another week ...and ramadan begins

well i spent most of this weekend writing a paper for grad school...so my brain is tired...

Back to school Night was on Thursday and it went pretty well. Better than anticpated because we had to explain to parents the reconfiguring of Elementary school -the multi-age classrooms, the teacher that never showed up.

I actually went for a run this morning...before it got too hot. (funny how when its 95 that doesn't feel so hot anymore).
A few kids tried to run along with me. I run laps around the park in front of my apartment.

So Ramadan begins Monday. It will be interesting to see how the city functions on during that time and the students as well. Its a long hot day with no food or water and many are up very late the night before with familes eating and having a good time.

And yes I got up at 5 am on the 29th (10pm on the 28th eastern time) to hear Obama's acceptance speech live. It was amazing and I was missing the states at that moment. I think this is a beautiful picture of his family. I am doing the absentee thing but really I wish I could pull the lever. (Honestly I don't know if my ballot will get there in time..or will be counted..but thats another story)

ma sallama

habob

i wake up the the smell of dust 5 am...it almost smells like fire. hot and dry.
then i hear the wind. rattle the windows. howling. claning of debris hitting metal roofs.
habob.
the dust storm. after a very hot day or days.
then in an hour around 6 am. the ligthening starts. the rains rush in.
you can see it threads of greys across the sky.
the flys are crazy before the rain. as if they multiplied and don't know where to hide from the incoming storm.
opposite is the most beautiful sunrise.
360 degrees..lightening, threatening skies, sunrise and dust.
6:45 am
and my school day begins

Made it through another week

Well Just finished the first full week of school. Things are starting to settle down and I'm getting used to the routine.
This weekend I went out to a cafe on Thursday night and to the U.S Embassy rec site on Friday evening/night. Both places were a lot of fun. The rec site is right on the Nile which is very high right now and moving fast. Apparently it will drop 30 feet by the time winter rolls around.

The highlight at the rec site was the pool! It was great to get into a pool -which is not that easy in this city. The pools that do exist are at exclusive clubs and they aren't that cheap to join. I think some US YMCA pools are less expensive than the one here. We also had a BBQ and some good dancing music. There were other folks at the rec site who work for the Embassy or UN or Red Cross and other NGO's and we had some Salsa music on an I-POD and had a little party. Apparently there used to be big parties there last year but with the security situation changed recently they are not allowed to have them there any more. We are hoping we can have small gatherings like the one we did (BBQ and pool fun) in the future.
The only reason we got to go last night was because on of our new teachers husband works for the Embassy and they can invite guests to the Rec site.

I also posted some pictures of some flowers I saw on my walk to the grocery store Friday morning. Also a picture of a rickshaw-which is the cheapest (and most dangerous) way to travel around.

Interesting story about a rickshaw. When a small group of us came back last night from the Rec site to our apartment-we took a rickshaw. Before you get in one you negotiate a price and then you take off. I negotiated in my simple arabic a price of 10 sudanese dollars. Or so I thought...
We were about 3 min from home when the rickshaw breaks down. We are on a dark street at 11 at night. We all have very limited arabic skills. So our driver runs off to somewhere and comes back with another rickshaw driver. Then he starts to try and negotiate with us. We are trying to figure out what to pay him since he brought us most of the way home. Then we luck out and a few teenagers come by who know English and hear us struggling. So they help translate.

Well apprently the driver was expecting 15 dollars not 10. So I argue using my hands saying La Ashra (No , ten!) But he's not hearing it and we still have to get home- now with his friend. So we give in. Then we get in the rickshaw of his friend and he clearly doesn't know where he is going. I'm some what familiar with the area and eventually give directions -tawali (straight) yameen(right) shemal(left) and find our way home.

When we get home-he looks at us like we should pay. We shake our heads no and say Shokaran (thanks) and walk inside. I really need to learn my arabic numbers and not take rickshaws late at night!

Getting used to grocery shopping, teaching and living here

(picture of my apartment building-i live on the 3rd floor)

So the routine around here is to do shopping a couple days a week. It is taking some getting used to. You get your meat, veggies, packaged goods, frozen goods, house hold goods all at different places. I found a nice produce stand within walking distance of my house. Sometimes (Omer) has just fruits. Other times veggies of different kinds. So I get what I can and eat what is available.

I also found a little stand selling corn and bought some in the husk and some that was being grilled. The grilled corn smelled great..but the kernels were as hard as un-popped popcorn...not what I expected when I took a big bite!!

