The Andaaz Experience

Hi Everyone,
Anyone who comes to visit me here, you WILL experience Andaaz. It is a must on the list. And because you are probably thinking 'what the hell is Andaaz.' Here it goes. So tonight I went down to the old city and ate at this amazing restaurant called Andaaz. It is right across from the Badshahi Mosque and Lahore Fort. Our table was on the roof outside on pillows with a small table. The view was gorgeous.

Our table with comfy couches

Badshahi Mosque

With flash

I could not believe how amazing the view was. Everything was lit up and you could see up and down the alleyways in the old city of Lahore. So I thought that taking a picture with a flash would be a better idea. I did and this is what happened. It looked like it was snowing in the picture....but it was just dust. Eww

We had a mixture of Dal, Tandoori chicken, a lamb dish, beef dish and paneer. With of course naan. It was spectacular. Best restaurant in Lahore. The service was exceptional as the waitresses were dishing individual plates. Our meal was followed by Masala Chai. It tasted phenomenal. And even though this is a higher end restaurant, we still only paid around $12 each.
 I was also wearing my new Shalwar Kameez that I had bought that day. This is a friend of mine, Anne, also a new teacher at LAS.

Anne and I

Fennel, coconut shavings, and other very interesting tastings after dinner. One actually tasted like perfumed soap. And I couldn't get the taste out of my mouth. Not a big fan, at least I tried it.

The stairs up to the restaurant had very interesting pictures of Lahore and portraits of people with small doors along the wall. I have no idea who these people were but they must have been important. We went up 4 flights of stairs all bright green like this and very narrow.

We took a stroll after dinner down to the Lahore Fort. I definitely want to go back during the day to check out the mosque and the fort. They look so amazing.

Lahore Fort

The architecture is amazing. All through the old city there are intricate details on the building. It reminds me so much of Cairo. Can't wait to explore more.

Lahore night life doesn't get started until around 10pm. So when we went to walk around after dinner everyone was out and sitting outside at other restaurants. And boy did we attract attention. Foreigners do walk through the old city however, people still stare and try to get you to go to their restaurant. But they approach the man, they aren't allowed to approach the woman which is actually fine for me.
Anyways, it was an amazing night.

Today we had a soccer tournament at our school. The grade 4,5 and 6s. The grade 8's ran it which was awesome. They were reffing and the winner of the round robin got to play the grade 8's in the finals. All the kids asked 'Ms. Howell, are you going to come watch us play?' And how do you say no to a little Pakistani kid. So I went and watched for a bit.

Funny Story
Also, in class I was explaining that if you don't bring PE clothes then you do an assignment for me. I said, your mark depends on how well you do the assignment. And my class stared cracking up and I said, what is so funny? One of the kids mention you said 'it depends HOW WELL...'  referring to my last name. hahaha. Well that became the running joke for the rest of class. A kid was doing his flutter kicking on his back and he looks up at me and asks 'how well am I doing the flutter kick?' Of course I start cracking up. Maybe you don't think this is so funny or it was one of those 'you had to be there' moments but I thought it was pretty funny. And the joke still continued at track practice. Ha ha.

Off to bed. Big planning day tomorrow as I start a health unit with my PE classes. Gotta love the planning that comes a long with teaching. Ugh.

xoxox
Kim

Around the Streets

Just some pictures of what I have been up to.

So we had a bit of a flood when a monsoon hit. This was on the way to school

This is our school field. We were not able to use it for 3 days. Track practice was in the gym.

I just love these kittens.

I had a bit of a lazy day and so did the cat

Some women staff and the high school girls volleyball team wen to a university to play against there team. And we are not comparing the skill level to a Canadian university. Think basics.

One of the many round abouts here in Lahore

A traffic policeman. Some intersections have them and you actually have to abide and others don't at all and many people cheat and run through the lights.

Tuk Tuk....the many ways to travel around here. And of course a motorcycle. Usually motorcyles have the father, the mother, the 2 kids and then them baby in the mothers arms!

Me trying on a Shalwar Kameez. The traditional wear.  I ended up buying a different one. They are quite nice and most of the teachers wear them. That might be me soon.

Donkey's work very hard here.

On most of the brick walls they have mural painting.

Who wants corn!!!! Corn on the cob stand right outside our gate. 

The School

The Pool!

My PE Classroom

The gym..its just under a cover, and pigeons come inside and poop all on the floor. Lovely

The Track and the Field

The Elementary Music room

The First Week

My front yard

It was pouring monsoon weather

back yard...not grassy at all

Hey all,

So I have almost finished my first week here in Pakistan, might I also add that it has also been my first week teaching as well! I arrived Saturday and started teaching on Monday (only PE). I start Music next week. I went around to all my elementary classes and introduced myself and played name games. That was good. I just realized that I have to remember all of grade 3,4,5,6,7 names!!! And let me add that most of them have Pakistani names with the occasional Adam, Paul, Danial. So what I have been doing is looking at someone and I say Muhammad (cause there is a good chance he might be called that) I still manage to get it wrong. I am also now starting to talk in a Pakistani accent because they all do it and now I hear myself saying certain words in an accent. Watch out when I come back! haha

First week of PE went well. Basically reviewing what the sub did and getting some expectations down and things like that. Today we had Fitness Friday (we do every Friday) and these kids are not fit at all. We do a 10 minute run and then timed 1 minute situps, burpees, pushups. It is ridiculously hard for them. I was running with them and basically motivating the whole time. You know me! haha. My classes have only about 5 girls in them and then 15 boys. I also have 1 boys class which is unheard of but they wanted to keep all 6 girls in grade 6 together. We have one more week of swimming then moving on to Ultimate for Grade 7 and Soccer for Grade 6. 

