Madame Melon
Word has gotten around in Africa that I can teach.
In fact, I have even been offered a promotion.
My tutoring days are behind me.
I am no longer tutor girl. (That's for you One Tree Hill fans reading).
I am now a fourth grade English teacher at St. James' Parent's School.
& I have between 24-30 students Monday-Friday.
I am known as Madame Melon.
It turns out [ Melanie ] is just as hard to say in Uganda as it was in Kenya.
& when they forget my name they call me Mzungu, which is a term used for "person from the west."
My classroom has brick walls and a dirt floor.
My students sit shoulder to shoulder on small wooden benches and use their laps as a desk.
The only textbook in the room is the one I teach from.
& I share this room with Emili and her third grade class.
I have my three class clowns who all insist their name is J.J. even though I already know their names are Pilas, Noah, and Jacob.
I have my studious students, Irene, Bosco, and Peter who always have their hands in the air ready to answer my questions.
I have taught lessons on past and future tense, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and synonyms.
& I have loved every minute.
