This is a common theme of mine. I seem to go easily from being convinced that most anything is possible, to not quite sure how to write a syllabus. I'm pretty sure that I know how to write the syllabus, and have taught a parallel course many times. So, I'm not sure why I'm stuck on it. I've been home for 4 hours and have not yet written any new words on the page.
I managed to miss talking to Nitzan -- he's on the road for Labor Day vacation. I miss him. It's very hard not to see him every day. It's been a long time since we lived on different continents.
Finding out Matan has missed a few assignments in another class, I feel like I've dropped the ball there. I don't probe him quite enough and he usually does manage his homework (eventually), but I think I need to insist on more detailed information.
I think I've got the cello lessons set up to start this week.
I don't have a driver for evenings yet and am not quite sure how to solve this. Maybe it will be taxis.
So far behind in Bangla after only 2 weeks!
Sigh.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
if the biggest issue is swim goggles...
then things are settling down! A quiet weekend with all of the electricity, hot water and internet that we needed (hmmm, I guess that means we're used to only one computer connecting to the internet in the apartment). In addition, we were invited out Saturday night to Iftar and it was fun to go to someone's home.
Friday was pretty low-key. All I did was bring the paperwork to the American Club and get that membership taken care of. And then I went swimmming at Matan's school. Saw him playing flag football on the field outside the pool. We miscommunicated though about leaving together to find dinner (maybe at the A&W?!), so he thought I left and he went home. I was reading across from the pool, rather than in the rotunda where we usually meet.
So Friday night we stayed in and I started re-reading the last Harry Potter. Should have known that would take up Saturday, if I started it! Saturday was rainy and I didn't feel like taking two rickshaws to aquatic aerobics espcially after I swam Friday. Our only mission for the day was swim goggles! This has been a particularly goofy learning curve and we are now on goggles #5 and 6. We brought from the States but they were broken from the start. I bought a pair that was too small and we bought a pair in Kolkata. Matan's gym lock was cut since he didn't understand that he can't leave it locked; everything has to go home everyday. So that Kolkata pair might be in the lost and found, and he'll check there, but meanwhile, no spare points to lose on not having goggles today (Sunday), so we went to find another pair. This time I got a pair for me, too.
Also Saturday, Matan joined me at the American club and got his own membership card. It's more like a country club in terms of spacious, grassy layout, than what he was expecting it to look like (maybe Shoreview's community center). Hope he finds it a good place to hang out with the high school kids. Considering our apartment is out-of-district, we are actually very close to both the school and the American club, so the main reason some folks don't join -- the transportation time -- is really not an issue for us. It is a bit pricey, and if we eat a lot of meals there (in dollars), it could become a budget issue, but so far, we've been pretty frugal and this seems important to Matan.
Still no cello lessons, but he is playing. The cello does not stay tuned well in the humidity and that is frustrating, but I think it's a solid instrument and he's getting some beautiful sounds from it.
Last night Amanda from the Fulbright students came over so that Parvez's driver could pick us all up here. She's moving further south in Dhaka soon, so we won't be living so close by or seeing each other at Bangla classes every day. Parvez came for one semester with his wife and two kids. They homeschool so the kids are continuing pretty much what they'd be doing in Florida in many ways. They do have relatives here and in Kolkata, so it's somewhat a long visit for them. Parvez explained the food, the prayers, the different ways of interpreting customs. It was a pleasure to be invited to share with them.
Started the week off with not getting my homework done. I'm not a very good example for Matan and he wasn't exactly saying he'd finished his. I guess getting out the books Sat morning at least reminded him that he'd need goggles, so we did accomplish something.
Friday was pretty low-key. All I did was bring the paperwork to the American Club and get that membership taken care of. And then I went swimmming at Matan's school. Saw him playing flag football on the field outside the pool. We miscommunicated though about leaving together to find dinner (maybe at the A&W?!), so he thought I left and he went home. I was reading across from the pool, rather than in the rotunda where we usually meet.