It is fricking hot here! I ran for 10 minutes with my class and everything is soaked! It is gross! I am just sweating all day cause I am outside the whole time. The best feeling is after class I walk into my super cold classroom! Love it! But after about 10 minutes I start getting cold because I am soaking wet! Definitely changing many times! Ugh.....but I don't feel so bad cause everyone else is sweating. I played drop in volleyball with the teachers on Tuesday and also played drop in basketball with alumni on Wednesday. The volleyball is not intense at all which is fine, but I don't feel like I get a work out at all. I was the only girl playing basketball. haha with all these Pakistani men and my athletic director. It was intense but I liked it. I had a 3 pointer! And let me mention again, we were soaking wet, cause the gym is outside here just under a roof. That is it! so yah, good stuff, I will probably keep playing basketball. Its a good work out. I hope I am allowed back!

The school is great. I have been taking pictures but haven't put them online cause my internet sucks at home. I think that I am going to have to buy internet. I have been borrowing from someone who isn't even a teacher and it is horrible. I will post more photos soon! Everyone uses Moodle here for assignments and videos and stuff. So its nice actually because I can get them to watch a video on flutter kicking and then discuss it or put an assignment with it. Technology usage is big here. Something I was never taught at university.

I don't know if you heard but there was an American who made some youtube clip and it has gone viral. It disrespects Mohammad the prophet so there has been some unrest. We are advised not to go out this weekend in case protests happen. Good thing I live in a compound with about 12 other teachers!

I have gotten a cleaning lady/cook. I am sharing with another teacher in my compound. She makes really good food (dahl, spicy stirfry, chicken, potatoes) and I have seconds for left overs. It is so nice to have food when I get home cause I still don't know my way around to get grocerys and stuff. I leave her money and she brings back the receipts. Its great.

I will hopefully start driving soon. I have been catching rides with people in my compound but I hope to have some driving lessons and yes you need driving lessons! haha. Some people have drivers and some people drive themselves. It really isn't hard to drive you just need to be a little bit aggressive and make your way into the lanes. That is my next task.

I start teaching music next week and I am super nervous. Oh and I got the schedule as well and the grade 4 assembly concert is at the end of November! Yay! I have no idea what we are doing. And then there is a Seasonal concert for all grades in December. Then the grade 3 assembly concert at the end of January and then the grade 5 graduation assembly at the end of the year! We also have a talent show in there somewhere too! OMG! So if any of you need me to organize a concert after this, I will be an expert! My goal is to have one song, one dance and one song playing the recorder. We will see how far we get with that.

Anyways, I have finished teaching already and it is only 11:30am. On Fridays is half day cause it is also prayer day. But usually we have meetings and things like that anyways. Anyways, I hope you are all well!
I will post pictures soon!
And safe journey to my parents who are biking across Germany.
Miss all of you!
xoxoxo
Kim

The front of my house and my car!

My drive way with other swedish flats

Adorable kitten that my neighbor got! A very very good distraction from doing school work

There are 4 of them....here are 3! So cute!

The Meet and Greet

So I am writing my first blog to you from my bedroom in Lahore, Pakistan. I had a total of approximately 22 hours of air time, not including sitting in airports. Gotta love that 35 minute flight from Comox to Vancouver which cost $200...Good thing I am getting reimburst. I then proceeded to fly from Vancouver to Houston, Texas.....and then Houston to Doha, Qatar (14 hour flight) and then Doha to Lahore, Pakistan. I ended up paying $200 per extra bag that I carried with me on Qatar airlines. So expensive! I finally reached Lahore at 3 am Saturday morning, Sept. 8. Now from living in Egypt, there are so many men that try to help you with your bags and of course what do they want after? Money! Well, I tried to avoid that on all costs because I didn't have money at all and I honestly could do it myself. I managed to load my bags all on a cart, and then unload them again through security, and load them back up again...I had about 5 guys come up to me 'ms ms...I will help you.' I said 'no I am strong.' But still they were persistent. I had to really put my foot down. And when I was lifting those bags, they of course were very impressed. haha. I was met by the assistant high school principal and one of the school drivers. They were great. (Picture in Vancouver with my bags)

I came home and slept about 4 hours and went to my neighbors house to have breakfast (the athletic director and girlfriend) It was nice to finally meet the people I have been emailing for so long.
My Compound
 I live in a compounded enclosed by a gate and walls with guards at the front. When we drove up to the gate you always have to honk twice for the guards to open the gate. Then you give a little wave and they let you in. There are 12 houses in my compound. My house is a fricking mansion!!!! Check out the photos. I have a total of 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (one bath), upper deck and lower deck, yard, laundry room, and lots and lots of storage!

Dining Table

Kitchen

Laundry and counter,storage

Downstairs guest room

Living Room....Upstairs is my bedroom and the other guest room

upstairs guest room

my room

my living room from the balcony

Sept. 8...
Today, after breakfast with my coworker, he took me to school and we watched track practice, I had tea with the superintendent, went to my office, and my classroom for PE only. I haven't even looked at the music room yet. I got everything ready for Monday as I am basically going to start in the classroom with my Grade 6, 7 PE classes and go over my expectations again as I was not there the first day or school.
Played some badminton at the school, they have staff drop in every saturday. Then we went to a party of a man who owns one of the big grocery stores here. He is part of the foreign community here so staff from my school know him. So they have gatherings. I met more teachers as well as a person who works for Nestle here in Lahore. Also very weird drinking with your bosses. But that is what happens here because it is such a small community.
Driving here is very similar to Cairo, people don't really drive within the lines as they are really only a guideline. I have a car here but I won't drive it for a little while until I find my way around.

Well, it is time to hit the bed now.....Can't wait to sleep in. I hope I can sleep in
Tomorrow, going over a bit a music stuff with my principal and then she is taking me shopping!
Will put up some more pictures soon!