3 buildings made up the complex. A church, an office, and of course the school. There were 4  classrooms. Each was for a different grade, although they they called them “forms,” instead of grades. Joyce was in Form 4 which was the highest grade level, much like being a senior in high school.

Her classroom was simple. Some wooden desks, a concrete floor, a couple of windows to illuminate the room, and a blackboard.

Ready to start school!

Joyce introduced us to her boyfriend, Dave, who was not so eager to meet us. He kept hiding his head under his jacket, although I did manage to interview him.

The teacher arrived and he seemed excited to see us. We put a wireless mic on him so we could get good sound of him teaching, but first Sue did a quick interview.

At precisely half-seven, a man walked out of the office ringing a handbell signifying the start of the school day

Inside Joyce’s class, 17 classmates quieted. In a very business-like-matter-of-fact tone the teacher started class. “Good morning students.” “Good morning, sir,” they replied in unison.

At the desk...ready to learn

Biology topped the morning schedule.  He began the lesson saying they would learn about the circulatory system today. As the master pedagogue began his sermon, he started to stumble over his words. He let out a slightly embarrassed laugh which triggered the students to do the same. It was clearly evident that the presence of the video camera rattled this usually confident instructor.

Once back on track, Sue and I noted how gifted this teacher truly was. He certainly knew about the heart, its chambers and how a drop of blood passed through it. As he proceeded through the lesson, he would occasionally stop to make sure the students were following. “Are you with me?” “Yes.”

I was having some technical problems with the camera at this point…the first of the week. I’m hopeful I have enough usable shots to make it into the documentary.

When we were about to leave, the owner of the school (this is a private school) came out to speak with us. He was happy to have us at the school, but wished we had planned our visit a little more in advance. We shook hands and said our goodbyes.

After shooting a couple of exteriors, it was back to Ndirande for an interview with Justice. We hadn’t done any sort of sit-down talk with him on tape and this was our last opportunity to do that.

Justice talks to Sue in the Church

Justice is an eloquent man and brilliant speaker. He gave us much insight into the minds of many Malawians.

It wasn’t even 9:00 am and we had learned so much.

Joyce may have  learned about the heart today in class, but, like other Malawians, she has worn it on her sleeve from an early age. More evidence that Malawi lives up to its name as the “warm heart of Africa.”