So Friday night we stayed in and I started re-reading the last Harry Potter. Should have known that would take up Saturday, if I started it! Saturday was rainy and I didn't feel like taking two rickshaws to aquatic aerobics espcially after I swam Friday. Our only mission for the day was swim goggles! This has been a particularly goofy learning curve and we are now on goggles #5 and 6. We brought from the States but they were broken from the start. I bought a pair that was too small and we bought a pair in Kolkata. Matan's gym lock was cut since he didn't understand that he can't leave it locked; everything has to go home everyday. So that Kolkata pair might be in the lost and found, and he'll check there, but meanwhile, no spare points to lose on not having goggles today (Sunday), so we went to find another pair. This time I got a pair for me, too.
Also Saturday, Matan joined me at the American club and got his own membership card. It's more like a country club in terms of spacious, grassy layout, than what he was expecting it to look like (maybe Shoreview's community center). Hope he finds it a good place to hang out with the high school kids. Considering our apartment is out-of-district, we are actually very close to both the school and the American club, so the main reason some folks don't join -- the transportation time -- is really not an issue for us. It is a bit pricey, and if we eat a lot of meals there (in dollars), it could become a budget issue, but so far, we've been pretty frugal and this seems important to Matan.
Still no cello lessons, but he is playing. The cello does not stay tuned well in the humidity and that is frustrating, but I think it's a solid instrument and he's getting some beautiful sounds from it.
Last night Amanda from the Fulbright students came over so that Parvez's driver could pick us all up here. She's moving further south in Dhaka soon, so we won't be living so close by or seeing each other at Bangla classes every day. Parvez came for one semester with his wife and two kids. They homeschool so the kids are continuing pretty much what they'd be doing in Florida in many ways. They do have relatives here and in Kolkata, so it's somewhat a long visit for them. Parvez explained the food, the prayers, the different ways of interpreting customs. It was a pleasure to be invited to share with them.
Started the week off with not getting my homework done. I'm not a very good example for Matan and he wasn't exactly saying he'd finished his. I guess getting out the books Sat morning at least reminded him that he'd need goggles, so we did accomplish something.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
tired
I think I'm going back to sleep instead of going to 9am water aerobics. I swam yesterday. Will probably go to the pool today at the American club when Matan gets his card (he didn't come with me yesterday when I got mine).
Some days are like that.
Some days are like that.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
weekend is here!
Quiet day: school, work, grocery shopping, home, and yes, Thursday is the end of the week.
Woke up to pouring rain at 6am, but by 7am there was a double rainbow out in front. The CNG was waiting to take me to school. Comparing notes there about joining the American club, long-term car rentals, other issues.
Stopped on the way home and brought great vegetable noodle dish at the mall. The whole first floor is set up with take-away food stalls for the meal at the end of the day. Also brought home about 10 - 15 liters of water and other liquids so I won't have to think about it tomorrow or the next day!
Matan stayed at school for chess club and got home before 6pm. We're going to make General Tsao's chicken for supper.
Looking forward to the weekend.
Woke up to pouring rain at 6am, but by 7am there was a double rainbow out in front. The CNG was waiting to take me to school. Comparing notes there about joining the American club, long-term car rentals, other issues.
Stopped on the way home and brought great vegetable noodle dish at the mall. The whole first floor is set up with take-away food stalls for the meal at the end of the day. Also brought home about 10 - 15 liters of water and other liquids so I won't have to think about it tomorrow or the next day!
Matan stayed at school for chess club and got home before 6pm. We're going to make General Tsao's chicken for supper.
Looking forward to the weekend.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
"I will give you meaning"
I love this phrase that my Bangla teacher says every day after we read a passage (phonetically, we don't know the alphabet yet), but before we've gone over the vocabulary.
We're working on meaning here in so many ways. We don't know the meanings of the words on many of the signs. People say that everything is in English, too, but that's not true.
Yesterday was both very good and very awful. The good: I went to class, I came home and worked well on syllabi and course materials, the maid did all of the wash (!), I paid the landlord for a multitude of expenses (that we will avoid in the future) and talked to him about how this lease is really not good for us. He's not listening. But at least I convinced him that the toilet had to be fixed -- it cannot be blocked up from Saturday until Tuesday without him considering it urgent. He likes to mess with the internet, not so much with what he calls "sanitary issues."
Then I went to my aquatic aerobics at Matan's school. Took 3 rickshaws and walked through the traffic jams. No point in sitting in the sun for those segments. What a pleasure the pool was in the middle of the afternoon. I think I need to get over there for some of the open swims, but just starting with this twice-a-week class.
