I'd just like to start by saying...Happy April Fools Day! If you truly believed that I my school was on lock down due to threatening, hostile elephants then the joke is on you. There were no elephants, we were not locked in our classrooms, and learners were not using the corner of the computer lab as a makeshift latrine. I thoroughly enjoyed coming up with that, and my learners especially were thrilled at the thought of tricking you all back home. So...cheers!

The past couple of weeks have been insanely busy, nearly manic, with the impending end of term one. Think of the flurry of activity that usually accompanies end-of-term preparations and examinations and then factor in African ambiguity, disorganization and general confusion, and that is my life in a nutshell right now.

At the end of every term we have what we call "mastery tests" which are just that, mini-examinations created to get a general feel for how well learners have absorbed, and can apply (therein lies the rub), the content that has been covered this term. These exams in no way affect their grades, and generally don't serve much purpose at all, seeing as how we also have term exams within weeks (and in some cases, days) of mastery test writing. Mastery tests are written during the school day, but on no particular schedule. I had more than one class cancelled due to a teacher knocking on my door, mid-lesson, announcing that they wanted to do a math/biology/physical science test, now-now. My patience and composure have endured savage beatings these past two weeks, leaving them bloody and barely breathing as my blood boils beneath the surface of my curt and dissembling smiles. Thank god for the yoga dvd that my mom sent me, I have had the need to draw upon some serious zen strength lately. My mastery test for English was set to be on April 17th. I set the exam and had my lesson plans and content all laid out in anticipation and preparation for it. I was then informed on April 1st that no, the test has been bumped up, we are going to do it on the third instead (not an April Fool's joke, but a joke nonetheless). As regimented the test was given on the third. My learners...bombed. The results were less than ideal. Having had basic verb tenses be the main focal point of most of the first term, I figured that yes, they must have it down well enough to answer basic questions on a test. Not quite. In fact, not at all. Needless to say it was a little defeating to see just how few of them were capable of applying all of the work we had done so far this year to the exam. I had a generous glass of wine while marking to ease the blow.

At least, I figured, I would have at least two weeks before the end of the term examinations (which, as it turns out, are not counted towards class marks either..they are mock exams..of course..makes sense..) to do some revision, and touch on a couple more last-minute topics before school holidays. Well, now that would just be all-too easy. It was decided that term examinations are to start on April 8th, three weeks before the last day of school. The exams for English are set to be written on the 9th. What I will do with myself for the last 20 days of the term, aside from invigilating exams for other subjects, I don't know.

Saturday provided me with some reprieve from the rest of the week, as a group of my fellow WorldTeachers all met up here to celebrate Aleks and Lindsey's birthdays. Altogether there were ten of us in my little house: Aleks, Lindsey, James, Adam, Erica, Rachel, Tomas, Chloe, Steve, and myself. I spent the earlier part of the day tidying and making cookies (it needs to be mentioned that I have a propane oven, with no numbers or gage for temperature on the dial at all...and that every one of my cookies was eaten and enjoyed. Look out Martha.) The first few hours we were all together was filled with the obligatory incessant chatter and sharing of stories that always inaugurate our get-togethers. We had some birthday cake and celebratory drinks. I stuck with my punya punya, the mixture of cheap red wine and coke (in my case, diet pepsi). Don't knock it until you've tried it. At close to 9 we made our way up the dirt road to the bar that sits above the post office in what I call the town square. At first we were the only ones there, so we just sat and relaxed with our drinks and conversation, serenaded by Gazza and The Dogg, Namibian rap artists, booming from the jukebox. Before too long the bar was filling up and the dance floor was calling our names. We lit it up. Joining the locals we danced late into the night, doing everything from the hustle and electric slide to Kwaito, traditional Ovambo dance. We worked ourselves into sweaty messes, and enjoyed every minute of it. It was so liberating, being able to let go and just have fun, and being so accepted by the locals while doing it. I met a lady named Elia, a transgendered woman who lives in Okahao and is an absolute riot. She wore a tight black top, skinny jeans and bright red loafers and owned the dance floor. I was surprised by how openly accepted she is in the village, this is the second time I have seen her out, because northern Namibia, as a generalization, is not accepting of non-traditional partnerships or displays of sexuality. I have become very fond of Elia, who is very savvy and sharp-witted, and expect that I will be running into her quite a bit over the course of the year.

We left the bar at 1 am and made the short jaunt home where we re-hydrated and snacked on munchies and wound down before making our ways, exhausted, to bed. Everyone departed Sunday morning to make their ways home. I'm going to be meeting up again with some of them for this coming Easter weekend in Swakopmund, a touristy adventure-town on the west coast of the country (I can't wait to see the ocean..oh how I've missed the water!) where we will be staying at a hostel and relaxing, partying, and generally unwinding. I'm meeting up with my dad in just less than three weeks for Father-Daughter Lahn African Adventure (Volume 1) during my school May vacation. I have absolutely no idea where the time is going..