Oh and this morning at around 4:30 am the power went out and a big Habub came through. Thats a crazy intense dust storm. Seriously. Dust seeps in cracks through the windows that you didn't know existed. It sounds like a bad snow storm and looks like one only its the orange/red dust. I mean I could taste the dust as I lay in bed trying to get in my last minutes of sleep.

Then a big rainstorm came in afterwards. Luckily for us it stopped by 6:30 am when we head off to school..or it would have been quite a ride. Actually we may have just been late because I don't know how safe it is to ride in weather like that. So I got ready for school by candle light!

Have I commented on the driving here. I hear from other teachers who have taught abroad that it isn't as intense as driving in India for instance... but it is nothing like the states.
Its like the cars speed up when there are pedestrians. And there aren't many stop lights...and where there are lights people drive through reds all the time. Even though the lights have the countdown numbers around numbers 10,9,8 the cars drive off anyways. Basically when I'm in an amjad I look out the side windows or my blood pressure would be on constant high.
Just this morning we almost hit a woman crossing the street. She ran at the last minute and we slammed on the breaks.....it was scary!

School is busy as ever. I am working on testing the 3rd and 4th graders to see thier reading levels. Our school library is getting renovated and hopefully in a month it will be up and running. Once it is up and running I can work with the Librarian to get more good books for my students. Right now I have a hodge podge of books in the classroom and my students are reading from the the Pre-primer level to a 4th/5th grade level. Its crazy! But not abnormal. We have many ESL kids so its just what it is. I just take one day at a time cause its all i can handle. This week I'm just trying to test them to see where they are...then I can sort out reading groups and find the books for them.
There are a number of books that are outdated and culturally inappropriate for our student body..so finding books is also a special task in itself.

I am also doing 3rd grade math and the range of ability is just as vast as the reading. I have some kids who can finish 60 additon and subtraction problems in 3 minutes and some who can't finish 30 addition in 5 minutes. The school is transitioning from a text book driven school and has yet to adopt a set elementary math curriuclum. We (the Elementary team) are trying to get a program like Everyday Math or Bridges. In the mean time we make the curriculum as we go with the resources we have.

Speaking of which...I have to go and mark the math assesments..which I created so I could see what my students know and where we should start this year with math.

peace

Teaching at KAS

Well I got some rest and can think clearly. Last night we had a beginning of school gathering on the roof with staff,faculty and board members. The board for KAS is comprised of all Parents which is different from my experience and I'm excited to learn more about how that all works. I met the Board President whose 8 year old daughter is in my class!
We had a very candid conversation about learning different languages and talked no business at all.
I've attached a picture of myself and two of my colleagues at the gathering on our roof. (Oh and I cut my own hair...w/ clippers...cause it is easier and cheaper than finding someone else to do it. Most of the folks here who cut hair short are men and as a woman I can't go in the men's shops to get my hair cut...glad I brought my clippers!)

Life for the students at KAS is so much more independent than my previous independent school experiences. In some ways I like it and in others it is a challenge. Since the campus is open and our hallways so to speak are open side walks with awnings the kids are constantly outside going to the restroom or the Kiosk(cafe) to get water or a snack. During lunch and break times they freely go to the playground, kiosk or sometimes to another classroom to visit a sibling. The whole school has break and lunch at the same time so many kids of all ages mingle and talk and play together.

My first day I didn't know where some of my students went and was worried. I found out later some went to get snack at the Kiosk and another went to visit the nursery school to play with the 2-3 year olds.

The school is also undergoing Curricular changes and mapping so in terms of what I teach and how...this is also undergoing big changes. It makes lesson planning a process..but a good one because we as an Elementary team will be able to help implement currcular changes that work for us and the school. We are hoping to adopt a new Math Curric like Bridges or Everyday math before the year is out.
(but with the mail situation we may not actually get materials until the next school year).

So this week I will try a few things after school besides planning for the next day and sleeping. Theres a Hashers (running) club that meets weekly for runs by the Nile. There is also a Yoga group that meets. I've been itching to exercise and its hard in this heat..but my body is adjusting slowly.
I actually went for a run around the park by my house this morning...before it got too hot. It was an experience..wearing long pants and longsleves in 80 degree weather. I got some shouts in Arabic and thumbs up for running and maybe other things but my Arabic is limited to numbers and key phrases like...how much..be kum..and tawali..straight ahead..hena..here...agif..stop..la...no...ai wah...yes...and shokaran...thank you

later
ma sallama

First week of school...accomplished

First week of school done! Complete exhausted. Here are pictures of the wonderful little people I get to spend my days with.
enjoy!

