Jan 24 – What an incredible welcome I had today from the school. I was expecting simply to meet a few teachers, tour the school, and learn a little bit more about what I would be teaching. But instead, as I walked into the gate I saw all the students lined up waiting to greet me. I was given flowers, a scarf (the typical Nepali welcome gift), and “tikka” (that red dot on your forehead). Then I was ushered to greet each student individually. Each child gave me a flower and said “Welcome to our school, miss.” The whole procession probably took about 15 minutes, and I was completely overwhelmed and touched that they went through all this for me. According to my family, though, this is a normal welcome for a new teacher, whether or not they are a foreigner or a volunteer. Man, if they did that for people in the West, it would be so motivating, because by the end of the procession I couldn’t wait to start teaching and make a difference in the lives of as many of these cute and sweet little children.
I got a brief tour of the school. The first building I saw was the new science lab, which the previous volunteer entirely funded. I sure have some big shoes to fill! I saw the computer lab (5 computers, probably made in 1990), the bathroom (a squat toilet out in the school field), the playground (2 swings and an unsafe-looking see-saw), and the classrooms (small, very little natural light; rather indescribable). I hadn’t created a preconceived notion of what the school would look like, but this was about on par with what I wash hoping – the more run down, the more they need me right?
Anyway, even though I talked to the administration about what I would be doing, I am still a little unclear on how to teach my first class tomorrow. I know that I will be teaching grades 3-7 English and that I will see each class every day (which means I have 35 minute periods each day, though for the first week or so I asked to just have 4 in order to get used to teaching). I know that there is a cassette player I can use, that the students have markers and paper, and that there is a small library (though I haven’t seen it yet). What I do not know is how large the classes are or what level of English the students have. This lack of information has made it very hard for me to plan my classes for tomorrow. But I have decided to be ready for any level of English, so I have thought of several different activities that I can use tomorrow (on the fly) in order to get a feel for their level of English. That is my only goal for tomorrow – once I have that information I should be ready to teach.
I am very excited though. I know I will be in my element once I get comfortable. I was born to be a teacher, I can feel it. Planning my classes doesn’t seem like work at all – at least yet. I suppose I ought to knock on wood, or I might hate teaching in the end, eh?
Jan 25 – Well, I have just returned from my first day of school. What fun! I taught grades 3-6 today. I had a ball which I threw to a student and had him introduce himself and then ask me a question (any question at all). Then that student would throw the ball to another student and so forth. I also showed students pictures of my home, my family, my hobbies, my school… Then we played games, drew pictures about ourselves, and I got some advice as to what to see and do in Pokhara (from the older students). As homework I handed them questions about English – what they find difficult, if they like to study English, what their favorite word is, and so forth, so that I can see their writing skills. All in all it was a very successful day and I feel motivated and wanted. All the students were so enthusiastic and listened so well to everything I had to say. They also seemed to understand for the most part (though there was a big difference between grades 3 and 4) and they were really happy to have me there. In fact, students that I did not teach today came up to ask me why I had not come to their class and when I would do so. It makes me want to teach all the students, but I know that is not possible.
The only thing that is mildly frustrating is that getting information from the administration is like pulling teeth. I keep having to ask questions about this and that – no one is offering up information to me or just laying it all out on the table. Kind of strange, but I have heard that this is very typical in many countries (like
Tomorrow is “Results Day” so the students’ parents come to school to pick up their children’s report cards. There is no actual class, but I will be there anyway to meet the parents. Then Saturday (my only day off) I have to go watch a football (soccer) game between the male teachers at our school and the police department. I think I will try to find a way of getting out of it because the thought of using my only day off to watch Nepali men play soccer while the women sit on the sidelines, cheer them on, and speak Nepali to one another, does not exactly thrill me. Plus, Saturday afternoon some of my friends from
