Day 27 - Books!

Up before the alarm for a warm shower and dressed. Someone keeps lining up all my toiletries in height order! Decided to have breakfast out so went to Cafe Swotha for the "healthy breakfast" of scrambled egg, wholemeal toast and marmalade, curd with dried fruits and banana and a cup of tea...all on one plate (not the tea obviously!!). It was very tasty and filled me up.

Walked the temple route to school past the stone tanks which have been filled with water again. When I asked about this I was told it is not another festival but just for swimming in and having fun. On the way home from school there were several boys from class 3 and 4 who were swimming and called me over very enthusiastically.

Signed in and carried one of the boxes of books halfway to the school before being relieved of it. Climbed up to the library and opened the first box when the others arrived carried over by the staff. They seemed really delighted with the books and I'm pleased that they are the right sort of level and very good quality. 
 

The boxes arrive

Ramina and Koruna insepcting them.

As librarian, Ramina now has to cover them all in sticky back plastic and then catalogue them all by hand and on the computer.

The games library but we couldn't find the dominoes. I made some out of paper to demonstrate how to play.

Spent the first lesson checking my planning and chatting with Ramina,who presented me with a pair of knitting needles, then headed to class 5 to get them for circle time.This was on what makes us feel sad and went better as the children are more comfortable with both the format and me. Then I had a break before teaching maths (the empty sum challenge) and social.In social we are talking about good and bad habits. I debated what to do for this lesson and decided to do it as a circle time discussion as it was with class 5 again. We started with a round then we talked about bad habits and what their effects are. It was a sensible and wide ranging discussion in English and Nepali and the children started to talk a little about people they know with bad habits. I felt a lot better about my teaching abilities after this morning's lessons!

Class 5

"Social" - this is a mix of history, geography and socail studies. This lesson was done through circle time.

The children knew a lot about the harmful effects.

Found this on the wall too late! Will use it tomorrow.

Lunch was a cup of milk tea in the library then bamboo, gourd and potato curries with rice and lentils (delicious!). Then it was class 2 who are a lively bunch! As the books had arrived I pulled out "We're going on a bear hunt" and did this with them. We went through vocabulary first then I read them the story. Second time through we dramatised it and the children repeated it. It was a lot of fun. If I was here for longer then I would get them to learn it for performance.

Lunchtime games.

The rest of the afternoon was non teaching and I transferred the electronic resources I had brought over onto their system and deleted things that were not suitable. Then I gave a dominoes lesson and chatted to some of the teachers as well as preparing the lessons for the next 2  days. On consideration I'm not entirely sure they will work....I need to sleep on it.

At the end of the day I joined class 4 for homework and gave them the camera to take pictures. This is the result...

I then left a little early with Koruna, the headteacher, and we went to the shop where she presented me with a woollen hat as a memento. Today is the "party" day for all the employees of KTS and we went right up to the roof where there were many chairs, food and drink. We were served curries - peanut, potato,buff, beaten rice, bamboo soup and pickles all of which were HOT. This was washed down with Nepalese home brewed strawberry wine - sweet and interesting! - then curd with a milk sweet to cool down. It was very pleasant with all the people involved chattering away and I discovered that there were 450 expected for the party but the whole organisation incorporates over 2000 people. It's a big operation. Some women knit from home so they can take care of the house as well. I am constantly amazed by the flexibility and adaptation of KTS to help as many people as possible.

Mountain Dew (fizzy drink) or strawberry wine.

Chatting over food.

The food being served.

Delicious Bhaktapur curd with a milk sweet that I couldn't pronounce(made by boiling milk until it is solid - no added sugar).

Koruna and I left to go shopping and walked up to Mangal Bazaar to her friend's fabric shop. Here we were greeted enthusiastically and I was shown a dizzying array of beautiful silks. I chose in the end a blue and green patterned 6m length of sari silk and paid just under £15 for the lot!! It's all wrapped up in newspaper so I can't take a picture of it but I need to work out what to do with it when I get home.

Bought an extra packet of sweets for the children then got some money from the ATM and walked home past a world record attempt involving dancing - couldn't quite work out what it was raising awareness of. Home and skyped Mum and Dad before having a quiet evening in. I was planning to do my washing in the machine and had left the washing basket where I would remember to do it but it has disappeared so I assume it has gone to the laundry!!! Oh well, I'll have clean clothes to pack.

