A Homemade Toy

September28, 2010
Dear family and friends, I really would you like to see the amazing thing these people put together for a child.  Using just a rough stick and a metal circle stuck together with a dishsoap bottle and a nail stuck through the wood.  He was rolling it around the street, as happy as could be.  

Love you all,                                                                
Karen                                           

Walking Around the Lake on Eid Morning

September 12, 2010

Dear family and friends,

I really enjoyed walking around the lake on Eid morning.  Everyone was in a festive mood, dressed in their finest.  These girls were adorned in "jewels" and were happy to see their image in my camera. 

The streets were almost vacant during the Eid celebration this weekend.  I thought it would be a good time to learn to drive on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right side of the car.  I did just fine!  I don't know if I'll drive again unless it's holiday time because the streets get crazy.

I'll post a couple pictures that capture the spirit of Eid. 

(This was not posed! )

Traveling to visit family at Eid

Off to another week of school after my first holiday in Bangladesh.  It will be good to get back to school.

Much love,
Karen                                


                                                          

School

September 9, 2010                                              

Hello everyone,

Many of you have asked about school and what it's like.  Here is a picture of a first grade classroom.  The teacher is having a child put his head in a "I am thinking..." bubble to explain his reaction to a book.  I work in all three of the first grade rooms.  You will be amazed that there are only 12-15 students in each room with a full-time assistant.  I float from room to room providing learning support.  The school is wonderful!  It's the bright spot of living here, without a doubt.

The classrooms are much like that back home with a few exceptions.  Our school is a PYP school, so our learning is inquiry-based.  We don't use textbooks in the primary setting, but use lots and lots of literature.  The woman whose picture is shown has just published a book about teaching literacy.  It's entitled A Castle in the Classroom and is going to be available through Amazon Books.  We use continuums and report cards to report to parents.  The school gives MAP tests, beginning in second grade.

One of the really amazing things at our school is the recycling.  There is no Styrofoam.  Kids take their trays and real silverware and sort out their leftovers into various containers, including "compost."  The compost is collected and stored for use on school gardens.  Students are taught early on about the importance of not wasting anything.  If we print at all, we use paper that has been already used on one side.  Teachers can get journals of all sizes for students to write in, either with lines or blank.  Every class gives homework.

Even though we do have drinking fountains in the school, fresh water is brought into each classroom in large coolers.  We use glasses that are collected each day and washed.  Students all bring water bottles from home, too.

All students, even high school kids, have a snack break.  Elementary students have a morning recess and a noon recess as well.  Students have access to a large sand area, water table, soccer field, basketball, swings, slides,tether ball, etc.

A highlight for kids is the student-led assembly every other week.  Students play music on drums or some other instrument accompanied by a pianist as the student body files in.  We start with the school song.  Everyone with a birthday during a specific amount of time comes forward and are treated to a rousing "happy birthday" song.  They file off the stage, receiving a pencil or something.  The principal announces which class is awarded the school mascot (a large stuffed tiger called Tigger), and the class in charge shows something that they have learned.  We leave after singing a final song.  If someone is leaving, another song is song and his/her teacher says a farewell.  Parents are invited.

I hope I have given a little snapshot of school.  It is a very great place.  I wish you all could visit.

Eid starts in two days.  Everyone is greeting each other with "Eid Mubarak."  If we as foreigners initiate the greeting, it brings smiles on the Muslim faces.

I have a four day holiday right now.  I am staying here in Dhaka, just relaxing.

Have a wonderful autumn.  One of the things I really, really miss is the change of seasons in Minnesota.

Much love,
Karen

Hark Hark the Dogs Do Bark

September 3, 2010

Dear friends and family,                                            

The rest of that familiar line of a nursery rhyme is kind of the truth.  The beggars are in full force right before Eid because the wealthy do come by and give out money.
I was walking home one evening and approached by this family.  We "communicated" for about fifteen minutes and then just burst out laughing and we couldn't stop, all because we knew how silly it was to keep repeating each others' phrases and not really understanding a thing.

Now when I see this same bunch,  laugh.  You just don't know when you give to the poor if the money will go to an organized "mafia" or if it will go to buy food for the family.  A friend from church said to give if the spirit says "Give."

I am off to go shopping with my maid.  It is Saturday and the shops will be crazily busy.

Love you all,
Karen

So Many Colors!

Hard Bargaining

September 4, 2010

Hi everyone,

Sonja and I had a fun day shopping for clothes for her Eid festival.  She'll make the six hour trip back to her village to be with her family for Eid next week.

After we found a couple of traditional outfits and sparkly sandals for her, we looked at fabric for curtains in my apartment.  She is the one wearing glasses in the picture.  She talks very confidently with all the salesclerks, not letting them charge me a taka too much for my fabric.  I have to learn how to bargain, but I'm not good at it at all. 

Sonja and the driver are both Muslim and could not drink or eat all day and I was dying of thirst.  They dropped me off at the American Commissary (after a thorough check for explosives in and under the car) and I bought a few groceries and drank some water.  Had to!  I don't know how these people make it all day in the heat without a drop of water.

Anyway, we had a very productive day.  She took me to where she lives in Dhaka, a stark contrast to where I live.  I am thankful for an air conditioned apartment.

Love and hugs,

Karen

A Kid on Top of a Mosque

September 1, 2010

I just have to share this picture.  I love it.  I asked the people outside of the mosque before I took the picture, but they were all so happy to have me photograph it. 

Got to get to bed.  Good morning to my friends back home,

Karen

Holiday Time

September 1, 2010

Dear Ones,

This is the first time in over thirty years that I won't be experiencing the back to school jitters of beginning a school year in America.  Best wishes to my friends back home and to my grandchildren just starting back to school.

I'll have to say that I feel more settled in every day.  I have even decided to join in with a trip at holiday time in November.  I'll be going on a four day cruise to the Sundarban region of southern Bangladesh.  There will be twelve of us along for the adventure.

Tigers actually live there.  I can't imagine what it would be like to see or hear a tiger!  We cruise on a boat, explore by foot and by rowboat, and sleep onboard the vessel.

I plan to stay here in Dhaka for our first holiday, which begins next week.  It's my wish to help with a program that educates the population of street children who work.

Miss you all,
Karen