Sample Paragraph

Comparing Life in Bamenda with Life in Ohio

After living in Bamenda for some time and getting over the initial shock of the change in lifestyle and scenery, I began to notice the real differences between life there and life back home in Ohio. The differences were quite apparent, and the similarities are what caused me to feel most at ease. Regarding some of the differences, most striking was what I saw everyday; instead of nicely paved roads and sidewalks with well constructed buildings and utilities, I saw red dirt or mud roads, some beautiful homes and buildings, but few that would meet Western standards, and utilities like water and electricity were intermittent. Gas came in large canisters; it was not not piped into the house. Also, the streets often had old rotting garbage strewn about, sewage was often open, and many dirty and sick stray cats and dogs roamed the streets. There were also rats, monkeys, and so many insects, spiders, and bugs! The weather was simple to explain. For about 9 months of the years it was sunny for a couple hours of the day and it was overcast and stormy for the rest of the day. The storms were torrential deafening downpours of water. While these differences may seem to make the place unattractive, I noted that people there were so friendly. Everyone wanted to have a nice time and get by in their life. They had work or school in the day, and family time in the evening. Just like much of the world. The people took pride in the preparation of their food, even if it seemed so different. Once I became used to the new food and set of manners, I savored every meal I had while living there, even if it later caused me to become ill.  Finally, as has been mentioned, disease was a serious issue there, and cleanliness and hygiene were very important to the people. They didn't want to get sick, just as I didn't, and they had much to teach me about taking care of myself. Noting these differences while living there helped give me better appreciation for the life I had in Ohio. Things that I took for granted, like electricity, clean water, and no rats, I could not take for granted any longer. 

Sample Paragraph

Comparing Experiences in 3 Classrooms

I began my teaching career with practically no training and never once having considered being a teacher. An experienced Peace Corps volunteer helped train me to be a teacher for a few days, and she supervised two of my five training classes. So, on my first day teaching, I used memories of my own schooling, which had ended only a few years earlier,, and my short time learning to practice teaching in front of s group of local children. Students in Bamenda were very talkative, cheerful and rowdy. They really liked to play. In my old school, Beachwood High School (BHS), I remembered students being relatively well behaved. There were moments when classroom management was an issue, but nothing ever like what I experienced there. The students in BHS and GTHS both were required to meet curriculum standards, while my training students were volunteer fifth graders. These students were much younger than the students who I ended up teaching, and they didn't have to be concerned about tests or homework. Also, since they were volunteers, they were generally engaged and well-behaved, at least compared to the students in GTHS. In BHS, I remembered having textbooks, audio-visual material, and all kinds of learning resources. Neither my practice school or work school had much in the way of resources. There were many other differences between the three classroom environments, but the most important features were the similarities. In front of each classroom was a teacher, a desk, and a blackboard. If the teacher led the class well, the students were engaged, and the students learned. Over time I became a better classroom leader and student engagement increased. 

Sample Paragraph

Using Learning Resources

The school had a very limited quantity of resources to help facilitate student learning. My classes averaged about 40 students, many of whom required glasses, but could not afford them. When I wrote on the board, no matter how large or carefully, there were always students who had to move to the front to make out what I had written. No actual textbooks existed for the students in GTHS, though books that taught the curriculum were available in bookstores. Also, even though I was teaching carpentry, there were hardly any tools available for the students to use. While there were plenty of power tools available for the carpentry students, there were few hand tools or other resources. Most of the power tools had been donated by the government of Egypt and were mainly for advanced carpentry use. Students had to bring their own tools or borrow from others. I often lent mine, and over time I built up a classroom set of tools through various acquisitions. Even the classroom blackboard had to be used sparingly to conserve chalk. Nearly all the learning materials my students had were created by me on my kitchen table at home, and through various means I was able to acquire resources from merchants in town. Therefore I had to be creative and find ways to produce my own resources, purchase materials in town, or find donations from merchants or outside groups. Thankfully the Peace Corps had provided many resources that I could use to help me develop my lessons and build my curriculum. For example, I had sample exams, drafts of lesson plans, and even instructions for making a hectograph. Even though it was frustrating that GTHS had limited learning resources, ultimately it was good for me, because it caused me to think deeply about the students needs and abilities. I had to figure out what they knew, where they had to go, and what was possible in the classroom. Ultimately I learned to be a creative designer, and I achieved immense satisfaction when students learned something new and unexpected because of the design of my instruction. 

Sample Paragraph

Soon after I learned that the Peace Corps would send me to Cameroon to teach carpentry I began to build some expectations. Many of these expectations related to the people's lifestyle, language, the weather,  teaching, and if I would make friends. Regarding lifestyle, my expectations were unrealistic for the most part, as most towns and cities were trying to be modern. There were villages were traditional lifestyles were maintained, but in general I was exposed to much traditional life and culture during celebrations and special events. Additionally, while I knew that Cameroon basically had two seasons, wet and dry, I didn't realize to the extent. When it was dry, it was really dry and dusty. When it was wet, everything became wet and dirty muddy red. Also, the smell of the mud and mildew pervaded the air. Language was an important concern of mine. I knew that I didn't learn languages well, because I never had before,. I thought to myself that I wouldn't do any better there, in a place that had two official languages (English and French), one unofficial language (Pidgin), and about 200 local languages and dialects. The moment I disembarked from the plane, I knew I would be in trouble, and I was. I must say that I could have tried harder. Of course, my concerns about teaching were of paramount importance. I knew teaching would be a challenge, but the challenges I was faced with, were unlike any I had managed. truthfully my biggest expectation of what teaching would be like was that I would be terrified, and I never was. It was a joy from practically the first moment. Finally, I was worried about being alone. Would I make friends, or would I keep to myself as I tended to do back in Ohio? In the end, I made some very good friends, but I was not very social. I did not go out often to meet my neighbors or get to know my colleagues well. I did get to know my students well, though. Overall, I'd say my general expectations were met for my time living in Bamenda. Truthfully, I was not entirely sure what to expect, and in the end, I made many discoveries that have guided me ever since. So whether the expectations were met or not, my time changed how I view he world and the people living around it.