Things are going well in Cebu City, I started my work officially this week and so far all is going well!
I spent most of the week observing and getting to know both the students and teachers!
I am trying really hard to break the habit of using makaton - I must look rather silly signing to students who can't even see!
I have meet a number of children with multiple disabilities and although I have worked with children with disabilities for quite some time, I have been faced with the challenge of working with children who also are blind. The teacher has been very responsive with some of my ideas and suggestions and this in itself is a big break through, as she openly explained to me that she doesn't know what to do with children with multiple disabilities.
I introduced some of my sensory/tactile toys and the children loved them, infact it was funny to watch the children touch some of the slimey type balls some of them weren't so sure or hadn't felt anything like them before, they eventually started to reach out for them. I also made play dough and it was fun watching the children have a go moulding the play dough.
I'm adjusting to the fact that children are touching and poking me just to get an idea on what or who I am. For many of you would know that I can be very tactile defensive at times so this is a huge adjustment (and no that doesn't mean you to can poke and prode me!) I even had one little boy ask me if I had a baby in my tummy!
The toilet facilities haven't been pleasent so I have taken to going home during my lunch break just to go to the toilet - its also good to get some fresh air anyway!
Outside of work, I meet the town general on Monday who presented me with a number of gifts including a cebu t-shirt and dry mango! And have started my intensive language course, will be meeting twice a week for two hours so wish me luck with my Cebuano!
I have struggled to ask for things as I have soon learnt that the way we say things can sound rather odd, like yesterday I needed to buy a towel and I asked at the big department store - the staff looked at me blankly so I had to explain what a towel was, I even attempted to act it out! I must have looked again rather silly!
I also have been told not to call my work place uni but university as uni (and I think its the way I sound when I say it) means the red light district! So here I've been saying I work at the uni!
I have had no mishaps with my place and I've adjusted to the fact that there are all sorts of crazy noises occuring throughout the night so far I've had the rooster crowing, a dog whining, videoke and TV's blaring!
Last night we had a massive thunderstorm and lots of rain!
Enough from me!
Hope everyone is going well!
Love Zoe
One of the students playing with one of the toys
Another use for the toys!
The classroom!
The small shelf of resources/toys
Schools finished for the week and there were three trucks of students sitting in the back, not sure if this is a common transport method for the students! Atleast they were putting in bench chairs for everyone to sit on!
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