Home

After a 17 hour train ride, two days in Delhi, and a 16 hour flight, I am back in America.  Spending a good amount of time in another country, on the other side of the planet, has given me a new perspective on my own culture and what it means to be an "American". I will not define this for you as I feel the definition is quite individual, as per our country has inadvertently dictated.  I am fortunate though, to have been born a woman in a place where women have had vast opportunities compared to many other places in the world.

My last few days at the school were quite memorable and the class 5 dancers just knocked it out of the park with our piece.  The girls ended up performing it three times for different audiences because it was very exciting and moving for everyone to experience a new form of expression through movement.  Modern dance at its finest!  For the girls in India, it represented so much more than I had initially realized. Sans and I had been working all along on helping students to express themselves through the english language and watching those eight girls express themselves so freely and gracefully with the language of movement really just capped off the entire experience in such a beautiful way.  As the director of the school spoke to the last audience (comprised of every girl in the school!) she passionately told each girl that they are free to do and experience what they are passionate about.  No hesitation, no fear, just be yourselves girls and soar!  Her speech was really quite moving and she is changing attitudes and helping her female students gain confidence and ground in India.

Saying goodbye was hard and I had to go into what I call "ice cube mode" to keep myself from balling like a big baby.  Emotions are not readily revealed in India so I didn't want to leave on a blubbering note. I sang "You are my Sunshine" to the entire school at morning assembly, they presented me with an amazing hand made book by all of the students, and I rec'd countless presents, notes, and kind gestures from students and teachers. I will hold this experience dearly and use its lessons to propel me forward, not only as a teacher, but as a human being in our ever changing and shrinking world.  Until next time,
Mrs. Tobin/Kati

ps) will try to post some final pics from the dance soon

Just Two More Days in Ballia.....

My time here is quickly coming to an end and although I am excited to get back home to my family, I will miss the sights, sounds, smells, and people of Ballia.  We take a train back to Delhi on Sunday and then I will stay there with Sans and her husband for a few days before flying back to New York late Tuesday night.

Unfortunately, I lost a few days this week due to illness.  Caught a doozy of a cold and was flat out for Monday and most of Tuesday ("Man proposes...God disposes", as Sans' mother-in-law so eloquently says).  Managed to get into some classrooms on Wednesday and run my rehearsals, as usual.  Wednesday, I also watched Class 4 present their "State" projects and it reminded me so much of the fifth graders at Manor doing their state projects.  Many students dressed in the traditional clothing of their state and shared food, monuments, agriculture, etc. of their chosen state. It was quite impressive and I've posted some pictures of this event. India is comprised of 27 states and each one is unique with its' own special qualities, similar to America's states.

Today, I visited Class 3 and read them a story about a spelling bee.  We discussed the story to check for understanding and Sans translated when necessary. Then,  students worked in small groups with each group getting a short story to read together.  Sans then worked on the concept of "retelling" their stories and students worked together to retell their stories using their own words. 

Sans also introduced a William Wordsworth poem to class 5 and they are going to be reading it in different tempos and voices.  This will take some practice and I look forward to hopefully hearing a recitation before I leave.   So much more to do, learn and share so I guess I will just have to come back.....Until next time,
Mrs. Tobin/Kati

Class 4 - India State
Presentations

Sleepy Saturday

A sunny, quiet morning here in Ballia, India.  Schools are all closed due to elections today.  Normally, school runs Monday - Saturday so that is a big difference from the states.  They do have more holidays though, so I think it pretty much evens out with us in the end (in terms of the number of instructional days).  Because of elections there are many police officers in the town.  They wear brown uniforms so they look more like soldiers to me and they all carry weapons....big ones!  I know our police officers carry weapons too ,just not like the ones I've been seeing.  I've been trying to get their picture but everytime I get close to one, I chicken out.  Maybe one of these days I'll muster up the courage.  To me, they have a very strong presence and I'm a bit intimidated by them which is unusual for me.  They are here to ensure fair and peaceful elections so their presence is a very positive thing. 

I am working with some girls in fifth grade to create a modern dance piece and it has evolved into a true collaboration.   As the girls have grown more comfortable with me over the past few weeks, I have invited them to share any ideas, movements, etc. that they would like to add to the piece. So, our modern dance piece has become peppered with bits of hip hop, classical Indian arm movements, and giant leaps.  It is still a work in progress and I'm excited for the final performance.  If nothing else, we are truly enjoying dancing together each morning, and the girls are learning the basic foundations of american modern dance.  I know that they will share it with their peers and this brings me a lot of joy.  Honestly, getting involved with dance again has awakened that napping passion inside of me and I know that regardless of my age, I need to stay involved with dance for the remainder of my life.

