Summertime

The end of the school year has always held a special place in my heart, perhaps as I havn't yet outgrown the student mentality yet. Well, it seems that that feeling is all the more present in teachers, speaking from the end of my first year of teaching.
As oppossed to the American big boom finish style, the Beninese schools prefer to limp slowly to the finish line, prolonging the academic angst. Our final exams were taken at the end of May with a month left of teaching. This was mainly due to the strike earlier in the year but this fact did not make the going smoother as us Volunteers were teaching throughout the year, strike and all.
That being said, it was nice to have more time opening up and have the joy that is summer vacation slowly reveal itself until its sunny demeanor is the only thing noticeable. It's also helpful to see some more of the problems in the system exposed to me, as I'm a first-year I hope to take better advantage of the system next time around or at least be better prepared for it.
Ah, summertime! My old friend returns and is reinvigorated by the excitement on the looks my children give me. "No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers (or students), dirty looks." For now the many summer camps of all us teaching Volunteers looms and the new trainees coming from America to join us in a new world.