Back to School - Adventures In and Out of the Classroom

The beginning of the school year can be a crazy time – I always say it’s my busiest month of the year – and I don’t think that is an exception here. Settling into a new apartment, exploring a new city and learning about Myanmar culture all keep me occupied… and likely will for some time. And then there is the normal daily to-do’s of lesson plans, teaching, navigating technology, meeting with colleagues… you get the idea! I am enjoying my time here and it feels momentous to have finished the first full week of school.

The parent community treated us to the cultural and dinner experience at Karaweik Palace (pronounced basically like Kerouac) before school began. This place is on a lake and like a cross between a boat and a palace. I got to meet a YIS alumni who is now studying at UCLA and some of our students' mothers. There was entertainment, an extensive buffet (Asian and western foods...basically anything you could want) and a fortune teller. I can't tell you what he told me, but it was definitely a revealing experience. He also used numerology and the date of my birth (Saturday) to give me my Myanmar name, Nhin Wai, which means falling softly like the snow. He pointed out that my birthday is in the summer (hot season) here, which is funny because I always thought of myself as a spring baby. 

Walkway into Karaweik Palace

One of the many different traditional dances which occur as you eat.

My favorite was the elephant - there are two guys in there!

With the fortune teller. Uh-oh! What's he saying?!?

These guys greeted us on our way in.

Traditional (fancy) women's clothes. 

Looking back on the way out.

The very first week of school was a soft start as we had an A day on Thursday and a B day on Friday and then the weekend to recover. Yangon International School is on an all block schedule. There are 8 periods total, with four each day. On my A day, I teach two sections of Spanish 1 and one of Spanish 3. On my B day I teach my two Spanish 2’s. It’s been really interesting to get to know the students. Most of the kids are from Myanmar, but I do have some Japanese and Korean students, and one girl from Thailand. Most of them have a nickname that is easier for Westerners to say and in Spanish class, students choose a Spanish name. So I’m juggling the task of remembering 3 names per kid – one in Myanmar (which can be up to four words long), one in English and one in Spanish. The students have been pretty patient with me and at this point, I definitely have their Spanish names down. Priorities. J One difference is that Myanmar people don’t last/family names, so the name you see is their whole name. Overall, my students are respectful, attentive and curious. There is a lot of respect built in around the role of the teacher here. Here are more recent pictures of my classroom.

Teacher desk space. I have a view of the back yard of a house near the school

There is desk space for 22 students - my biggest class has 20 and my smallest just 7.

Bienvenidos a la clase de español...

There were a lot more books and resources than I expected. And what Spanish classroom would be complete without a bull?

So, speaking of that weekend to recover... The director made plans for us to celebrate the three “chaperone” teachers who met us in Bangkok and have done so much to help us settle in here. We visited the hotel at Inya Lake for their brunch. Brunch is a big deal at the expat hotels and restaurants and this one is definitely an experience. Thirty-two US dollars gets you all you can eat and drink (yes, that includes sparkling wine) in a beautiful setting, complete with live jazz band. This is a price tag anywhere, and definitely here, where you can order noodles or rice and eat a meal out for about one dollar, but I’d say it was worth the splurge and I hope we can do brunch when you visit.

 Statues on the way in.

Bubbles AND coffee? Yes, please!

Our table - you can get a peek of the band in the corner.

Katherine enjoys a sampling of delicacies.

My colleagues!

View of All. The. Food.

Sushi and seafood section. Next time I'll bring my own tamari. 

We did a little shopping after, Candy in front of one of the jewelry stores.

This was a long one! Thanks for reading til the end. I think I've added a space above so that you can subscribe to this blog. If it works, you'll get an email update when I publish a new post. 

Coming up: Posts about the weather, my first acupuncture experience in Asia (!) and more on the food and markets. What do you want to hear about?

What I’m reading: The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank (It’s really good! If you like Lorrie Moore, you’ll like this.)

What I’m listening to: Desaparezca Aquí (Nacho Vegas) – thanks Mom for your resilience! 

Before School Bustle

The progress around school has been tremendous. There are folks moving, drilling, painting...and us teachers are now nesting in our classrooms and preparing for the first day.

The first day I saw campus, my room was empty; the next day there was furniture and boxes to unpack! There were more supplies and books left from previous teachers than I expected to see; that was a nice surprise. I even found a toro (bull). There are lots of windows, great natural light and I'm right next to the faculty lounge.

Desks in my room, 22 seats total!

My teacher workspace

The pre-school shuffle is always a little hectic and it's definitely an added challenge doing it in a new country while settling into a new home. But, it's been great to meet the rest of my colleagues and I'm really excited to see the students...this Thursday!

On Sunday the parents hosted a dinner at Karaweik Palace for us (that's probably a story for another entry). I met some friendly moms and well-adjusted alumni who attends the University of Southern California.

Monday, after a day of meetings and work time, several returning teachers opened their homes to us for a progressive happy hour - we moved from apartment to apartment all together. It's amazing to see how some have decorated and made these spaces feel so homey.

Today the new teachers visited the stationary store and stocked up on school supplies. We overwhelmed the small paper supply shop, but came out with all kinds of details for our classroom and course organization.

All in all, there is a lot of work to do, but plenty of fun to be had, too.

Tomorrow is the student orientation and the principal will introduce us at assembly!

101, that's me! I don't know what the Myanmar says, but they have been doing great work getting it ready.

I'll post more pictures of my classroom with its finishing decorative touches soon. :)

What I'm Listening to: Spoon - They Want My Soul (I've been counting the days to get this one - it may end up being my 2014 album of the year.)