| Author |
 Topic  |
|
jambo
3300 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Aug 2007 : 09:58:45
|
Bev, just go to Gambia for 3 months, pick a school and join it. More satisfaction, if your parents know you are coming back in 3 months everyone is happy.
|
 |
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2007 : 10:14:26
|
I am not in a position to do that. I have to work to pay my bills at the moment.
If I downsize house I will rent it out for the two years. All this needs organisation, I cant just take off. I am due to restart teaching my class in 2 weeks. I am committed to my class for another school year.
IF I go it will be September 2008. If I go with VSO it will be a 2 year commitment. IF I go during holidays the most I could manage is a month. I couldnt give up my job for a 3 month trial, it just wouldnt be worth the risk. At 47 full time permanent teaching jobs arent easy to find. (NOW I sound like my mother!!!  ).
My youngest daughter will be 18 in November, 19 almost by the time I would be going off for two years.My older daughter would be 23 and has here own life in Edinburgh. My parents (who are divorced) would be 72.
The debate with my mum is mainly about my finances and the care of my younger daughter. Although she is anti putting my time and effort into Africa when there are projects at home. 'Charity begins at home'.
When I have been away for a few days here and there this summer I have missed my daughter and my cat and dog and my home. I have also been worried that her father hasnt offered all the support in place of me. I presumed if I wasnt around to do it he would step up to the mark and take his responsiblities. He has done the minimum. She could end up feeling orphaned, albiet at 19!
My friends are fairly split between those who say be selfish, go do it or you will regret it, and those who think my daughter is too young and I should wait.
I am beginning to think she is still a bit young. Also that I am still too attached in her life.
Perhaps in another 5 years would be better????
But then my parents could be dependent on me????????
Am I trying to run away from my responsibilities? Should I just get on with my day to day life and forget the dream?
I suppose I thought getting divorced set me free......but it hasnt. I still have children and parents!!!!! Just without a partner to support me through it all.
|
|
|
|
Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2007 : 11:47:40
|
Bev - Ask your school for 6 weeks leave of absence (or - even better - 4 and tack on to Easter Holidays). Then just go and spend some time in the local school you support.
It's finite; it's a month's loss of pay (so almost manageable); it will help you decide if you want to stay there longer. Your school is duty bound to consider your application and it seems like a good cause to me.
Dalton - can you elaborate about "spies" and VSO - sounds quite fascinating. |
|
|
|
Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2007 : 12:23:44
|
quote:
Originally posted by Lily
[
Dalton - can you elaborate about "spies" and VSO - sounds quite fascinating.
Little Flower Lily,
Thanks for asking. The statement wasn't uttered out of malice, honestly a standpoint uttered in good faith. I had VSO and Peacecorps teachers. It's noble while doing it, very honorable.
On the otherside, the pain in the butt, some (most if not all) are western governments used tools as 'spies'. One would honestly risk being labelled one, if at all one does take up such a position as such, but what supercedes all is 'good heart' to help.
and good luck to you too, if you want to be a vso, but you risked being termed a spy. i hope mine wasn't harsh
Dalton |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
|
|
|
|
Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2007 : 13:41:24
|
Thanks Dalton, no - not VSO for me. I do what I can, when I can and how I can. I'm not good at being organised, placed, positioned or told what to do!! I think I have a 'good heart' - but it's mine and not "for sale"!!
I was just interested. A big part of me doesn't like the NGO's and some of the "official" charity people I've met in the Hotels are not, at all, my kind of people. It's hard to explain - but they boast about what they do as if it's all about them - not about the people who actually need/deserve a helping hand.
I couldn't "spy" anyway - can't keep my mouth shut!! |
|
|
|
Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2007 : 13:47:35
|
Keep it burning yow 'beautiful flower' lily.
You cannot be wrong to be even a VSO. Probably, someone else would have said mine better, without making it look like 'offensive'. until we interrogate to know, we cannot fully grasp the full meaning of people sometimes, especially when dealing with my likes, still taking classes from Kondorong at Wellingara literary classes.
but all said, sorry, if i was sarcastic.
and have a good day.........walking with good scent of your lovely petals. it must be so sweet, haaaaaaaaa |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
|
|
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2007 : 14:34:09
|
| Lily, I am taking a week and two days off in November to go with students to the Gambia. I was told at school that this was a 'one off'. My school doesnt allow time off lightly. You have to fill in forms and it has to go to the school governors. I have been told this is allowed once as a favour WITHOUT PAY. So the chance of getting any more time off is almost NILL. |
|
|
|
Dr Thomas
Gambia
95 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2007 : 23:42:44
|
Dalton
I have read your postings with great interest, and admired your judgements on many subjects. But VSO being "spies" made me stop in my tracks.I have had lots of dealings with VSO and their people do a lot of good around the world for developing countries.In return they learn a lot about different cultures and go back and share it with great enthusiasm at the end of their term. I would be interested in your evidence to back up your statement. Maybe they are spying on Gambia's oil fields or possibly the nuclear submarine base in Barra or is it the factories of silicon valley in Sukuta. Get real anything that happens in Gambia is public knowledge. Stick to the good stuff.
