here's an update of my life after my 6 weeks in Egypt that I wrote for an email chain among the 12 AFS Egypt 2006 Summer Program guinea pigs:
After returning from Egypt, I started my first year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Once I moved into my dorm I sought out the Arabic Langauge and Culture Club and found myself interacting with students from all over the Middle East even before meeting your average 18 year old American college kids. I continued to study Arabic in informal settings like Arabic Language Club and in having ESOL "conversation partners" from a local English school. I also continued to study Modern Standard Arabic for 3 semesters before focusing more heavily on Spanish. I entered UW-Madison planning to complete a major in International Studies but by the time I graduated, I had earned a double major in International Studies and Spanish and two minors in Middle Eastern Studies and African Studies. Aside from studies, I was part of an student-run international business organization called AIESEC in which my role was "International Opportunity Specialist for Egypt." In this role I held web conferences to coach college students from across the United States on Egyptian culture before they moved there to carry out an internship.
In 2009, I studied for a semester in Alcalá de Henares, Spain and then spent the summer Athens, Greece. From Athens, I was able to travel back to Egypt for 3 weeks to visit friends who were studying at American University in Cairo. This "homecoming" was quite a bit more emotional that I anticipated, as I could not believe that I was returning to the place that changed the track of my life forever. In fact as soon as I spotted the Nile Delta from the plane window I had to wipe a tear, and by the time we were flying over Zamalek and the Cairo Tower I was full out laughing/ crying and being stared at by several other passengers on that flight. I was able to meet up with my host family, several friends that I had met there and even ran into two AFS volunteers at Felfela as they were heading home from a YES orientation with Huda. (As I was eating my wara' el-3inab, someone tapped my shoulder and asked me " Excuse me, but are you Maria Ramirez?" That someone turned out to be Sameh from AFS). I also explored Cairo night life for the first time with the help of 24-hour alcohol delivery service, Drinkiez, Buddha Bar, Club Latex and a crazy British-Sudanese twenty-something living on the 30th floor of a swank apartment building in the middle of Zamalek. (delete last sentence from final draft)
I have since graduated in May 2010 from UW-Madison, and I am currently a middle school Spanish teacher Prince George's County, Maryland as part of the Teach for America alternative teacher certification program. While I previously thought Egypt was "the hardest thing I've ever done," I am reconsidering using that phrase for the current stage of my life.
Nonetheless, I am confident in saying that Egypt has been the single most transformative experience in my life. I will agree with Justin in saying that there are really no words to describe the ways in which those six short weeks have impacted my life, studies and relationships. However I would like to close with a short story about how Egypt continues to impact me on a daily basis-even in the smallest ways.
Yesterday, after the 8th graders finished their Unit 1 Spanish test, I told them that they could silently take out any other work while their classmates were finishing their test. As I circulated the room, one student's paper caught my eye. It looked somewhat like he was writing Arabic text, but I didn't say anything because I did not want to interrupt the "test environment." Upon passing him again, he had a print out of the Arabic alphabet on his desk and was clearly copying the letters. I couldn't hold my excitement in any longer, so I bent down to him and asked "What's that for?" He answered that he heard some people speaking it, thought it sounded interesting and looked it up online. Still, he was not connecting his letters, so I told him "Well, you're doing it wrong. Come after school and I'll show you what I mean." Not expecting too much from this student who is earning a 50% average in my class and talks through each 68-minute class period, Devin walked through my door a few minutes after the last bell rang, Arabic alphabet print out in hand and a handful of questions in mind.
I taught him first how to write his name, then showed him pictures of Cairo and videos I took at the pyramids and Hadeeqat al-Azhar. Though I spend the majority of my time immersed in the Spanish language, I live for the moments that I can interact with others around the Arabic language and culture. And being able to share that with one of my students gave me a renewed sense of meaning as a teacher and of course, as a AFS "citizen ambassador."
Friday, November 12, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Kids say the darndest things
me: ¡Siéntense, estudiantes!"
student: Hey Ms. Ramirez that sounds like a Harry Potter curse. sientense!
I couldn't help but to break out laughing in the middle of instruction. Granted, this was said by the same student that stole and later chucked my phone into the yard of a nearby house. It was funny, but I did NOT want to give him that satisfaction of making me laugh!
anyway, important thing being: phone is recovered.
student: Hey Ms. Ramirez that sounds like a Harry Potter curse.
I couldn't help but to break out laughing in the middle of instruction. Granted, this was said by the same student that stole and later chucked my phone into the yard of a nearby house. It was funny, but I did NOT want to give him that satisfaction of making me laugh!
anyway, important thing being: phone is recovered.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
So Mad
Awful week. Phone stolen off desk by student while I was in the room today. I dedicate all my time to these kids and this is my reward? Awesome.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Friday Furlough
GREAT NEWS on the homefront....
This Friday is a furlough day. That is, the state of Maryland is so broke that it gives its school districts unpaid days off. This is okay by me. I will forgo one day of pay for a day during which I can catch up. The weekends are no longer sufficient for getting ahead. They are only sufficient for getting by. For example, I worked 8-10 PM on Friday 10AM- 7PM on Saturday and 8AM-8PM on Sunday and I still am not caught up in life. ( I also, as a side note) went out on Saturday night and fell asleep at a bar) What will you do for that much time and still not be caught up, you ask? Lesson planning and classroom management takes far more time than i could have imagined. It takes about 3 hour for me to plan each daily lesson since it includes a outline of the plan, a powerpoint, a guided note sheet and some sort of guided practice activity. I know I should be using other resources, but even that takes a significant amount of time to find exactly what is needed and adapt it for my purposes. I've found that there is not much research/ lesson plan advice for urban classrooms of 35-40 students. That is, plans which take into account that teachers must purchase all their resources, have limited copies, no laminator and are working with students who will take a 3 second lag time to begin some flagrant act of disobedience. Thus, I (and all other teachers in similar classrooms) must think and plan out every minute of the lesson so that students will not have the opportunity to act up or call out and subsequently take the whole class on their downward spiral of misbehavior. 3 lesson plans per week x 3 hours per plan = 9 hours
Then there's grad school.
This Friday is a furlough day. That is, the state of Maryland is so broke that it gives its school districts unpaid days off. This is okay by me. I will forgo one day of pay for a day during which I can catch up. The weekends are no longer sufficient for getting ahead. They are only sufficient for getting by. For example, I worked 8-10 PM on Friday 10AM- 7PM on Saturday and 8AM-8PM on Sunday and I still am not caught up in life. ( I also, as a side note) went out on Saturday night and fell asleep at a bar) What will you do for that much time and still not be caught up, you ask? Lesson planning and classroom management takes far more time than i could have imagined. It takes about 3 hour for me to plan each daily lesson since it includes a outline of the plan, a powerpoint, a guided note sheet and some sort of guided practice activity. I know I should be using other resources, but even that takes a significant amount of time to find exactly what is needed and adapt it for my purposes. I've found that there is not much research/ lesson plan advice for urban classrooms of 35-40 students. That is, plans which take into account that teachers must purchase all their resources, have limited copies, no laminator and are working with students who will take a 3 second lag time to begin some flagrant act of disobedience. Thus, I (and all other teachers in similar classrooms) must think and plan out every minute of the lesson so that students will not have the opportunity to act up or call out and subsequently take the whole class on their downward spiral of misbehavior. 3 lesson plans per week x 3 hours per plan = 9 hours
Then there's grad school.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Finally an update
Hola amigos-
I am currently sitting in bed after my Saturday night out "release night." I've been giving myself one per week no matter how much work I have finished or not finished. I've accepted the fact that there will always be a mile long to do list and that I could always do more. And I mean that not in the way that I meant it in college. That is, in college you always have more to do because you always could be working further ahead on the syllabus or more thoroughly completing a reading. Right now, those tasks are also hanging over me, but then add to that classroom management, grading, TFA professional development, Prince George's county professional development, and establishing oneself in a new city. And its literally impossible to be caught up on everything all the time.
It's funny because at every point in my life -traveling around Europe and the Middle East, taking on a new job, taking a new class- I tell myself "This is the hardest thing that I've ever done," and I think to myself that that experience will prepare me so well for whatever else comes in my future. Well ladies and gentleman, let me tell you that I was dead wrong about all of that. Perhaps parts of things that I previously did were difficult and perhaps parts of what I learned from those experiences are helping me now, but on the whole THIS is by far the most difficult thing I've ever done and I can't think of anything in my past that would have really prepared me for it.
I now understand what the "real world" is. Yes, you may laugh in my face if you want. I resisted this idea as valid for a very long time. I didn't like the thought that the world that I was previously living in was by default "fake". The experiences that I was having were so real to me and I believed that my life was so rich that I didn't believe that there could be a whole other world out there that I was missing out on. Again, WRONG. Not to say that my past experiences were not valid or real, it is just that they took place within a bubble of utopia and lack of "real world pressures." I thought that the real world might include features of the jobs I held in Madison or it may be new and stressful like plopping myself down into a new city- something I have done several times in several locations....once again, WRONG. I thought I might be prepared because of past life experiences but the transition into the "real world" is something I was surely not prepared for and something that I could even go so far as to say that I'm failing at.
