Shanghai Day 1

Tuesday, June 27-Hong Kong: The lush green mountains, visible from our gate, make arrival in Hong Kong on 6/27 very impressive.  A two-hour layover allowed for freshening up, and a change of clothing (for some) after a 13-hour flight, gets us ready for the flight to Shanghai, another two hours.



Wednesday, June 28-Shanghai for two nights: A bus ride to catch a fantastic ride on the Megalift...China's high speed train that operates on a magnetic system. No traditional rail lines. This was built for the 2008 Olympic Games, an 18 mile long "track" (for now) that runs at high speed (431 kilometers / 268 miles per hr).  The abbreviated length of the track prevents the top speed possible which is over 500 kilometers per hr.  Currently, only from 9:00 to 10:45 am.

 Happily on China soil :)

 Impressive view of The 800 ft high Pearl Tower

 About to board the Megalift

The Journey to China Officially Began in LA

The traffic in Los Angeles is not at all to be trusted…waaay too dense and unpredictable. We set out for the airport with more than enough check-in time, but were still caught in a jam just outside LAX.  An accident? Broken vehicle? Couldn’t tell, but it was enough to mess with plans of anyone who waited too long to head out.  But in short order we were in the hands of Cathay Pacific for our 1:00 am departure out of LA across the pacific.

On the Way to the Airport

China Here I Come!

With my China travel buddy at the Getty Villa yesterday.

June 25, 2016
It has been well over a year since I've visited this blog.  All I can say is time moves faster than we (I) make allowances for, the life of a teacher leader is fast paced, bottle-necked on many days, full of way too much to do (taking into account both our teacher live as well as our personal lives), and then before a blink is complete, a month, 6 months, a year has zipped by.

So here I go. Starting over using this space.  Going forward, some posts will aim to give a look back at the past year and a half.  Eventually though, most will aim to catalog, reference, share and teach all things global.
Bags packed and ready; first a stop in LA on June 23rd.             At the Getty Villa Saturday afternoon.                                                                                                       Beautiful serene space with so much                                                                                                         to learn about antiquities

Young African Leaders Summit

An exciting opportunity!!

The Mandela Young African Leaders summit is an initiative that fosters leadership skills and provides academic exposure for young people on the continent who show promise.  The program brings them to Washington DC (after a rigorous application process) to participate in a prestigious leadership program in the summer.

"What are the criteria for selection?"

"Selection panels will use the following criteria to evaluate applications (not in order of importance):"

• "A proven record of leadership and accomplishment in public service, business and entrepreneurship, or civic engagement.
• A demonstrated commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship.
• The ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and respect the opinions of others.
• Strong social and communication skills.
• An energetic, positive attitude.
• Demonstrated knowledge, interest and professional experience in the sector/track selected.
• A commitment to return to Africa and apply leadership skills and training to benefit the applicant’s country and/or community after they return home."

https://youngafricanleaders.state.gov/washington-fellowship/apply/

Mandela Young African Leaders Summit

I Love Tea...Stunned When I Listened to This Piece on BBC News!!

       When I think 'tea' I think of the drink I've had from I was a child growing up in Jamaica...(I only got to like coffee after migrating to the United States). But there is still nothing like a cup of tea...any kind..Chamomile, Mint, Green, and yes, brands such as Lipton, Tetley, and now Assam, which I was personally able to try, and bring back home, from my trip to India this past summer.  Heck, tea and I have a relationship! We have history!
        So when my husband and I, a couple evenings ago tuned in to the BBC News' report on the appalling conditions of workers on tea estates in India, to say I was shocked would be an understatement. My goodness, on my day trip to Tamil Nadu, my friends Riyas and Yasir stopped for pictures so my colleagues and I could see and touch tea plants! The weather was divine, balmy 60s farenheit, sunny, and just enjoyable.  We saw ladies at work picking tea leaves.

Check out the story for yourself.

A Tea Story That' s Not Tasty

India's President on the Move in the US

Having now had firsthand experience, (though by no means an expert), about education in India definitely causes me some ambivalence hearing about the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Silicon this past week.  The reason for this is that I now know, that despite what seems like a vast amount of Indian nationals working in the technology industry in this country, it really is not even a drop in the proverbial bucket when one considers the population in India..1.2 billion people, and that a whopping 800, 000,000 of them are between 18 and 35 years old.  That's the country's future!!

