Thursday 28 March 2013

Final Post



Well I am actually back in England now, but I never got round to writing about what I did before I left so I will write a little now and also a little on how it feels to be back. I’ll also pop some photos up that seemed either miscellaneous at the time or that I couldn’t upload due to poor internet connection.

So after I got back from Okhaldhunga I was meant to be doing English teacher training, focusing on phonics and speaking and listening activities. However, that was cancelled due to various schools not being able to attend because of a festival sort of event. I was really disappointed about that as I had spent a lot of time planning it. I had, however, spoken to a lot of teachers about some of the activities already. Therefore, I had a couple of days spare where I couldn’t do anything. Then it was off to Kathmandu for two days to renew my visa. By the way visa renewal takes two days in Kathmandu compared with the 15 mins it takes in Pokhara. So I actually ended up there for an extra day.
After Kathmandu I was due to go trekking in the mountains above Pokhara for a few days. Although the day after I arrived there a two day strike was announced so I was stuck in lakeside and consequently missed out on my chance to go trekking.  The only good thing though is that lakeside actually remains open as it is a tourist area, therefore, I could still go out to eat and stuff.

Then it was back to Tansen for a quick visit to Pipaldanda where I did the twinning letters and a couple of classes on different topics. Mahendra threw me a leaving party on my last day in Tansen where he invited a load of teachers and local people. There was lots of food and music and dancing. I really enjoyed it, it went on till 2/3ish, but it was very good.
The next day I was off to Kathmandu where I spend two days before flying back home.

Now I have had a wonderful time in Nepal, everyone always says it but it did really change how I think about things, especially education-wise. I mean when you go into school that just have nothing, it really does make you think do I really need those 20/30 different math games or that gigantic box of role play clothes or packets and packets or coloured pencils in my classroom. Well yeah you do, but how about doing something for places where most of the children will never have even seen resources like this.

Another thing it really helped me with was thinking up lessons on the spot or amending lessons very quickly for a different year group. I was very often on the way to, for example, a year three class only to find myself launched into year 9.

It is very good to be home though, I get to see everyone again and have hot showers, which are a brilliant invention so is hot running water. Also I get to cook again which I really missed, I wasn’t even allowed in the kitchens over there.

Anyway, I had a fantastic time and will defiantly be going back again, once I get the time and the money that is.
I would also like to say a quick thank you to everyone at Manisha UK for first of all trusting me and funding my visit and secondly for giving me the support that they did while I was out there.

If you enjoyed reading this, why not investigate how to volunteer some of your time to visit Nepal yourself and meet all the people I have been talking about or maybe you could even doing some fundraising or possibility donate a little money to Manisha UK,  all of which will go to help the children in Nepal.

Johnny


Photos!

Here are lots of photos from my time in Nepal that I never got round to posting while I was there. Obviously not all of them, I took nearly 4,000.