Yesterday, many students did not come to school (once again due to the election time) but the ones who did come all worked together on the roof top of the city branch.  It was a mix of grade levels and Sans had developed three groups. One was working on a reader's theater adapted from a story book that Sans had, another was working on the Preamble of the constitution, and the third was doing experiments with temperature.  All were fully engaged and the teachers from both schools were all there working together and assisting students.  I arrived late due to my dance rehearsal but I was so impressed with what I did see.  When it was time to go home, one group did not want to stop working, despite the fact that all of the other students had left for the day.  What does that tell you?

What I'm discovering over here is that kids are kids no matter where you are in the world.  They are eager to learn and want to obtain knowledge.  It is our job to spark their curiosity and give them materials and opportunities for discovery.  Asking the right questions is an art form and one that I will continually work on.  Until next time,
Mrs. Tobin/Kati

learning shots

Ballia- Week 2

Time has flown by and it has been a full, productive week so far.  I spent the day at "Pani Tanki" school which is a smaller school in the city of Ballia. I am staying at the larger school outside of the city.  Sans and I worked in grades 4, 5, and 6 today.  I had the chance to watch Sans teach a "picture reading" lesson which evolved into a really nice creative writing lesson ( think "Collins"my comrades).  She is just a natural teacher of the finest caliber.  She has the innate ability to ask the right questions which then take the lesson to deeper and more meaningful levels.  I am really learning a lot from her.

On a cultural note, I had the best bread of my life today!  Just when I thought that I had tried all of the breads in India, they bring out a new, yummier version.  Today, it was "puri" and I was in carb heaven.  It's a fried bread that is a bit puffy and I filled it with my curd, chutney, and chick peas/gravy.  I am really appreciating the food here and I will miss it a lot.  As many of you know, I love ethnic food and I've been to many Indian restaurants back home.  However, none compare with the freshness and home-made goodness of what I am currently experiencing.  This is quite a luxury for me!

I will post some more pictures of some of the learning that is taking place and some of the final projects that the students have created from Sans' previous lessons.  The students speak english so well and I can have entire, lengthy conversations with the students in class 9 (ninth grade).   Well, speaking of eating....time for dinner.  I love India!  Until next time,
Mrs. Tobin/Kati 

Some snapshots

Here are few recent shots.....

A week in Ballia

There are so many new sights, sounds, and smells to take in here.  I feel like living one day in India is like living three back in the states.  It is a rich, vibrant culture and I am assimilating well.  I just returned back from a small college in a neighboring village where some scientists have created a weather station.  It was very interesting and I met a fellow American who is building an English  Language Learning lab for the students at the college.  She is a retired ESL teacher from Seattle and she is doing amazing work for the people of the village.

Yesterday, I worked with grade 2 and introduced a fun antonym game with over 60 second graders.  They were each given a word and then had to find the friend with the opposite (hot/cold, happy/sad etc.).  They recited the words and acted them out for the rest of the class.  I also continue with reader's theater and also "picture reading" and many games and movement activities.  

My contact here, Sanskriti Singh, is a friend, of a friend of Pat's from India.  I am happy to call her my friend now.  She is a true educational reformer in India and working tirelessly to bring more project based learning to classrooms here and in Delhi.  I am learning a lot from her and sharing what knowledge I have as well.  So far it has been a worthwhile exchange and I am very grateful for this experience. Most of what I am doing is completely new for the teachers and they have been really good sports with it all.  Now, we hope for some execution of these new ideas and programs. 

On a cultural note, the India that I am experiencing has close knit family ties and everyone just takes care of one another.  There is not this "me" mentality that we have back home.  Everything that I have eaten, from veggies to mutton, has come from the school grounds.  It is 100% self sustainable with very little waste.  The pace is slower here and there is a more relaxed atmosphere.  School begins at 9:30 so you know I love that!  It's starting to get warmer too, around 70-75 today and people are still wearing hats and scarves.  They think it's wierd that I'm not cold.  OH, and bright, beautiful sun each and every day!

The most beautiful thing that I have seen in India so far is the sight and sound of morning assembly.  Each day, the whole school (over 1200 nursery-12 students) gather in pin straight lines, sing the national anthem, make announcements, and then sing a new song each week.  The sound of so many students singing is really powerful.  I will try to post a video soon!  There is so much more to tell but I need to go do some choreography for my dancers.  Until next time,
Mrs. Tobin

PS) The students and teachers love the books from Lima and Manor students, and I will be showing the videos later this week!  Thanks to the classes of Mrs. Tracey, Mrs. Nahum, Mrs. Gonsenhauser, and Miss Fancher!!