Bangladesh: day in the life at AUW

WorldTeach Bangladesh volunteers arrived in Chittagong in August to begin the task of teaching and living at the Asian University for Women with some of the most gifted young women in the region. Below, WorldTeach volunteer Kelsey Bristow shares with us a glimpse of her life as she settles into a daily routine.

"First, remember! The work week here is from Sunday to Thursday. It’s confusing, guys. A Tuesday/Thursday class in the States is the middle of the week. Here a Monday/Wednesday class is the middle of the week! But I’m getting used to it. So, here it is:

photo courtesy of Karin Johnson

7:15AM: Take the van to school (okay, fine, you caught me. I haven’t once woken up for the 7:15 AM van)

9ish AM: Take a CNG (a “baby taxi”) into work and cough up the 50 cents or so it takes to get to school (usually split between another person or two)

10ish AM: Get ready for my Access Academy class.

11-11:10AM: Set up the classroom for class. So far, technology hasn’t failed me (knock on wood). I usually hook up a projector to my computer to use PowerPoint.

11:10-12: On Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays I teach my lesson plans/actual academic seminar. On Mondays and Wednesdays I teach the same girls I teach on the other days, but I teach them computers. Also, unnecessary side note – I usually sweat a lot, to the point of gross, wet clothes. And I’m not even nervous! I think it’s just standing up, talking loudly, and moving around the whole time.

12PM-1: Lunch. I eat with the other volunteers. The meal always involves rice – some days awesome fried rice, but mostly just white rice – and a lot of root veggies and chicken or fish. I found that I don’t have the patience to pick the bones out of the fish and after swallowing a few the first time I ate it, I decided to start skipping the fish. They also sometimes have soup! I love soup, so this really adds to my happiness for the entire afternoon. I’m getting used to eating soup/drinking hot tea in the hot weather. I still don’t think it makes much sense, but both the soup and tea are too good here to pass up. Usually we have some sort of fruit at the end of the meal, too – oranges, pears, or bananas. The bananas here are so good. I mean, I didn’t know bananas this tasty existed. It’s awesome

1PM-2:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays: The undergraduate class I’m a TA for. I typically sit there and look pretty and act as a Vannah White character, passing out papers. And it’s awesome! I have office hours for this class where I’ll get to know the students, but right now I’m really enjoying listening to what the students have to say. My role will be largely helping them with their writing, which I’m really excited about. All of them have such excellent and better ideas than I have and it’s just a matter of fine-tuning their language/grammar.

2PM-6: Office hours. I have some open office hours for both my Access Academy class and the undergraduate course I’m helping with. I have 6 hours open to students a week (and of course, like a real college professor, I’m also available by appointment). Otherwise, I’m usually hanging in my office (we got a real office with a water cooler and everything!) or walking to get an afternoon snack/coffee-like drink (what I’d do for a real cup of drip coffee right now…)

6PM-7: Soon, extracurricular activities will start up. I’ll write more about what I’ll be involved in, but right now we’re starting a Film Club and a Women’s Sexual Health Workshop called “Wise Women.” I also want to start an advocacy blog – blogging for a cause, yeah!

7PM: Dinner, which is usually exponentially better than lunch.

7:30PM: Van home.

7:45PM to whenever I go to sleep: I usually spend my nights hanging out at my kitchen table with my roommates and friends doing work. A couple nights a week I go up to a few other volunteers’ apartment and we watch a movie. It’s sort of a really lovely movie night we have going. But besides that, I’m finishing up work (okay, maybe catching up on a little TV, too).

All in all, I’m trying to learn how to be an adult. You know, doing my work at my office and not bringing it home with me. But that’s very difficult, because I get ideas at random times and I like to plan lessons/activities as I get my (brilliant, hah) ideas. I’m adjusting to long days, but I like that each day is different with the various classes I’m involved in.

 photo courtesy of Jessica Barrow

Saying Goodbye

Our WorldTeach Thailand 2009 volunteers are getting ready to wrap up their year of service. How does one go about saying goodbye to a community and friends that have defined "home" for the space of a year? Volunteers Haley Boone and Kate Mast write about the difficult process of closing this chapter in their lives.