Day 26 - knotty lessons

Woken at 11.30 pm local time by my wonderful little brother who had Skyped without checking the time difference! Ignored the phone and went back to sleep. Woke just before the alarm, up etc etc then had breakfast of instant noodles - am trying a different approach from biscuits. These were whole grain (good) and chicken flavour (good) with added dried vegetables (good) and a huge amount of chilli (not good). This was washed down with a cup of tea and a half hour read of my new book, The Rosie Project which is excellent.

Walked to school saying Namaste to the people I recognise and was greeted by one of the teachers on her motorbike! After signing in I walked round to the school and was in time for assembly. The children lead it and start with exercises before singing the National Anthem and then a prayer...

Once assembly had finished the children counted themselves in and I went up and round each of the junior classes saying hello. One girl was crying and standing in a corner by the window and I felt helpless not being able to talk to her in Nepali so I just stood with my hand on her back for a couple of minutes.

Up in the library for the first lesson I checked all my planning for the day then helped Ramina teach Scrabble to class 4. It was great fun and the children got the hang of it quickly. They only have one set so had to effectively play in teams although this time as they were learning they had all their tiles upwards so we could all help. Then to class 2 for maths. The maths teacher wasn't in so I said I would be fine on my own....wrong! It's not that I can't teach but the children in class 2 are lively, they are younger so their English isn't so good and they claim that they do not understand I word that I say!!!! Typical children with a new teacher. We struggled through slapboard then I tried to teach them multiplication bingo and had to ask for the English teacher to come and translate for me. It wasn't a complete disaster but was certainly challenging.

A free lesson next to regain some pride then another maths lesson on my own, this time with class 5 who are the oldest children and so have much better English. We carried on with the Four 4s challenge from yesterday and they were much quicker today. We ended with a game of Fizz Buzz. Then class 5 again for social studies about good and bad habits. We started with revision of key words and their meanings then read part of the textbook chapter before ranking habits best to worst. I had deliberately including eating sweets and this provoked discussion about habits which are good in moderation but bad in excess. This went much better and the children were able to sort into good/bad habits.

Lunchtime and time for a cup of very welcome milk tea with Ramina then lunch at the family house which was spinach, daal, rice, paneer curry and gourd curry with fresh mango to follow. I had to rush as I was teaching the first afternoon session on Hansel and Gretel. We recapped the story we had read last week then read slowly the next part up to where the children are truly lost in the wood as the birds had eaten the breadcrumb trail. I then got them to act the story out which was great fun and some extremely enthusiastic birds "ate" the breadcrumbs. The children needed encouragement to act but they enjoyed it as did the teachers!

Then one of my favourite afternoons followed. Class 5 came in to do some knitting. I was given some wool and a pair of needles and managed to learn how to knit, back knit (is that purling Anne?) and to combine the two stitches to make patterns. I persevered doggedly and the teachers were very patient helping me (as were the children). Then class 4 came in and did sewing. I tried to help but they were ok so I went back to the knitting and only had to have one row pulled out which I count a great success! Class 4 stayed for the rest of the afternoon including the homework session as they did not have any homework. I love sewing and crafts with children and it was a relaxed and enjoyable session. The children are so full of fun, despite having difficulties in their home lives, and it's a joy to hear them chatting and giggling. Some of the teachers were playing music in the library too as it is coming up to the School Foundation Day celebrations and all the children dance and sing so they were choosing music.

Me with knitting and very patient tutors. Ramina, on the left, has a book that the children stick their samples in to show their progress in knitting as they learn new skills.

Class 4 sewing

Birds and fish made from recycled materials. They were experimenting today with using the fibres from the husks of ears of sweetcorn for weaving....nothing is wasted at all.

Ok, it's not brillliant but I was trying different stitches. I'm very proud :-)

After school I went to sign out to be told that the books have finally arrived!! The shipping company used by the school have transported them successfully and they are now here ready to be unpacked tomorrow - I can't wait! I was also invited to a "get together" after school tomorrow in the office so must remember to wear a skirt.

