My Life as a Scab

The Beninese school year (which is on much the same calendar as the American one, just shorter) is wrapping up, but a couple of weeks ago the teachers decided they had been jerked around enough (there is some business about not being given contracts by the state, which amounts to them not getting paid properly, or on time) and started striking on a weekly basis. Well, we are about to enter week three of strikes. The thing is, I don't work for the Beninese government and in fact am expressly forbidden by the Peace Corps to participate in strikes. So, while my colleagues take extended weekend trips, I am holding regular classes at the school. It's not all that weird, because the admin is there, and some of the teachers (for reasons I don't really understand) are still teaching. But a lot of my kids don't come during the strike, which makes my class size more manageable but also means they are missing stuff. And, to my dismay, the school year may be extended because of the strikes, which means I actually have to teach extra, which is just not nice when I am soooo ready for summer. But nonetheless, I have faith that we will finish at some point, and I will be free and easy for the summer.