"Leaving these students is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. It hurts more than any goodbye I have ever had to make and leaves a grief that aches in my entire being. My heart both swells and breaks with every hug I am given, every "love teacher Kate" note I receive and every tear I see fall. I am so grateful for the year I spent as here at my school and , I am a better person because of these students and the joy they have shown me. It was an honor to be their teacher. Today was my last day teaching so I dedicate this post to the students I said goodbye to and will miss and love forever." -- Kate

Kate and her students

"Tomorrow is my last day of teaching my sweet students here in Nakhon Phanom! I can't believe this day has finally come... my heart hurts when I think of walking home from school tomorrow, knowing that on Monday morning I will wake up in Bangkok and be nowhere near Anuban NKP School. I'm still getting really cute gifts, still tearing up often, and still having small get togethers with those who have played a huge part in this year for me. I could write for hours on the things that I will miss about Nakhon Phanom, but the end result would probably be me curling up in a ball and sobbing. I'm doing my best to focus on spending the last two weeks embracing everything I've loved about this place... I plan on eating lots of good food, doing a lot of karaoke, playing lots of games with my students, hanging out with my Thai family as much as possible, and continuing to build the relationships I've made with many Thai friends so that I can be sure they will last when I leave here.

Today, two of my wonderful Prathom 6 students met me at the door of my last class to whisk me off to their classroom, telling me the entire way, "Teacher, very big surprise! Very, VERY big surprise! Teacher will like so much!" I got a little worried when I saw a blindfold, but I could hear their excited whispers as they led me (blinded at this point) into the classroom. After asking if I was ready, Justin Beiber of all people started blaring through the speakers, the blindfold was whipped off, and I was greeted by the entire class with flowers and balloons! It was the most adorable thing... the whole room was decorated with balloons that they had written little messages on, such as "Love you more than words can say" (a song Thai people love) and "We are love you very much!" and my personal favorite, "Here.. welcome you forever!" Their teacher was gone for the entire afternoon, so I found out later the students set the whole party up themselves, even leaving the campus during their lunch hour to go and buy balloons and snacks! So I'm sure at this point you are wondering what happens at a Thai surprise going away party?? Well, there was a lot a picture taking, a lot of hugs and promises to stay in touch, and, of course, a lot of dancing to the latest Korean pop songs. I was shocked when they asked me if I knew the YMCA, and they were happy to learn it was a popular party song in the USA. I was the shocked one when they told me they had the song on their Ipods... by SuperJunior, a hugely popular Korean boyband with a whopping THIRTEEN members. We danced the afternoon away, taking breaks to snack a little and take a few pictures." -- Haley

Haley and her students

A Beautiful Day in Valparaíso

Follow Stephanie Blanch, WorldTeach Chile Semester volunteer, through a day in the life at her beautiful site in Valparaíso!

Meet the Shalwar Kameez

Our volunteers in Bangladesh arrived in August and learning all about the culture and customs of their new home-- from the food and traditions, as Ramadan has just drawn to a close, to the clothing, as WorldTeach Bangladesh volunteer Kristen Kyslinger writes about below.

My packing list for Bangladesh advised that I not bring many Western clothes because I would most likely end up wearing the shalwar kameez, the typical dress of Bangladeshis. So I packed a couple t-shirts, tank tops, dress shirts, and stuff for hiking, and that was it. (Really, all my luggage consisted of was medicine and school supplies.) During our orientation, we were quickly introduced to a store called Aarong, where we got our first chance to shop for a shalwar kameez.

The shalwar kameez is a very comfortable outfit and ideally suited for the hot, humid climate here in Chittagong. It is a three-piece outfit, consisting of the orna (or dupatta), a scarf to modestly cover chesty lady-bits; the kameez, which is a long tunic with anywhere from short, half length, or full length sleeves; and the shalwar, which are baggy pants (and the trendy churidar, which are tight and bunched around the ankles to give the illusion of bangles). They can be simple, or embellished with all kinds of embroidery, sequins, beads, block print, and more.

