Dance, Live, Love, Experience: 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