Clarksville Academy

Category: Off Campus with CA

  • Langa, South Africa

    By Lauren Drake

    I Am Because We Are

    When company comes over, I often shuffle dirty clothes into the linen closet and close the door. I make sure you can’t see into a disorderly playroom. I apologize profusely for not vacuuming the rug. I never want to seem proud of my home because I want to be humble and never mistaken as arrogant. Residents of Langa Township don’t conflate pride with arrogance.

    They invite you to see their humble (or rather– to be honest– destitute) homes because they are proud of what they can do regardless of these situations. Langa township has four homes: the hostels, the informal homes, government homes, and “Beverly Hills.” A hostel, similar to a dormitory, consists of one small common area with two tables and bench seats. There is a sink and a window; the one we visited had a few small and simple houseplants growing in the window; these are the only decor. They also have four or five rooms and one bathroom. Each room has three beds and three families typically occupy three rooms. Privacy is clearly not an option. For families wishing for privacy, they often build informal houses. Think of the Great Depression-era “Hoover Home.” Tin roof pieces or scrap wood with a tarp roof. Families may have space, but they do not have a sink, toilet, or shower. Falling asleep with the oven on puts the entire group of informal houses in jeopardy. Government houses are for people who have spent most of their lives in Langa. They get homes with privacy– both extra bedrooms and a family bathroom. Yet, they still are smaller than most apartments in the United States.
    The last homes are called “Beverly Hills” and are a point of pride in Langa. It is the white collar residence, but again smaller than some of our smaller homes. They seem in better shape and have fences around the property. The residents have a yard perhaps (and this is a generous estimate) of twenty square feet. These homes encompass a motto of Langa township: “Ubuntu.” It means “I am because we are.”  The doctors and lawyers who live in Langa’s Beverly Hills literally share a street with the hostels and informal homes. They find their housekeepers and nannies in the township.
    In the states, people look at education, the military, or sports as a way out of a disadvantaged environment. The people of Langa aren’t like that. The residents of Beverly Hills are role models and the students of Langa LEAP want to be like them and, in their own way, inspire others. Education is not a way out but a way forward. In the township, the difficulties and obstacles of living in Langa is not a source of shame. Instead, the students know this is a part of history and heritage. Their work in school paves a new path that shows all the goodness of Langa. Their work highlights how Langa residents will lift each other up by sharing a smile, a good word, or even a piece of bread.

  • Cape Town, South Africa

    Kids Are Kids, By: Lauren Drake, English Teacher

    Cape Town, South Africa’s miles of breathtaking views, abundant vegetation, and precocious wildlife appeal to any traveler. However, behind every gleaming and enchanting appearance are grim and sober realities. The same is true for South Africa.

    Several teachers at Clarksville Academy have been blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime: visit South Africa’s cultural landmarks… and learn about the grim and sobering realities of township schools.

    Perhaps some of us ventured into this expedition images of starvation and poverty pervasive in the school yard. Others came in with a take-charge and can-do attitude; whatever challenge faced us in a township school, we would fix. Yet, only half an hour inside Langa LEAP school and the students and teachers shattered every preconceived notion.

    Pull back from South Africa for a moment and imagine your favorite campus spot; mine is a bench just outside the Academic Building. I can see and wave to every passerby; I can work on grades and planning or simply eat my lunch in the sun. It is refreshing and serene.

    This is not the case at Langa LEAP schools. Students have the same breathtaking views as the tourists– Table Mountain is practically in their backyard. Yet, they cannot see the mountain without the sight of razor wire around their school buildings in the forefront. Still, the students and the school has such a mood of hope and optimism that arises from more than the bright, cheery orange paint on every window and door trim.

    In fact, that hope and optimism may face and overcome poverty and other obstacles but it is the same hope and optimism that I see in our students. In just half an hour of interacting with the faculty and staff of LEAP, we all saw that their kids are the same as our kids. We are separated by income, opportunities, and a giant ocean. Yet, they hold doors and demonstrate the same level of respect and integrity as our students. They have goals to become doctors and lawyers, just like our students. And, just like our students, they occasionally bend the rules about food and cell phones in class.

    This trip is full of promise for Clarksville Academy teachers, but in the end, Langa and LEAP schools will likely teach us much more about the craft of educating the whole child than we could teach them.