Fellow volunteer Jessi and Kristen modeling at the university

Some of us have even been able to master wrapping our heads in the ultimate act of Muslim modesty. The orna can be worn many ways: around the head tightly or loosely, wrapped once around the neck, or draped so the loose ends are in the back.

They do help us fit in and make us feel more comfortable as foreigners. Heads are less likely to turn and stare (as much) when we walk down the street. Our skin and hair color are still clear giveaways, though, and rarely a week goes by where someone doesn't whip out their cellphone to take a picture of us because ohmigosh, we're WHITE!

Kristen, all dressed up on the rooftop

Imagine: a Glimpse of Life in Rwanda & Namibia

A double-header WorldTeach Africa video post today!

First, program manager Becky recently went to visit our Rwanda program and taped this performance of WorldTeach Rwanda volunteer Jane Brokaw's secondary school class singing a tear-jerking rendition of "Imagine" in honor of her visit.

Next is a video sent in by WorldTeach Namibia volunteer Kristen Burns illustrating a day in the life as a teacher at her site in Arandis, Namibia.

Big thanks to both Jane and Kristen for this great footage!

Welcome to Bartica

Our WorldTeach Guyana volunteers have now finished their one month in-country training and have arrived at their sites for the year, after sessions covering cross-cultural issues, language, and teaching techniques along with a teaching practicum to prepare them for the job that awaits them! Marek Brzozowski, WorldTeach Guyana volunteer, writes about the end of orientation and his move to his site, Parika, which he and his sitemate Luke reached by speedboat.

Marek's teaching practicum

"Starting this last Monday, we had our teaching practicum. This was a three hour deal in the morning, where we went to Cummings Lodge Secondary School and taught lessons for the children taking remedial classes there. We weren’t entirely sure of the specific reasons as to why the children were there; some seemed almost like they were there simply because it was something to do and kill the time.

We taught in groups of three, and our classes contained anywhere from four students to thirteen. It was interesting to note the difference that even one year makes – students from the lowest form were markedly different from the students one form above them. It was quite the experience in learning about classroom management.

Something else that will take getting used to is the way students address teachers. Here, the students say “Sir/Miss” then the first name. Therefore, I had to get used to be referred to as Sir Marek (though they usually just said Sir Mark). It’s weird, I feel like it sounds like the students are talking to a knight when they address a male teacher.

Once the week of the practicum finished, we had to pack our stuff to prepare for a Saturday departure. Most of the volunteers left on Saturday, with a few remaining around until Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. However, Luke and I were the very first group to leave, at 8AM on Saturday (though since it is Guyana, the taxi didn’t arrive until about 8:30ish)… The trip consisted of a one-hour cab ride to the town of Parika, which is at the mouth of the Essequibo River. Next, we had to take a one-hour speedboat ride, which went south along the river. This took us straight into Bartica, where we met a cab driver that took us to the school.

 packing up the speedboat for the trip

the beach at Bartica

When we arrived at the school, we were met by the super-friendly groundskeeper (Sharma), as well as the super-friendly cook (Beverly). They have been absolutely wonderful, making sure we have settled in well, which includes meals they cook and bring to us. The school is Three Miles Secondary School, and is located three miles out of town. The school itself is brand new, so the classrooms and facilities are absolutely gorgeous. It honestly looks like a new school built in America, and transplanted here. I’m lucky as well, since the IT lab is one of the few rooms in the school with air conditioning (due to the heat buildup of a room full of computers). The IT lab itself will be interesting, as it will require some creativity to get the full use out of the computers. It will be a fun challenge (and I’m being serious, this type of stuff is fun for me).It’s sounding like I’ll officially be teaching IT as well as chemistry, so I’m getting excited for what that will entail.

Bartica as a town is great – it has quite a different vibe than Georgetown. The people here are very mellow and relaxed, and seem to put enjoyment of life as one of the top priorities. Since the town is at the split of two gigantic rivers, there is a beach in town, which I spent some time at on Saturday. Since the town is the last town before the mines, there is quite a mining feel as well."

