Teaching/Learning Jan26-Feb17/09

It is a learning curve, what to teach, how to teach, what students understand and discipline.

I read Swiss Family Robinson to Class 2 and give them words from the story and meanings for a spelling test. Archana explains the story etc.in Nepali.

I discover (through trial and error) that the students are very good at memorizing words and meanings but may not understand what they have memorized in order to use the new words in sentences or to fill in the blank with the correct word.

In the initial spelling tests there are many mistakes but I can see that students are really trying to spell the words by pronounciation. Some students need more time to copy down notes from the blackboard.

I organize the art supply cupboard and count the brushes to see how many more are needed for each class.

In library period I sit with some students from Class 1. Some girls read and ask me for help with some of the words...one girl beside me reads very well.

One afternoon, Archana has to leave for the afternoon, so I have her class. They are very noisy, I am not able to get them to be quiet. It helps when you know their names to call on a particular student that is talking.

I make class seating charts, so I can start to learn the names and faces of the students. I play Simon Says to give the students a break from learning and to teach them to listen.

Outside we play Drop the hankerchief and I let students blow bubbles, but I am mobbed by the little ones as they all want to play at once so it is very chaotic.

One day I am sitting outside correcting tests, children come around, watching over my shoulder. I pretend that I am a vicious animal, I snarl at them to scare them off but of course they find this fun, so eventually I go inside to finish correcting the tests. The more homework I give the students the more work I have to correct...have to change this.

The students are more interested when they are participating instead of just listening to me, they write the present, past and future tense of words on the board and for homework have to write sentences.

I tell both classes about Terry Fox and his dream. I want to inspire them to have a dream and believe they can achieve it. They draw and write good sentences about Terry Fox.

Jeff (Thanka Painter) Feb1/09

At breakfast I meet Jeff. He is staying in Kathmandu 6 months learning to Thanka paint. He was a teacher for 20 years in Japan. He is American but married his wife in Japan and lives there.

We have many breakfasts together as we are both up early for school. He is very tall and pleasant. Unfortunately I don't think to take his photo or that of his Thanka painting before he leaves.

Thanka paintings are very detailed work that tell a story about various gods etc. or are used for meditation purposes.

Goddess of Education/Dragon Guesthouse Jan31/09

Although today is a holiday there is a ceremony to attend to honour the Goddess of Education.

At school, streamers are strung up across the courtyard and fruit is prepared. A priest comes to say some words and annoints the picture of the Goddess of Education. He says a prayer which is repeated by everyone. The teachers and line up to give an offering.

I watch Durga to see what the process is. As she gives some rupees to the priest I do so as well, but I think I should have placed it in front of the picture instead, as it is only a few rupees. By mistake I take the fruit he offers me with my left hand which is a no-no; he tells me right hand! He places a red tika on my forehead.

The children receive a red tika and fruit from the teachers and give their offering and bow their head in front of the picture of the goddess.

After the ceremony I finish packing and Amit arranges a taxi to Dragon. The taxi driver trys to charge me 300NPR (he tries to tell me that I am a foreigner and that I don't know how much it costs) but I stick to my price of 150NPR as I know that Thamel is much further and it is 200NPR.

The room is nice, it overlooks the garden on the side and front of the guesthouse. Down the hall are two bathrooms one with a shower. After breakfast in the garden,I walk to the big stupa to sketch from a rooftop cafe.

I end up chatting with an older German lady. She did a bike trip from Kathmandu to India a few years ago.

The Cat Jan29/09

Today is a school holiday so my plan is to go to Boudha after breakfast to sketch. As I am waiting for breakfast I again hear a cat meowing and see a black and white cat dragging its two hind legs along the ground...it looks so pitiful and afraid.

I asked Amit if he can humanely put it out of its misery, but he says that he can't as cats are tough to kill. I try to eat my breakfast but I am concerned about the poor cat.

Roshan initially picks it up by the scruff of its' neck and takes it across the road to some bushes but later I see him take it to the backyard. I can't finish my breakfast.

Yesterday on my walk I recall seeing an SPCA. I hear the cat meow and look down from my room, the two young cooks have it sitting up wedged where it can't move and they are petting it.

I decide that I will take it to the SPCA. I end up wrapping it in my red shawl and putting it in my daypack with only a little opening for air and support it with my hands. It is a good cat as it doesn't try to bite me. I think that it was scared that it can't use its back legs.

Although the SPCA is very close, I pay 80NPR for a taxi as I don't have any small bills within reach.

Fortunately the SPCA is open and a woman holds the door for me when she hears the cat meow. The vet is away but is reached by phone and will come in an hour. I tell him that I think it was hit by a motorbike.

I wait with the cat resting its head on my hand and stroke it. The vet comes quicker. After examining it he determines that there is no feeling in its back,legs or tail so there is nothing that can be done for it. Therefore I ask him to put it to sleep.

I cry some as it reminds me of my cat and I feel sad but relieved that it won't suffer for days.

The vet takes a photo of it as he thinks that it is an indoor cat, someones' pet.

Afterwards I walk to Boudha. At Saturday Cafe I find out from a family (Peppi, David & son) about staying in Boudha. They give me some advice about hot water and walk me to the Schezen guesthouse to talk to a friend of theirs. This guesthouse is too expensive but her son points out the Dragon Guest House.

I go there, inquire about hot water and book a double room for Saturday as no single is available. There is a vegetarian restaurant at the guesthouse and a lovely green space but only common bathrooms. I time the walk back to Hotel Arun.

Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) Jan27/09

Buddha, her father and I take a bus to Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple). At the front there are 3 huge gold coloured statues. Buddha reminds me of my friend Maria.

We walk up the hill to the temples and a great view of Kathmandu. In the forested area along the way are some monkeys. After having a good look around we decide to walk back...Buddha's father likes to walk.

It is a very long walk approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get back to Kathmandu Durbur Square and then along Bag Bazaar to my guesthouse. My feet are sore and I am feeling tired by the time we reach there.

Although supper is an hour late, I enjoy some meat as I had asked Amit to make some with my supper.

I am finally able to read and send some emails. Peter is cycling from 6AM-10AM to avoid heavy traffic.