Week 10 or first week in October (Can
it Be October already?)
So it is a busy time for a
teacher. The first quarter is almost
over and grades are just about due. It
is hard being in a new place and wanting to see all there is to see and do and
work full time. Reality has hit me and I
know I am a professional and have let things get out of hand. So I end the week grading. I am at school Sunday from 2:00 until 9:00pm
grading and getting those grades in the computer. I vow NEVER to get his behind
again! I always vow that every year and
continue with my procrastinating ways (I wonder where my boys get it??) It is funny how I harp at them for putting
easy things off and then. Well- “Pot calling the kettle black” and all
that. But. I will go back to the first
of the week.
Monday I get an email that itemizes
all the goods I buy at the Myanmar Beer Factory Tour. Who would have thought that there would be
items there that I needed. Everyone
needs a 12” by 12” wall clock with the logo- right? Shot glasses anyone? Beer
openers? I really don’t even drink that
much but I guess I just love to shop and will probably keep on doing that. The gifts keep on coming.
I get to my office last Sunday to
grade papers and guess what I found? My
shipment from the states that I mailed in June! Yippee- EXPO markers!! I am in heaven. Unless you are a teacher you have no idea how
precious good school supplies are. I
pull out my RED stapler (I hope my old boss is not reading!) and then recall
that the little tiny staplers they sell here only take little tiny staples; I
will use my heavy duty stapler sparingly.
I find my flip/flop sticky notes to go in my dispenser (I only have two
packages so I will use those sparingly, also).
I find my fun-- I have been feeling
naked without my “toys”-- my flyswatter for vocabulary game, a thunder stick
for... I really don’t know what I will use it for here but it is fun to sound
off when people come into my office. I
blow up my discussion balls and unpack my books. I love my books (and CDs, and
movies, and games). For some reason this shipment helps me remember my mojo and
I can now start to contribute to those who have been helping me.
Question: Why is Frito pie trending in
yahoo? I have not had a Frito pie in
years but now that it is trending on Yahoo and I certainly cannot have one- I
want one. Oh the torture!
There is
not much happening during the school week.
One of my friends asked me the difference between the kids in the US and
these kids. This is what I told her:
To answer your
question: I am at an international
school that mostly has the elite of Myanmar.
Most of these international schools have many cultures and people from
all over the world. Our school is probably
over 90% Myanmar students. So, first the
school is unique. Next, the teachers are
awesome--so smart and the type who demand rigor from their students. Most of my friends were like this, but not
all of the teachers in the American schools. I think in the US the teacher pool
is becoming inundated with people who do not know what they want to be when
they grow up so they teach for a little while because it “looks” easy. They then find out differently and they either
get better, get out or stick around and just collect a paycheck. Next, since
expectations are so high the kids generally rise the occasion. Also, they have parents who they do not want
to disrespect and getting good grades is part of that. Next, they respect their teachers so much
that they feel shame if they disappoint them. At this school you have 97% who
really want to learn and try hard and perhaps 3% who struggle and have a little
apathy. In my other classrooms, that
figure was more like 60% would rather be somewhere else and 40% want to
learn. It is just different. Different struggles. I enjoy both types of students.
With
that said though, the last seven years as an AVID teacher really spoiled
me. Those kids were more like the kids I
am teaching now. They were motivated and
sweet. I am probably not a good one to
ask since I was teaching an elective class that was fun. So… those of you who are curious- that’s it
in a nutshell. Kids are kids and if you love teaching, you would love this
environment.
Monday is payday so I go
with another teacher to the bigger grocery store. I need to not do this monthly. I spent $200.00 and have no idea what I
got. No cleaning supplies, no
toiletries, and only chicken, polish sausage and cheese for big-ticket
items. I notice that hummus is about
$5.00 and I could not resists the little lights that now hang in our patio
area.