First of all, lets talk about moving to a new city. I now realize how spoiled I was living for 4 years in a city that was 1 hour away from my hometown and family. When I arrived to my new apartment in DC, I was absolutely frazzled. I slept on a rug in my empty room for a night before my friend Devra swooped in and saved me with a sleepover at her house and a mega-trip to Target and Ikea. It's been wonderful having so many friends in the area because they have helped me at every step of the way. I can't imagine moving to a city where I literally know NOBODY. While DC is a new city, I have the support of my friends, roommates and their families to help me get starting-something I am so thankful for. In Madison, they make moving so easy for you. It makes sense. There are thousands of people moving around each year, each semester, coming from all across the world. For some reason, when I thought about moving to DC, I never thought about the necessity OR the HUGE cost of furnishing a bedroom, much less a home. That has been one challenge for me since I have always been provided with a bed everything else I needed came my dad's Mercury Mountaineer or a U-Haul that the Wiesners shared with us. Needless to say furnishing a house on your own using a Ford Focus coupe for transportation has been a challenge. But things are coming together. My roommates are all from the Northeast so their parents have been down a few times to bring loads of STUFF- furniture, kitchen utensils, artwork, rugs, etc. I am proud to say that despite the ikea and amazon.com boxes that are sprawled in our breakfast nook, our house is becoming a home.
This is the first living situation (in the US, that is) that I've been in where I really feel like I am part of the household and we are truly sharing a living space. Unlike previous arrangements, I do not spend all my time in my room and the kitchen is not so strictly divided that we can't use each others salt or butter. I love the fact that we go out together on the weekends, we cook and eat dinner together and sit in the living room on those really tough days and bitch and drink a beer together. This is not just a place where I keep my stuff and where I sleep at night, but rather a place that I can and am proud to call home. That is absolutely necessary when I come home after a day at work where I've been stepped all over by 11 and 12 year olds and despite the fact that I have to extend the misery and devote my night to lesson planning, I am in a comfortable place with people who make me laugh.
So now for the part that everyone wants to hear about the most: my crazy, crazy job. I am a 6th and 7th grade (soon to be 8th as well) teacher at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School in Temple Hills, Maryland. To give some background, an average day in the life includes me waking up at 5:45, making myself a delicious breakfast (seeing as how the next time I usually have time to eat is dinner) and leaving for school around 7 AM. The children are released from their holding chambers (gym and cafeteria) at 8:20 and move "purposefully and expeditiously through the hallways towards their classes" (as the principal announces they should do every morning) and instruction begins at 8:30. Each period is 90 minutes long and my first period is my planning time-something which both love and hate. It means that I have two and a half hours to prepare every day when I get to school (since I arrive at 7:30), but at the same time it means that I have no break for the rest of the day, except for the 30 minute lunch period during which I am expected to escort my class to lunch and then deal with the several misbehaving students from my previous class. I start teaching at 10:00 AM and finish at 3:10 when the bell rings. During that time period I have three 90 minute long classes of 31-43 10-13 year olds. It's and A/B day modular schedule and I see a total of 181 students every two days.
Some classes are engaged in the material and silently listen to what I have to say and then follow the directions that I give. Then other classes are literally ZOOs. Actually not a zoo because a zoo implies that the creatures are caged and managed. My classes could better be described as a amateur bull fight free for all, as I saw it in Costa Rica. A bunch of fools jump in a ring and try to pop some balloons that are attached to the bull. I am the bull. My students are the amateur fools running around the room. Normally I gallop around the room to try and provoke the fools, but sometimes I get into a rage and charge at specific ones while they flee, running and screaming. Some of the amateur torreros stand quietly on the periphery waiting for something to happen, but others run towards me to see if they can get a rise out of me. Friends, this is not far from the truth.
In some of my classes, I have students sing at the top of their lungs during instruction, who are constantly turned around talking to neighbors, crumpling up papers at their desk and throwing them into the garbage or at other students. I have students who stand up to go talk to friends across the room or just stand up for no known reason. Those problems only take place with about 1-2 students per hour though. I real wide-spread problem is students calling out. For example during a previous instruction I asked students to look at a map on which the Roman empire was pink and see what happens as I change the slides to the pink area (trying to demonstrate the spread of latin to current day Spain). Apparently I had mis-judged the color and students began their protest. Ms. Señorita Ramirez, that's not pink its orange. Nah-uh its brown. A student raises his hand. Ok everyone, I need silencio, por favor. Quinten has something to share with us. (I'm thinking I successfully got everyone quiet and Quinten was going to ask a relevant question. Ms Señorita, its pink on the computer screen but orange on the projector screen. Then others: its not pink its more red on the computer! ... and so on and so forth. This happens every day with SOMETHING. I misspelled a word on my powerpoint. I referred back to something we did on Day 5 when it was really learned on Day 6. I share with the students that I'm not Spanish, but instead American. I think the students think about everything so literally that if what I say or do is not SPOT ON, they are confused. That I get, but students opening their mouthes during instruction EVERY MINUTE. Not okay.
Ok well I'm going to leave off here. Must begin lesson planning so that I'm not killing myself tonight or during the week when, oh yeah, the administration is doing a major overhaul of the schedule and I will be getting losing all my 6th graders (the angels!) and 50% new students- most likely 8th graders.
more to come about grad school, DC living and of course... the children.
I am currently sitting in bed after my Saturday night out "release night." I've been giving myself one per week no matter how much work I have finished or not finished. I've accepted the fact that there will always be a mile long to do list and that I could always do more. And I mean that not in the way that I meant it in college. That is, in college you always have more to do because you always could be working further ahead on the syllabus or more thoroughly completing a reading. Right now, those tasks are also hanging over me, but then add to that classroom management, grading, TFA professional development, Prince George's county professional development, and establishing oneself in a new city. And its literally impossible to be caught up on everything all the time.
It's funny because at every point in my life -traveling around Europe and the Middle East, taking on a new job, taking a new class- I tell myself "This is the hardest thing that I've ever done," and I think to myself that that experience will prepare me so well for whatever else comes in my future. Well ladies and gentleman, let me tell you that I was dead wrong about all of that. Perhaps parts of things that I previously did were difficult and perhaps parts of what I learned from those experiences are helping me now, but on the whole THIS is by far the most difficult thing I've ever done and I can't think of anything in my past that would have really prepared me for it.
I now understand what the "real world" is. Yes, you may laugh in my face if you want. I resisted this idea as valid for a very long time. I didn't like the thought that the world that I was previously living in was by default "fake". The experiences that I was having were so real to me and I believed that my life was so rich that I didn't believe that there could be a whole other world out there that I was missing out on. Again, WRONG. Not to say that my past experiences were not valid or real, it is just that they took place within a bubble of utopia and lack of "real world pressures." I thought that the real world might include features of the jobs I held in Madison or it may be new and stressful like plopping myself down into a new city- something I have done several times in several locations....once again, WRONG. I thought I might be prepared because of past life experiences but the transition into the "real world" is something I was surely not prepared for and something that I could even go so far as to say that I'm failing at.
First of all, lets talk about moving to a new city. I now realize how spoiled I was living for 4 years in a city that was 1 hour away from my hometown and family. When I arrived to my new apartment in DC, I was absolutely frazzled. I slept on a rug in my empty room for a night before my friend Devra swooped in and saved me with a sleepover at her house and a mega-trip to Target and Ikea. It's been wonderful having so many friends in the area because they have helped me at every step of the way. I can't imagine moving to a city where I literally know NOBODY. While DC is a new city, I have the support of my friends, roommates and their families to help me get starting-something I am so thankful for. In Madison, they make moving so easy for you. It makes sense. There are thousands of people moving around each year, each semester, coming from all across the world. For some reason, when I thought about moving to DC, I never thought about the necessity OR the HUGE cost of furnishing a bedroom, much less a home. That has been one challenge for me since I have always been provided with a bed everything else I needed came my dad's Mercury Mountaineer or a U-Haul that the Wiesners shared with us. Needless to say furnishing a house on your own using a Ford Focus coupe for transportation has been a challenge. But things are coming together. My roommates are all from the Northeast so their parents have been down a few times to bring loads of STUFF- furniture, kitchen utensils, artwork, rugs, etc. I am proud to say that despite the ikea and amazon.com boxes that are sprawled in our breakfast nook, our house is becoming a home.
This is the first living situation (in the US, that is) that I've been in where I really feel like I am part of the household and we are truly sharing a living space. Unlike previous arrangements, I do not spend all my time in my room and the kitchen is not so strictly divided that we can't use each others salt or butter. I love the fact that we go out together on the weekends, we cook and eat dinner together and sit in the living room on those really tough days and bitch and drink a beer together. This is not just a place where I keep my stuff and where I sleep at night, but rather a place that I can and am proud to call home. That is absolutely necessary when I come home after a day at work where I've been stepped all over by 11 and 12 year olds and despite the fact that I have to extend the misery and devote my night to lesson planning, I am in a comfortable place with people who make me laugh.
