"In 2008, there were 15.2 million refugees around the world, and it is estimated that 80 percent of refugees are women and children" (Refugees International) . . . most Shan refugees continue to be left out of this statistic and denied official refugee status despite undergoing severe persecution in their home country.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

How to love chaos...

Wow Im exhausted, what a wonderful but crazy week. After doing catch up with two classes after Loi Krathong I left myself a tad bit unprepared for the younger kids and with my lovely co-teacher sick it made for some crazy classes with the older kids as well! Not only am I getting an idea of what its like to be a teacher (constant planning and more planning...and after thats done more planning) I am facing many more hurdles teaching art (and crafts) that I didn't get last year while teaching English. Heres a little look at my last weekend...

Thursday: Rock Village Younger...so tired from the rest of the week that I planned something simple, stamping and coloring followed by balloon animal making (their favorite) Lesson learned: check the balloon pump before class...it was broken and balloon animal making didn't happen ... and language barriers are much more difficult when the kids are disappointed!!

Friday: Bulumburri Village Mixed...showed up...one kid doing homework and two kids MIA...class canceled

Saturday: Rock Village Older...first day that the older girls came to my house for class. We finished making our sketchbooks and did some light hearted candle making...an easy project without Lydia to translate!...Strange Run-ins: (1) Neighbors Golden Retriever comes to visit and insists on humping my leg while I am showing the girls what to do next...the only way to escape was to lock myself in my house until the dog left. (2) caught my bamboo porch on fire trying to melt the gel for the candles!

Saturday: Sharecropping Older...We finished making our sketchbooks and due to a quick run from the earlier class to this class we ended up making fudge afterward instead of candles. Village challenges: passing a baby between two students and me while working with "adult" glue, scissors, fire, and molten chocolate.

Sunday: Sharecropping Younger...We made stainded class candle holders using tissue paper and tissue paper flowers...only 1 minor hiccup: no classroom = if you forget something you have to go without or run to town!

 My favorite raccoon faced kitten, Hiccup
 T finishing up her sketchbook
 Enjoy your fudge much?
Smile!

And now to begin all over again tomorrow!

Peace, Love, and Popsicles,

Michelle
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1 comment:

  1. KimberlyDecember 5, 2010 at 5:07 AM

    Hey Michelle! Great to see that you are making a difference and hopefully having fun too! Yes, being a teacher is very hard and sometimes thankless but you don't even realize how much you touch the lives you teach. Happy Holidays and we sure do miss you!
    Kimberly

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