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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

It's all in the finger

Mr Robin in typical pose
The finger. To describe. To explain. To make a particularly pertinent point. To stick up a sleeping student's nose. The finger is the thing that makes me the teacher I am. If I was to sit still behind my desk and quietly tell my students to read chapter whatsit or learn 20 vocabulary words quietly by themselves then I would go mad, and they would all become a noisy, unruly bunch or find themselves in a permanent stupor. 

I'm not a particularly good teacher, but I am an energetic one. I try to find things that will interest and inspire and excite the students and I make liberal use of the finger. 

But now that's all over. It looks like health issues will be keeping me in South Africa and I have had to resign from my teaching job in Madagascar. What does the future hold? Who knows? 

Will it be an exciting ride? I'm sure... 

And so, all my wonderful students, buckle down and make the most of the little bit of schooling left in this term. Run with perseverance towards the final exams. Grab your futures in your own two hands and work. Hard. And if you were to falter, if you were to stumble, look up and remember "the finger" and the face and voice behind it spurring you on.
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10 comments:

  1. HilaryApril 26, 2011 at 6:10 PM

    Robin, I'm so sorry to hear that you won't be returning to your kidlets in Madagascar. Your heart must be aching, as mine does for you and your students.

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  2. RobinApril 26, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    @Hilary Thank you so much, Hilary... Thanks for reading so faithfully and for the kind words.

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  3. laughwithusblogApril 26, 2011 at 11:14 PM

    Love the picture! On to new adventures then! I know you will be greatly missed.

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  4. SheriApril 27, 2011 at 6:22 AM

    I'm sorry to hear you won't be returning Robin. I'm sure you'll be missed. You sound like a great teacher. I pray that your health will improve and you'll be able to move on to other great and exciting ventures.

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  5. M:)helleApril 27, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    SO you won't come back for good?! I'm sure everyone would miss you so much, too many great teachers had left... oh, and, aren't you a lefty? cause you're holding your pen with your right.

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  6. LynneApril 27, 2011 at 11:32 AM

    so sorry Robin. Excited to see what the next stage is in the big adventure that God has for you, though It must be something amazing!

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  7. RobinApril 27, 2011 at 11:57 AM

    @Michelle I am left-handed... But that's why the post is called "It's all in the finger," and not "It's all in the pen!" Ha ha ha ... Thanks for continuing to read this Michelle... I may go back for a week or so just to say goodbye to all your former co-students, but that's about it!

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  8. UnknownApril 27, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    It's really too bad !
    For your life in Mada, and your students... and also for your health, because I think it must be quite bad if you're obliged to stay in South Africa... I just hope you don't hide us anything about your health...

    In fact life is always full of surprise, and now, I learn that when something very very bad happens, it's sometimes a sort of sign that life send to you because you're called for another mission...
    In my case, life is much more difficult than with my ex-husband but so so beautiful now !
    I always wake up with a smile !!!

    So, now, let's wait for what is calling you ...

    Lots of supportive thoughts form Belgium, love,
    Denise

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  9. vanRoon-GiffordsApril 27, 2011 at 4:01 PM

    Aaaaah, we're really sad for you that this season in Madagascar has come to an end .... and so abruptly.
    Praying for you and all that the future holds for you ... you're one great guy!
    Us6inCyprus really love you!

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  10. A-LMay 3, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    the finger :-) I can but laugh!Going to miss the blog fun.

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