  • Washington, DC: Day 4 May 8th

    Once again, we made our way into downtown DC and began the morning with two firsts for Clarksville Academy students and chaperones. Those firsts were visiting the Supreme Court and Library of Congress. Walking through the exquisite, marbled halls and exhibits of these magnificent buildings was an experience we won’t soon forget. After eating lunch at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, we made our way to the National Archives to experience the historical documents that tell the stories of our nation’s history. Then, we strolled through the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden on our way to the Museum of Natural History.
    We filled our night by making the trek to Baltimore to watch an Orioles vs. Red Sox baseball game at Camden Yards while partaking in all-you-can-eat concessions! The game went into extra innings, so it made for a late night arrival at our hotel.  The students had a great time experiencing all the wonderful exhibits, competing in learning challenges, viewing the game, and enjoying time with friends.

  • Washington DC: Tuesday, May 7

    We began the Day 3 adventure at the Iwo Jima Memorial and then our day continued with Arlington National Cemetery.  We were able to pay our respects at JFK’s gravesite, watch Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers changing of the guard, and honor many others who have served our great nation.

    After our morning at Arlington and lunch at Pentagon City Mall, we rushed and possibly ran, to make our appointment with Senator Marsha Blackburn. The students had impressive questions for the senator and she graciously answered all. After a photo with her, we went on to tour the Capitol building. Following the Capitol tour, we were afforded the opportunity to meet with other Clarksvillians that work on Capitol Hill. We met and spoke with Lauren Cohen, lobbyist for the arts and Congressman Phil Roe.

    After all of these momentous meetings, we made our way to our tours of the WWII Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Korean War Memorial. Our students were amazed at the size of Lincoln’s statue, the emotion involved in finding a loved one’s name of the Vietnam Wall, and the detailed artistry of the Korean War statues and wall.

    While the daytime was packed with visiting these sites, the night was no different. We went again to Pentagon City Mall for dinner and shopping. Next, we topped off the night by experiencing the very moving and serene Pentagon 9-11 Memorial.

    Those action-packed 10.5 miles (or possibly more) were worth every memorable step!

     

  • Washington DC: Monday, May 6th

    Hello Washington, DC!

    Our travel time was brief today as we made our way into the DC area. We began our day at the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum at Dulles Airport to experience the phenomenal collection of massive airplanes, the Discovery Space Shuttle and so much more. The observation tower allowed us to observe planes taking off and landing at Dulles.

    From there, we traveled to Mount Vernon, home of George Washington. Students enjoyed the interactive museum and even had snow falling on them as they viewed a movie of Revolutionary War battles!  The immaculately preserved mansion was another favorite of the day. Walking the grounds, viewing the farm animals, visiting the working farm, walking alongside the Potomac, and honoring the tomb of the Washingtons rounded out our afternoon at Mount Vernon.

    We spent our evening experiencing the National Harbor. It’s a great little village area built along the harbor. The Awakeningsculpture was enjoyed and climbed on by all! We also visited plenty of the unique shops in the area. The Peeps Store was definitely a hit!

    Up next—-Meeting with Senator Blackburn, touring the Capitol building, and many other wonderful events!

  • Washington DC: Sunday, May 5th

    One hundred four of Clarksville Academy’s finest embarked on a trip of lifetime today! We will spend 7 days in the Washington, DC area. Each day will be filled with learning opportunities and events. We look forward to sharing our experiences and memories with you throughout the week.

  • Dominican Republic Days 5-8

    Danny Magrans, Spanish Teacher

     

    “Laugh, Think and Cry”

    The final days of our trip passed so quickly. Each day was filled with tremendous excursions which included a tour of Santo Domingo’s historical district, the Museum of Resistance, a visit to Christopher’s Columbus’ tomb, and finally a tour of the Chocolate Museum. We learned so many valuable lessons about the Dominican Republic’s past and present social climate. We were able to compare and contrast the similarities and differences of our culture to theirs. We were able to walk the streets where many defining moments were decided. Moments that probably molded our world. As exciting as these excursions were, I wondered if perhaps there would be another opportunity for us to capture. One more opportunity to serve.  

    The last dinner we shared was at a restaurant called Adrian Tropical. The menu was exciting and filled with so many delicious options. Included in the menu were options for traditional dishes as well as dishes that some of my students were missing from home…..cheeseburgers and fries. The desserts were amazing. The natural fruit juices even better. 

