My Role

Once again in the gym at our school in Pakistan, I hear ‘My maid forgot to pack my PE strip.’ And also ‘My maid forgot to wash my PE strip.’ Sometimes I wonder what my role is as a teacher.  Am I supposed to help my students become more responsible so that they can survive in the future? Or am I supposed to just teach sports and hope that they figure it out on their own? I continue to question and battle between these students, their laziness and lack of responsibility. And I’m sure many teachers can relate because there are lazy and rich students in all countries.  These experiences did not happen with all students but it happened enough for me to wonder about the future of this younger generation and also the role of my job as an educator.

‘But the recycling bins have lids on them. What are we supposed to do?’ Let me help you out. You pick up the lid and you put your juice box inside the bin and put the lid back down. (Heaven forbid you need to wash your hands afterwards).

It’s frustrating to work in a place where I don’t really relate to the students and don’t really understand that you need to earn your living. I started a recycling program at the school and they had no idea why we had it. I tried to show them videos of the importance and to tell them it was a long process that had to build. My Leadership class loaded the bags onto the truck to take away. That was their only job. Sometimes we cleaned the bins, but that was too gross for them and their Louis Vuitton shoes were too valuable as they would just leave the bin and say they cleaned it. I told them that I went through all the recycling at my school to fundraise for volleyball tournaments. They would never understand that because their parents have an abundance of money for them to access. I hope that I managed to change a few minds while I was working in Pakistan and I hope that some really did understand the value of volunteering and keeping a sustainable environment.

Aren’t parents supposed to prepare their children for the future? Why do I feel like teachers are taking over this job?

As their drivers come to pick students up after school, the student loads all their bags, books, laptops onto the drivers arm and stroll to the car with nothing while behind them follows the poor driver piled with all their stuff. I see it in the Middle school, and even the High school. Where is the responsibility? And sometimes the High schoolers will kick their driver out of the drivers seat so they can drive. Of course the driver doesn’t report this to the parents because the child will then come up with a reason to get the driver fired.

Mondays are my gym duty days and students run up to me, look me in the face and say ‘Ms. Howell, ball.’  My response, ‘I’m sorry I didn’t catch that.’  Again, ‘Ms. Howell, ball!’ I say, ‘Nope.’ There is confusion in the air and finally there is a click in the students head. ‘Ms. Howell, may I please have a ball?’ Oh, I’m glad you remembered how to speak to your teacher. This worries me. Who is he talking to like this? And something clicks in my head. They use this voice at home to someone else who is under them.

Every culture is different but shouldn’t all of them share one trait? Respect?  

For some, parent teacher conferences in the elementary turns into parenting advice. You can’t give in every time your child is upset.

A father is very upset with his child and his performance in school. “I am thinking of sending him a letter and sliding it under his door. Or should I just ignore him.” (good old silent treatment). Who is the child here?

Responsibility, Respect and Discipline needs to start from home. Has this now become the teacher’s job to initiate and enforce these traits?

Don’t get me wrong, there are some lovely parents that truly value education and respect all teachers.  But many of the elementary children have their maids take them to school because the mothers are sleeping at home and choose not to wake up for their own children. And some parents do want to help their child succeed but they just don’t know how. I strongly feel that schools should have sessions for parents to help parents understand how to help their child through school.  This younger generation is stimulated by so many new toys and technology that basic family values are struggling to exist.  And I agree that it is harder and harder for parents to control their children because of what is happening in this society. It is not the teacher’s job to educate, parent and then be critiqued because the student isn’t getting good grades. Their plate is already full.

Moving on

New place, new beginnings. Ryan and I, if you haven't heard yet are moving to Seoul, Korea. 

However, this year was such a big year in our careers; I was Athletic Director at Lahore American School and learning many things about Administration and Leadership, Ryan and I attended a PE conference learning many amazing PE activities and about other schools and their programs, we experienced our first Job Fair in Bangkok in early January where we landed our new jobs in Korea (it was the most stressful we have been since we were both struggling with an intense food bug from Cambodia as well as trying to be focused and organized for interviews), we helped plan our wedding (I say helped because my sister and my mom did most of it), and we are financially figuring out what we will do for retirement (its crazy to think that but we get no pension living overseas). So there have been many events in our lives this year to celebrate, however, we had to say goodbye to our first overseas job. We made so many close friends, since living overseas your co workers are your family and I hope to stay in touch with the new family I have made.

A message from the Athletic Director (LAS yearbook 2015):

'This year has been an unforgettable whirlwind. There were many exciting activities and events that brought the LAS community together. At the beginning of the year, we joined in on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge with 18 teachers getting ice water dumped on their heads for charity. We had our first pep rallies this year to send off SAISA teams to compete. Field day, a great day as always, consisted of teambuilding activities bringing high school, middle school and elementary all together to accomplish difficult tasks. Our school completed two Spirit Weeks with a variety of activities at lunch such as pillow fights, tug-o-wars, face painting and more. We organized sports days for Miracle School, a local school with underprivileged children, and provided them with hot meals. Arts Week was again beautiful with performances and displays of art throughout the school. The list goes on. It is unbelievable how much we accomplish in this very small school. And the reason we are able to do this is because of my fellow co-workers and the committed students who work hard to make this happen. So thank you to everyone who was a part of this great year.

For the three years I have been here, SAISA has been a huge part of my life. Coaching multiple sports and traveling on a number of buses and planes to tournaments has been incredible. I really enjoy this side of school because I build a connection with the athletes. I see them challenged. I see them grow. I see them realize their potential. I see them motivated. This to me, is what the students remember as they move on and it is also what I remember when I move on. Nothing really compares to being a part of a team. As I leave LAS this year, I hope that SAISA continues to be a strength at our school. I hope the sportsmanship continues and that athletes realize that it is not just about winning. It is about working together and supporting each other no matter what happens.

I have really enjoyed my time here in Lahore, but it is time to move on. I will share my memories of LAS and Lahore with others I meet, and I will not forget the amazing times I have had here. I wish for all my athletes to keep building the motivation and potential within your team. I wish all my coworkers who are staying to keep the LAS community going. I wish all my coworkers who are moving on a successful year ahead wherever you are. I wish for my students to strive for your dreams and goals and of course make those healthy decisions. I hope some of these health classes have made an impact on you. And finally, I wish for everyone to maintain a healthy lifestyle where you are strong mentally, physically and emotionally.

Transporting Items

There are many types of vehicles to transport items in Canada. If you need to move a couch, you ask someone who has a truck. But…what if you don’t have access to a truck?

I thought I was risky and adventurous when I was helping a university friend move her stuff to a new place. Her office chair didn’t fit in her car so I had the window rolled down and I leaned out while holding on to the chair. I mean, we were just moving to a different building on campus so it’s not like I held on to this chair across town or anything. We thought we were so creative and we had a good laugh about it.

In Pakistan, nothing is impossible while moving items. Most people have motorcycles so everything imaginable is transported using a motorcycle. There is the occasional bicycle that has quite the load.  And then also the Tuk Tuk that is well over the space limit. It really boggles my mind how they do it. It is a work of art.

I find myself at a stop light, looking beside me to find a goat being carried on a motorcycle and I reach over to grab my phone. Dammit phone, hurry up! My iPhone 4 is too slow now because in tech years it is over 10 years old. The light turns. Aww man! I blame my phone for taking forever! So now when possible, Ryan drives so that I can keep an eye open.

Below is a compilation of photos I and friends have captured.

Transporting a bicycle

This was actually taken in Bangladesh. Those bikes don't exist in Pakistan

A printer

Boxes of who knows what!

A goat

Inside and out

A dog!

Gotta deliver the biryani