A Teacher's Travels & Search for Math/Science Theorems that aren't Named after White Men |
|
A Teacher's Travels & Search for Math/Science Theorems that aren't Named after White Men |
|
I take baths here-not by choice-but because there isn't a shower in my apartment. I've gotten used to it and even enjoy it. Some days it's like jumping into a pool, refreshing and seemingly necessary after long walks in 99 degree weather. But most days it reminds me of when I was a little one. The other day, I noticed how the water drained thru the tub, resembling a tornado. As a kid, this used to be my favorite—I was mesmerized by the neat and precise tornado in my tub.
At that age, I never could’ve imagined this life of travel, inquiry, deep meaning, and adventure. I traveled thru the nearby forest preserve, up trees and thru books. I would sift thru the pages of my mother’s beautiful coffee table book, “Africa Adorned,”— a treasure chest of photos of adorned people throughout the Continent, their jewels, fabrics and make up. I am beyond grateful to be where I am and to be the person I am. Transitions This week in Gabs was another of work and writing, reminiscent of the previous week. I tried to focus on my project and getting a couple of last trips to primary schools in before their spring break. One of the reasons I’ve focused so much on my project is because a lot of people—advisers, family, former Fulbright scholars, have been freaking me out about my transition home. “What you’re going back to work right away?” “Do you have a therapist?” “You know going back to America sucks, right?” I suppose I didn’t really think through all this when I was doing last minute planning and negotiating with my district. After all, I only got my travel dates about a week before I left. But you know I miss teaching. I miss my kids and did what Fulbrighters told me not to do---I stayed connected to them, made promises to them, listened to their complaints and anecdotes, monitored what they were doing. My thinking was, “In seeking Pan-Africanism, I must also be thinking of my black kids, children of institutionalized slavery, simultaneously as experiencing children of those who were colonized.” No regrets. However,I am nervous about returning to America’s violence---my street’s gunshots, my students foul language and petty fights, the violence of police sirens, the violence of living in a city where some people drive Teslas home to their penthouses overlooking the river on Upper Wacker and others push all their possessions in a broken shopping cart home to their tents on Lower Wacker. I’ve scheduled things I’m looking forward to, and one of my best friends will be visiting me as soon as I get back. Any other transition tips will be welcomed in the coming two weeks. “The Games Have Also Changed” This week I had an interesting meeting with a Motswana named Kenneth, the founder of an organization that preserves, researches and promotes traditional games from Botswana and the surrounding region. I loved the thought Kenneth puts into understanding and knowing the traditions, whilst also noting and uplifting their evolution. In investigating indigenous knowledge systems, I’ve come across many who are obsessed with purity and preservation of systems as things were. To me this is a bit unfair. How can we think of European civilizations and innovations evolving with time and yet we don’t expect the same to have occurred with those who we deem to be indigenous? We know that British have changed their fashions from powdered wigs, but we still expect to see San people in loin cloths. Why? I think the tension comes in when we think of what is a natural evolution of a technology or system as opposed to a change coming because of a western influence. This is complicated, and I’m not sure how to asses this, but if I don’t question the fact that a new iPhone comes out every 6 months, then i shouldn’t critique or see things as less pure when an indigenous person adapts their ways or practices. “Batswana Are Good People” I was very generously invited to a friend’s family wedding—-Tswana weddings can go on for days, and we went to the wedding hosted by the bride’s family. There will be another hosted by the groom’s. I stuffed my face with heaps of rice and meat. Watched others dance and reflected on how kind it was to be included in intimate moments such as this one. My friend’s great uncle at one point turned and said to me, “Batswana has some very good people. Don’t you think?” I really do think so despite any difference I’ve noted and experienced. After the wedding, I was brought to an open mic, which interesting to me was the use of English—American, black English—by the almost all Tswana group. I kept excellent company and met some new wonderful people, I hope to see in my short time left. I laughed when one asked if I knew of “O-Block” in Chicago—the block I taught on for years, whose children I love and whose infrastructure, abandoned by the city, I hate. I immediately texted my daughter/student Mariyah about this. She thought it was hilarious that her block, notorious for violence and poverty in Chicago, was known across the world. The exchanges across the diaspora are happening. Our connections to each other are possible beyond just Trap and Afro beats, although it’s a promising start. These moments actually make me feel pretty excited about my project, for we yearn for and are seeking meaningful bonds with each other, so that we can collectively begin to understand how our struggles differ, are alike and how we collectively move forward. Much of the week was spent with West Africans—first with my Sierra Leonian tailor, a Ghanaian woman who works for an NGO called Young Love, which does a tutoring program for kids (she brought me all the way to the village of Machudi to see the program) and with my Nigerian AirBnb host in JoBurg. They all talked to me about how southern Africa is hard for them because of the huge mix between Europeans, Indians and African culture. They find that it’s too mixed up, which eliminates, “distinct culture.” An interesting perspective coming from a part of the Continent affected very differently by colonialism. Their colonizers, for the most part, left unlike in the southern region. “Aren’t you tired?” In Africa only 2 countries were not colonized. Today I arrived in one of them—one with a rich and vibrant culture, beloved by me forever, Ethiopia. I typed this all on a Kindle because my laptop is in Gabs, so you’ll hear from me again after April 10. Teteneqeqe! Special shout out to Dawit. ❤️
2 Comments
4/19/2019 02:23:17 pm
Your blog continues to be extremely inspiring and worthy of a larger mainstream audience when you are ready for that. I too returned to teach the last month and a half after my DAT. In retrospect, it would have been better for a gentler reentry and more reflection time. The reverse culture shock is real so just be ready for it, not much you can do about it, just be yourself. I think you were wise to keep in touch with your home community. Hopefully they will accept you and support as the changed and richer person you are now. Thank you again for your passion for teaching.
Reply
Tess Raser
4/29/2019 07:48:07 pm
Thank you so much! It means a lot! I don't know how to get a larger audience, but I would like that. Coming back to work has been horrible and a challenge. My students don't really care to hear about Botswana, and have gotten away with being awful for a few months, so the excitement of seeing me wore off about 10 minutes after the start of my first day back. They've been borderline abusive, which I wouldn't mind if they were doing their work. The crappy Chicago weather isn't helping, but the whole experience has inspired me to look at jobs outside of the classroom. And I'm still so grateful I got to have this experience.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorFulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Archives
April 2019
Categories |