Week 6 and part of 7- I got nothing!
I look at my journal for this week and it is empty. I guess it does not really matter where a person lives, if they are working full-time, life revolves around work. Monday through Friday was just a typical work-week here in Yangon. The people with whom I work are still amazing and really are taking great strides to make me feel at home. I am getting to know the kids better and that is good. My eight graders are so sweet. I see them every day so I have gotten to know them better. I love how they have taken my classroom routines and made them fun. When I say I have a few announcements, they burst out with the announcement song; when I say, “Have you got it?” They reply with “Got it, got it, got it, got it—get it, get it, get it get it.” And then I say, “Good” and we all say, “And let it roll.” I think I should have been an elementary teacher! They are sharing their snacks. The other day I was offered what I thought was a piece of green roll up, only to find it was a sheet of green seaweed. Today a student was eating Lord knows what and offered me a bite- so of course I took it and had a wonderful burst of sesame seed and something else salad- it was delish. In the lounge the other day there was cheesecake- don’t get too excited- it was white cake with not sweet frosting and grated cheese on the top. I thought it was orange peel- imagine my surprise. I am glad I just took a little taste so I did not offend.
My juniors and seniors are another story. I see them every other day so it has been harder for us to know each other’s quirks. My juniors are all new to the school so we are having a good time adjusting together. My seniors on the other hand do not know what to think of me. I have been going to the games though (volleyball and get this- they can use their feet if need be!) so we have become a cheering squad for the three boys on the team and in our class. The seniors have had the same teacher for three years (or it could be two) so they are having to adjust to me. It will happen and in the mean time, I will be patient. Have I said, I love these kids yet?
Here in Myanmar, it is traditional for a person having a birthday to gift others. I am not too keen on that idea since I love getting presents, but it is so selfless that I guess I should appreciate it. Too bad (or perhaps not) that by the time the kids hit middle school and high school they celebrate off campus- but boy those elementary teachers are partying all the time. My roommate was gifted with some lovely material of which it is intended she will make a longyi.
One of the other things I would like to mention is that the students are so loving towards each other. It seems that we do something in America to steer young boys into homophobia. I remember in Paris one time when I went to Moulin Rouge, (gosh that sounds pretentious!) boys were on the dance floor just dancing away with each other- no worries of others judging them or questioning their masculinity. (I think more people questioned why they were dancing with me rather than the six 18 year-old gorgeous girls I was with! I think maybe I had an invisible sign that read, “I am easy.” On it- just kidding) Here, I see boys and girls affectionately holding hands and sitting close with no hang-ups about what others will think. Yesterday, I saw two boys age about 10 standing by the little stream (I prefer to call it a little stream rather than the sewer area) looking down expecting to see a fish or something and they were just standing there holding hands. It is sweet. It is just plain sweet that people can be affectionate towards their friends and not be called gay or a sissy. We see it in the younger grades in America, but then something happens and boys are no longer “allowed” to be affectionate towards others who are not in their family. Just an observation- not a judgment.
One of the things I got done this week was to plan a couple trips. We have a three-day weekend coming up and I am going to the beach. Ngwe Saung is on the western coast of the Bay of Bengal, nearly west of Yangon about 5 hours. It is said to be unspoiled and beautiful. I am excited. It seems that up until now, all I have done is gotten to know my co-workers and students (which is not a bad thing), but I have not even toured or seen the attractions here. During the rainy season it is hard to get excited about going out an being in it all day. So this will be a much needed break- unless it rains all weekend. Of course, I will take that opportunity to play in the rain as I mentioned last week. I will take plenty of pictures and will post one below I found on the web. I am going with four other new teachers.
I also made some solid plans to go to Nepal. I will go with three other teachers who have been here a year or two, but who have never been to Nepal. We will fly into Kathmandu, Nepal and stay with a local who runs a NGO (non-profit) called Nepal Social Service Fund that aims at eradicating illiteracy is a small village called Baliya. I am excited to learn more about it and will send information incase others are inclined to support the cause. They concentrate on initiating education programs, health care, and agriculture and income generating programs with the Tharu people who live in the area. We will take in Kathmandu (lots of shopping!) and do a couple local sight-seeing trips and then get on another plane to Jomsom, Nepal (can you say Himalaya Mountains??!!) where one of the girls (who is crazy in shape) will meet up with a trekking guide and take off for three days. The other two people and I will go to visit the temples (with a guide) and do a short trek to see all that nature has to offer. I just read up on it some more before posting and I think it is going to be like something I have never done (and probably will never do again). I am a little freaked out because I think it is going to be cold (right now it is 50-60 degrees c) and I did bring any winter clothes. At this point however, I cannot wait to get out of the humidity so I am in denial that I will be cold. Look up some pictures and read about it- and then try to picture me there- bet you can’t!!!
