I've decided that for my community project here in Chamalgan, I will set up an autograph booth and sell my autograph for a reduced rate (500 rather than 650 tenge, 1200 for a signed portrait). Of course I'm kidding, but I and all of the other volunteers have been asked for our autographs dozens of times over the last week or two, and several times by the same children. It's often the case that they'll hand us their school journal and it will have a list of all of our autographs already on it, including our own. I hope they don't take it as rude when I point out that I've already signed it, but I think it might be a competition thing for them (I have more autographs than you!) Anyway, I thought this was interesting and funny. It was definitely pretty weird the first few times, but it's strange how quickly you get used to it.
Other news of note: The Black Eyed Peas are playing here in Almaty tonight. They are HUGE here; most of the kids (who all have cell phones) have several of their songs on their phones. It's not uncommon to walk down the street past a group of children listening to music on one of their phones. I don't quite understand how they have phones at age 9 but use a hole in the ground when they have to go to the bathroom, but it's the way it is.
Other artists that are big here that I wouldn't have expected: Michael Jackson, 50 Cent, Avril Lavigne. I guess we can't always export good American culture.
I also taught my first full lesson this week, to a class of 10th graders. It was an interesting experience to say the least. I spent several hours planning my lesson using the 10-B textbook, and when I got to my 8:00 class I was told at roughly 7:58 that this class used a different textbook. If I had had any kind of fall back plan at all, this might have been more nerve-wracking than it was, because then I would have had to implement a new lesson on the fly. But thankfully, since I didn't have anything to fall back on, I had no choice but to teach the lesson as I had planned. It ended up going okay, but it was an interesting first teaching experience.
We are also putting on a talent show with some of the children at the local school (called Gymnasia). I am working with some of the students on reciting a poem called "Five Little Elephants." It should be pretty entertaining- it is 5 eleven year old boys that all think they're pretty tough, so it's pretty funny to hear them read it. I'm hoping they don't figure out the translation for what they're reading in the next four weeks, or I may not have anyone to perform.
That's about it for this week. Next week I will teach two lessons on my own and team-teach one with a local teacher, and we will be conducting a lesson on computers with some of the English teachers. Things are busy but good. Hope all is well back in the US.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
I've Seen (Heard) It All
After hearing an Uzbeki-Language version of "Who Let the Dogs Out (Woof, Woof, Woof)" at a cafe the other night, I can make that statement pretty confidently.
Thanks for all the comments and keep them coming, except for the ones about the Orioles. I'm shutting down all commenting on anything about the Orioles for the rest of the season. When I left they had just taken two of three at Yankee Stadium and I was feeling pretty good about the direction they were going. Since I left they have apparently lost one game 30-3 and been no-hit by a rookie (on the hated Red Sox no less) in another. So please, no more updates. Or just lie and make up good news. Thanks in advance.
Things here are still good, and still interesting. The people here seem to be a fan of burning trash and lots of other things, so it's not uncommon to see a small contained fire in a field or along the side of the road. But the other night we looked up at the mountain range outside of town and part of it appeared to be on fire. It was burning in a neat, long row, so it looked to be contained, but we've noticed that it's moved gradually lower and lower down the side of the mountains. Although it might be on the verge of engulfing the town, none of the locals seem to be too worried. And I tried to take a picture of it the other night, because it actually looks really beautiful at night, but none of them came out at all. And unfortunately my camera doesn't have a "mountain on fire at night" setting.
This past week we each taught three 10-15 minute lessons to some of the classes. It wasn't as much teaching as talking about our families in America, speaking very slow, simple English, and playing a game to test their recollection. Next week we will each teach two full lessons.
We also started this past week an English Club. We had two sessions, one with older kids and one with younger kids. We mainly played games like Simon Says, Charades, Hangman, etc, just basic games that reinforce the limited English they already know. It was a lot of fun, but after doing the session with the younger kids I felt like I knew what it was like to have a ten-year-old have a birthday party. With 50 kids. We were all exhausted, and sweating a little (no AC) after running all the games. At least the kids were really into it and seemed to be having a lot of fun.
