At Angsana Resort, they have Bodu Beru - a traditional drumming, singing, dance exhibit - weekly. Posing with them between songs.
Here is my student Arey performing. Arey is the one closest to the camera.
SLEEP
Lacking. Can’t sleep in this new bed I’ve had since Saturday. I’m having nightmares for some reason too.
ROOMMATES
Nice people. Interesting lives! Americans but one grew up in Peru and they both lived there in the Amazon jungle for 15 years and now live in one of the emirates in UAE for the past 5 years. They have two young adult sons. The lady Bobbi recently got her Master’s in English studies and is talkative, respectful, and curious about comparing cultures like I am. The man Kevin isn’t afraid to pick up lizards and take them back outside. Oh, he is also a pilot and flight instructor and airplane mechanic. I like them!
They are teaching 2 hours a night in a special class formed for them. I hope to observe some Thursday night since I am off then. These other nights I am just too ragged and exhausted as I make it back to town drenched in sweat.
I hear there is another roommate moving in with me the first of June. She will stay 2 months. She has lived here before and is contemplating a complete move back with her family depending on how these two months go.
BODY
Something daily as usual. Had crick in my neck for days. Heels hurt on and off. Hips and knees too. And spurts of headaches the last two days. The rocking I had felt when I came here seemed to go away finally about 2 or 3 weeks ago, but it is back now this week with big waves and major boat rocking. Kind of feel sick recently, but I think I am just tired and not eating well enough.
NATURE
The other day I saw a dirt dauber (mud dauber?) and it had me thinking more about the nature around me. A dirt dauber's nature is the same everywhere in the world...as is my nature. They act here just as they did in Oklahoma on my dad’s farm. The butterflies look and flutter about like the ones we had in Virginia. People on the boats make smiling, funny faces with babies in the seats in front of them just like many do in lines in the U.S. My students write about their goals of making more money so they can build a home or start their own business. I am even acting the way I have always acted wherever I am traveling – looking for comfort and just being “Vickie” in my common ways. All parts of the world are truly the same – in nature and in people. But, culture and what our societies tell us is all that is making us different when it comes to values, beliefs, products, and ways of doing things. I can’t understand why people are always fighting. At the basic, instinct level, we are all wanting generally the same things and we are the same in our hearts. I saw a preview of a new movie “Babies” - or some title like that, and it is about the first year of life of 4 newborns in 4 parts of the world. From the preview, I think that people can see that, again, we are all just the same until we are socialized and made to think that their way of doing things is the right way.
WORK
I have been so busy trying to mark journals and return those that I haven’t had any free time. Sadly, all students didn’t turn them in on time, so that will drag out for some time… I haven’t been able to prepare like I want for classes due to that. So, this weekend I will try to catch up. Last weekend was spent getting lesson plans to Piper. I am still put off by having to do that when the book is set up with its own lesson plans. She tried to make me feel better by assuring me it was useful for her and future people to see. But…too much time is going to an unpaid position! I need some more free time that isn’t spent commuting.
I was surprised to hear today that David and Piper are no longer the directors. So, I now report to Bobby I think. I haven’t heard from Piper this week, but I thought it was her just giving us both some space since I have felt tension over the lesson plans and due to their sudden announcement that I had roommates moving in with less than 24 hours notice. But, maybe the distance is because she isn’t the director so she doesn’t have to deal with me. I don’t know, but it’s okay. Strange no one told me this happened several days ago… Oh, the reason presented to me – they need more teachers and Piper and David can teach and Bobby can direct this business while doing his tour business as well, so it just made logistical sense.
I wish though I could be involved with the testing at the newest resort. I would like to get my feet wet with testing again since I haven’t done it in years really…well, at GEOS we did it, but I think this may be more involved? I am not sure. But I felt some people were misplaced in the classes I have, so I want to see how they are assessing them.
TOEIC BOOK
Yosuke has started a major push on one of two books he will get out this year. So, I need to get on the ball and help edit some and try my hand at writing….Just so distracted with my little classes. I need to focus on what is important in the long run though.
However, I am thinking about writing and/or presenting something at the TESOL convention next March and with Lisya’s encouragement, I have been considering the topic of “Navigating the Cultural and Teaching Complexities in Japan and Maldives”. So, thinking about that too.
OVERALL
Love time with the students. Wish there were more to my life here...you just need money to do what I want to do - ride nice boats, get massages, eat well, etc. That is not the life of a native or local by any means. And they don't have entertainment in a cool environment! I asked about the movie theater and they said it is hot and the movies won't have English. They are just one screen theater from 20 years ago playing Maldivian movies which are in the style of Indian movies I heard. It's okay. I am very, very happy to be in the air-conditioning! I am not that sad about my life that I am willing to go out and be beaten up by the elements more! (See the boat ride blog if you want to hear about more encounters with nature.)
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