Walked home a different route and then spent an hour or so lying on the bed with the fan on (electricity is on tonight despite a scheduled blackout) and reading. Then I transferred to the Swotha Cafe to carry on reading and to eat dinner- chicken and vegetable pitta bread with salad and "fries" which turned out to be crisps as they are renovating the kitchens. Then home in the dark to Skype Dad and then to write the blog. Early night tonight after a quick shower and sleep. I'm going to be dreaming about knitting....(and yes, Anne, the tapestry is STILL the elephants!).

Day 25 - maths, further maths and ICT

Woke up this morning feeling refreshed and ready for school. Got up and realised my bananas definitely seen much better days so resorted to (sugar free) digestives and a cup of tea for breakfast. I've now worked out how to have a more healthy breakfast but with less than a week to go it doesn't seem worth buying in had muesli and local curd and fruits. Next time...

Walked to school and arrived just as the children were going in from assembly. Went up to the library and reacquainted myself with my timetable as I'd left all my stuff at school last Wednesday then wasn't in. Did a bit of swift planning then took maths with class 2 on multiplication and division. Class 2 are not the youngest but their English is developing and there is always a language difficulty there. However, they seemed to understand in the end and managed to complete the task.

After a "free" lesson where I did yet more high speed planning I took maths with class 5. I've taken the approach with them of doing applied maths, so problem solving. We started with a game of Fizz Buzz which was well received then I set them the Four 4s challenge. I've noticed that Nepalese children are very very good at memorising and copying down examples and can do just about any method you give them. However. they are less able to cope with applying the skill sin more open ended problems. There was a lovely buzz in the class as they worked, rather confused at first but then got the hang of it (I'll explain it below if you don't know the challenge). It went well and they were set the challenge of finishing all the numbers to 20 for homework.

I then talked with the teachers for the next lesson before going up to have lunch. I'm feeling much more at home now and more comfortable to chat. On returning to the library I had a few minutes on my own which were very welcome and I prepared some resources for tomorrow and read the Himalayan Times which, unfortunately, was reporting the news of many more deaths from landslides and flooding. You may have seen this on the BBC news.

After lunch I taught the first lesson on Logo which went well albeit much slower than in the UK but I think this was a language issue. The children drew different sized squares. In the next lesson the teacher and I looked through the ICT textbook and saw which bits would be useful and which not. Then the final lesson of the day was animation using Pivot Animator and I challenged the children to animate two stick people playing catch. The results were extremely humorous and the children enjoyed the challenge.

The final session of the day was homework and I joined class 4 to help them. I'm not sure how much help I was as I can't help with the Nepali and I'm not sure my explanations of the passage they had read in English were very helpful but we ended up chatting about footballers and the children showing me their scrapbooks (when I say "we" chatted about football I have to admit that THEY chatted about football and I tried not to appear as totally bemused and uninformed as I actually am!!).

At the end of the day I went to sign out then to the shop where I bought Paul's holiday present (I won't tell you what it is as it's going to be a surprise but it is handmade!). Then i walked back to the apartment and sorted out my bag before returning to Swotha Kiosk for a very welcome pot of Ilam tea. I sat and read Harry Potter on my Kindle and all was well with the world. Afterwards I went to the Washa Pasha pharmacy (Washa means medicine in Newari and Pasha means shop) and got some more strong anti-histamines. I finished the ones from the hospital yesterday and immediately came up in bumps and lumps and itchy again. I have a pack of 10 which will see me home and away from whatever it is that finds me so tasty. I then went to the mini supermarket and bought sweets for all the children and a box of Cadbury's for the staff for Thursday and a few bits for me. As it was nearly 6pm I headed to my favourite Casa Pagoda for a restful meal of Everest Beer, a lemon soda and the strangest spaghetti carbonara I have ever had which came in a gratin dish covered with melted cheese!

I came home through the dark streets - load shedding until 8.30pm - and back to the apartment where I had a welcome shower and wrote the blog. The rest of the evening will be spent sorting out presents and reading....I've read so much here in the absence of TV and it's been a really welcome change. 

....I haven't got any further with the tapestry!!!

NB No photos today. Had a camera free day.

