Friday, January 25, 2008
A Long way from Yonge and St. Clair.
So we have taken on some work here finally and we are starting to find our groove. Nepal is very different to Canada. As Peter always says to us when we're travelling together: "Long way from Yonge and St. Clair eh guys?"
The public school system here is pretty discouraging, especially at Bhanu school (the high school). We are teaching english classes there to grade 6 and 7, however our original schedule of teaching 12 classes a week has so far only been 6 classes a week, because of bad communication, weird exam schedules, and a principal who doesn't seem to care much about his students. We have yet to teach class 6a, however 6b and class 7 both have about 50+ students...and apparently if everyone showed up we'd have up to 80 or 90 students. They are very well bnehaved though. Children here in general are amazing. They are almost all very well mannered and calm, and it is very different to teaching in Honduras. It's also nice because Remy and I are team teaching at Bhanu, and that is going very well...that way if our lesson plan just isn't working, or we make a mistake while writing on the board, we can laugh at each other for it.
Teaching at Dil school has been great! I'm teaching the grade 3 class there! It's really exciting to have the same age group as before, although their english level is less than that of the grade 1's in Honduras. It's very challenging, but I have been made to feel a lot more appreciated at Dil school. The Nepali grade 3 teacher told me (in broken English), that the grade 3's have given me a Nepali name; "Dipak". She seemed really excited about it, but I still haven't figured out what it means. Judging by her reaction, I think it's a compliment (fingers crossed).
Before school (8-9 am) and after school (4:30 - 6 pm) we also help at one of the village learning centres - teaching english lessons to students from grade 6-9, and helping them with English and Math homework. (although Remy and I both struggle with the grade 8 and 9 math! hahaha...I know...we're pathetic!).
So ya...We're more settled in now, trying to pick up some Nepali (getting slightly better), and enjoying our lentils/rice/veggies (Dhal Bat) twice a day. We also got a chance to hang out in Pokhara last weekend with Peter and friends, and I've started helping Lee (one of the volunteers here) with doing some sports with some of the village boys. You guessed it...Ultimate frisbee. Aw yeye.
Peace.
The public school system here is pretty discouraging, especially at Bhanu school (the high school). We are teaching english classes there to grade 6 and 7, however our original schedule of teaching 12 classes a week has so far only been 6 classes a week, because of bad communication, weird exam schedules, and a principal who doesn't seem to care much about his students. We have yet to teach class 6a, however 6b and class 7 both have about 50+ students...and apparently if everyone showed up we'd have up to 80 or 90 students. They are very well bnehaved though. Children here in general are amazing. They are almost all very well mannered and calm, and it is very different to teaching in Honduras. It's also nice because Remy and I are team teaching at Bhanu, and that is going very well...that way if our lesson plan just isn't working, or we make a mistake while writing on the board, we can laugh at each other for it.
Teaching at Dil school has been great! I'm teaching the grade 3 class there! It's really exciting to have the same age group as before, although their english level is less than that of the grade 1's in Honduras. It's very challenging, but I have been made to feel a lot more appreciated at Dil school. The Nepali grade 3 teacher told me (in broken English), that the grade 3's have given me a Nepali name; "Dipak". She seemed really excited about it, but I still haven't figured out what it means. Judging by her reaction, I think it's a compliment (fingers crossed).
Before school (8-9 am) and after school (4:30 - 6 pm) we also help at one of the village learning centres - teaching english lessons to students from grade 6-9, and helping them with English and Math homework. (although Remy and I both struggle with the grade 8 and 9 math! hahaha...I know...we're pathetic!).
So ya...We're more settled in now, trying to pick up some Nepali (getting slightly better), and enjoying our lentils/rice/veggies (Dhal Bat) twice a day. We also got a chance to hang out in Pokhara last weekend with Peter and friends, and I've started helping Lee (one of the volunteers here) with doing some sports with some of the village boys. You guessed it...Ultimate frisbee. Aw yeye.
Peace.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Bandipur
There are so many things to say about where we are living. Remy and I are sharing a room that is about 10 x 10 feet (I got the softer bed, thankyou rock/paper/scissors), in a village that is over 1000 feet in elevation, which we had to hop on the back of a pickup truck (with about 25 other people on it, no joke) in a nearby town to get driven up to it. I am using the one computer with dial up internet that is in the village (at least that we've been able to find), and it we are discovering more and more differences everyday.
