My Work Week

So I realized I haven't posted about what I'm actually here to do: work. My full title is TEFL and Community Development, so in addition to teaching, I do "side projects" in the community. Often it's hard to get things done because schedules are a nice thought, but they really aren't followed. Sometimes schools shut down to be sterilized with only 24 hours notice (true story: we have a Hep A outbreak here). Sometimes teachers have to clear snow so all afternoon classes are cancelled (true story: it's an excuse that's been used on me twice already). Sometimes the equivalent of the Department of Education pops by to count all your resources (true story: last week they counted every computer, book, even flashcards). Sometimes there's a "methodology" competition and all the teachers bust out their snazziest PowerPoints and compete against eachother (true story: my CP won, although she didn't advance far enough in the city or aimag to get to UB). Sometimes teachers just head to the hudoo (countryside) without warning (true story: it's pretty much a Friday standard). Sometimes the reason remains a mystery. But ideally, this is what I do in a week:

Monday: 10th Grade Extra Lesson, Access Program (an English class of highly-motivated, low-income students; I teach 1.5 of the 6 weekly hours of instruction).
Tuesday: Mongolian Language Lesson, 7th Grade English Club, 11th Grade Extra Lesson, Coach the Girls' Volleyball Team
Wednesday: Methodology, Faculty and Staff English Class
Thursday: 5th Grade English Club
Friday: TOEFL Prep Course, Speaking Club
Saturday: Free time? No, CHORES!
Sunday: Tutoring, Film Club

English Clubs and Extra Lessons are pretty much another English class. The only difference is I can go "off book" and do more activities/games than the actual English class allows. I also dabble in the HIV/AIDS/STI Task Force, and am working to restart a committee/task force within PC-M. It centers around a sensitive subject in Mongolia, so I won't mention more here. I'm told soon we'll resume the teachers' volleyball practice; apparently the teachers take a break to focus on the students and their upcoming competition. I hope we restart soon! Not only if we hope to compete in the once-mentioned January tourney, but because I really miss it.

I head to UB next week with one of my CPs for IST. Should be a good time (all the TEFL PCVs will be there, yeay!) and a great opportunity to capacity build with my CP. And I've already started to think about summer work opportunities: M23 Trainer? Camp in another aimag? Or if I'm feeling really ambitious, start a volleyball camp in Dornod? But I've still got some time to figure that all out...