Teaching commences

These will be "my mountains" for the next 10 weeks
1st May

My day starts with my alarm at 6am for a quiet coffee (Nescafe) before breakfast.  I have identified that there is a shower room (minus running water), so take a half bucket of water from the “stream” and have a quick mandi bath, while trying to avoid personal or clothing contact with the tile walls, which are generously coated with unpleasant scum.

The wake up bell is rung at 6:30am, with breakfast at 7:30am (today: rice porridge and Tingmo) then the students do clean-up chores and classes start at 8:30am

And the higher peak
Nate has scheduled me for 3 classes – there are only 4 teaching periods of 50 minutes each during the day – with time for a long rest after lunch, self study and the BBC news – which teachers are expected to watch with the students and then discuss. 

There are a number of students on leave, and those on kitchen duty miss the lessons just before lunch.  My classes are only 4 or 5 students each.  Great for getting everyone to speak, demonstrate listening and comprehension during a lesson.  I ask them what they think they need to be better prepared for their examinations in May – pretty well everything!

the broader view from the balcony
One class tells me they can understand me easily – not the case with all teachers!  I am especially careful with my enunciation and speed of speech to start with.  I encourage them to ask about vocabulary or pronunciation they do not know.

The work comes to me after their self study periods:  Sarah tells me I have got more from them than she usually does.  I hope this is not just novelty value for a new teacher!

Nyima class: Kelsun, Yeshi, Rinchen, Kunsang

After lunch (rice and veg – the veg being mainly potato), it is time for a rest – I can relate to this.  It’s a hot and tiring part of the day.  I do my washing – in the stream (but with the help of a couple of buckets) – that is a first!  The drying area is the roof of the boys’ dormitory and classroom – accessed by a ladder.  At least it is a clean area – and free of the resident dog brushing against everything. And has a view to die for.

A washing line with a serious view
Dinner is Thukpa – Tibetan hand cut noodles with soup – there is a meat version today, but a vegetarian also.  I have decided that being vegetarian while I am India is definitely the way to go.

I read and correct the English in the students' work - they already have talked in class about their "life stories".  Their stories are interesting - but also very sobering: I will talk more about them in another post.

I identify from the students’ work that nearly all need work on prepositions, articles and correct use of conjunctions.  Along with some needing work on sentence structure (ie, use sentences!) and consistent use of tenses.  I am not surprised.


By the bell for end of evening study, I am well and truly ready for sleep!

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