So now for the part that everyone wants to hear about the most: my crazy, crazy job. I am a 6th and 7th grade (soon to be 8th as well) teacher at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School in Temple Hills, Maryland. To give some background, an average day in the life includes me waking up at 5:45, making myself a delicious breakfast (seeing as how the next time I usually have time to eat is dinner) and leaving for school around 7 AM. The children are released from their holding chambers (gym and cafeteria) at 8:20 and move "purposefully and expeditiously through the hallways towards their classes" (as the principal announces they should do every morning) and instruction begins at 8:30. Each period is 90 minutes long and my first period is my planning time-something which both love and hate. It means that I have two and a half hours to prepare every day when I get to school (since I arrive at 7:30), but at the same time it means that I have no break for the rest of the day, except for the 30 minute lunch period during which I am expected to escort my class to lunch and then deal with the several misbehaving students from my previous class. I start teaching at 10:00 AM and finish at 3:10 when the bell rings. During that time period I have three 90 minute long classes of 31-43 10-13 year olds. It's and A/B day modular schedule and I see a total of 181 students every two days.
Some classes are engaged in the material and silently listen to what I have to say and then follow the directions that I give. Then other classes are literally ZOOs. Actually not a zoo because a zoo implies that the creatures are caged and managed. My classes could better be described as a amateur bull fight free for all, as I saw it in Costa Rica. A bunch of fools jump in a ring and try to pop some balloons that are attached to the bull. I am the bull. My students are the amateur fools running around the room. Normally I gallop around the room to try and provoke the fools, but sometimes I get into a rage and charge at specific ones while they flee, running and screaming. Some of the amateur torreros stand quietly on the periphery waiting for something to happen, but others run towards me to see if they can get a rise out of me. Friends, this is not far from the truth.
In some of my classes, I have students sing at the top of their lungs during instruction, who are constantly turned around talking to neighbors, crumpling up papers at their desk and throwing them into the garbage or at other students. I have students who stand up to go talk to friends across the room or just stand up for no known reason. Those problems only take place with about 1-2 students per hour though. I real wide-spread problem is students calling out. For example during a previous instruction I asked students to look at a map on which the Roman empire was pink and see what happens as I change the slides to the pink area (trying to demonstrate the spread of latin to current day Spain). Apparently I had mis-judged the color and students began their protest. Ms. Señorita Ramirez, that's not pink its orange. Nah-uh its brown. A student raises his hand. Ok everyone, I need silencio, por favor. Quinten has something to share with us. (I'm thinking I successfully got everyone quiet and Quinten was going to ask a relevant question. Ms Señorita, its pink on the computer screen but orange on the projector screen. Then others: its not pink its more red on the computer! ... and so on and so forth. This happens every day with SOMETHING. I misspelled a word on my powerpoint. I referred back to something we did on Day 5 when it was really learned on Day 6. I share with the students that I'm not Spanish, but instead American. I think the students think about everything so literally that if what I say or do is not SPOT ON, they are confused. That I get, but students opening their mouthes during instruction EVERY MINUTE. Not okay.
Ok well I'm going to leave off here. Must begin lesson planning so that I'm not killing myself tonight or during the week when, oh yeah, the administration is doing a major overhaul of the schedule and I will be getting losing all my 6th graders (the angels!) and 50% new students- most likely 8th graders.
more to come about grad school, DC living and of course... the children.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
WIKILEAKS!
effing awesome and inspiring guy. we need to get real about the sad state of our mainstream media and infotainment that we all buy into on a daily basis.
or:
Julian Assange: Why the world needs WikiLeaks | Video on TED.com
or:
Julian Assange: Why the world needs WikiLeaks | Video on TED.com
un lindo poema :)
I was reading through a Spanish lit book last night and came across this. Beautiful, no? Its an awesome description of true friendship. I especially love the last two lines.
La amistad es amor
por Pedro Prado
La amistad es amor en serenos estados;
los amigos se hablan cuando estan mas callados,
Si el silencio interrumpo, el amigo responde,
mi propio pensamiento, que tambien el esconde.
Si el comienza, prosigo el curso de su idea,
ninguno de nosotros la formula ni crea,
Sentimos que hay un algo superior que nos guia,
y logra la unidad de nuestra compañia.
Y nos vemos llevados a pensar con hondura,
y a lograr certidumbre en la vida insegura;
y sabemos que encima de nuestra apariencias,
se adivina un saber, mas alla de las ciencias.
Y por eso yo busco el tener a mi lado
el amigo que entiende cuando digo callado.
La amistad es amor
por Pedro Prado
La amistad es amor en serenos estados;
los amigos se hablan cuando estan mas callados,
Si el silencio interrumpo, el amigo responde,
mi propio pensamiento, que tambien el esconde.
Si el comienza, prosigo el curso de su idea,
ninguno de nosotros la formula ni crea,
Sentimos que hay un algo superior que nos guia,
y logra la unidad de nuestra compañia.
Y nos vemos llevados a pensar con hondura,
y a lograr certidumbre en la vida insegura;
y sabemos que encima de nuestra apariencias,
se adivina un saber, mas alla de las ciencias.
Y por eso yo busco el tener a mi lado
el amigo que entiende cuando digo callado.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
First week of teaching DONE!
I am currently on a bus back to Philadelphia from New York where I spent the weekend for Alicia's bachelorette party extravaganza. 'Twas quite a fun weekend. I was DRAGGING the entire time, but I think' TFA has instilled in me a great mindset which helped me though. They always say "Its all about the kids; How are the children? " During the week we have to remind ourselves this as we wake up at 5 am with 4 or 5 hours of sleep under our belt. So this weekend, despite the fact that I fell asleep during the intermission of "Mamma Mia!" I had to remind myself that "It's all about Alicia; How is my sister?" Thus, we made it til 4 in the morn partying at a place called Pranna and Willow. LOVE MY SIS!
Otherwise the weekend was another great break. I am starting to like NYC more and more. It's interesting how drawn I am to big cities. When I am in Wisconsin for too long, I become complacent. Chicago is near and I am sure there are plenty of other things to do and explore, but I just never have the drive or interest to seek them out. But being on the East Coast I am always looking for new places to go and things to experience. It doesn't hurt that public transportation is so much better here. For example, I paid $7 for this bus ride to Philly. Altogether it was a $18.50 round trip Philly-NYC. That's equivalent to a ONE WAY ticket from Madison to Waukesha. Round trip is $35... absurd. Aforementioned cheap transport is one of the things I love about cities, read on for more:
One of the things I LOVE about bigger cities is the ethnic diversity of the people. Introducing myself to others doesn't include the follow-up question of "What are you?," obviously desiring to elicit the response "Mexican," not caring whether or not that has anything to do with who I am or whether my ancestors also hail from other countries. They're "just curious" since I have such an "exotic look." That conversation doesn't happen too much in bigger cities. I love meeting people, knowing that their intention is not to immediately put me into a box with other people whose hair is as curly as mine and skin as brown.
On that same note, there are TONS of inter-ethnic couples. It's so comforting to see an Indian guy walking hand in hand with a white girl or a black guy with his arm around an Asian girl. I understand that the previous sentence would be rather strange if one were to read it out of context. But seeing inter-ethnic couples means again that there is a general understanding that American IS a culture and that anyone can be just as American as the next kid with blonde hair and blue eyes. In the end what it is, is intelligent people transcending dumb people. It's people understanding that brown does not make the person. It's people realizing that people are scared of the unfamiliar and it's smart people realizing that simple people like to categorize and group so that they can find their limits and stay within them.
Am I taking this too far?
Anyway:
On Friday night, I thought it would be SOOO funny to stop at a street food stand on our way back to the hotel and get a halal wiener to create a great bachelorette party photo-op for Alicia. I was ordering the wiener and heard the vendor talking to his friends behind the stall in what sounded like Arabic. I paused for a moment and asked "Excuse me sir, where are you from?" "I am Egyptian" he answered. So of course I blurb out "Masree?? Ana uhib misr!" which is an awful mix of fosha and 3amiyya masryya, but we ended up having a conversation consisting all the vital and basic phrases that I can remember. And as I was receiving the halal wiener I said to him "shokran jazeelan" at the exact same time as he said "shokran jazeelan" and then he gave me a free water! LOVE THE MASREES! people need to get to the middle east more often. these peeps is awesome.
So on to the main point of why I'm writing-- my first week as a teacher! Let me first start with saying that DAYUM, Teach for America runs a tight ship. For the last 4 years, I have been used to running my own life, doing things when I see fit, but at the same thing staying on top of my shit and getting a 4.0 throughout my senior year. That whole relaxed, do-things-as-you-can feeling doesn't really cut it with TFA. Actually let me say, doesn't cut it at ALL with TFA. Deadlines are strict. No one cares that you're sleep deprived. No one cares that you have a cold. No one cares that you haven't had any physical stimulation in days. Like I said earlier, it's all about the kids. Lesson planning, material creating, worksheet writing, theory learning and the like consumes my time from 5 am until 12 am just about every day. Last week I was able to sneak in 8 hours of sleep on Sunday and Thursday night due to the extra time allowed by the half-day on Monday, July 5.
