Under the weather, exam results, Monise
Hi All
Here is a partial list of reasons why this blog is overdue:
1) In July the operating system on my laptop was compromised and I was without a computer
2) I flew to Provo in the Turks and Caicos to purchase a new laptop – arrangements and flight coordinating took some time.
3) While travelling I picked up a particularly virulent chest infection which flattened me . Today (Aug. 28) was the first day I have felt slightly human
4) Tropical storm Isaac paid us a visit for several days knocking out electricity, cell phones and internet
Of interest but not on the list is the fact that apparently I shared my hotel room in Provo with at least one mouse which chewed through my backpack to get to protein bars I had purchased there to bring back to Cap. It was a tenacious mouse – 2 bars were destroyed /or enjoyed (depending on your perspective)
Students writing baccalaureat exams are either Admi(pass)/Ajoune (must rewrite close to passing marks) or Elimine (fail). Here in Cap we have 6 Ajoune, the rest Admi. No eliminations!! This means every corner is occupied with students preparing to rewrite. Our text book program was relegated to the parking space to-day. We have a better than 90% pass rate.
There are still no results for Sen Rafayel. It creates a bit of a panic if rewrites are necessary. Sunday Auguste and I will head back to Sen Rafayel for the week to begin home visits to the 45 students admitted to our program. It is so difficult to cut 300 plus down to so few.
While every letter is from the heart and usually says a great deal in a few paragraphs, there are those which stay with me. Meet Monise.
Her letter (Translation from Kreyol)
Dear Madam
I greet you and compliment you for the good work you are doing in the area of education because education is the key to life and one becomes an active person in society by education. I don’t know the words I can use to encourage you to keep firm to your good work.
I am writing you because I was admitted to Reto but because of illness I did not finish 3rd trimest. This year its 3 years since I went to school. My papa died in 2000, just maman kept us alive together but she contracted a grave illness and died in 2011 leaving us 10, 5 girls and 5 boys.
Each time I reflect on my life it doesn’t make sense because I’m not doing anything. If I had a manual trade I could take consolation in it.
This year the goal/objective of my life is to go to school to study sewing but I don’t have the means. It’s for this I am writing you – to ask for help in this situation.
I already thank you for receiving my letter.
Beni-w
Sharon