17 Oct
Another cold morning (5*C in my room, colder outside; at 9 it is up to 6 in my room but 14 in the "greenhouse" -- much nicer!, 4PM: 25 in greenhouse, 9 in my room). Khardung La covered with snow coming in and out of the clouds and mostly blue sky overhead.
Yesterday I made my last financial donation (required by HELP) by purchasing a B&W HP Laserjet printer for the teachers to use in the staff room. I also went to town and purchased the futbols that Ian wanted me to donate to various schools. I think the 10 are all that we're left in town. I will start distributing the today. Will give some to the children in the boy and girl hostel at LMSS and a couple to the small poorer government middle school across the street.
Also bought myself a pair of warm yak wool socks and a wool balaclava type hat. Right now all my warm socks Lycra hat are drying on the line.
Yesterday morning as I was checking email in the staff room before assembly the 11 nonmed students came and asked me to " do an extra class" during the assembly. Extra classes at this time seem to be common, especially with formal assessments coming and teachers trying to finish the syllabus. I said sure, even thought I had nothing planned and headed down to the class. On the way I ran into Mam Rigzen (chem teacher) on her way to teach the extra class. She said she wanted to, so I said sure and took a seat in the back. There was a discussion in Ladakhi between the students and her and she said, " you teach it". OK. Turns out they wanted me to teach about hybrid orbitals and pi and sigma bonding- something way beyond anything we teach in chem, even in SL IB. So, I had to think quickly. Ended up having the students teach each other while I asked questions to push things along (they did a great job and I was amazed at the bonding diagrams they drew-obviously memorized) and Mam Rigzen watched. Turned out well and I did not come across looking too dumb! I feel as if being asked was a big step though- obviously there is something the students like about the different approach to teaching.
Finished the day with an arrangement to teach the 11 med physics and used it to go back to the kinesiology lesson that was interrupted by the tea party Thursday. Started talking about endoskeletons and ended up mostly talking (with lots of questions) about my various knee surgeries and cartilage, ligaments, etc.
After school today took a walk in the cool fall air and fall colors 30 min up to the gompa above Gompa village on the roads and paths above the house. Following students in school uniforms walking their cows and ztos (cow/yak mix) home from the fields for the night. On the way home, ran into one of my students washing his school uniform in the stream by his house- of course had to stop in for a cup of tea. On the way home, watched the spectacular pastel sunset over Stok Kangri and other peaks to the south.
Have been trying to get in touch with my friend, Nuri Sherpa-a trekking guide in Nepal, for 2 weeks by email to see if he received Pandie and my passport copies for getting our trek permits. Finally, after about 10 attempts, was able to call today. Although the connection was pretty poor I was able to verify that permits are taken care of and that we will be able to get a ride to the start of the trek. A bit of a relief, and now I will just need to get in touch when I arrive in Kathmandu in 12 days!
Actually, I think I now have almost all of my reservations and accommodations taken care of for the rest of the trip. The only ones not done are what I will do after Annapurna-probably find a guesthouse and hang out in Pokhara- and reservations for the Tiger Sanctuary, but the sanctuary is closed until Nov 15 and Karam (naturalist and motel owner in Ramnagar) will take care of those for me.
18 Oct
Another last minute scheduling idiosyncrasy: this week (actually, I think until I leave) is Formal Assessments for K-8 students and as I understood a half day test every other day with a day to study in between. I also was led to believe that 9-12 would be normal schedule, especially since the 11-12 teachers are all trying to complete. The syllabus before their exams. Got to school this morning to discover no assembly and a half day schedule for everyone (apparently due to the buses). I have been told that there is an alternative "timetable" for 9-12, with shorter classes, but have not seen it..... I'm not really certain if I have anymore classes to teach because the classes I was teaching were the "extra" science classes and I think they may not be happening anymore. Hopefully someone will fill me in before too long....?
Today is a beautiful cold clear morning with the Stok mountains glistening in their new snow and sun. Last night was cold enough to freeze the water in some of the pipes. Luckily, my bathroom stayed working. As soon as the sun came out they thawed, which is good because I really don't want to have to start using the outhouse at night. I did my duty (dooty?) in AK!
19 Oct
Full acclimation to Leh altitude today (according to the calculations)
3*C in room: Brrrr
Yesterday, Dorjay wrapped the pipes with some insulation so nothing froze last night.
But, the power was on and I found ESPN on the cable and watched one inning of Giants/Cards before it went off at 8:15. Nice hearing some familiar voices and fun trying to explain baseball to Smulla. Was actually hoping I might be able to see the Yankees getting swept by el Tigres, or see the Ducks football game, but it was probably too early for them.
BTW: since this week is exams for K-8, Smulla has had me helping him study for 30 min each night: 2 nights ago maths, last night social studies (a tiny bit of ancient Egypt and then Indian history and gov't) and tonight an hour of English.