The only way that I am able to keep waking up every day is because there is a huge team mindset that exists. We are all getting 3-5 hours of sleep on average. We all are loopy and out-of-it all day long. We are all doing it for the same reason (well most of us I assume). While it sucks to struggle through each day, only one other time have I been part of such a positive group of individuals. The people who are in TFA are extremely intelligent, lively and positive young people who are wholly dedicated and are "working relentlessly" to provide just an education for every child in the US just as strong and prestigious as they have received in the last 17 years.
I sometimes think about my participation with TFA in the larger picture as a service to the country. I think its extremely important for everyone to serve their country or community in one way or another. Seeing as how I would rather build up my own nation rather than breaking down that of others, I have chosen this path to public service over the US Military. If Americans are really interested with "spreading democracy" to the world, I believe we should start with our own country. Isn't a democracy a form of government in which the" supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system?" Or am I, and dictionary.com, mistaken? I really don't understand why more people across the country are not outraged at the current state of our own nation. Despite popular belief, we do not live in a true democracy. If anything, it could be called an oligarchy. What's changed since the inception of the United States of America and the rules that our friendly founding fathers put forth? I would argue not much. It is certainly more accurate to describe our nation as one ruled by a group of wealthy men with Judeo-Christian beliefs and Anglo-saxon heritage than a country in which the supreme power is vested in the people. While some of us live a worry-free live filled with vocational and educational opportunities up the wazoo and enough food in our kitchen pantry to feed the population of land-locked Lesotho, another overwhelming number of Americans never make it past high school because they're made to believe that they can't and that they shouldn't, and wind up in line for the community food pantry being judged by the rest of us who drive by in our Priuses and SUVs on our way to work.
Perhaps that is enough political rant for this Sunday afternoon. Until next time, friends.
Otherwise the weekend was another great break. I am starting to like NYC more and more. It's interesting how drawn I am to big cities. When I am in Wisconsin for too long, I become complacent. Chicago is near and I am sure there are plenty of other things to do and explore, but I just never have the drive or interest to seek them out. But being on the East Coast I am always looking for new places to go and things to experience. It doesn't hurt that public transportation is so much better here. For example, I paid $7 for this bus ride to Philly. Altogether it was a $18.50 round trip Philly-NYC. That's equivalent to a ONE WAY ticket from Madison to Waukesha. Round trip is $35... absurd. Aforementioned cheap transport is one of the things I love about cities, read on for more:
One of the things I LOVE about bigger cities is the ethnic diversity of the people. Introducing myself to others doesn't include the follow-up question of "What are you?," obviously desiring to elicit the response "Mexican," not caring whether or not that has anything to do with who I am or whether my ancestors also hail from other countries. They're "just curious" since I have such an "exotic look." That conversation doesn't happen too much in bigger cities. I love meeting people, knowing that their intention is not to immediately put me into a box with other people whose hair is as curly as mine and skin as brown.
On that same note, there are TONS of inter-ethnic couples. It's so comforting to see an Indian guy walking hand in hand with a white girl or a black guy with his arm around an Asian girl. I understand that the previous sentence would be rather strange if one were to read it out of context. But seeing inter-ethnic couples means again that there is a general understanding that American IS a culture and that anyone can be just as American as the next kid with blonde hair and blue eyes. In the end what it is, is intelligent people transcending dumb people. It's people understanding that brown does not make the person. It's people realizing that people are scared of the unfamiliar and it's smart people realizing that simple people like to categorize and group so that they can find their limits and stay within them.
Am I taking this too far?
Anyway:
On Friday night, I thought it would be SOOO funny to stop at a street food stand on our way back to the hotel and get a halal wiener to create a great bachelorette party photo-op for Alicia. I was ordering the wiener and heard the vendor talking to his friends behind the stall in what sounded like Arabic. I paused for a moment and asked "Excuse me sir, where are you from?" "I am Egyptian" he answered. So of course I blurb out "Masree?? Ana uhib misr!" which is an awful mix of fosha and 3amiyya masryya, but we ended up having a conversation consisting all the vital and basic phrases that I can remember. And as I was receiving the halal wiener I said to him "shokran jazeelan" at the exact same time as he said "shokran jazeelan" and then he gave me a free water! LOVE THE MASREES! people need to get to the middle east more often. these peeps is awesome.
So on to the main point of why I'm writing-- my first week as a teacher! Let me first start with saying that DAYUM, Teach for America runs a tight ship. For the last 4 years, I have been used to running my own life, doing things when I see fit, but at the same thing staying on top of my shit and getting a 4.0 throughout my senior year. That whole relaxed, do-things-as-you-can feeling doesn't really cut it with TFA. Actually let me say, doesn't cut it at ALL with TFA. Deadlines are strict. No one cares that you're sleep deprived. No one cares that you have a cold. No one cares that you haven't had any physical stimulation in days. Like I said earlier, it's all about the kids. Lesson planning, material creating, worksheet writing, theory learning and the like consumes my time from 5 am until 12 am just about every day. Last week I was able to sneak in 8 hours of sleep on Sunday and Thursday night due to the extra time allowed by the half-day on Monday, July 5.
The only way that I am able to keep waking up every day is because there is a huge team mindset that exists. We are all getting 3-5 hours of sleep on average. We all are loopy and out-of-it all day long. We are all doing it for the same reason (well most of us I assume). While it sucks to struggle through each day, only one other time have I been part of such a positive group of individuals. The people who are in TFA are extremely intelligent, lively and positive young people who are wholly dedicated and are "working relentlessly" to provide just an education for every child in the US just as strong and prestigious as they have received in the last 17 years.
I sometimes think about my participation with TFA in the larger picture as a service to the country. I think its extremely important for everyone to serve their country or community in one way or another. Seeing as how I would rather build up my own nation rather than breaking down that of others, I have chosen this path to public service over the US Military. If Americans are really interested with "spreading democracy" to the world, I believe we should start with our own country. Isn't a democracy a form of government in which the" supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system?" Or am I, and dictionary.com, mistaken? I really don't understand why more people across the country are not outraged at the current state of our own nation. Despite popular belief, we do not live in a true democracy. If anything, it could be called an oligarchy. What's changed since the inception of the United States of America and the rules that our friendly founding fathers put forth? I would argue not much. It is certainly more accurate to describe our nation as one ruled by a group of wealthy men with Judeo-Christian beliefs and Anglo-saxon heritage than a country in which the supreme power is vested in the people. While some of us live a worry-free live filled with vocational and educational opportunities up the wazoo and enough food in our kitchen pantry to feed the population of land-locked Lesotho, another overwhelming number of Americans never make it past high school because they're made to believe that they can't and that they shouldn't, and wind up in line for the community food pantry being judged by the rest of us who drive by in our Priuses and SUVs on our way to work.
Perhaps that is enough political rant for this Sunday afternoon. Until next time, friends.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Personal Statement for TFA and American University
Yo! I just applied for a masters program at American University in Masters of Arts in Teaching for the upcoming year. I thought it might be relevant to post my letter of intent. Its something I realized that I should probably look back on from time to time if I am ever feeling overwhelmed.
July 6, 2010
Dear Selection Committee:
The United States is a country that in theory believes in liberty and justice for all. While many Americans do enjoy a great degree of freedom and opportunity, these ideals do not hold true for all citizens. It is all too common that education standards especially vary not only from city to city, but also from classroom to classroom; arbitrary divisions between socioeconomic classes and in the minds of lawmakers limit too many children to a low-quality learning experience. This resulting achievement gap demonstrated by students across the United States simply does not reflect the ideas on which our country was founded, and the perpetuation of this geographically unequal education will only limit the success and development of our nation. The only way that this dilemma can be solved is by fostering a new generation of positive, critical-thinking minds and creating opportunities for them to take advantage of. I would like to be a part in making this dream a reality, but I understand that the skills and knowledge that I currently possess in the field of education is limited. Thus, I have become a D.C Region Teach for America Corps Member and thus, I would like to obtain my Masters of Arts in Teaching from American University.
As a student of American University, I hope to gain expertise which will allow me to help my students achieve success on many levels. Primarily, I hope to be able to establish a safe learning environment in which all my students feel comfortable expressing their own identities. Each student comes from a different home with different structure and values. Thus, it is imperative to understand the educational and emotional needs as well as the developmental abilities of each student. I also believe it is important to build a personal, yet professional relationship with each student. Because it is not realistic to expect all students to learn and grow in the same ways, personal relationships will allow me to measure each student’s learning styles and successes independently.
That said, I will hold my students to high, yet attainable standards which push them to achieve real personal goals within the year. By establishing these principles, the students will have a reference point in working towards achieving measurable results in subjects like reading and math that are so important to their academic futures.
