Alumni Spotlight—Jennifer Way, Missionary Teacher, Village Schools International
Jennifer Way, a Family Studies major in the Young Child specialization who graduated in 2007, has recently completed a teaching assignment in Tanzania. Jennifer tells us:
I’m living in Tanzania, East Africa, teaching English to secondary school students in the rural village of Sawala. I’ve been here since January 2008, working with Village Schools International. Teaching in Africa has involved a lot of adjustments; it has also been an incredibly rewarding experience that has served to awaken within me a desire to continue teaching in a culturally diverse environment in the U.S. I’m grateful for the time I have been able to spend here and the ways in which I have grown and changed as a person as a result of my time here.
Here is a recent excerpt from Jen’s blog:
Pity or Admiration?
I feel like I've often directly and indirectly been taught to pity people in Africa. They're poor, the kids are in rags, food is scarce, they live in shacks. And yes, by Western standards all of this is often true. But rarely have I been taught about the beauty and richness found in life here. As I reflect on some of the values that I see displayed in this culture, I am moved by a desire to incorporate these virtues into my own life.
I hope I live a life of hospitality wherever I am. Here, the door is always open; there’s always room for one more; the visitor's presence alone is valued (even above conversation!)
I hope I maintain a lifestyle of simplicity: I love the night-time conversations Jessica and I have by candlelight because there is no electricity here. Walking everywhere because I don't have a vehicle allows me the opportunity to greet people as I pass by and relish the beauty of the natural world that surrounds me. Getting ready in the morning is not terribly stressful because I only have a handful of outfits to choose from. There's something to be said for simplicity. (Though I must admit, I really hope I'm able to check my email soon!)
I hope I live in the present continuous tense: The present continuous tense if made from the present tense of the verb TO BE with the ing form of the verb. It describes the present moment NOW.
- I am living in Tanzania.
- I am teaching English at Sawala Secondary School.
- I am writing a letter to my friends and family.
- I am learning to live in the present continuous tense.
Jennifer’s blog is located at http://awayinafrica.org/.