We are living with a Nepalese family, and they are incredible. Our Nepalese mother, Rajani, goes above and beyond for us, and won't let us get involved in any of her work in the household. We are called down for 2 main meals a day, called Dhal Bat (rice, cauliflower, potatoes, spicy stuff, and other veggie things all mixed together and eaten with your right hand...no spoon/fork/knife needed! It's awesome!), and there are a couple other times when we are served tea and special little rice cake-y type things, or homemade vegetable mix biscuit things. We are trying to get used to a culture that doesn't do the whole "lunch" thing, however around noon we both get pretty peckish.
Anyhow, there are so many things to say about Bandipur. We've had pretty cloudy weather, so we haven't been able to take advantage of our close proximity to the Himilayas yet...but don't worry, when the clouds clear, there will be some sweet pictures to upload.
We have been settling in the last few days, and next week Remy and I will start teaching together at Bhanu school (the public high school). We have been given 9 periods a week of English classes there, and that should be a cool challenge. We are also helping at the village "learning centres" doing tutoring and extra help after school, and we may be getting involved in teaching at Dil school (the public primary school). Hopefully next week we'll figure out our schedules and where we are going to be serving.
Peace.
We are living with a Nepalese family, and they are incredible. Our Nepalese mother, Rajani, goes above and beyond for us, and won't let us get involved in any of her work in the household. We are called down for 2 main meals a day, called Dhal Bat (rice, cauliflower, potatoes, spicy stuff, and other veggie things all mixed together and eaten with your right hand...no spoon/fork/knife needed! It's awesome!), and there are a couple other times when we are served tea and special little rice cake-y type things, or homemade vegetable mix biscuit things. We are trying to get used to a culture that doesn't do the whole "lunch" thing, however around noon we both get pretty peckish.
Anyhow, there are so many things to say about Bandipur. We've had pretty cloudy weather, so we haven't been able to take advantage of our close proximity to the Himilayas yet...but don't worry, when the clouds clear, there will be some sweet pictures to upload.
We have been settling in the last few days, and next week Remy and I will start teaching together at Bhanu school (the public high school). We have been given 9 periods a week of English classes there, and that should be a cool challenge. We are also helping at the village "learning centres" doing tutoring and extra help after school, and we may be getting involved in teaching at Dil school (the public primary school). Hopefully next week we'll figure out our schedules and where we are going to be serving.
Peace.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Cuz I'm leaving, on a rickshaw, don't know when I'll be back in Kathmandu.
So that doesn't rhyme at all. But, we are leaving tomorrow morning for Bandipur! Just thought I'd let you all know... I don't know what the computer situation is going to be there, so just in case I can't give regular updates I thought I would tell you what I might be doing, and then you can imagine new stories by yourself as you go about your daily lives.
There are two schools we can work at there: one is Notre Dame school (nice school run by nuns) and the other is Banu School (Public school in Nepal, need I say more?). We will also be helping at the "learning centre", where we will most likely be doing small group tutoring stuff. Remy also has some sweet ideas for sustainability projects he might start up in the village, so that stuff might go down as well. Needless to say, we'll be kept busy for the next 10 weeks, and if you don't hear many stories from me, I trust all you diligent readers can come up with some awesome imaginary ones yourselves! (You could even start your own blogs: "whattimmartinmightbedoing.blogspot.com").
Peace.
PS - "Momos" are an excellent kind of Nepalese awesomeness (food)...shout out to Bethany for telling me about them in advance. I'm addicted.
There are two schools we can work at there: one is Notre Dame school (nice school run by nuns) and the other is Banu School (Public school in Nepal, need I say more?). We will also be helping at the "learning centre", where we will most likely be doing small group tutoring stuff. Remy also has some sweet ideas for sustainability projects he might start up in the village, so that stuff might go down as well. Needless to say, we'll be kept busy for the next 10 weeks, and if you don't hear many stories from me, I trust all you diligent readers can come up with some awesome imaginary ones yourselves! (You could even start your own blogs: "whattimmartinmightbedoing.blogspot.com").
Peace.
PS - "Momos" are an excellent kind of Nepalese awesomeness (food)...shout out to Bethany for telling me about them in advance. I'm addicted.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
What to do Kathmadu?
Everything is different in Nepal. As we drove through part of the city yesterday evening with Peter Dalglish, and our new Nepalese friends (Kamil and Binod), Peter explained how Nepal is basically the exact opposite of everything we are used to in North America. The more I see and experience here, the more I understand what he was saying.
Remy and I are here, and that reality is still sinking in. It's been very nice to have Remy here to process all of this with, because Nepal is very different. I don't know if I can hammer that point home enough. It makes Honduras look organized.