Well, that's it for this week. Hopefully I can get back to the Internet next week. At some point I hope to be able to respond individually to some of your messages, but I am getting them all and I really appreciate them. Take care, Chris
Thanks for all the comments and keep them coming, except for the ones about the Orioles. I'm shutting down all commenting on anything about the Orioles for the rest of the season. When I left they had just taken two of three at Yankee Stadium and I was feeling pretty good about the direction they were going. Since I left they have apparently lost one game 30-3 and been no-hit by a rookie (on the hated Red Sox no less) in another. So please, no more updates. Or just lie and make up good news. Thanks in advance.
Things here are still good, and still interesting. The people here seem to be a fan of burning trash and lots of other things, so it's not uncommon to see a small contained fire in a field or along the side of the road. But the other night we looked up at the mountain range outside of town and part of it appeared to be on fire. It was burning in a neat, long row, so it looked to be contained, but we've noticed that it's moved gradually lower and lower down the side of the mountains. Although it might be on the verge of engulfing the town, none of the locals seem to be too worried. And I tried to take a picture of it the other night, because it actually looks really beautiful at night, but none of them came out at all. And unfortunately my camera doesn't have a "mountain on fire at night" setting.
This past week we each taught three 10-15 minute lessons to some of the classes. It wasn't as much teaching as talking about our families in America, speaking very slow, simple English, and playing a game to test their recollection. Next week we will each teach two full lessons.
We also started this past week an English Club. We had two sessions, one with older kids and one with younger kids. We mainly played games like Simon Says, Charades, Hangman, etc, just basic games that reinforce the limited English they already know. It was a lot of fun, but after doing the session with the younger kids I felt like I knew what it was like to have a ten-year-old have a birthday party. With 50 kids. We were all exhausted, and sweating a little (no AC) after running all the games. At least the kids were really into it and seemed to be having a lot of fun.
Well, that's it for this week. Hopefully I can get back to the Internet next week. At some point I hope to be able to respond individually to some of your messages, but I am getting them all and I really appreciate them. Take care, Chris
Thursday, September 6, 2007
In Kazakhstan
It took me a little longer than I thought it would to get to a computer here. And I don't know how long it will take me to find one again. But for the moment I have internet, and all is right with the world.
Oh, the reason you all received an email invitation to this blog is because we were advised to password-protect our blogs, because the country director is required to read them otherwise, which could get us into trouble if we post something inappropriate. I apologize to those of you that don't have google accounts, but I would suggest using it for the thirty days they give you if you don't want to create a free account. In the meantime I will try to figure something else out.
Anyway, I'll try to provide as thorough of an update as I can, but it will be impossible to include everything I want to. And I will try not to ramble.
We arrived in Kazakhstan on August 23rd, flying into the Almaty Airport, where it took me no more than 5 minutes to lose my cell phone (not that I expected it to work over here, but I was going to use it as an alarm clock). That was really the only thing that went wrong though. We landed at a little after midnight, and after collecting our checked bags they put us on two buses to Tabagan, a mountain resort village about 30 minutes outside Almaty. We quickly found out that this was going to be nothing like the rest of Kazakhstan when we were awakened at about 3am to Christina Aguilera, Avril Lavigne, and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott blaring outside our rooms (there was some sort of skateboarding competition going on while we were there). We stayed there three days before leaving in groups of about 10-15 for our separate training villages.
My village is Chamalgan, which is about a 90 minute busride from Almaty, and is the hometown of Kazakhstan's current president. It's a town of about 10,000 people and 20,000 randomly assorted farm animals. So far I've seen cows, chickens, and goats roaming freely and dodging traffic, which surprisingly you get used to seeing pretty quickly. There are also tons of dogs wandering the streets, but they keep to themselves as long as you don't try to pet them.
Anyway, I will be in Chamalgan for roughly the next two months before leaving for my permanent site (assuming all goes well- I pass the language test and teaching practicum). I probably won't know where that site will be for several more weeks, but I get the feeling I should rest assured that it's in a pretty remote village somewhere.
There are 10 of us in Chamalgan. Our schedule has so far consisted of going to Kazakh language class six days a week, with a few class observations, teaching lessons, and medical presentations scattered here and there. Our language teachers are pretty awesome, and most everyone in our group gets along well, so that's good.
