47 Divided by 15

Forty-seven children shared fifteen desks and seven books in the classroom where I taught English.
At the school for fewer than 15 minutes, I was given my first assignment. In a room with rough cement walls and dirt floors, the children and I read in English and answered questions. Although the children were very co-operative with this lesson, their ability to interpret what we read will give me work for the next three weeks.
The children are dressed in school uniforms of white shirt, green/blue/yellow/black sweaters (Tanzanian colours); the boys wearing trousers and girls blue skirts. Some uniforms are falling apart: sweaters are unraveling, zippers broken or hems are worn. Although all children wore shoes, most footwear is falling apart giving air to toes covered by worn socks.
From our window I can see the dried corn fields parched from the drought. The occasional wild dog or chicken wonders through the yard. I remind myself, I am here, teaching in a classroom in Africa. It is similar to what I had imagined, but more…