Today is our first full day here, which is a strange thought, because I'm writing this saturday evening, and we left on Wednesday. Thankfully we made it safely here with all of our luggage, but boy oh boy I have never felt as tired as I did yesterday! Travelling this far apparently takes it out of you. We've had the opportunity so far to see quite a lot of Kathmandu, thanks to Kamil and Binod, and we've had a lot of fun with them. They work for Peter here, and will probably be joining us in Bandipur when we go. We've been staying in the Kathmandu guest house, which is pretty much dead centre in this crazy city, and you almost have to brace yourself just to walk around in the street your first few times.
We've already seen a few world heritage sites: Pashupati (a beautiful Hindu temple area) and "the Monkey temple", which is a buddhist temple that is on top of a hill (keeping in mind that it is a "hill" in relation to the HIMALAYAS!) from which you can see all of Kathmandu. It is very beautiful, but the staircase up to the top was a doozy.
Some highlights:
We went to a school in Kathmandu that Peter teaches at (Peter is "the man" here, he has connections everywhere, and I think every Nepalese person knows him) and on a wall near the entrance was a sign that said "Gifted by an Ice Hockey Player. Canada." And I almost fainted when I looked at what was above it...you guessed it: A Vancouver Canucks jersey, in the middle of Nepal. Word. Take that Leafers.
highlight #2: Mountains. Restaurants and houses often allow you to eat/hang out on the rooftops, and since there are no large buildings anywhere here you can look out from any rooftop and see the worlds tallest montains. Incredible.
Highlight #3: Kamil and Binod. They are really funny guys. "What to do Kathmandu?" is a Kamil quote that he says whenever there's some wild rickshaw driver or something...good times.
So...I like Nepal.
Peace.
Remy and I are here, and that reality is still sinking in. It's been very nice to have Remy here to process all of this with, because Nepal is very different. I don't know if I can hammer that point home enough. It makes Honduras look organized.
Today is our first full day here, which is a strange thought, because I'm writing this saturday evening, and we left on Wednesday. Thankfully we made it safely here with all of our luggage, but boy oh boy I have never felt as tired as I did yesterday! Travelling this far apparently takes it out of you. We've had the opportunity so far to see quite a lot of Kathmandu, thanks to Kamil and Binod, and we've had a lot of fun with them. They work for Peter here, and will probably be joining us in Bandipur when we go. We've been staying in the Kathmandu guest house, which is pretty much dead centre in this crazy city, and you almost have to brace yourself just to walk around in the street your first few times.
We've already seen a few world heritage sites: Pashupati (a beautiful Hindu temple area) and "the Monkey temple", which is a buddhist temple that is on top of a hill (keeping in mind that it is a "hill" in relation to the HIMALAYAS!) from which you can see all of Kathmandu. It is very beautiful, but the staircase up to the top was a doozy.
Some highlights:
We went to a school in Kathmandu that Peter teaches at (Peter is "the man" here, he has connections everywhere, and I think every Nepalese person knows him) and on a wall near the entrance was a sign that said "Gifted by an Ice Hockey Player. Canada." And I almost fainted when I looked at what was above it...you guessed it: A Vancouver Canucks jersey, in the middle of Nepal. Word. Take that Leafers.
highlight #2: Mountains. Restaurants and houses often allow you to eat/hang out on the rooftops, and since there are no large buildings anywhere here you can look out from any rooftop and see the worlds tallest montains. Incredible.
Highlight #3: Kamil and Binod. They are really funny guys. "What to do Kathmandu?" is a Kamil quote that he says whenever there's some wild rickshaw driver or something...good times.
So...I like Nepal.
Peace.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Going, going.....gone.
So it's that time again. Our flight (mine and Remy's) leaves in a few hours....which means in a few days I'll actually reach my destination...NEPAL!!!!
Oh boy this is scary. I mean, exciting.
Here's a basic look at our itinerary:
Nepal for 10 weeks (living/volunteering in a small village called Bhandipur)
Dubai for 4 days (staying with Remy's dad....how cool is that?)
Kampala, Uganda for 6 weeks (living in the capital, volunteering with the Kibo Foundation)
Capetown, South Africa for 3 weeks (living with Pete and Katie - friends from OPC!)
....Home.
January 9th to May 21st...crazy times.
Hope you guys enjoy the stories that are to come.
Peace.
Oh boy this is scary. I mean, exciting.
Here's a basic look at our itinerary:
Nepal for 10 weeks (living/volunteering in a small village called Bhandipur)
Dubai for 4 days (staying with Remy's dad....how cool is that?)
Kampala, Uganda for 6 weeks (living in the capital, volunteering with the Kibo Foundation)
Capetown, South Africa for 3 weeks (living with Pete and Katie - friends from OPC!)
....Home.
January 9th to May 21st...crazy times.
Hope you guys enjoy the stories that are to come.
Peace.
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