Success within the classroom should be measured holistically, with the aforementioned goals in mind. While standardized tests are essential in measuring a child’s educational achievement, they are only one way to assess the student’s abilities. Another sigh of success in a classroom is the level of mutual trust and respect shared by the students and teacher. Only when this level of communal confidence is achieved can the students be expected to learn and grow together.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I hope to be able to work with the professors at American University to realize the goals and aspirations that I hold important to myself, to my students and to our nation.
Sincerely,
Maria Ramirez
July 6, 2010
Dear Selection Committee:
The United States is a country that in theory believes in liberty and justice for all. While many Americans do enjoy a great degree of freedom and opportunity, these ideals do not hold true for all citizens. It is all too common that education standards especially vary not only from city to city, but also from classroom to classroom; arbitrary divisions between socioeconomic classes and in the minds of lawmakers limit too many children to a low-quality learning experience. This resulting achievement gap demonstrated by students across the United States simply does not reflect the ideas on which our country was founded, and the perpetuation of this geographically unequal education will only limit the success and development of our nation. The only way that this dilemma can be solved is by fostering a new generation of positive, critical-thinking minds and creating opportunities for them to take advantage of. I would like to be a part in making this dream a reality, but I understand that the skills and knowledge that I currently possess in the field of education is limited. Thus, I have become a D.C Region Teach for America Corps Member and thus, I would like to obtain my Masters of Arts in Teaching from American University.
As a student of American University, I hope to gain expertise which will allow me to help my students achieve success on many levels. Primarily, I hope to be able to establish a safe learning environment in which all my students feel comfortable expressing their own identities. Each student comes from a different home with different structure and values. Thus, it is imperative to understand the educational and emotional needs as well as the developmental abilities of each student. I also believe it is important to build a personal, yet professional relationship with each student. Because it is not realistic to expect all students to learn and grow in the same ways, personal relationships will allow me to measure each student’s learning styles and successes independently.
That said, I will hold my students to high, yet attainable standards which push them to achieve real personal goals within the year. By establishing these principles, the students will have a reference point in working towards achieving measurable results in subjects like reading and math that are so important to their academic futures.
Success within the classroom should be measured holistically, with the aforementioned goals in mind. While standardized tests are essential in measuring a child’s educational achievement, they are only one way to assess the student’s abilities. Another sigh of success in a classroom is the level of mutual trust and respect shared by the students and teacher. Only when this level of communal confidence is achieved can the students be expected to learn and grow together.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I hope to be able to work with the professors at American University to realize the goals and aspirations that I hold important to myself, to my students and to our nation.
Sincerely,
Maria Ramirez
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Todo me parece ¡BONITO!
WARNING--WARNING-- cheesy, warm, mushy feelings alert!!
The title of this blog says it all. From the song Bonito by Jarabe de Palo, the title means everything is beautiful to me. Tomorrow I will be beginning my second week of Institute in Philadelphia. (I start teaching real live kids on Tuesday!) And while I have no idea how things will go in the upcoming four weeks, right now I am on a HIGH. A high that I have not felt since I was in Costa Rica last winter or since I was in Ireland last summer. It’s the kind of high that you feel when you look around and see the beauty in so many things.
Last Friday I took the bus to New York City to visit my friend and her boyfriend who was visiting. I was feeling very blah about the whole trip, as I had gotten about 20-25 hours of sleep throughout the week. I was thinking that I probably should have stayed in Philly to get some rest and recuperate for the week to come. But as my $25.50 roundtrip MegaBus was arriving into the city, I no longer felt any of that. The New York City skyscape shone in the distance as the sun went down over the Manhattan and I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face. I’ve been there before, but for some reason, it gets me every time.
As I jumped off the bus and started walking to the subway, I ran into some AIESECers that I met last summer at the AIESEC Summer Conference in Madison. (Small world? I think so.) I continued onto my friend’s apartment on the upper west side to set my bags there then walked to meet her and her boyfriend at a restaurant. It was especially great to see familiar faces after two weeks of non-stop introductions and interactions with 660 Ivy League type-A personalities.
On Saturday, I managed to meet up with a friend I hadn’t seen since January to watch Spain versus Paraguay over a $35 lunch (love them New York prices,) head to Union Square for the Farmer’s market and Trader Joe’s wine shop, walk through central park back to my friends apartment and finally see the Broadway musical “In the Heights” at 8pm. But our night was not yet over. We then walked up to Lincoln Center to see another friend sing with a rag tag group of New Yorkers while a short Filipino man played a colorfully painted community-maintained piano.
Just as the New York skyline made me marvel at man’s ability to build and create, this impromptu performance made me marvel at man’s ability to sing, feel, dance, relate and enjoy. The singers and the piano man in front entertained a crowd of about 100 constantly changing passersby, everyone joining in to sing a show tune or popular ‘60s hit at one point or another. A group of 5 people danced in a row the front, audience members rotating in and out of the line.
Beauty is architecture and beauty is also interaction. One hundred strangers gathered together on a summer Saturday night at the corner of 65th and Broadway, not for money-making, not for attention-grabbing, yet for no other reason than pure merrymaking.
The title of this blog says it all. From the song Bonito by Jarabe de Palo, the title means everything is beautiful to me. Tomorrow I will be beginning my second week of Institute in Philadelphia. (I start teaching real live kids on Tuesday!) And while I have no idea how things will go in the upcoming four weeks, right now I am on a HIGH. A high that I have not felt since I was in Costa Rica last winter or since I was in Ireland last summer. It’s the kind of high that you feel when you look around and see the beauty in so many things.
Last Friday I took the bus to New York City to visit my friend and her boyfriend who was visiting. I was feeling very blah about the whole trip, as I had gotten about 20-25 hours of sleep throughout the week. I was thinking that I probably should have stayed in Philly to get some rest and recuperate for the week to come. But as my $25.50 roundtrip MegaBus was arriving into the city, I no longer felt any of that. The New York City skyscape shone in the distance as the sun went down over the Manhattan and I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face. I’ve been there before, but for some reason, it gets me every time.
As I jumped off the bus and started walking to the subway, I ran into some AIESECers that I met last summer at the AIESEC Summer Conference in Madison. (Small world? I think so.) I continued onto my friend’s apartment on the upper west side to set my bags there then walked to meet her and her boyfriend at a restaurant. It was especially great to see familiar faces after two weeks of non-stop introductions and interactions with 660 Ivy League type-A personalities.
On Saturday, I managed to meet up with a friend I hadn’t seen since January to watch Spain versus Paraguay over a $35 lunch (love them New York prices,) head to Union Square for the Farmer’s market and Trader Joe’s wine shop, walk through central park back to my friends apartment and finally see the Broadway musical “In the Heights” at 8pm. But our night was not yet over. We then walked up to Lincoln Center to see another friend sing with a rag tag group of New Yorkers while a short Filipino man played a colorfully painted community-maintained piano.
Just as the New York skyline made me marvel at man’s ability to build and create, this impromptu performance made me marvel at man’s ability to sing, feel, dance, relate and enjoy. The singers and the piano man in front entertained a crowd of about 100 constantly changing passersby, everyone joining in to sing a show tune or popular ‘60s hit at one point or another. A group of 5 people danced in a row the front, audience members rotating in and out of the line.
Beauty is architecture and beauty is also interaction. One hundred strangers gathered together on a summer Saturday night at the corner of 65th and Broadway, not for money-making, not for attention-grabbing, yet for no other reason than pure merrymaking.
Monday, June 28, 2010
quick updates
I just found out that Ill be teaching summer school starting next week Tuesday at Edison High School, a HS which DOES have air conditioning. ALHAMDULILLAH.
Today, our first day, consisted in 10 hours from 7 am to 4 pm sitting in Edison HS listening to Curriculum Specialists and Corps Member Advisors speak on the important aspects of planning and organization in lesson plans and curriculum.
We also heard the founder of TFA, Wendy Kopp, speak at our opening ceremony. I must say, less than impressive. Jason Kamras, a DC Corps member from the 90s however, GREAT SPEAKER, FUNNY MAN.
pillow- $4.50, mattress pad= $6.99, a full night's sleep at institute= PRICELESS
buenas noches
Today, our first day, consisted in 10 hours from 7 am to 4 pm sitting in Edison HS listening to Curriculum Specialists and Corps Member Advisors speak on the important aspects of planning and organization in lesson plans and curriculum.
We also heard the founder of TFA, Wendy Kopp, speak at our opening ceremony. I must say, less than impressive. Jason Kamras, a DC Corps member from the 90s however, GREAT SPEAKER, FUNNY MAN.
pillow- $4.50, mattress pad= $6.99, a full night's sleep at institute= PRICELESS
buenas noches
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Settling In
I just arrived in Philly today at about 1 PM and have taken the day to set up my dorm room and just hang out before $h!t hits the fan tomorrow. We have to be at breakfast by 6 AM (a 10 minute walk from the dorms) and on the bus by 6:45. I was going to skip breakfast and just grab a granola bar but we also have to take our lunch from the dining hall. So skipping breakfast means skipping lunch too! No thanks.