 Marek with his neighbor

Finding Family

Living with a host family is for many volunteers one of the most rewarding aspects of WorldTeach service and an integral step to feeling like part of a new community. Kate Mast, WorldTeach Thailand volunteer, writes below about her unexpected ties to her Thai family and the difficulty of leaving loved ones behind.

I have a Thai family that I am incredibly grateful for, they have been one of the most unexpected but important parts of my time here. The couple who care for me, Don and Yuu, have become the older siblings I always wanted but never had. I never expected to feel so at home with two people who came from such a different world as me but now I cannot imagine not having them in my life.

I feel especially blessed with my Pisao (big sister) Yuu. She has been one of my biggest supports here in Thailand. We dance together in the kitchen, we talk about our days, we cheer each other up, we tell each other jokes, we even have girl talk and we do it all with out even speaking the same language. We have created our own way of communicating by mixing the little bit of Thai I know, the little bit of English she knows and whole lot of pantomime.

Kate and her sister Yuu

Tonight at dinner as we were talking it hit me how much she really means to me, just how much a part of me she has become. I have never had a sister, I never knew how wonderful it could be.

We have made a pinky-swear pact that I will return to Thailand to see her when she eventually has the baby she dreams of. I know that the pact didn't have to be made, I will return to her throughout my life to share it with her, but knowing she loves me enough to want me to make her a pinky-swear pact is a gift. She is my sister and she always will be.

Kate's host family, Yuu and Don

Najma

The latest dispatch from Jess Barrow, our wonderful Field Director in Bangladesh, as classes at the Asian University for Women swing into gear for the year.

"School began this week. It was exciting to watch the University emerge from its quiet, ghost like existence into a place filled with wide eyed and nervous students moving in bunches from class to class. AUW is such a new school that right now their are only two classes in place-- a first year and second year. Then there's the Access Academy, a one year prep program for students who come mostly from poor backgrounds and are not yet ready for University level work. The idea is to spend one year in the Academy before moving into the Undergraduate level. The Access Academy is where most of the WorldTeach volunteers teach.

On Friday night I went with my housemate Lihuan (who is the director of student development), the Provost, and the executive director of WorldTeach to a welcome party the second year students were throwing for the new Access Academy students. The dance was on the rooftop of the school. The girls had decorated it with homespun streamers and slightly deflated balloons. There was 7-Up and dry chocolate cake. For a moment I thought I had walked into my 8th grade dance. Everyone lined the walls in chairs, hardly speaking to each other, certainly not dancing.

But as the evening wore on, the atmosphere on the roof changed. Girls rushed up to us trying to pull us out to the dance floor, wanting to snap pictures of our faces with cameras and cellphones. They clustered together by countries-- groups of giggling girls from Vietnam, girls from Nepal with quick English and lovely smiles, girls from India dressed stylishly and leading the charge on the dance floor, and the solemn girls from Afghanistan with pale faces and high cheekbones who rarely left their seats.

I talked to many of the Afghan girls, all of whom offered quiet thoughtful replies to my questions. I was especially taken with one in particular named Najma Qurbani. She had a hard time understanding my English so I talked slowly, well trained from my year in Namibia. She spoke of homesickness, a language I am fluent in, dwelling on brothers, sisters, her parents and her country. But her tiny, bright eyes expressed what her vocabulary could not: that while being away hurts, this chance to learn, to get better, to become her own source of hope matters more.

There are so many things about this job that are incredible. But one of the most amazing parts is the diversity of the campus. Bangladesh is just as foreign to a student from China or Iran as it is to me. Hindus from India sit next to Muslims from Pakistan. Tamils from Sri Lanka eat in the same dining hall as the Sinhalese. No one is singing kumbaya and there can be tensions but for the most part the girls seem to coexist and worry more about their grades than old histories and current politics.

So many cultures and backgrounds in one place makes the world smaller and more accessible. Here we are all bundled together, forced to know and recognize each other. But if the world is shrinking, there's also a sense, almost every day, of glimpsing a new way, or image, or idea, a view just beyond what you wake up knowing in the morning. Friday, before the dance, I looked at Afghanistan and all I could see was a war. Now I can see Najma."

Najma

WorldTeach 2010 Bangladesh volunteers with executive director, Helen Claire Sievers