What I have been up to lately

Happy New Year

I should quit waiting so long in between my blogs, because by the time I go to write one I have so much to tell and don't know where to start.  Since school started I have mostly been focused on lesson planning.  I have a new found respect for all teachers; I had no idea how much work went into planning just one lesson.  I give all teachers major props.  It is a good thing that I love my students so much, or I would really be miserable.  My students are all so wonderful, I want to teach them everything.  They make me so motivated, because I want every lesson to be perfect.  All the students are so sweet and respectful.  They are such beautiful people.  

Ok, I will stop gushing about all my students, and making all the other teachers out there jealous.  Instead I will tell you about the school fair I went to on Saturday.  Well, mostly I will tell you about sugar cane juice and "ring the duck".  I tried sugar can juice for the first time.  At first, when I got my glass, I was skeptical.  It is the color of ditch water and I don't remember it having a scent.  In all actuality it is quite good.  I think it tastes like sweetness and fresh grass.  Now I am sure you are all curious about ring the duck.  So at the fair they had booths set up with different games to play; just like any other fair.  Amy told me to check out the ring the duck game so, of course, I go have a looksee.  I walk up and there is a pen with about 5 live ducks huddled in the corner and a man throwing a wooden ring at them.  You were supposed to ring a live duck.  Where is PETA when you need them :)   

Today started as any normal school day does.  I barely got out of bed in time to forgo a shower and make myself some toast and coffee before I hurried downstairs to teach my first class.  Things went relatively well, except one of my students was having some trouble coping with being away from home.  It was so difficult, because I knew she had sooo much to say, but she just didn't have the English.  It broke my heart not being able to comfort her the way I wanted too.  That, combined with a lack of sleep and too much lesson planning, made me quite cranky by the end of the school day.  After moping around for a couple hours I went on a cleaning rampage (crazy...I know).  I cleaned my bedroom, cleaned the bathroom, swept and mopped the floors, and then proceeded to shower.  All so totally out of character, must be in stage two of culture shock.  Anywho, I was feeling much better after my cleaning spree when Katherine came home and told me that there was a dance party; "like spring break minus the guys".  Of course if there is dancing I am so there, so Amy and I ventured down stairs.  We were met with a swarm of students pulling us into the cafeteria where even more girls were dancing.  It was so incredibly hot.  I don't know if I have ever been that hot.  All the windows were open and the fans were on, but I couldn't tell.  It didn't matter because the students were having soooo much fun.  It was crazy.  We danced with the students for two hours and right before midnight we were herded into another room that contained a table covered with flower petals and lots of balloons.  At midnight the students started popping the balloons, which were full of glitter, and throwing petals all over the place.  I so cannot do the moment justice with my words.  There was singing and glitter and flower petals, it was amazing.  I will say, Bangladeshis know how to bring the new year in right.  LOVED IT!!!!

I do believe the excitement, from the nights festivities, is wearing off and I am getting sleepy.  Please excuse any grammatical errors.  I was so excited I just wanted to write and get it all out there.  Bye until next time.

 

Busy Bee

I'm sorry it has been so long since I have updated.  School finally started and I have been so busy.  My students are wonderful and so I want to spend all my free time lesson planning.  I promise there will be an update soon.  Keep checking.  Bye.

Still Alive

Hello everyone it has been awhile, sadly not because I have been off on an adventure.  Mostly just being extremely ill and becoming very intimate with the toilet and my bed.  Since I have been sick I have had a lot of free time to do nothing, I devised an informative list of things I've learned about Bangladesh, because I am sure you are all planning to visit me :).

1.  The power WILL go out at least once a day, but usually more often

2.  There is not always a logical explanation, for example, why would the landlord by locks from China if he cannot get the keys made in Bangladesh. I don't know

3.  People do not run across the street even if they are about to be hit by a bus, but I do.

4.  I will stick out no matter how hard I try to blend in.

5.  You will probably want to take half the children you see home with you, because they are adorable.

6.  English signs are never quite right.

7.  The bugs are big and very fast.

8.  You will get eaten by mosquitos no matter how much bug spray you wear.

9.  Bangla accent + English speaking = Banglish (very hard to understand)

10. Scarves are for covering boobies, not for looking good.

11.  Nobody wears shorts even if it is really hot out. :(

12.  You will forget that you are wearing boxers when you put the garbage outside of the apartment and will have to be reminded by your roomie, because the old man is staring at your knees.

13.  "Everything in Bangladesh is broken"- direct quote from someone we met here in Bangladesh, but our washing machine is proving it true.

Thats all for now.  Hopefully next blog will be a little more exciting.  Bye.