Saw Matan while I was there and signed a form for wall-climbing that he was going to. Then he was staying for badminton until 8pm. I had called the cab company so that he was going to have a ride home (kind of expensive in Bangali terms at 500 taka; I went back and forth by rickshaw for less than 100). At 8:15, Matan calls to say no one came. I call the company and they promise someone will be there in 10 minutes. This goes back and forth until 8:45 and at 9:00, Matan gets home. I'm pacing downstairs wishing I had the vocabulary to explain to the guard what's going on. He keeps offering me a chair.
It's clear that the driver was the company owner and had come from his own Iftar (breaking of the fast each evening during Ramadan). He was dressed up in white and very apologetic. Matan just wanted to get upstairs and I should have understood that. Instead I talked to the cab company owner since we had not yet met face-to-face and I wanted to resolve possible future trips. Wasn't the right time.
Matan was truly upset. Unhappy, frustrated, probably scared, not sure what his options were. I was so discouraged. I am not used to not being able to just zoom over and pick him up if he needs a ride. (yes, there are moments when I think about those three cars with one driver at home in MN!). He calmed down and had some supper and went to bed.
I had nightmares about parking garages and not finding where I'd left the car, finding a washing machine parked there instead, calling home (to the kibbutz?) to find out which car I was supposed to be finding... When I told him my dream as we were riding in the CNG to his morning pickup spot, he said I worry too much. I don't think so. While we currently don't need rides at 5 and 6pm when he finishes the other days, it's going to become a real issue as soon as daylight savings time ends (I suspect).
Today I asked a lot of vocabulary words about worrying, out late, concern -- pretty good if I got to this point without needing those words! Otherwise, a ordinary day: school, work, stopped at a store on the way home (those classmates of mine know lots about shopping in Dhaka!) and a nap in an air-conditioned room before the electricity went out.
AND our first Iftar invitation from my Fulbright friend. He'll send a car to get us on Saturday night and will return us as well. I'm looking forward to meeting his family and sharing the holiday.
We're working on meaning here in so many ways. We don't know the meanings of the words on many of the signs. People say that everything is in English, too, but that's not true.
Yesterday was both very good and very awful. The good: I went to class, I came home and worked well on syllabi and course materials, the maid did all of the wash (!), I paid the landlord for a multitude of expenses (that we will avoid in the future) and talked to him about how this lease is really not good for us. He's not listening. But at least I convinced him that the toilet had to be fixed -- it cannot be blocked up from Saturday until Tuesday without him considering it urgent. He likes to mess with the internet, not so much with what he calls "sanitary issues."
Then I went to my aquatic aerobics at Matan's school. Took 3 rickshaws and walked through the traffic jams. No point in sitting in the sun for those segments. What a pleasure the pool was in the middle of the afternoon. I think I need to get over there for some of the open swims, but just starting with this twice-a-week class.
Saw Matan while I was there and signed a form for wall-climbing that he was going to. Then he was staying for badminton until 8pm. I had called the cab company so that he was going to have a ride home (kind of expensive in Bangali terms at 500 taka; I went back and forth by rickshaw for less than 100). At 8:15, Matan calls to say no one came. I call the company and they promise someone will be there in 10 minutes. This goes back and forth until 8:45 and at 9:00, Matan gets home. I'm pacing downstairs wishing I had the vocabulary to explain to the guard what's going on. He keeps offering me a chair.
It's clear that the driver was the company owner and had come from his own Iftar (breaking of the fast each evening during Ramadan). He was dressed up in white and very apologetic. Matan just wanted to get upstairs and I should have understood that. Instead I talked to the cab company owner since we had not yet met face-to-face and I wanted to resolve possible future trips. Wasn't the right time.
Matan was truly upset. Unhappy, frustrated, probably scared, not sure what his options were. I was so discouraged. I am not used to not being able to just zoom over and pick him up if he needs a ride. (yes, there are moments when I think about those three cars with one driver at home in MN!). He calmed down and had some supper and went to bed.