My recent visit taught me that a great portion of this demographic is still not receiving a quality education, and some, those who reside on the streets, are receiving no education at all.

Should Prime Minister Modi be focusing his attention instead then on trying to see how he can solicit help educating his population more fully, instead of trying to woo back the "techies" to the homeland?

Silicon Valley Wooed by Narendra Modi

There is a phenomenon that exists where one doesn't begin seeing or noticing, say, a particular type of car until one actually owns one.  I expect most of us are familiar with this concept.

For me, it's playing out in the fact that so much in the news over the past couple of months relates to India!  Of course I just got back from visiting this awe-inspiring, complex country of paradoxes back in late July.  I can't help but be drawn to many of the reports because so many of them involve issues relating to women rights, and children's education.  See for yourself.  Take a look at some of the links below.

This story reminds makes me think of many teachers I met in Bangalore and Kerala



Do You Want, or Enjoy the Right to "Loiter" Where You Live?



Can You Imagine Living in a Place as a Female Where Your Birth is Not a Welcome Addition to the Family?

Kids Can Also Become Engaged in the Political Discourse

Interacting With Students in Wandoor 1

An entire week spent in Wandoor, Kerala at the Girls GovernmentVocational High School (GGVHSS) with young ladies who were a delight to be around! Not having many opportunities (for some none at all) to interact with people from the west, they were thrilled to have us mostly to themselves for five full days!

Many were shy at first, (perhaps after being warned by their concerned teachers and school leaders not to bother us).  The girls belong to many different organizations on campus including the band, the 4H Club, the English Club, and more, and all of these were represented at the welcome parade held in our honor.  What I noticed most was pride in their eyes, amidst faces bright with genuine, beautiful smiles.

Each day on campus students (teachers, and PTA members) came out in droves "to meet the Americans."  The entire week in Kerala was an honor, a spectacular time, and a humbling experience!

Each of my colleagues and I spent our time in myriad ways: the following are some highlights: *individually teaching classes of 50-55
*students interacting with teachers (some of whom came to classrooms to observe and had  questions for us)
*spending time with education officials who sought our ideas and opinions on how they could improve their school,
*enjoying Indian, and specifically, Keralites' kindness and hospitality (we were fed beyond belief, and were made to understand that it was parents who catered our lunches each day!!
*participating in panel discussions around Wandoor and neighboring Nilambur, and being interviewed (and constantly photographed:) by the media
*visiting a plethora of cultural sites
*being hosted by the families of new friends we met

**In addition to the picture and link below, click on the Kerala tab to see more stunning and enlightening images

                                                   Tree-planting on campus at GGVHSS

Girl Power at 4H Ceremony

India's Most Southern State

Kerala is India’s southern-most state. An important coastline is the Arabian Sea! There are centuries worth of history at every turn.

It’s the most literate populace in all of India. In the humblest of neighborhoods or districts, there are advertisements summoning the pursuit of a university education.  

Schools abound in very tightly packed areas, as well as on sprawling campuses.  In Government and Public (Private) schools, classrooms have students sitting shoulder to shoulder in numbers as great as fifty (to one teacher).  This is the norm. 

I didn’t witness a profusion of technology in most of these instutions; they were not lucky enough to have air conditioning, and they don’t have an abundance of fancy supplies.  But what they lacked in these areas, these schools made up for ten-fold in student motivation, teacher commitment, parent involvement, and pride in their community and country!

 Approaching airport in Kerala..as promised, lush greenery and beautiful hillsides

 Anticipation swells as Air India prepares for landing

Click on the Kerala tab to view much more.

Food Issues

I must be honest...I entered India with a mini supermarket---only a few items..tuna in all its varieties, and granola bars of all persuasions!! Because in my mind, and based on all the well-meaning advice I'd been given, I would "not find much that [I ]could eat," and I'd "get sick eating too much Indian food."

