Scott goes to space!

I hope this finds everyone doing well and finding some time to enjoy the summer. By night I am waitressing at two restaraunts and by day I am teaching at a summer school for hispanic migrant children. My class is the 9-11 year olds, who range from 2nd grade up to 6th grade. Although the kids' skill levels drastically differ (I have one boy from Mexico who really only communicates in Spanish, some 10 year olds who can't read, and a few at grade level) I am enjoying having only 12 students, a classroom assistant, enough contstruction paper to make color coordinated folders for each subject, and my own classroom. I teach all subjects and in science we have been working on a flight, space, and solar system unit. Last week I decided to do a rocket demonstration by mixing together baking powder and vinegar in a bottle. I had told my students that I had a friend who worked for NASA (Mr. Mermelstein) and thus they decided it was only appropriate to name our astronaut, who adorned the cork bottle stopper, "Scott." So here is the scene: it's a beautiful sunny afternoon with a slight breeze and I am out on the grassy area of the playground with my class. As I add the strip of baking powder to the bottle of vinegar I ask the students to back up. The baking powder is now in and I start to shake the bottle. Meanwhile, my face is pointed towards the students telling them to back up even further. And then the rocket explodes....in my face. We had a good laugh and it was a great visual exemplification of the importance of pointing the rocket away from one's face. Scott did go into the air in two other trials.

My job search continues. I have been looking for teaching jobs in Chicago and New York, where I have had some good interviews but I haven't landed anything. People are much more critical of Peace Corps than I had anticipated and while they like the pictures in my portfolio, fail to grasp the parallel I make between the needs of students in the urban U.S. and rural Malawi.

That's about it. My Dad and I did plant a vegetable garden, which continues to be a source of relaxation for me. And, I am proud to say that my zucchini plants are the envy of the neighborhood.

Oh, in PC/Malawi news...Summer School will continue this year. I am not sure of the leadership, but they are calling it C.A.M.P S.K.Y (Career And MSCE Preparation for Skilled and Knowdledgeable Youth).

I think of you guys all of the time and miss you lots. Khalani makola, Merilee