Today's installment is entitled : "A little learning is a dangerous thing". or alternatively, "dear fellow Nepali teachers, please try to see the reason behind my teaching activities, not just the fact we play games. There is method in the madness."
The past week has seen me move into a family home in a small village (roughly 5000 inhabitants) and my host family have welcomed me in with open arms. 'Auntie' is teaching me to cook Nepali food and I now know all my spices for soup and thakali (curry and otzar-pickled veg). I have learnt one or two phrases in Nepali but it is slow progress! I haven't cracked any of the grammar yet.
In school, life is somewhat different to UK learning. no surprises there. what did surprise me was the method of discipline in 2 of the schools (whacking children over the head, or in one instance, chasing and kicking them.) no wonder the little ones bite and kick you in nursery! look at their role models!
glad I had my tetanus.
On the plus side, a couple of the English teachers have enthusiastically tried out some activities and let me work alongside them. I think being from the UK carries some interest for them as we have a good reputation in Nepal (a country where our soldiers and nation are something of pride not fear). However I discovered yesterday that foreigners are low down on the caste list (2nd to last above the 'untouchables') and that it is something remarkable that my Brahman family let me in their kitchen!
The past week has seen me move into a family home in a small village (roughly 5000 inhabitants) and my host family have welcomed me in with open arms. 'Auntie' is teaching me to cook Nepali food and I now know all my spices for soup and thakali (curry and otzar-pickled veg). I have learnt one or two phrases in Nepali but it is slow progress! I haven't cracked any of the grammar yet.
In school, life is somewhat different to UK learning. no surprises there. what did surprise me was the method of discipline in 2 of the schools (whacking children over the head, or in one instance, chasing and kicking them.) no wonder the little ones bite and kick you in nursery! look at their role models!
glad I had my tetanus.
On the plus side, a couple of the English teachers have enthusiastically tried out some activities and let me work alongside them. I think being from the UK carries some interest for them as we have a good reputation in Nepal (a country where our soldiers and nation are something of pride not fear). However I discovered yesterday that foreigners are low down on the caste list (2nd to last above the 'untouchables') and that it is something remarkable that my Brahman family let me in their kitchen!
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