As of now, I'm feelin good. We haven't really started anything yet. Induction has just been a mix of social events and informational sessions about the master's program at American University, the DC region and the Achievement Gap in DC (as I explained earlier). Tomorrow we'll actually be going to the high school and figuring out what our next 5 weeks will look like. It's nice to know that we'll be here for 5 weeks- we at least have the chance to settle in a little bit. As much as I love to travel, I do NOT like living out of suitcases.
So far, I'll be teaching at Edison High School this summer but have no further information about my class or exact teaching assignment. Our first day of teaching is the upcoming Monday.
As of now, I'm feelin good. We haven't really started anything yet. Induction has just been a mix of social events and informational sessions about the master's program at American University, the DC region and the Achievement Gap in DC (as I explained earlier). Tomorrow we'll actually be going to the high school and figuring out what our next 5 weeks will look like. It's nice to know that we'll be here for 5 weeks- we at least have the chance to settle in a little bit. As much as I love to travel, I do NOT like living out of suitcases.
So far, I'll be teaching at Edison High School this summer but have no further information about my class or exact teaching assignment. Our first day of teaching is the upcoming Monday.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Apt Viewing
We have a 3 hour break til our next meeting, so I am going to check out the apartment for which I just signed a lease in the eastern market area. It's a row house with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths and 2 half baths. We also have a porch and small yard because we're a corner lot! This is extremely exciting for me becuase ever since living in he house near the stadium in Madison I have wanted to have a porch and mini-yard like I had there. Perfect for happy hour on the porch and barbeques in the yard! My stop- Staduim Armory- is next... Hasta pronto!
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Thursday, June 24, 2010
Induction, Day 2
continued from earlier...
The heat in this city does not lower as the sun lowers. Last night at 9 pm, it was still 91 degrees! I guess I had forgotten how intense heat is when there is a high humidity involved as well. But complaining doesn't make it any better, so on to more important topics.
Today was the first day that I felt truly inspired to embark on the journey that I will in the next two years. We took the metro this morning to Central High School in Prince George's County to see more or less what we will be working with/ in. The high school that we visited was not too shabby-- the gym and classrooms were intact and utilitarian. Nothing nice about them, but at the same time, nothing bad about them either. A solid facility. But of course we are not in these places because they have poor facilities, but because the students who attend them are not achieving to the levels that they should. Prince George's county is an interesting county in terms of demographics. Many immigrants who in the past have moved to DC are now finding respite in PG County, as gentrification of DC neighborhoods have pushed them out the of the district. This has also happened with many Black families in DC throughout the past 30 or so years. It's great for us whities and wealthy folk who come to DC for vacation because it means that more places in DC are suitable to our preferences- bars, restaurants, apartments, specialty grocery stores, etc. However the high cost of living has pushed former residents into surrounding areas. Gentrification does not mean a overall improvement for everyone, but instead just for the people who invest money into the area and for those who reap the benefits of these commercial ventures.
Nonetheless, we have many families in PG county who are very wealthy. In fact it is the wealthiest majority African American county in the United States. However these wealthy families are not always spending their money in PG County because of other, more prestigious institutions in the vicinity, but outside of the county. Thus, the schools are not receiving the attention that they need and deserve. One PG community member told us today that she moved her family to PG county so that they could be in a more diverse community, but then did not feel comfortable sending her students to the schools there because they were so sub-standard. The truth of the matter was that no one cared about the children at these schools enough to fight for their educational rights.
In the last few decades this has been changing in the DC region. TFA and other programs which bring education to the forefront have emerged and are pushing school districts, leaders and politicians to invest not only money, but time and attention into the school areas and districts which need it most. Especially in DC it has been proven that failing or successful schools are not defined not by the students, but by the integrity of the teachers. This is demonstrated by several DC schools which are close in proximity to one another, but just because of the presence of several strong and encouraging teachers, the students are achieving at higher rates. In this situation, the students are not the variables. Instead what varies from school to school is the teachers.
Chancellor of DC public schools Michelle Rhee has taken this as her charge and revolutionized the way that schools are run in DCPS (Public Schools)-- or rather, the way in which these schools will be run in the future. She, and other advocates of strong, quality educations for DC youth regardless of their upbringing focus on the progress of the teacher in the classroom when it comes to compensation. No longer will the eldest teacher be paid the most and have the most job security. These teachers are equally welcome to prove their successes in the classroom but will not automatically be grandfathered into the system (and as you can imagine, cause quite an uproar in this movement.) But when you consider this, I'd like you to think of what career in the whole world allows its employees to lose money, fail or fall short year after year, but allow them to still stay on board as a part of the business. I personally can't think of any. And when you further consider the raises that teachers will receive for setting and achieving goals with their students, it only makes sense that when salaries are raised, other, equally bright and intelligent teachers will be attracted to doing the same job.
Time for bed yall.
besitos
The heat in this city does not lower as the sun lowers. Last night at 9 pm, it was still 91 degrees! I guess I had forgotten how intense heat is when there is a high humidity involved as well. But complaining doesn't make it any better, so on to more important topics.
Today was the first day that I felt truly inspired to embark on the journey that I will in the next two years. We took the metro this morning to Central High School in Prince George's County to see more or less what we will be working with/ in. The high school that we visited was not too shabby-- the gym and classrooms were intact and utilitarian. Nothing nice about them, but at the same time, nothing bad about them either. A solid facility. But of course we are not in these places because they have poor facilities, but because the students who attend them are not achieving to the levels that they should. Prince George's county is an interesting county in terms of demographics. Many immigrants who in the past have moved to DC are now finding respite in PG County, as gentrification of DC neighborhoods have pushed them out the of the district. This has also happened with many Black families in DC throughout the past 30 or so years. It's great for us whities and wealthy folk who come to DC for vacation because it means that more places in DC are suitable to our preferences- bars, restaurants, apartments, specialty grocery stores, etc. However the high cost of living has pushed former residents into surrounding areas. Gentrification does not mean a overall improvement for everyone, but instead just for the people who invest money into the area and for those who reap the benefits of these commercial ventures.
Nonetheless, we have many families in PG county who are very wealthy. In fact it is the wealthiest majority African American county in the United States. However these wealthy families are not always spending their money in PG County because of other, more prestigious institutions in the vicinity, but outside of the county. Thus, the schools are not receiving the attention that they need and deserve. One PG community member told us today that she moved her family to PG county so that they could be in a more diverse community, but then did not feel comfortable sending her students to the schools there because they were so sub-standard. The truth of the matter was that no one cared about the children at these schools enough to fight for their educational rights.
In the last few decades this has been changing in the DC region. TFA and other programs which bring education to the forefront have emerged and are pushing school districts, leaders and politicians to invest not only money, but time and attention into the school areas and districts which need it most. Especially in DC it has been proven that failing or successful schools are not defined not by the students, but by the integrity of the teachers. This is demonstrated by several DC schools which are close in proximity to one another, but just because of the presence of several strong and encouraging teachers, the students are achieving at higher rates. In this situation, the students are not the variables. Instead what varies from school to school is the teachers.
Chancellor of DC public schools Michelle Rhee has taken this as her charge and revolutionized the way that schools are run in DCPS (Public Schools)-- or rather, the way in which these schools will be run in the future. She, and other advocates of strong, quality educations for DC youth regardless of their upbringing focus on the progress of the teacher in the classroom when it comes to compensation. No longer will the eldest teacher be paid the most and have the most job security. These teachers are equally welcome to prove their successes in the classroom but will not automatically be grandfathered into the system (and as you can imagine, cause quite an uproar in this movement.) But when you consider this, I'd like you to think of what career in the whole world allows its employees to lose money, fail or fall short year after year, but allow them to still stay on board as a part of the business. I personally can't think of any. And when you further consider the raises that teachers will receive for setting and achieving goals with their students, it only makes sense that when salaries are raised, other, equally bright and intelligent teachers will be attracted to doing the same job.
Time for bed yall.
besitos
Welcome to my first post from DC! I'm writing from my iPhone as I sit and wait for our next session to begin. First things first- this city is HOT! hot and muggy. I feel like I am a 300-400 pound person wearing a sweatsuit as I romp around this city. I'm pretty sure every pore in my body has excreted about 1 gallon of sweat each. I am constantly drenched from head to toe in SWEAT! ick. But what I hate more than sweat is people complaining about the heat and sweat.
The DC communtiy leader panel is beginning here in the auditorium at the National Geographic Museum. To be be continued!
