Hello and once again welcome back to Mind the Gap! I know everyone has been very eagerly anticipating this update. The short of it is, as I was finishing my time in Nepal last winter I realized that I didn't feel done living in another country, working with the students and learning the culture. I … Continue reading Zdravo od Makedonija!
During the first few weeks of school I made sure to visit a lesson for first, second, and third grade each at least once - to see the students, let them meet me, and observe the teacher. The first graders were too busy practicing writing their letters to pay me any attention, but I enjoyed … Continue reading Silly Short Stories! The Littles
I left Nepal two and a half months ago already! By this time, the new Fulbright ETAs have been in-country for a couple weeks, and my former students have at last finished their final exams. They have a break for a few weeks before beginning their new school year. Nepali New Year is coming up. … Continue reading Back in the USA
"Give me chocolate!"["I don't have chocolate."]"Then give me money?" "How are you so...white?" "You are short."[But on another occasion]“Why are you so tall?” "Do you know how to make an Indian accent? Just change your t's to d's!"["Okay, do it."]"Don'd dell me whad do do!" "Ma'am, if you move, you're gay!" "Miss Maya, I'm really … Continue reading Funny things children have said to me (in school and in the wild)
One week ago I flew out of Nepal - exactly ten months after I arrived. I’m not usually one who cries a lot at goodbyes, but I’m sure over the next couple months missing Nepal will sink in. There’s a lot to process. I told everybody I would come back to visit soon (I just … Continue reading Leaving Nepal
As I recounted previously, I was a very Good Jew this year and observed Rosh Hashanah to the best of my ability. Yom Kippur, however, coincided with Dashain, Nepal's most important Hindu festival. Specifically, Yom Kippur was on the same day that my Nepali teacher had invited me to her home for a tika - … Continue reading Short Silly Stories: A Quick Fast
Let me tell you what the food is like here! I like it a lot, and personally I didn't have trouble adjusting to the Nepali diet, mostly because I'd had it before and was looking forward to eating it again. Food is a BIG part of the culture. Feast days are plentiful, and if you're … Continue reading Ke Khaanaa Khaane?
While Hurricane Helene was hammering the southeastern US last weekend (I hope everyone is doing alright), we were having some bad weather of our own. I have a draft where I explain a bit about the monsoon, those hot, rainy, summer months between June and September/October. I thought it was basically over since it's officially … Continue reading Weather Update (and Shana Tova!)
One of my fourth graders is a real chess whiz. He's very cute, very unassuming-looking, yet he's a total monster at the game. Our school hosted an inter-school chess tournament a few months ago, and he beat out students almost twice his age. There's a photo of him playing against some poor teenager. The older … Continue reading Sunday Storytime!: Chess Champ
The other day I was talking to my dad on the phone, and he asked whether it would be possible to send me a package. The answer: maybe? The easiest thing would be to send something to the Fulbright office and I would pick it up there, or maybe to the embassy if I ask … Continue reading Give ’em the Old Daraz-zle Dazzle
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