Tuesday is an in home
massage (man, I look back at my blog and realize I have been spelling this
wrong the whole time- you guys think I am spending $10.00 to get a message from
someone!!). Interesting. A Burmese massage is more of a kneading
motion rather than a “get down to the knot in your back” motion. I am still trying to decide if I like
it. Totally freaked me out when he went
for the inner thigh area. At one point I
start giggling because I am ticklish. At
another point, he is standing on the bed and bending my leg all the way
forward. This is only the third body massage I have ever received. I think I will do it once a month.
Now it is “totally freak
out” time. We meet for a discussion
about our trip. Bamm- reality hits- I am going to Mt. Everest that is 9,383ft
above sea level (yes, I goggled it). I
could not even climb up the street in park City, Utah without breathing hard
and that was probably 50 pounds ago! It
took my 15 minutes to walk 100 feet when I visited Joshua in Colorado last
year. I do not know what I am thinking and perhaps that is it- I am not
thinking; I am doing. I am going with
four other teachers- an eclectic group- one Ecuadorian Spanish teacher, one
South African art teacher, and one “oops, I ran fifteen miles on accident”
American—and me. We will go to Bangkok
for a night, fly into Nepal and be hosted by a family that runs literacy NGO in
Nepal. I will post pictures about their
mission- it sounds like they are doing amazing work. I will post pictures of their report and of
anyone wants to donate they can either mail a tax-deductible check to the
address I provide, or let me know via message on Facebook and you can give me
the money at Christmas. What an awesome
way to celebrate the spirit of Christmas- for just $8.00 a person can buy
school supplies for one student and for $18.00 a medical kit for a volunteer
health worker.
We will be in Katmandu at
festival time and take in the Enesco World heritage sights. Then leave for Lukly, Nepal where
we will be for three days. Yes- I have
now gone past shock, freak out and panic and even though it is “The World’s
Most Dangerous Airport, I will conjure my inner “Gloria Gaynor—“Once I was
afraid, I was petrified… yadayadayada. I
am playing this part by ear so to say.
Being at that high altitude and not being in the best of shape, I might
find myself sitting at the coffee shop talking to the locals. I could also see myself chartering a plane to
fly me around Mt. Everest rather than walk to a ledge where I can see it. No worries- I am a big girl and will do
what’s best for me. Wish me luck. Unfortunately, I have a week to dwell on this
new, found fact, and dwell I do.
So- who would
have thunk it- I am a golfer!!! Saturday
is a golf scramble at the owner of our schools private golf course. I join a team and make sure everyone knows I
have never hit a golf ball. Let me just
say- in the scramble there was one hole where my ball was the lead ball on each
stroke. I guess I really am ready for
the retirement years! We end the day
with a potluck and my Mediterranean 7 layer dip – it cost about $8.00 to make
in the states and about $25.00 to make here is a hit (thanks Sandra via
pinterest).
Sunday started
out great- I have two hours of talk time with my kids and best friend, a
birthday celebration with some of the other teachers and then it ended with
nine hours of grading.
Reflections so
far:
1.
I will never
tire of learning about all the traditions this country has to offer. Saturday I am sitting on the porch drinking
coffee and the Monks from the nearby monetary walk by. They are dressed in maroon colored robes and
are carrying a fan and a decorative urn.
They walk in a line from shortest to tallest and so every morning. The people of the neighborhood await their
arrival and line the road to offer their gift- usually it is food or
money. If a woman is making the offering,
she must do so on a tray since it is taboo for a woman to touch a monk. Here is a website with a few more details if
you are interested. It is truly a
communal affair. I hope to visit one in
Nepal and have a private tour set up at the Yangon Swedagon where we will visit
a monetary in November. http://factsanddetails.com/Asian.php?itemid=2613&subcatid=414
A link to info about the monks
2.
There is
something comforting in a childhood tradition.
I made my first stovetop popcorn this week (a hot commodity in Yangon).
3.
It is great
having a cheering section- even if it is halfway around the world. Thanks for all the positive comments about
the blog and telling me not to worry about my trip. I am blessed.
297th street Clarks Grove, Minnesota 56016 or nepalsocialservicefund@gmail.com. If you want more details- write them and they will send information. This is a fund my friend's family started and is legit! Click not hte pictures and they will be big enough for you to read.
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