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Monday, June 21, 2010
Black Hole
I have known that I would be spending the majority of my summer training to be a secondary spanish teacher since mid-October of 2009 when I found out that I was accepted into Teach for America. I've know that I would be thrown in front of a group of kids, many of whom do not care to be sitting in front of me, many of whom have already accepted the feeling of academic defeat. I've known that for 6 weeks out of my summer I would get about 3-5 hours of sleep each night. Yet for the last 8 months, I have not felt even the least bit apprehensive, nervous, or scared. However I suppose the culmination of that prior knowledge is NOW. It's 12 hours before my Milwaukee-->DCA Airtran flight, and I just feel FUNNY. What I have realized is that in all my other endeavors--study abroad, travel, summer jobs, academic year-long jobs--I have gone into knowing that at if its not for me, it will all be over soon. But this, Teach for America, is not a summer job. Nor is it a part time job to pay the rent during the academic year. It's a two year adventure that I'm sure will consume the majority of my time and leave me feeling exhausted at times and accomplished at others. I'm not walking five minutes out of the Embassy to Gordon Commons, nor am I riding my bike 15 minutes to Madison West High School. I'm packing up EVERYTHING I have (which, to be honest, fills just about 4 large suitcases and about 4 filing boxes) and taking it cross country. I've signed a lease on an apartment which I have yet to see, work in a county that I've never been to before and in a school which I haven't even been assigned yet.
While I still don't feel scared or nervous, I just feel a little uneasy. Uneasy that I'm throwing myself into this vaguely defined black hole which I know will consume me, yet into which I still willingly jump head first. So ladies and gentlemen, here I go.
While I still don't feel scared or nervous, I just feel a little uneasy. Uneasy that I'm throwing myself into this vaguely defined black hole which I know will consume me, yet into which I still willingly jump head first. So ladies and gentlemen, here I go.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Blast from the Past--Reflection on Egypt 2006
This past summer, I had the chance to do something that not every teenager, or person for that matter, has the opportunity to do. I spent six weeks in Cairo, Egypt as part of an Egyptian family and as a student at an Arabic Language and Cultural Center. Two weeks after having returned to the United States, it is strange because I almost feel like my journey to Egypt never even took place. I am again sitting at the same computer as 8 weeks before, chatting with the same friends from high school, and I have even moved out of my home and am making a new transition into college. On the surface, my life is the same. But looking deeper into the thoughts and actions that I carry out on a daily basis, one can see how much six short weeks in the Middle East has drastically changed my outlook on life and my purpose in it.
Before Egypt, I considered myself a very open-minded, knowledgeable person. I started an International Awareness Club at my high school, and I hosted several exchange students. And as I can imagine my Egyptian host mother telling me, smiling “meshi, ok.” Which, in this situation implies “Okay. Thank you for sharing, Maria.” I did have an open mind and I did know a thing or two about the worlds different cultures and peoples. But by the end of my six week adventure, I realized how much how much my mind could still be opened and how much more I could actually learn. What I learned came did not come just from five weeks of Arabic class or just from time spent with my Egyptian family. Instead it was these experiences, combined with many others. It was the school and family combined with ith the two hours I spent on 6 different microbuses every day, or asking directions from a woman on the street, or us Americans asking our Arabic teacher Mohammed about an uncomfortable or confusing cultural situation we had gotten ourselves into. The knowledge that I gained came from the week I spent in the Egyptian countryside, sleeping under the stars on the balcony and living without running water. It came from from how I felt as a veiled woman at a conservative family wedding, how part of me wished I could have worn a sexy new dress, and then how the other part never thought of what I was wearing but instead on the interactions that I had. What I felt, what I ate, what I saw, what I heard, what I dreamed and even what I smelled contributed to all that I discovered during my stay in Egypt.
So, what did I learn? How exactly did it impact me? Like my peers who accompanied me on this trip, I feel that a summarization of what knowledge I gained is impossible. More appropriately, the feelings and emotions that I now possess can expose what I have learned about Egyptian and Arab culture. I must first say that my feelings are strong. Upon returning home, I was surprised to feel an even greater longing for Egypt than I did for my home while abroad. I was both extremely happy for what I had accomplished and having met the people I had met, but also exceptionally sad to have to leave it all behind when I was just becoming comfortable and beginning to understand. I feel strongly about many of the experiences that I had while in Egypt.
Primarily, I feel strongly connected to my Egyptian family. Whereas anyone could read a book about Egyptian family life, when in Egypt, the trials and tribulations that I went though in the process of connecting with each member of my family helped me gain an understanding of exactly what it meant to be a family in Cairo, Egypt. What role did I have as a daughter, an older sister, a teenager, a woman? At first I had no idea, but the more time that I spent with my family and walking around the streets of Cairo, I believe I began to understand. When my host sister told me the she could only hope that the family’s next exchange students would be as respectful of the home’s rules and traditions as I was, I felt that I had accomplished one of the greatest feats in my life. Or when my host father called me “ya habibiti” or “ya binti” (my love or my girl) rather than just “Maria,” I felt as if I had picked up on even the smallest cultural fragments that brought together a family.
Furthermore, I feel strongly attached to the Middle East and recognize it as a significant region of the world. Before I went to Egypt, I was aware of the problems that seemed to be growing there. However, I did not concern myself with them. I felt that it was some Muslim extremist’s fault for creating wars and that there was really nothing more to it. Like many other Americans, I didn’t want to make “their problem” my problem. Here, however, is where my views have changed most dramatically. Whereas I previously laughed with my Waukesha friends who told me that they only hoped that I would come back alive from Egypt and that I would not meet any terrorists, I now become appalled and angered by these kinds of jokes. It frustrates and saddens me that the majority of the American population, as I once did, sees the Middle East as a place only for violence, war, extreme religion and terrorism. It is true that these types of corruption exist there. However, I had an experience most opposite from this stereotype. Though Egyptians dislike American governmental policy, I, as an American citizen, was welcomed with open arms into the homes and hearts of more families and new friends than I can name. Bombs? I didn’t see any. So-called "terrorists" ? I didn’t meet any.
Yes. The people of Egypt are mostly Muslim, and yes, the women cover with long sleeves and veils. Yes. Many stereotypes that people have of Egypt and the Middle East are true in many situations. But in no way do these ideas prevent the Egyptian people from learning, growing and sharing just like Americans desire to do. My conservative Muslim family who never missed any of the five-a-day prayers and who were the first ones at the mosque every Friday, taught me only about kindness, sharing and community. My mother, who veiled from head to toe, always stayed up until I returned home safe at night. My sister, who will not date until she has accepted a marriage offer, and I bantered about the order and atomic weight of the elements on the periodic table and also which shirt looked better with which pants. In these situations, it wasn't until I felt the sweat dripping down my brow and looked out the window to see the desert as my backyard that I was in a foreign land half-way across the world.
It is true that Egyptian culture is so incredibly different from that of the United States. I am not lying when I say that many times I was uncomfortable or felt awkward because of a cultural difference or misunderstanding. I will admit that I was at times scared of finding my way around Cairo during my daily transit from school to home. However, I cannot begin to explain the unbelievable feeling that one attains when he or she finally can get from school to home without a problem, jump into a conversation with your average, everyday Egyptian, or walk down the street without feeling like a stranger. For the past summer, being "just like Asmaa, like Afnaan, like Ayatt, like Abd-alRahman" as my host mom would say in reference to my 4 sisters and brother, this is what I feel I have accomplished. By the last week in Cairo, I felt part of the family, part of the culture, and most notably, a part of Cairene society.
Before Egypt, I considered myself a very open-minded, knowledgeable person. I started an International Awareness Club at my high school, and I hosted several exchange students. And as I can imagine my Egyptian host mother telling me, smiling “meshi, ok.” Which, in this situation implies “Okay. Thank you for sharing, Maria.” I did have an open mind and I did know a thing or two about the worlds different cultures and peoples. But by the end of my six week adventure, I realized how much how much my mind could still be opened and how much more I could actually learn. What I learned came did not come just from five weeks of Arabic class or just from time spent with my Egyptian family. Instead it was these experiences, combined with many others. It was the school and family combined with ith the two hours I spent on 6 different microbuses every day, or asking directions from a woman on the street, or us Americans asking our Arabic teacher Mohammed about an uncomfortable or confusing cultural situation we had gotten ourselves into. The knowledge that I gained came from the week I spent in the Egyptian countryside, sleeping under the stars on the balcony and living without running water. It came from from how I felt as a veiled woman at a conservative family wedding, how part of me wished I could have worn a sexy new dress, and then how the other part never thought of what I was wearing but instead on the interactions that I had. What I felt, what I ate, what I saw, what I heard, what I dreamed and even what I smelled contributed to all that I discovered during my stay in Egypt.
So, what did I learn? How exactly did it impact me? Like my peers who accompanied me on this trip, I feel that a summarization of what knowledge I gained is impossible. More appropriately, the feelings and emotions that I now possess can expose what I have learned about Egyptian and Arab culture. I must first say that my feelings are strong. Upon returning home, I was surprised to feel an even greater longing for Egypt than I did for my home while abroad. I was both extremely happy for what I had accomplished and having met the people I had met, but also exceptionally sad to have to leave it all behind when I was just becoming comfortable and beginning to understand. I feel strongly about many of the experiences that I had while in Egypt.
