We have just spent the first two days at Ateneo de Manila High School after being wined and dined by genuine Filipino hospitality.....the hospitality did not stop once we got to the school. Tutham, our cooperating teacher is amazing and has put a tremendous amount of work in our visit.
We began our day by crossing the footbridge across the 8 lane road in front of Ateneo...the road can become 9-12 lanes depending on the traffic and how many jeepneys and motorbike taxis are involved in the process. We descend the stairs in to a tree-ed oasis in this city of 18 million, although most of it is manicured and I am straining my neck and my ears to try and find any sign of wildlife that is not a Eurasian House Sparrow. The roar of the traffic diminishes on the campus as we head away from the road, but the stream of hundreds if not thousands of cars that are dropping off their students at the university, high school, and grade school is a constant stream all day here, particularly when we are walking to and from school, and it appears optional to stop at sidewalks.
It has been a couple of days of realizing that there are so many parallels between this world and mine at Prep. There are also some universal school feelings/actions/truths that transcend culture and very early on I feel connections here that I feel at my school and probably most schools around the world. It really is about relationships. Between students and teachers, and students and students and teachers and teachers.
Beyond the universal experiences are the correlations between my school and Ateneo. Discussion with faculty, parents and students, reveal dedication, humor, frustrations, involvement, new ideas and perspectives, and shared challenges. Contrasts are also apparent, and I am curious as to learn more about these as the week goes and get more than a surface layer understanding.
My favorite part of the school so far? Talking with the students. Laughing with the students. Riding in a jeepney with the students to their weekly community service project. Sitting in their classes and having lunch with them. I guess that's what makes me know that I am a teacher and know that I want to be a teacher.