First day ...First comments

Ok- so I'm completely exhausted but know that what I have now in my head will fade as time passes.

My first day was great.
I am in for a real challenge this year..and that's great to.
My students 3rd and 4th range from Emergent english learners (only knowing English for Under a year) to very Proficient Native speakers. And most speak more than two languages at that!

I'm just trying to learn how to say their names. Beautiful names and what a diversity.

We had an all school field day for most of the day which consisted of mixed up teams (grade wise k-12) running around playing games and relay sorts of things in the Hot Sun. We had frequent water breaks and one little Kindergarten student in my group kept running off. I was the only teacher in my group so luckily the High School students in my group (and all the groups really) were fine with out me every time I had to catch up with Sahbra. The hardest part was that she didn't know English and I didn't know Arabic. There was a moment when I was trying to tell her why it wasn't safe to run into the parking lot. We both stared itently into eachothers eyes..me trying to figure out why she wanted to run there...she thinking what is this woman trying to tell me..

Finally I just gave up grabbed her hand and went to find her teacher so we could take a break in the classroom. She crying all the way but willingly walking...probablly just to tired to fight it...

But the day was great. My students are excited and full of energy like any kid the first day of school. Oh and the class was only about 2/3 full. Typically the first week of school is lower attenance because kid/familes coming back sometimes run into travel issues...or just come back late.

I'll try and take a picture tomorrow of my vibrant class and give more details when i get some rest.

later

The night before the First day of school...

Well its the night before the first day of school.
My class size has fluctuated at least three times today and I'll find out the final list tomorrow morning before school starts. Its some where around 18 Third graders and 12 Fourth graders.

I have met a few kids new and returning since they have stopped by the classroom. They come from countries including: Sudan, Egypt, Malaysia, Spain, UK, USA, Korea, China, S.Africa, Rwanda, Japan..just to name a few.

KAS is truly an international school representing 47 nations.

Tomorrow we spend the morning with our kids and then around 10:30 we get together with the whole school K-12 to have games. We will be on mixed teams with all grades and do some group bonding activities and then relay races and other games. The last race of the day is a 12th grader carrying an elementary child on his/her back and than the Elementary student pushing the 12th grader on a scooter!

I'm just trying to figure out how we will have water and bathroom breaks for the 50- some elementary children.
Luckily the school day starts early 7:20 am and ends by 2pm and we can hope for cloud coverage since it is still the rainy season.

I also went on my first rickshaw ride a few days ago. I had to go into school to work on my classroom and it was a weekend day. I had the security guard at my apratment help me with the Arabic on my way to school but on my way home I flagged down a rickshaw, bargined in arabic and then got a ride home. And got I home! Pretty good for a city w/o many street signs including my street or addresses...including my address. And in the bargaining process my first taxi was too expensive so I walked away and flagged down another one.
I feel very accomplished because now I know I can get to school and home...so thankful for the little things.

Actually living here I am often thankful for the little things. There are at least two blackouts a day. Usually power is restored in under 20 minutes. Occasionally it is longer. So one night I woke up hot and in a sweat..the power had been out for a few hours and I had no AC or fans. I was very very thankful when it came back on and finally got relief from a 95 degree night.
Also at school we are still waiting for the 'container' with all of the school supply orders for this year.
In the mean time I have made pencil and marker and whatever holders out of the bottoms of used water bottles. You get very creative when you don't have things you are used to.
They also don't have note books here so we make our own with paper and oaktag paper. The kids are used to it...so I'll get used to it too!

Suk Shabi

So today I went to the big market called the Suk -this one in particular is called Suk Shabi.(how you would say it not sure of the spelling).
It was a bit overwhelming and once I learn more Arabic I will feel better bargining and getting the best prices. I did get a local plan something like Hibiscus (picture )and plan to make a nice cool drink from it. I also got some fresh dates (in the picture) hanging in my kitchen now waiting to ripen.

We stopped and had some fresh squeezed grapefriut juice with ice and sugar. The pic shows us drinking it from a small metal bowls. Grapefruits are a local fruit so they are easy to find and usually not to expensive.

