In the Academy, we try to go on one field trip each quarter. Since we're in a different country each year, that means new opportunities for unique and interesting field trips.
Last month, we were able to visit a local school that teaches practical skills, such as sewing, to at-risk kids who might otherwise end up on the streets. While we were there, they taught us the art of batik, in which you use heated wax to stamp images on cloth before you dye it.
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You can also use string to create designs similar to tie-dye.
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| Dying the cloth after it's been stamped |
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| Rinsing the dyed fabric |
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| Laying them out to dry |
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| Finished Product! |
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| Students from the school pose with our English teacher and PE teacher |
After spending the morning making batiks, we were able to visit a local Cameroonian family who invited us to their home and showed us how to do some of their daily tasks. We saw the community water well and took turns using a bucket to draw water. We tried to carry the water on our heads, but unlike our Africa friends, we had to use our hands to help! We also experienced cooking over an open fire and washing clothes by hand.
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| Checking out the water well |
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| A look inside the well |
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| Don't forget to tie the rope around your wrist first, in case you accidentally drop it! |
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Peter, our translator, shows students how to use a ring of cloth for cushioning and balance.
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One of our Dutch students tries his hand at making sugared peanuts
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| Washing clothes in buckets |
Our field trip was educational for the students, but just as educational for me! One of the benefits of being a math teacher on a ship!