    At first I worried about the amount of time it would take to serve our group. There were 26 of us and only 1 of them. Unfair odds if you ask me. I wondered if our waitress would be able to handle these odds. While she did receive some help, it wasn’t nearly enough. Towards the end of our two hour meal I paused long enough to sit with some students and ask the waitress some questions. I wanted to get a feel for what it was like to be a part of the working class and young in the DR. I wanted the students who were around me to listen to her responses. Here is what we learned. 

    The waitress is 21 years old and lives in a single bedroom apartment with her sister who is also a waitress. The rest of her family lives in a village outside of Santo Domingo. She is currently attending a public university where she hopes to become an administrator for the hotel industry. Tourism is huge in the DR and so this makes sense. Attending a public university in the DR is relatively inexpensive but not the living expenses nor the books. The rest of the information she offered is worth sharing. When asked about her work schedule and payment structure this is what she said. She works 77 hours per week and on occasions gets a Saturday off. She earns a monthly salary of 200 dollars. While I do not pretend to be a math wizard I believe this means she earns 65 cents per hour. One may claim that the cost of living is much cheaper in the DR. Perhaps they’re right in some ways but certainly not in all.

    I often reflect on my ability to capture the moments that matter most. I’m sure I am like most….too busy to notice if its happening or not. Like a baseball player who at the plate fails more than he succeeds I wondered if the moment we were given to talk to this waitress was an opportunity for us to hit a grand slam. Should I swing or simply watch the opportunity go by? I decided to swing and this is what happened next. I rallied my students for a simple presentation of our waitress’ reality. I asked them to tip a little more than what we normally gave which is a dollar per meal per person. After collecting all the tip money I presented the waitress with 165.00. As expected she was speechless. While she was barely able to mutter a thank you her tears spoke to our hearts. 

    At this point I felt certain we had completed our purpose. Jim Valvano stated in his last ESPY speech, “There are three things we should do everyday….Laugh, Think and Cry. If we can do all three then we know we lived a full day.” Mission accomplished for the Dominican Republic Crew. 

    “Whether for a reason, season, or lifetime we are placed in each others’ lives to serve a purpose.” I hope we served our’s well. 

  • Dominican Republic Day 4

    By Danny Magrans, Spanish teacher

    Christopher McCandless, the reason why Back to the Wild was written, once said, “the very basic core of every persons’ living spirit is their passion for adventure.” And that’s exactly what we accomplished today. Adventure beyond our wonders and dreams.

    This morning started with a team scavenger hunt. Each team consisted of a blend of Dominican students and ours. We worked collaboratively to find answers to questions scattered around a main strip in the city of Cabarete. While the clues were written in English our students had to translate each clue into Spanish so that the Dominican could understand how to help. A wonderful activity to start the day. I am happy to report that all teams finished and found all of the clues.

    After our session with the school and the Dream Project we then went on a 15 minute hike into another small village called Loma. The purpose of this hike was to find the famous location where the Taino civilization once lived…..a cave. One by one we entered the cave so that we could swim in the naturally fed pool that exists inside. An unbelievable experience to say the least. It’s probably better that I afford you the opportunity to hear more about this excursion from our students.

    We then took a bus ride to snorkel in the Caribbean. Doesn’t that sound amazing?  The waters were choppy today but we were able to see so many different kinds of fish. My personal favorite are the Tiger fish.

    We then went on a boat ride down the Yasika River to eat dinner at a well known but very remote restaurant. Quite frankly….I think it might be the best meal I have ever eaten. Simply amazing.

    I have to confess, I am starting to believe that these students are part Latino or maybe my love for dancing is rubbing off on them. So far, every night has turned into a Latin American Salsa Party. Don’t be fooled by what our students may tell you….they have all danced and have really enjoyed the experiences. And for the record I have a ton of video recordings just in case you need proof.

    Tomorrow we leave for Santo Domingo. Pray for safe travels and a wonderful day.

  • Dominican Republic, Day 3

    By Danny Magrans, Spanish Teacher

    “One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.” Frank Smith

    What a day! Last night I stayed up with the students until 1:30 in the morning to see the Super Moon full eclipse. What tremendous beauty! While the experience was wonderful, I worried about how the students would react to capturing the agenda we created for them today.

