Underlying motives?

I opened my eye's to the Saturday morning and spent a few minutes pondering the happenings planned out for this day, from teaching my English class to playing music at Richards birthday party to visiting mom at one point. I haven't seen her in a while, and apart from a decent meal, I could also do with a bail out! Ha-ha. turns out I have enough money to get me to and from the school meaning my breakfast today is pretty much a pack of cookies I found comfortably snuggled at the back of my dry food cupboard. But even at such a financial low point, I thought of the kids I teach and how much more I seemingly have than them.

On a personal, and somewhat seemingly crass level, one can't help but be content with what you have when juxtaposed against disadvantaged students.

I'll digress as I ponder something somewhat personal that has crossed my mind.

Do I do this to make me feel like a better person ... a sort of ego boost or do I do it because I like it?

(Well, it certainly ain't for the money, because its volunteer work!)

I guess as humans when someone really goes out of their way to help, we kind of take a step back and question if there is an underlying sinister motive? Hmmm...

I've been asked this when I mention my this new career excursion of so sorts..."where's the catch, Charlie?"

Hmmm ... well I guess it is admittedly a little of both. Truth be told, yes, I do gain something. Like I noted to Peter my flatmate (read: roommate!ha-ha), when I get back from the school, I'm able to take note of how lucky I am to be able to wake up to a morning shower in a bathroom with white tiles and running water (but I still hate the fact that its cold water! ha-ha).

In a way I guess one starts to take such things for granted, forgetting to"smell the roses"?? I never knew I'd drive into what I've always considered dusty Kampala and stop to think how "clean" it is. I know I know, Kampala and clean really shouldn't be in the same sentence! !! haha. But therein lies what I'm talking about and further therein what I am chasing.

I wouldn't mind teaching in an urban school, but pay packages aside, I'm up for a school in a rural setting. It teaches so many small priceless life lessons.

But I digress.

Apart from the personal benefit of learning a few lessons myself, I must say I really do like what I do. Mostly stemming from the fact that after so many personal struggles with formal education, rather than seat on the sidelines and moan about how things should be, I'm taking the bull by it's horns and changing course. My classes are anything but traditional and using the Psychology I have studied over the times, I more than try to help students learn a language. I work hard to build strong characters, giving encouragement when needed, pointing out the right before wrong. I'm really up for education and it does have its benefits. But I think its about time people went to school and can fail the fact & figures but emerge as wholesome enlightened individuals who have the ability to see their true worth and exploit it.

That is really radical, but I cringe way too many times when I meet "educated" people who really can't think outside the box. I don't blame them. I blame some education systems.

Moving on.

Wait, I will blog about the actual class day (last Saturday) tomorrow. It's getting to 530pm and my new walk-from-work-to-home schedule demands that I leave the office before the sun sets.

Till tomorrow.