I've begun to run into my students around town. It seems like every day now I see at least one of them outside of class, and I'm always greeted with a big smile, a bow of the head, and a jovial "Hello, Teacher!" My students are so sweet.
One of the other foreign teachers, I believe he's Canadian, never did show up. The second or so day of classes Julie and I got to Tibet Charity early and Rinzin, who runs the day-to-day over there, asked if we would mind teaching the Pre-Intermediate level class for a day or two since the other teacher hadn't shown up. We said of course, why not? A week and a half later, and we're still teaching it. I don't really mind, but I'm beginning to realize that it really is a fair amount of work. I was going to teach a conversation class -- which is exactly what it sounds like, it's speaking & listening practice -- in the afternoon as well, but Kalden warned me not to burn myself out since I am already teaching two 4-hour classes every day. Surely I can handle 5 hours of class in a day, I said to myself, career teachers do 9 or more.
So today at 2pm I taught a conversation class. Or rather, I sort of led one, because it was very unstructured. I had half a dozen of my Elementary level students who wanted to do conversation, though, so I wasn't about to turn them down. They were all shy about speaking in English, so I had to coax them into it by reminding them that this is why they came to the extra class, and that everyone needs practice, and that we're all friends so there's nothing to be scared of. They warmed up a little bit. I gave them homework for tomorrow: each one is supposed to present for 2-3 minutes (if possible) on any topic they are familiar with. I had two monks and a nun there, so I hope that between the 3 of them I learn something about what that's like.
Today is my dad's birthday (go wish him a happy one!). Naturally, I wanted to send him something cool from India, because how often do I have the chance to? I found something I thought he would like and then, figuring while I was sending something all the way to the US I might as well send an entire package of stuff, I threw together a bunch of things I've found that I wanted to bring back with me (for you guys!). I packed up all the things into one nice, rectangular pillow of stuff and took it, along with a birthday gift for another friend, down to the local Tibetan tailor that has a sign outside advertising "Parcel Packing here." I handed my stuff over to the nice old Tibetan men who cheerfully informed me that the big package would be 50 rupees to pack and the smaller one 30, and they set to work STITCHING TOGETHER a muslin sheath for each. When they finished, I was handed my packages and a Sharpie marker so I could address them. I was so thrilled by the experience (I'm a nerdy seamstress, deal with it) that I even purchased a couple beautiful handmade wallets that they had for sale. I then marched my little self along with my packages bound for the good old USA next door to the post office.
I'll tell you what, the disgruntled postal worker stereotype is just as true in India as it is in Illinois.
I was brusquely informed by the woman behind the counter and the men lounging at a table in the back of the room that parcels only ship between 9:30am and 1pm, so I'd have to come back. (Guess what time my classes are? 9am to 1pm. Of course.) I was also told that I'd need 3 copies of my passport and a customs form "from upstairs." No one seemed to think it would be helpful to tell me how to get upstairs. There were no visible stairs and as I left the building to look for them I was greeted by two of my female students with a very cheerful "Hello, Teacher!" Dolker, a Buddhist nun, has such an infectious smile I couldn't help but return it. We spoke for a minute and they didn't seem any more up on the workings of the post office than I was. Then Julie and Palsang walked by, so I left with them to go to yoga.
Anyway, when we all met back up later in the evening at what has turned into our favorite hangout, Tibet Kitchen, I asked (read: begged) Kalden to help me out. The next day he went up to the post office and got me a customs form, and after classes today he went with me back there to try to get it all sorted out. He was informed a bit more nicely that parcels only ship between 9:30 and 1, but we did get confirmation that the customs form was correct and they gave me prices on shipping. Kalden is going to drop them off for me in the morning, which is super awesome of him. So Dad and Steve, you'll get your birthday gifts but I have no idea when. Probably not for at least two weeks -- I promise they are on the way!
One of the other foreign teachers, I believe he's Canadian, never did show up. The second or so day of classes Julie and I got to Tibet Charity early and Rinzin, who runs the day-to-day over there, asked if we would mind teaching the Pre-Intermediate level class for a day or two since the other teacher hadn't shown up. We said of course, why not? A week and a half later, and we're still teaching it. I don't really mind, but I'm beginning to realize that it really is a fair amount of work. I was going to teach a conversation class -- which is exactly what it sounds like, it's speaking & listening practice -- in the afternoon as well, but Kalden warned me not to burn myself out since I am already teaching two 4-hour classes every day. Surely I can handle 5 hours of class in a day, I said to myself, career teachers do 9 or more.
So today at 2pm I taught a conversation class. Or rather, I sort of led one, because it was very unstructured. I had half a dozen of my Elementary level students who wanted to do conversation, though, so I wasn't about to turn them down. They were all shy about speaking in English, so I had to coax them into it by reminding them that this is why they came to the extra class, and that everyone needs practice, and that we're all friends so there's nothing to be scared of. They warmed up a little bit. I gave them homework for tomorrow: each one is supposed to present for 2-3 minutes (if possible) on any topic they are familiar with. I had two monks and a nun there, so I hope that between the 3 of them I learn something about what that's like.
Today is my dad's birthday (go wish him a happy one!). Naturally, I wanted to send him something cool from India, because how often do I have the chance to? I found something I thought he would like and then, figuring while I was sending something all the way to the US I might as well send an entire package of stuff, I threw together a bunch of things I've found that I wanted to bring back with me (for you guys!). I packed up all the things into one nice, rectangular pillow of stuff and took it, along with a birthday gift for another friend, down to the local Tibetan tailor that has a sign outside advertising "Parcel Packing here." I handed my stuff over to the nice old Tibetan men who cheerfully informed me that the big package would be 50 rupees to pack and the smaller one 30, and they set to work STITCHING TOGETHER a muslin sheath for each. When they finished, I was handed my packages and a Sharpie marker so I could address them. I was so thrilled by the experience (I'm a nerdy seamstress, deal with it) that I even purchased a couple beautiful handmade wallets that they had for sale. I then marched my little self along with my packages bound for the good old USA next door to the post office.
I'll tell you what, the disgruntled postal worker stereotype is just as true in India as it is in Illinois.
I was brusquely informed by the woman behind the counter and the men lounging at a table in the back of the room that parcels only ship between 9:30am and 1pm, so I'd have to come back. (Guess what time my classes are? 9am to 1pm. Of course.) I was also told that I'd need 3 copies of my passport and a customs form "from upstairs." No one seemed to think it would be helpful to tell me how to get upstairs. There were no visible stairs and as I left the building to look for them I was greeted by two of my female students with a very cheerful "Hello, Teacher!" Dolker, a Buddhist nun, has such an infectious smile I couldn't help but return it. We spoke for a minute and they didn't seem any more up on the workings of the post office than I was. Then Julie and Palsang walked by, so I left with them to go to yoga.
Anyway, when we all met back up later in the evening at what has turned into our favorite hangout, Tibet Kitchen, I asked (read: begged) Kalden to help me out. The next day he went up to the post office and got me a customs form, and after classes today he went with me back there to try to get it all sorted out. He was informed a bit more nicely that parcels only ship between 9:30 and 1, but we did get confirmation that the customs form was correct and they gave me prices on shipping. Kalden is going to drop them off for me in the morning, which is super awesome of him. So Dad and Steve, you'll get your birthday gifts but I have no idea when. Probably not for at least two weeks -- I promise they are on the way!
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