I had nightmares about parking garages and not finding where I'd left the car, finding a washing machine parked there instead, calling home (to the kibbutz?) to find out which car I was supposed to be finding... When I told him my dream as we were riding in the CNG to his morning pickup spot, he said I worry too much. I don't think so. While we currently don't need rides at 5 and 6pm when he finishes the other days, it's going to become a real issue as soon as daylight savings time ends (I suspect).
Today I asked a lot of vocabulary words about worrying, out late, concern -- pretty good if I got to this point without needing those words! Otherwise, a ordinary day: school, work, stopped at a store on the way home (those classmates of mine know lots about shopping in Dhaka!) and a nap in an air-conditioned room before the electricity went out.
AND our first Iftar invitation from my Fulbright friend. He'll send a car to get us on Saturday night and will return us as well. I'm looking forward to meeting his family and sharing the holiday.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
PTA
I hadn't ever really taken part in PTA functions when the kids were little, but I'm needing to be in touch with other parents to figure out how to take care of a teenager in Dhaka. So I signed up to be the parent representative for 10th grade even if I don't know any of the parents or the kids. They didn't have anyone else for that grade.
The first meeting was Monday at 3pm. After my 2-hour journey by gridlock on Sunday, I decided to walk from my university to the school. I knew it could be done in 45 minutes, though 2-3 in the afternoon is not ideal walking time. Even with an air-conditioned pause in a mall looking for Bangla clothes (none in my size), I still got to the school pretty pink.
The meeting was interesting. Most of the kids seem to have sports or other activities, but there are some problems with off-school parties being held after closing hours at local restaurants. Since most of the kids have drivers, they seem to have pretty flexible curfews. Matan hasn't been asking about parties, but he has mentioned more than once that he'd like to belong to the American club. We could do that, I do have an invitation as a Fulbrighter. But since it costs $60/month, I was trying to understand when he thought he'd take advantage of the facilities. He's at school until 6pm most days of the week, and 8pm one night. Maybe it is the weekends - we have been pretty much at loose ends by Saturday night.
The best part of the meeting was at the end when one of the moms couldn't believe that all of the things that the embassy provides (like drivers!) are just not available to the Fulbright folks. And for the most part, I think the other Fulbrighters either have relatives here or even ongoing research relationships with their universities. So maybe it isn't a widespread issue. I'll just be happy if she calls and Matan gets invited over for some x-box or other familiar weekend activity. Maybe they'd even bring him home?!
We had a lot of energy last night -- he's trying some new activities (like speech/debate, badminton and climbing wall, and continuing with math team and chess club. Haven't heard back from the cello teacher. Matan played last night. It was a sound from home, here, and I hope it will help him to enjoy this year.
The first meeting was Monday at 3pm. After my 2-hour journey by gridlock on Sunday, I decided to walk from my university to the school. I knew it could be done in 45 minutes, though 2-3 in the afternoon is not ideal walking time. Even with an air-conditioned pause in a mall looking for Bangla clothes (none in my size), I still got to the school pretty pink.
The meeting was interesting. Most of the kids seem to have sports or other activities, but there are some problems with off-school parties being held after closing hours at local restaurants. Since most of the kids have drivers, they seem to have pretty flexible curfews. Matan hasn't been asking about parties, but he has mentioned more than once that he'd like to belong to the American club. We could do that, I do have an invitation as a Fulbrighter. But since it costs $60/month, I was trying to understand when he thought he'd take advantage of the facilities. He's at school until 6pm most days of the week, and 8pm one night. Maybe it is the weekends - we have been pretty much at loose ends by Saturday night.
The best part of the meeting was at the end when one of the moms couldn't believe that all of the things that the embassy provides (like drivers!) are just not available to the Fulbright folks. And for the most part, I think the other Fulbrighters either have relatives here or even ongoing research relationships with their universities. So maybe it isn't a widespread issue. I'll just be happy if she calls and Matan gets invited over for some x-box or other familiar weekend activity. Maybe they'd even bring him home?!
We had a lot of energy last night -- he's trying some new activities (like speech/debate, badminton and climbing wall, and continuing with math team and chess club. Haven't heard back from the cello teacher. Matan played last night. It was a sound from home, here, and I hope it will help him to enjoy this year.
waiting for cello boarding pass
trying to get the pictures I mentioned actually uploaded. this is in the Kolkata airport, 5:30 am.
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