Well let me tell you....I have not for a long time eaten such delicious, tantalizing, delectable cuisine!!! To-die-for! I'm hooked!  I LOVE SOUTHERN INDIAN FOOD!!

Biryani, Masala Dosa, Gulab Jamun..Fish..chicken..and on and on! Dishes too numerous to mention..I'm sold people..hook, line, and sinker:)  So I bought two cookbooks...gonna have to get my chef--for real--I have a personal chef-Don Brown-that's my husband:)--gonna have to get him to delve into some of these recipes---he cannot eat cumin, and Indian food is laced with this spice.

Take a look at some of what I was into

 Choosing our own fish.

 An evening out for Goan cuisine with Team India including Emily on the right (from IREX) and Robyn

 Here's the fish prepared.

 What's left of all the sweets

 My ultimate favorite--Biryani:)

 You need something to cool your tongue off after eating that crisp little roll (next to the stainless steel cup) on the Kevin's plate...SPICY!!

 Me-enjoying myself, "stepping" into this food trial a bit at a time.

Some Viewpoints About India

Sharing Some Views:

Open this link in order to see brief powerpoint sharing some perspectives on India.

Open this link to hear Maya Menon of The Teacher Foundation in Bangalore

The Entrance to a small Government School in Bangalore

A Private School Visit-June 10

We visited a second school in Bangalore, Shastry Memorial English School -- a coed private school for kindergarten to grade 10.  It’s in grade 10 that students here in India take a state exam, and then go on to what’s called “Plus 2.”  In essence, that’s grades 11 and 12.  This is kind of considered pre-college, after which they enter university.  I was impressed with the children here, more so than the teaching (not the teachers).  I say this because just like our first school, these kids want to learn, but just like the former school, a lot here is taught by rote.  I loved their politeness, clearly exhibited pride in their work, and the articulate manner in which they expressed themselves when given the freedom to share their ideas.  They eagerly showed me their notebooks and text, and talked freely about what they were doing.

Student workbook written in Kanada-Indian students study 3 languages minimum, beginning in grade 3.

I had a chance to sit in on a 9^th grade Social Studies class, where they were studying India, and a 7^th grade Language Arts class.  And once again, just like in primary school Language Arts class, the teacher was asking them to simply give information back.  There was no higher order thinking, no cooperative group work, and, though coed, no mixing in class between boys and girls.  Females were seated on one side of the room, and gents on the other.   The lesson in the 7^th grade LA class was the same as the one taught in the primary school class 7^th grade class the day before.  There are no state or central government curriculum standards, so perhaps this was to be seen as a positive in that teachers are themselves are working on small steps to bring about basic cohesive curriculum units.

Bright, polite, ambitious, and smart young ladies..happy faces.

To be fair, we were observing the middle of the lesson, and we didn’t stay long enough to see what would come after, so I am humbled that these teachers allowed a bunch of Americans into their classrooms, not knowing what we would be saying about them afterwards.  I am truly honored, because at the end of the day, they, like American teachers, are doing the best they can (with far, far less resources than we have access to in the states).

This school also primarily serves under-privileged students and their families.  However, despite their circumstances, these parents ensure that their children go to school!  They are more stable than families of the kids in the government school we visited, and they work hard to supplement the meager INR 200 stipend that the government provides for each student per year.  There are some students from middle class families here as well.  All these parents place a high value on a quality education and feel they are not getting what they need in the schools run by the government.  Charter schools in the U.S. anyone?! 

The head or school manager is a former engineer, who “believes in a good education,” and whose “mother started the school years ago in her home with 7 students.”  I feel his intentions are good; but is it fair for me to question how come he has a newly painted office, outfitted with new furniture and computers when student bathrooms lack toilet paper, and students have little to no computer access on campus?  Maya Menon, from The Teacher Foundation, helped me understand that he technically has no education background; it would be wonderful for him to choose to do some work with the foundation to learn how to further leverage what he’s already getting out of his teachers, build capacity, and overall see the value in providing some of the quality of life (and health) issues that could serve his students, i.e. clean bathrooms, and toilet paper.  In the end I hope to work with this school to provide meaningful assistance to deserving students.

A teacher is proud of her students and explains her day