As for my host family, it consists of a grandmother, mother, and 9 year old boy named Tolyish. We get along great, but mainly because we can rarely understand each other and just smile and nod most of the time. Just kidding (sort of)- they are extremely nice and have made me feel very welcome in their home, and my Kazakh is slowly getting better, so we can exchange a few phrases here and there. Their house is similar to Western style homes in a most every way except that they don't have a shower head or indoor toilet. So yes, I have been taking bucket baths and using the squat toilet/outhouse. And on that note, I'd just like to point out that if you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to use a squat toilet, try to set up a multi-week lower body workout program beforehand and really get your legs in shape. It's not that easy, especially at first.
Well my hour on the internet is about to run out, so that's all I have time to write for now. Thanks for the comments on the last blog- I haven't read them yet but will do so here before I leave. And I did hear that the Orioles lost a game 30-3. Trust me, I spent about an hour after my parents told me that trying to think how in the world they gave up thirty runs in nine innings. Then I just remembered they are the Orioles, and it made a little more sense.
Hope things are going well for everyone back in the States, and I hope it doesn't take me this long to post my next update. I think will try for once every week or so.
Oh, the reason you all received an email invitation to this blog is because we were advised to password-protect our blogs, because the country director is required to read them otherwise, which could get us into trouble if we post something inappropriate. I apologize to those of you that don't have google accounts, but I would suggest using it for the thirty days they give you if you don't want to create a free account. In the meantime I will try to figure something else out.
Anyway, I'll try to provide as thorough of an update as I can, but it will be impossible to include everything I want to. And I will try not to ramble.
We arrived in Kazakhstan on August 23rd, flying into the Almaty Airport, where it took me no more than 5 minutes to lose my cell phone (not that I expected it to work over here, but I was going to use it as an alarm clock). That was really the only thing that went wrong though. We landed at a little after midnight, and after collecting our checked bags they put us on two buses to Tabagan, a mountain resort village about 30 minutes outside Almaty. We quickly found out that this was going to be nothing like the rest of Kazakhstan when we were awakened at about 3am to Christina Aguilera, Avril Lavigne, and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott blaring outside our rooms (there was some sort of skateboarding competition going on while we were there). We stayed there three days before leaving in groups of about 10-15 for our separate training villages.
My village is Chamalgan, which is about a 90 minute busride from Almaty, and is the hometown of Kazakhstan's current president. It's a town of about 10,000 people and 20,000 randomly assorted farm animals. So far I've seen cows, chickens, and goats roaming freely and dodging traffic, which surprisingly you get used to seeing pretty quickly. There are also tons of dogs wandering the streets, but they keep to themselves as long as you don't try to pet them.
Anyway, I will be in Chamalgan for roughly the next two months before leaving for my permanent site (assuming all goes well- I pass the language test and teaching practicum). I probably won't know where that site will be for several more weeks, but I get the feeling I should rest assured that it's in a pretty remote village somewhere.
There are 10 of us in Chamalgan. Our schedule has so far consisted of going to Kazakh language class six days a week, with a few class observations, teaching lessons, and medical presentations scattered here and there. Our language teachers are pretty awesome, and most everyone in our group gets along well, so that's good.
As for my host family, it consists of a grandmother, mother, and 9 year old boy named Tolyish. We get along great, but mainly because we can rarely understand each other and just smile and nod most of the time. Just kidding (sort of)- they are extremely nice and have made me feel very welcome in their home, and my Kazakh is slowly getting better, so we can exchange a few phrases here and there. Their house is similar to Western style homes in a most every way except that they don't have a shower head or indoor toilet. So yes, I have been taking bucket baths and using the squat toilet/outhouse. And on that note, I'd just like to point out that if you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to use a squat toilet, try to set up a multi-week lower body workout program beforehand and really get your legs in shape. It's not that easy, especially at first.
Well my hour on the internet is about to run out, so that's all I have time to write for now. Thanks for the comments on the last blog- I haven't read them yet but will do so here before I leave. And I did hear that the Orioles lost a game 30-3. Trust me, I spent about an hour after my parents told me that trying to think how in the world they gave up thirty runs in nine innings. Then I just remembered they are the Orioles, and it made a little more sense.
Hope things are going well for everyone back in the States, and I hope it doesn't take me this long to post my next update. I think will try for once every week or so.
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