I am also talking about coming home for Christmas!!!! The boys have two more days to register for their passports- I think it will work out better for them to come next Christmas when I know the place better.
Then the April break I am thinking about the beach in Borneo (which will come as a shock because I have a whole group of women who want to go to Italy in April but I think while I am on this side of the world- I should see it). If, however, that trip becomes a reality and not just a pipedream, I am open for anything. Right now it is just a thought but for all of you who want to visit- that might be just the place to meet. More details to come. Regardless- I will expect people next October or Christmas so start saving money. Enough about trips.
As the week ended, I signed up to go to the American Embassy to hear our Ambassador speak. It was fascinating. Once again, the people assembled were from all walks of life and attending for all different reasons. The Ambassador told of what the U.S. was doing to help Myanmar make the transition to a democratic like government and how they were pooling efforts with other nations to ensure that the transition was as smooth as it could be. I took notes, but will not bore you with the details. It is my prayer that the efforts are sincere and that all around the world do not see this as an opportunity to take advantage of a wonderful people and rape them of their culture and traditions. Many non-profits are on their way and one thing he mentioned was to make sure everyone knew what services were already being covered. Peace Corp should also be setting up within the next six months. Inspiring. I ended the evening at the British Embassy first Friday social hour that ended up being a big party after about 10:00pm.
One need I see a ned to control the street dog population. I think we have “adopted” two pups that hang out in front of our house. This is a huge no-no so I hope that none of my new friends are reading this. They are too cute and also too skinny. Funny though, Jody fed one some leftovers (outside of our gate- we will not let them in) and he ate all the chicken and left the veggies and cashews. I guess he has a mature palate. I will not get too close until I have my rabies vaccine and not so close that I cannot leave him. Bentley would not go for such a street-smart dog. Oh my gosh- I should not have mentioned Bentley- I miss him sooo much.
That’s all for now. I had a work weekend because I went to training on assessment strategies. It was good but it sure makes for a long ten days straight of thinking about school. Hopefully, I will have some pictures of the beach that are filled with bright skies and beautiful water (it is the off season). Happy football season---Hook’em horns! Go Cowboys and last but not least Go CHS Cougars and SV Rangers!
Things I do not miss:
1. Cleaning house
2. Washing clothes (although I am about to have to wash my white linen clothes in bottled water!)
3. Thinking about what to cook (I love cooking but get tired of planning the meal)
4. Violent news stories (I watch some world news and they do not have time for stories about fires and murders – just war and natural disasters)
5. Telling kids to put up their cells phones while I am teaching.
6. 100 degree fall
7. Fast food
8. Processed foods (who am I kidding- that sounded good but I could sure go for a bowl of Blue Bell or a wheat thin)
9. My big closet (we really have way too many clothes- it is so nice not to have so many choices).
10. Driving in Austin traffic on game day.
Things I miss:
1. Picking up the phone four days a week to call my bestie.
2. Dylan, Josh and my extended family and friends.
3. The GNOGs and my bunko group
4. Picking up the phone to call anyone (I do have a skype number that is no cost to the caller because it is a local number. Facebook me if you want it!!)
5. Water pressure oh how I love you- let me count the ways…
6. Driving- will I remember how? I still have to close my eyes through half of my taxi rides. Dang- they cut it close!
7. My good tweezers, my bathroom mirror and my air-conditioned bathroom ($2.00 tweezers are not working/ I put on make-up with a little handheld four inch mirror because my bathroom is not air conditioned and I refuse to leave my bedroom door opened because I am trying to keep out mosquitoes!) I make it sound much worse than it is!
8. Walking without being careful. Our schools floor is marble and very slick; my street, is, well…. Uneven.
9. Reliable internet (we just hired a guy to work weekends so perhaps weekend outages will stop).
10. Sons of Anarchy and So You Think You Can Dance.
11. Church- I miss my church. There are some here but I have not made it to one yet. I need to fill my soul and that is a good place to do it.
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