The Four 4s challenge:
1) You can only use 4 4s ie 4,4,4,4
2) You can use any operation- + - x / ( ),powers, factorials
3) Using only these numbers / operations you have to make all the numbers up to 20.

eg
16 = 4 + 4 + 4 + 4
 9 = (4/4) + 4 + 4
17 = (4 x 4) + ( 4/4)

Day 24 - Krishna's Birthday

Slept like a log last night for almost 12 hours. Up and dressed then had a lazy half hour before going out to find breakfast. Came out of Swotha Square to find an extremely long queue of women and children in highly coloured clothes snaking round the lanes. Bikesh explained that it is Krishna's birthday today and that the women were waiting to go into the temple -a wait from where we were of about 4 hours!

Women and children queueing. The people in front of the rope were begging, giving tikka and merchants.

I love the umbrellas - sun shades rather than against rain this time.

I went up to the Shade Collection which is a silver jewellers to have a look at the bracelets. I had seen one which I really liked. The collection was beautiful and the bracelet was tourmaline and silver and exquisite. However, on enquiring I found it was 24,000rs, about £240!! Too much. I had a look at the earrings which were similarly beautiful and expensive and left without buying anything.

I walked up to Patan Durbar Square past many stalls selling everything from spices to clothing to key rings and to Cafe du Temple for breakfast. I am sick and tired of eggs in every form so it was with great relief that I found muesli with the local curd on the menu and it was delicious. I sat and read for a while and watched the line of men edging forward to the temple. For some reason they separated the men and women out and the two lines came from opposite directions.

A shop selling thanka (Buddhist religious art)

Durbar Square

Selling peacock feathers for luck,.

In the Krishna Mandir

I wandered through the square and had red tikka applied to my forehead by a man who then insisted on being paid - I gave him 15rs rather than the 100rs he was demanding. I was also offered peacock feathers but explained that in the UK they can be considered bad luck although here they are good luck.

Stalls selling all sorts of things.

Items for puja.

The men and boys' line. The girl in green is a Nepalese Scout in her uniform. They were helping to control the crowds.

Small shrine set up in Durbar Square, later the scene of much singing and cheering.

Krishna Mandir

Lighting candles outside the temple.,

I had put today aside for buying gifts and I made my way to the Lagankhel Road and back to one of the material shops I had visited last week. There I purchased embroidered material for myself and Mum. I then walked through the back streets purchasing little things for everyone and finally making my way to Swotha Kiosk for some well earned tea.

For Dad - local version of Feasts!

Swotha Square turned into a motorbike park. Later it was full of people having singing and drumming contests.

Women's queue.

After a break and returning to the apartment to drop off the shopping I headed back out to Durbar Square for a delicious lunch of vegetable pakodas - rather like onion bhajis but mixed vegetables with tomato sauce to dip them in - and an iced coffee. Then I was intending to walk round a bit more but the streets and square were much much more crowded and not pleasant. I bought some essentials (toilet roll, water, twix!) then fought my way across the square to the gate to the apartment. This was locked and my keys had slipped to the bottom of my bag but I was rescued by one of the Cosy Nepal owner's wives and returned to the room.

Selling snacks of beaten rice, corn and puris,.

Making fruit slush- the wheel grinds up the ice then the bottles hold cordial which is poured over to flavour it.

The increased crowds in Durbar Square

More items for puja.

I decided not to go out again due to the crowds so had a relaxing afternoon playing patience, reading and watching an episode of Bake Off on You Tube. I also manged to Skype mum and Paul. It's very noisy outside with drums, singing, tambourines and flutes and much jollity and apparently it goes on all night! I've been told that the night market and dancing is worth a look but I think I will see how thick the crowds are as I'm a bit apprehensive about going out with so many people...I think you have to choose your risks. This is definitely a more rowdy festival than those last weekend. The first at the Kumbeshwar Temple was joyful; the second, "cow" festival was more sombre remembering the dead and this one is one huge party from what I can gather.

School again tomorrow and I'm going to have to wing it a bit as I left all my planning at school before having 2 days at home unwell. I have some ideas ready and I know that the afternoon is ICT and another scrabble masterclass with the children....my knitting lessons continue on Tuesday!!