This afternoon Katarina and I took the school bus about 10 km east of town to visit the Maha Bhodi Meditation Center complex and our friend Katherine from Singapore who is volunteering at the school there (Prasad and Rupa were there but left). We got left off on the road and had to walk about 2 km up and into the mtns. Could not see anything up there but eventually came to the gate and large complex which includes the: meditation center with caves for meditating (for tourists and closed for the season), school with hostels (like Lamdon but smaller), a school for the visually impaired, a hospital with no patients or doctors or nurses(?), and an old folks home ( very unusual for India where the elderly are almost always taken care of by their families). Walked around with Katherine and had tea before catching their school bus back to Leh. Katarina had wanted to see the Amchi (traditional Tibetan doctor) who visits the old folks home once a week, but he did not come today.
In Leh we had a late snack/ lunch of Samosas at the Punjabi baker and brought home Gulab Jamon for Dorjay.
Another head scratcher about the school schedule here. The K-8 students are taking their exams now ( and yes, even the kindergarten kids take a 1 hr exam each day!) and will be done next Wedensday. After that there is a 5 day holiday and when they come back they will go into the next grade for 6 weeks and then school ends for the year until March. Those students will come back and continue in that grade again. The 9 and 10 grades took their exams already and the 11/12 will have theirs in November sometime but continue on in the same grade until the 3 month break in December. They get promoted and move to the next class in March......?
21 Oct
Sunday, no school and no plans.....
Last night the water in my bathroom froze. Hopefully it will thaw as the sun warms the pipes today.
Last night for the first time I slept in my sleeping bag with the blanket and quilt on top and was toasty warm, but hard to get out of it I the morning. Also hard to read in bed because the hands holding the book outside the covers get really cold! It is hard to believe in 9 days I will be where it is 80*F! And I won't need to wear all these heavy, multilayers of winter clothes anymore. Even in Nepal it will be MUCH warmer.
I am ready to be done here, especially since with this weird testing schedule with only half days I don't have my classes to teach anymore and most of the time there is little to do anymore. I have almost finished the volunteer information packet I am putting together and will just need to meet with Eshey and the VP this week to get the last bits of data. Hopefully after Smulla's exams finish on Wednesday we can go to visit Yangchan's parents in her village. Otherwise I should really figure out a final trip to take....
New revelation about the school: last year was the first year that there was an 11th grade and this year was the first for 12th. Just seems so funny that it took so long to find out.
22 Oct
3*C (37F) in my room today!
Another cold morning (5*C in my room, colder outside; at 9 it is up to 6 in my room but 14 in the "greenhouse" -- much nicer!, 4PM: 25 in greenhouse, 9 in my room). Khardung La covered with snow coming in and out of the clouds and mostly blue sky overhead.
Yesterday I made my last financial donation (required by HELP) by purchasing a B&W HP Laserjet printer for the teachers to use in the staff room. I also went to town and purchased the futbols that Ian wanted me to donate to various schools. I think the 10 are all that we're left in town. I will start distributing the today. Will give some to the children in the boy and girl hostel at LMSS and a couple to the small poorer government middle school across the street.
Also bought myself a pair of warm yak wool socks and a wool balaclava type hat. Right now all my warm socks Lycra hat are drying on the line.
Yesterday morning as I was checking email in the staff room before assembly the 11 nonmed students came and asked me to " do an extra class" during the assembly. Extra classes at this time seem to be common, especially with formal assessments coming and teachers trying to finish the syllabus. I said sure, even thought I had nothing planned and headed down to the class. On the way I ran into Mam Rigzen (chem teacher) on her way to teach the extra class. She said she wanted to, so I said sure and took a seat in the back. There was a discussion in Ladakhi between the students and her and she said, " you teach it". OK. Turns out they wanted me to teach about hybrid orbitals and pi and sigma bonding- something way beyond anything we teach in chem, even in SL IB. So, I had to think quickly. Ended up having the students teach each other while I asked questions to push things along (they did a great job and I was amazed at the bonding diagrams they drew-obviously memorized) and Mam Rigzen watched. Turned out well and I did not come across looking too dumb! I feel as if being asked was a big step though- obviously there is something the students like about the different approach to teaching.
Finished the day with an arrangement to teach the 11 med physics and used it to go back to the kinesiology lesson that was interrupted by the tea party Thursday. Started talking about endoskeletons and ended up mostly talking (with lots of questions) about my various knee surgeries and cartilage, ligaments, etc.
After school today took a walk in the cool fall air and fall colors 30 min up to the gompa above Gompa village on the roads and paths above the house. Following students in school uniforms walking their cows and ztos (cow/yak mix) home from the fields for the night. On the way home, ran into one of my students washing his school uniform in the stream by his house- of course had to stop in for a cup of tea. On the way home, watched the spectacular pastel sunset over Stok Kangri and other peaks to the south.
