Day Nine: Chopped Full of Nuts

One of the things I like about mixed nuts is that there are so many varieties in one can, that I never tire of reaching in and grabbing a handful.  This school is much like that can. Today was our first full faculty meeting, thus my first introduction to those who will become my family for two years. I am sure there are some nuts in the group, but my analogy hinges on the flavor mix of this group.  So many have experiences that differ from mine. So many of them have been in the international arena for years, that their everyday stories are amazing.  They are not being pretentious when they say, “Well, when I was in Egypt I…” or “The humidity here is like that in Peru.” I ask so many questions that I am sure they think will tire of my curiosity, but I hope not.

The owner of the school came in to give the welcome and I was inspired.  His vision for Myanmar is far-reaching and ambitious.  I am in awe to see first hand how educating the young will develop leaders that will change a nation.  The tie to family is so strong here that the students might go off to an American university when they graduate, but will return to influence change. He meets with Aung San Suu Kyi in September to work on a plan to better educate the mass. Needless to say, I had tears by the end of his welcome.

Let’s talk about money.  Today I saw a parent coming in to pay his student’s tuition for the year.  It is a cash society, so he was paying in cash.  The largest bill here is a 10000 kyat (10 dollars). Can you picture a person walking into the business office with a huge bag of money and no one batting an eye (but me, of course because I could not believe what I was seeing)? 

Pay day! I was paid in US dollars- all crisp one hundred dollar bills and when cab ride is $2.00, a bag of groceries is $5.00 and a message is $3.00, I imagine it will go far. No worries, I have a safe. Nutty, huh?