    We spent most of the day, Monday, discussing social and economic issues that exist in the DR along with the impact those have on the students here. It’s hard to understand how families here survive on an average salary of 400.00-600.00 dollars a month. This crisis has nothing to do with hard work. The Dominicans work hard. Very hard. In fact we met a young man who shared his work schedule and earnings with us. He works a rotation of 12 days straight with 4 days off. Each day comes with a 10 hour shift at the hotel we stayed in. After work he attends a local university and is trying hard to complete his degree in languages.

    Unfortunately the young man I describe is not the norm. As a result of the financial struggles, many students have to drop out of school after their 8th grade year. Why? To work. Many parents can’t afford to send their kids to school beyond the 8th grade. In many cases it’s even younger. They simply need their kids to earn money……at a very young age.

    Thank goodness for a non-profit organization called the Dream Project who is working hard to flip the norm of this culture. This organization serves the communities here by impressing the need to stay in school, increase literacy, and improve social struggles. They provide many opportunities and services from ages 3 up to 18 to build confidence and hopefully build a lifetime of security. More importantly they help break the chains of poverty that exist …. one student at a time. Just ask the young man from the hotel who is a product of the Dream Project.

    So what did my students do today? They listened. They interpreted because every lesson was presented in Spanish. They responded in the target language. While speaking in the target language was difficult for some, let me remind you that this conversation wasn’t about social fluency. It was about making a difference in the lives less fortunate. Pretty advance topic. They understood the majority of the lessons and most were able to apply responses in Spanish. I am a proud teacher.

    We also began to think about ways we could help. It doesn’t have to be in some exotic island. It could easily be done at home. What matters most is that we gain confidence in our ability to help humanity. We must also trust that “the most noble thing a human can do is sacrifice for others.” Wow, do we have a lot to think about! Even more to do.

    Tonight we had one of the most incredible meals in one of the most incredible settings. A tree house. Let me explain.

    After many years of conviction and wonder a man with a vision built an organic farm. He wanted to build a house to teach the world that one doesn’t have to destroy the earth to do it. He wanted to build an organic farm with many different species of trees to teach the world around us how to use the resources we’ve been given to heal and live better lifestyles. He welcomed us in his home and cooked us a delicious meal. More importantly he challenged us to live our dreams and make a difference along the way.

    It hit me after bed check tonight that our students have tremendous opportunities to make a difference in the corridor they’ve been given and the doors they will be able to open by learning a second language. Whether it be reaching the lives of those less fortunate or changing the manner in which medicine is produced, I have no doubt that our students will have an impact. Learning a second language, can reach so many other people. I firmly believe “it give a person another soul.”

     

  • Dominican Republic Day 2

    By: Danny Magrans

    “In order to achieve great things, one must be willing to live on the edge of what’s uncomfortable.”

    Sunday–

    What an exciting day. After a good night’s sleep we started the day. Our first true excursion was to a beautiful area called Damajauga. Here we scaled a moderately intense mountain to get to the first of 27 different waterfalls. Our mission was to get to the bottom of the mountain by using water as our main source of transport. In other words, we had to jump off the top of the waterfalls and swim to the next jump. Due to time restrictions we jumped off 12 waterfalls. The tallest was close to 23 feet tall. I am happy to report that the entire group faced the challenge and their fears with extraordinary courage. After a two hour excursion the students and adults left with tremendous joy and pride.

    We ended the day at our new hotel in a new city. The hotel is called Kite Inn. We quickly learned why. Here we witnessed one of the neatest sports I’ve ever seen–Wind surfing. The skies were full of individuals from beginners to experts. It was simply amazing to see. Also, the students competed in races and an intense game of soccer versus a group of locals.

    We finished the day with a wonderful dinner at a very cute beach side restaurant. While eating dinner I noticed an energy the I have not seen before. In fact I told the chaperones and our guides that in just a few minutes our students were about to turn this evening into a Latin American Disco. So much fun.

    The students have blended so well with the DR culture. It’s so impressive to watch them interact (including speaking, dancing, playing soccer, and so much more) with the locals. They have achieved great things in such a small moment of time. It’s been remarkable to see how much our students have stepped out of their comfort zones.

    Tomorrow will prove to be filled with many challenges and opportunities to push our limits and live on the edge. Wish us luck!

     

    The following photo is from our visit to the Monument of the Revolutionary Heroes.