Have been trying to get in touch with my friend, Nuri Sherpa-a trekking guide in Nepal, for 2 weeks by email to see if he received Pandie and my passport copies for getting our trek permits. Finally, after about 10 attempts, was able to call today. Although the connection was pretty poor I was able to verify that permits are taken care of and that we will be able to get a ride to the start of the trek. A bit of a relief, and now I will just need to get in touch when I arrive in Kathmandu in 12 days!
Actually, I think I now have almost all of my reservations and accommodations taken care of for the rest of the trip. The only ones not done are what I will do after Annapurna-probably find a guesthouse and hang out in Pokhara- and reservations for the Tiger Sanctuary, but the sanctuary is closed until Nov 15 and Karam (naturalist and motel owner in Ramnagar) will take care of those for me.
18 Oct
Another last minute scheduling idiosyncrasy: this week (actually, I think until I leave) is Formal Assessments for K-8 students and as I understood a half day test every other day with a day to study in between. I also was led to believe that 9-12 would be normal schedule, especially since the 11-12 teachers are all trying to complete. The syllabus before their exams. Got to school this morning to discover no assembly and a half day schedule for everyone (apparently due to the buses). I have been told that there is an alternative "timetable" for 9-12, with shorter classes, but have not seen it..... I'm not really certain if I have anymore classes to teach because the classes I was teaching were the "extra" science classes and I think they may not be happening anymore. Hopefully someone will fill me in before too long....?
Today is a beautiful cold clear morning with the Stok mountains glistening in their new snow and sun. Last night was cold enough to freeze the water in some of the pipes. Luckily, my bathroom stayed working. As soon as the sun came out they thawed, which is good because I really don't want to have to start using the outhouse at night. I did my duty (dooty?) in AK!
19 Oct
Full acclimation to Leh altitude today (according to the calculations)
3*C in room: Brrrr
Yesterday, Dorjay wrapped the pipes with some insulation so nothing froze last night.
But, the power was on and I found ESPN on the cable and watched one inning of Giants/Cards before it went off at 8:15. Nice hearing some familiar voices and fun trying to explain baseball to Smulla. Was actually hoping I might be able to see the Yankees getting swept by el Tigres, or see the Ducks football game, but it was probably too early for them.
BTW: since this week is exams for K-8, Smulla has had me helping him study for 30 min each night: 2 nights ago maths, last night social studies (a tiny bit of ancient Egypt and then Indian history and gov't) and tonight an hour of English.
This afternoon Katarina and I took the school bus about 10 km east of town to visit the Maha Bhodi Meditation Center complex and our friend Katherine from Singapore who is volunteering at the school there (Prasad and Rupa were there but left). We got left off on the road and had to walk about 2 km up and into the mtns. Could not see anything up there but eventually came to the gate and large complex which includes the: meditation center with caves for meditating (for tourists and closed for the season), school with hostels (like Lamdon but smaller), a school for the visually impaired, a hospital with no patients or doctors or nurses(?), and an old folks home ( very unusual for India where the elderly are almost always taken care of by their families). Walked around with Katherine and had tea before catching their school bus back to Leh. Katarina had wanted to see the Amchi (traditional Tibetan doctor) who visits the old folks home once a week, but he did not come today.
In Leh we had a late snack/ lunch of Samosas at the Punjabi baker and brought home Gulab Jamon for Dorjay.
Another head scratcher about the school schedule here. The K-8 students are taking their exams now ( and yes, even the kindergarten kids take a 1 hr exam each day!) and will be done next Wedensday. After that there is a 5 day holiday and when they come back they will go into the next grade for 6 weeks and then school ends for the year until March. Those students will come back and continue in that grade again. The 9 and 10 grades took their exams already and the 11/12 will have theirs in November sometime but continue on in the same grade until the 3 month break in December. They get promoted and move to the next class in March......?
21 Oct
Sunday, no school and no plans.....
Last night the water in my bathroom froze. Hopefully it will thaw as the sun warms the pipes today.
Last night for the first time I slept in my sleeping bag with the blanket and quilt on top and was toasty warm, but hard to get out of it I the morning. Also hard to read in bed because the hands holding the book outside the covers get really cold! It is hard to believe in 9 days I will be where it is 80*F! And I won't need to wear all these heavy, multilayers of winter clothes anymore. Even in Nepal it will be MUCH warmer.
I am ready to be done here, especially since with this weird testing schedule with only half days I don't have my classes to teach anymore and most of the time there is little to do anymore. I have almost finished the volunteer information packet I am putting together and will just need to meet with Eshey and the VP this week to get the last bits of data. Hopefully after Smulla's exams finish on Wednesday we can go to visit Yangchan's parents in her village. Otherwise I should really figure out a final trip to take....
New revelation about the school: last year was the first year that there was an 11th grade and this year was the first for 12th. Just seems so funny that it took so long to find out.
22 Oct
3*C (37F) in my room today!
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