Tom |
|
|
|
Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2007 : 23:58:25
|
Dr. Thomos,
Yes, i concur , a lot of good. I've had vso teachers myself, so a beneficiary, in all honesty.
|
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
|
Edited by - Dalton1 on 23 Aug 2007 00:08:47 |
|
|
|
sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2007 : 00:36:09
|
GambiaBev, did you get around to reading the VSO - Research / Teachers Speak Out - that Momodou referred to some weeks back in Education?
Google - Teachers Speak out The Gambia - it should then come up, although about 44 pages it will enlighten you to a system that is unknown to yourself.
sab.
|
The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
Edited by - sab on 23 Aug 2007 00:38:58 |
|
|
|
Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2007 : 12:12:00
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dr Thomas
Dalton
I have read your postings with great interest, and admired your judgements on many subjects. But VSO being "spies" made me stop in my tracks.I have had lots of dealings with VSO and their people do a lot of good around the world for developing countries.In return they learn a lot about different cultures and go back and share it with great enthusiasm at the end of their term. I would be interested in your evidence to back up your statement. Maybe they are spying on Gambia's oil fields or possibly the nuclear submarine base in Barra or is it the factories of silicon valley in Sukuta. Get real anything that happens in Gambia is public knowledge. Stick to the good stuff.
Tom
Dr tom ,i think you where hard on dalton .when people talk or write about some vso beings spies ,that depends on which side one is sitiing .what you made clear and open is no secret but some agendas that the local population aren't aware of can be considered spying.
spying is not all about neclear facilities or military business but some other important socail structures. it is difficult to change some one's life style or culture without proper reseacrh about those people and how their systems work.
spying is not just political but other relevant issues that only experts can comprehend .yes ,in many universities in the west we can conduct reseacrh on many african countries as a result of hard work undertaken by some voluntary ngo wokers. but some times this people became embedded within the local populations and pretend to be with them but in reality you are conducting a survey and hard reseacrh on them without telling them what you are doing .this are evident in many ngo organistaions .all arroud the world from the sudan to asia people have and continue to suspect certain ngo organisations.
just puting certain things in context .in mali for instance ,the u.s have set up some milarty instalations just to research ,what is in the desert of mali to study ? oil ? .no some other people they are trying to find out . |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2007 : 13:12:15
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dr Thomas
I have had lots of dealings with VSO and their people do a lot of good around the world for developing countries.Tom
Uncle Santa;
thanks
Reading from Dr. Thomos' solid and candid quote above, i couldn't argue further. Remember, these VSO are very nice sometimes, and can share things of greater magnitude, like windfall rains.
Well, Dr. Thomos, as rightly mentioned might be a vso or close associate, can only support his clan.........see that!-(VSO)
But if only what the honorable Doctor saw was that good, then who can say otherwise about any of his associates.
and the spy world is an underground world. little can be known about it.
i will thread more, but may be we should open a new discussion topic on this, without having to interrup the Bevs' looking for advice from good bantaba mentors.
Good day to all! |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
|
|
|
|
Dr Thomas
Gambia
95 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2007 : 23:59:06
|
Dalton & Santa
I love you boys. You start some wonderful threads out of nothing.
One day i would like to meet you both and have a few hours of discussion. Must go to bed now having a trip up country tomorrow, maybe I will buy some of Lemon Time's cows on the way back.
Tom |
|
|
|
Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2007 : 02:03:18
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dr Thomas
One day i would like to meet you both and have a few hours of discussion. Tom
Ehhhhhhhh Doctor, have a good nite, but i am cracking "laugh-feh taffehs." Have a safe trip and please share with us your trip experience.
what's there on the table of discussion i laugh again.......
(just in jovial mood)
Dalton. |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
|
|
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2007 : 21:01:05
|
I have written to VSO to say that at this moment I am not able to move forward with my application.
I have two daughters 22 and almost 18. I thought if I went away their father would step in and be a father to them. I went away for 5 days and he didnt stick to what he had agreed. He didnt answer his phone to them. It was difficult. So I am not happy to leave them.
Both of my parents (71) have been very distressed at the thought of me leaving them and going abroad to live.
The housing market where I live has slowed, so it may take a long time to sell my house and downsize.
My job in UK is going well. People think I would be foolish to give up a full time permanent job at my age ( 47).
In the last 12 months the school has recieved an outstanding Ofsted report and has got National Autistic Society accreditation. It is a good, successful, well run place to work.
My job is very physical and I wont be able to do it forever. I am exhausted every Friday and battered and bruised. My arms look like a heroin addict, but it is just I have a boy in my class that pinches and nips very hard!
It is still my life long ambition to do VSO in Gambia. It is on hold at the moment. That makes me sad. But I do have to be realistic and at the moment I couldn't go happily and worry free. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