Its that scramble time before the school year starts. We start Tuesday and I just started cleaning my classroom. Somehow it will all come together. I'm still getting used to the eat. Usually after working or being busy in the morning I'm ready to sleep by 3pm. The other night I went to bed early (8:30) partially because I was tired and also because the power went out and well...there wasn't much else to do!

Also I posted a picture of an Amjad-the little van/taxis that we have been taking around. We (the new teachers) have been spolied this week and an Amjad has picked us up and taken us to school and back home each day. My goal this week is to learn how to give an Amjad directions to and from school. This is a challenge because my apartment doesn't have an address or street number -like most things here- so you have to know how to explain where you live-in Arabic mind you.

So we learn by necessity.

Ma Sallama everyone ! (goodbye)

The Sunday to Thursday week

So the school week is Sunday through Thursday. 

We start next week Tuesday.

I just found out that there is no 4th grade teacher coming so the 1-3rd grade teachers are responsible for grades 1-4. We devised a multi-age grouping of 1/2 and 3/4 and divided up some responsibilities. 

I will be teaching 3/4 Language Arts and Sharing with another teacher 3/4 Math. We all will divide up the Science/Social studies times based on the units that we teach through out the year.

I am working with a great team of flexible teachers so I think it will be fun. There are 52 kids in all grades 1-4. One of the teachers also knows a lot about the Responsive Classroom materials and Morning Meeting so I think a good tone will be set during the first 6 weeks of school. It will be a challenge but Im excited to teach in a multi-age setting.

There are also a fair number of ESL  kids (16) and for the first few weeks we won't have a designated Elementary ESL teacher so we will have to be flexible in that way also. Hopefully one will be hired soon. Its hard when someone quits last minute here to find good replacements.

If you know anyone one who wants to come to Khartoum...

school and the market

So today I got to go to school and got to see my classroom! The campus is really beautiful..they have their own well so there are lots of trees and grass because they have access to water.

There is also a turtle habitat area and at least 10 turtles live there. The turtles are wild in that area of Sudan and they built a habitat area for them so the wouldn't ruin all the small trees and bushes around the school. Its the elementary age students job to feed the turtles so my third graders will be on rotation to feed the turtles.

I also walked around where I live to explore and get some head scarves/ body scarves. The body scarf is called -toab.  I've attached a picture of me, another teacher and the store clerk who was so helpful in just the head scraf. I 'll have to get another picture of  the toab.

I also experienced the heat for real today. And I'm about to go to bed at 8:30 pm cause that heat wiped me out. It was around 100 and that sun is just relentless!

I'll write more later.

Getting use to the time change

Around 5 am in the morning is the first call to prayer. Over a loud speaker there is a prayer spoken and sung for about 2o min. How powerful is that to be present when millions of people are praying at the same time. It feels peaceful...

So i finally got some sleep and i'm feeling more grounded.

We drove around the city yesterday and went to a home store to get a few things. We saw the Blue Nile which is filled to the brim at this time of year-the end of the rainy season.

Sudanese people are very friendly and patient. I've learned a few arabic words - Sho-kran- thank you and En -Sha-Allah- God willing. Something folks say  a lot of...See you later- En-Sha-Allah...

Everything is God willing.

THe women have these beautiful scarfs that they drape all over their bodies when they go out...i want to learn how to do it myslef. Its one long piece of fabric and the colors and patterns are so vibrant. 

Ill try and get a picture of it today.

It is hot-but the last few days its rained and so the mornings have been a cool 89 degrees. By the heat of the day its well into the 100's.  But I've been spolied and in an AC house or an AC bus..so I feel I haven't experienced the heat yet.

The food is good. I had hummus and pita and really good chicken, eggplant, cucumbers and mango juice..there are plenty of good fruits...grapefruit, grapes, peaces etc.

so I go to school today...Yeah! I'm about to head there now.

I'll be sure to post some pics from my day today.

Shout outs to my Kling-0n Cohort...missed you all the last day.

I have arrived

Well I am here in Khartoum. Jet lagged and thankful I got here with all of my luggage. When we were landing in Khartoum a dust storm was approaching and we just beat it. If not we may have had to land elsewhere. I've posed a picture of the inpending dust storm from the plan.

So far so good. I'm just settling into my apartment. Got to meet some of the other teachers at a dinner this evening but haven't seen much of the city yet. I  go to school tomorrow and shopping! 

It is hot but because of the dust there was a breeze and a few raindrops so not as hot as it could be.

Ill write more when I'm a bit more rested=coherent!

later