Primarily, I feel strongly connected to my Egyptian family. Whereas anyone could read a book about Egyptian family life, when in Egypt, the trials and tribulations that I went though in the process of connecting with each member of my family helped me gain an understanding of exactly what it meant to be a family in Cairo, Egypt. What role did I have as a daughter, an older sister, a teenager, a woman? At first I had no idea, but the more time that I spent with my family and walking around the streets of Cairo, I believe I began to understand. When my host sister told me the she could only hope that the family’s next exchange students would be as respectful of the home’s rules and traditions as I was, I felt that I had accomplished one of the greatest feats in my life. Or when my host father called me “ya habibiti” or “ya binti” (my love or my girl) rather than just “Maria,” I felt as if I had picked up on even the smallest cultural fragments that brought together a family.
Furthermore, I feel strongly attached to the Middle East and recognize it as a significant region of the world. Before I went to Egypt, I was aware of the problems that seemed to be growing there. However, I did not concern myself with them. I felt that it was some Muslim extremist’s fault for creating wars and that there was really nothing more to it. Like many other Americans, I didn’t want to make “their problem” my problem. Here, however, is where my views have changed most dramatically. Whereas I previously laughed with my Waukesha friends who told me that they only hoped that I would come back alive from Egypt and that I would not meet any terrorists, I now become appalled and angered by these kinds of jokes. It frustrates and saddens me that the majority of the American population, as I once did, sees the Middle East as a place only for violence, war, extreme religion and terrorism. It is true that these types of corruption exist there. However, I had an experience most opposite from this stereotype. Though Egyptians dislike American governmental policy, I, as an American citizen, was welcomed with open arms into the homes and hearts of more families and new friends than I can name. Bombs? I didn’t see any. So-called "terrorists" ? I didn’t meet any.
Yes. The people of Egypt are mostly Muslim, and yes, the women cover with long sleeves and veils. Yes. Many stereotypes that people have of Egypt and the Middle East are true in many situations. But in no way do these ideas prevent the Egyptian people from learning, growing and sharing just like Americans desire to do. My conservative Muslim family who never missed any of the five-a-day prayers and who were the first ones at the mosque every Friday, taught me only about kindness, sharing and community. My mother, who veiled from head to toe, always stayed up until I returned home safe at night. My sister, who will not date until she has accepted a marriage offer, and I bantered about the order and atomic weight of the elements on the periodic table and also which shirt looked better with which pants. In these situations, it wasn't until I felt the sweat dripping down my brow and looked out the window to see the desert as my backyard that I was in a foreign land half-way across the world.
It is true that Egyptian culture is so incredibly different from that of the United States. I am not lying when I say that many times I was uncomfortable or felt awkward because of a cultural difference or misunderstanding. I will admit that I was at times scared of finding my way around Cairo during my daily transit from school to home. However, I cannot begin to explain the unbelievable feeling that one attains when he or she finally can get from school to home without a problem, jump into a conversation with your average, everyday Egyptian, or walk down the street without feeling like a stranger. For the past summer, being "just like Asmaa, like Afnaan, like Ayatt, like Abd-alRahman" as my host mom would say in reference to my 4 sisters and brother, this is what I feel I have accomplished. By the last week in Cairo, I felt part of the family, part of the culture, and most notably, a part of Cairene society.
Blast from the Past--Email Updates from Cairo 2006
I found these emails from when I was in Egypt. They are updates that I sent to my family and friends. Quite a time of discovery and exploration for me! In the pic above you see me and my two guys who I met during my trip to the Sinai peninsula. These "guys" turned out to be great friends-- one of whom I have visited in Cairo last summer, the other of whom has visited me twice in Madison. :)
Update #1
i finally have access to the internet! my family's computer broke and they are working on getting a new one. thier fridge also broke so they had to get a new one of those first. so right now im at in internet cafe during the breaktime that we have for school
can i please just say that everything is soOOOOOOOO different.
ok they do not use toilet paper!!!!!!!!!!!! they have a litttle sprayer next to the toilet that you just spray off with. not a bidet but like a shower hose. its rather refreshing but kind of sticky because you dont use a towel or anything afterwards. im still figuring it out.
my host family-VERy nice people. the veil is very misleading honestly when "mama" gets home, she rips it off. same with the girls. ALL my clothes are WAYY too inappropriate for here. or at least for my family they are very conservative. even shirts that cover everything up but show skin when i bend over are not good.
before going out last night (and when i say going out i mean going to buy bread- i have a feeling that i wont be really "going out" a lot. ) "baba" (the dad) made me iron my shirt and pants even though they were cargo/baggy ish pants that are always a little wrinkly. shoot man this is tough.
ok and the men. yikes they act like they have never seen a woman before. whistling, yelling, beeping, winking, etc... to me its funny but i cant laugh because it will be signal to them or something. even my sister asmaa said that she was scared when we went out last night.
OMG transportation. take the nearest person, hug them, breath on them, smell thier armpits, look them in the eyes from less then a foot away and then you will know what the metro is like.
ok i have to get back to class right now.
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update #2
Asalamu alakum!!
(your response: wi' alakum asalam!)
Hey friends and family! Sorry that it took so long, but I'm finally able to say hello from Cairo, Egypt! I have officially been here for a week now, and its been CRAZY!! I will try to summarize my experience THUS FAR, even though I could write a novel on it.
Last Wednesday and Wednesday, we attended arabic classes for 4 hours each day. This is what we will be doing for the next four weeks. We started learning phrases like " live...", and "my name is.." and responses to greetings and questions. We also learned the alphabet and are starting to spell words with it! Wow though!!! its sooo different. for example, there are no "p" or "v" sounds and there are 28 letters.
Even though learning arabic is cool, school is not even 10% what i learn here. EVERYTHING during EVERY minute of the day is different from anything in waukesha, Wi or anywhere in the US. im just going to do some bullet points because its really hard for me to acually tell a story about things that happen here.
cairo is SOO croweded. every morning it takes me 1 hour to get to school with 3 different Microbuses. they are actually big vans that in which about 10-15 people are stuffed. the driver blasts islamic prayer/arabic music (depending on thier age). you tap the person in front of you on the shoulder and pass up your fare (which is about 9 cents (50 piasters or 1/2 egyptian pound).
for the last 4 days i was on the sinai peninsula.
it was BEAUTIFUL! i did not sleep more than 3 hours each night. THESE PEOPLE DO NOT SLEEP!! i watched the sunrise everymorniong. one night we went out to namaa bay beach near sharm el sheik, another night we went 4 wheeling in the desert, and the other night everyone stayed up and hung out/swam at the amazing hotel. i also went snorkling, swimming, on a glass bottom boat tour and tubing in the red sea. the water is so blue and there are so many fish!!!
i also went horse back riding in the desert for about 45 minutes. it cost me a whopping 20 pounds (4-ish dollars)
last night (saturday), we climed mount sinai!! it was really hard, espeically because we started at 2 am after not sleeping at all, and when it was still dark out. but when we reached the top, seeing the starts and then watching the sunrise was AMAZING. i cant wait to share pictures.
the whole AFS group that is here gets along so well!! despire any discomfort im feeling because of cultural differences, im having a great time!! everything is SOOO new and i never cease to be amazed or shocked.
ok something else!! if you have ever heard of egyptian genorosity, it is TRUE. for example, my family is SO very generous that they feed me every hour at least. even though they dont speak english, they find a way to offer me food. and by offering or feeing me, i acually mean feeding me. at dinner, they place food on my plate just as i ifnish my last bite, or for lunch they pack me 3-5 sandwiches!! or they catch me off guard and hand me some food item. i have no where else to put it but my mouth. its like refusing it not an option. its rough man. i acually have the desire to be hungry for once!!
ok i have to get back to school now!! (we have a one hour break each day) i apoligize for the choppiness of the letter, there are so manyt things going on that i dont know where to start or finish! Insha'ala (god willing- a word used in every sentence here) i will be able to write again sooN!
tomorrow i am off the ministry of foriegn affairs with the AFS group.
shoofek maratanya (see you later in colloquial arabic)
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Update #3
hello again friends and fam!!
just a quick update before i head back to school!
it was fun hearing from all of you who send me a response emaiL!
for the last few days it has been really HOT. i checked one day and it was 97 F. yikes. what makes it even hotter is the clothes that im wearing. i ususally wear capris, pants, or a long skirt and a long sleeve shirt. my host family is very conservative and doesnt allow me to wear anything less. even the "conservative" clothes that i brought from the United States is not enough. it is generally too tight, or the t-shirts may show my back when i bend over. covering up so much is definitely something I am still getting used to!!!
Someone asked if i had to wear a veil, and the answer is no. Although many people here tell me that I do look egyptian, it is best for non-muslim foreigners not to wear a headscarf. it the Egyptians become more curious and stare even more than they already do.
In school, we have learned the Arabic alphabet and are beginning to read words!! Its kind of like being in kindergarten again and having the feeling of being able to read for the first time--again!!
learning vocabulary is fun because i learn it at 12 during the day, and go home at 3:00 and am able to use it right away.
When i get home to the US , i will help eveyone write thier names in arabic .
Of course with the awesome things that I am experiencing, there are the not-so-awesome things that I am seeing too. i.e. POLLUTION. its terrible. im coughing all the time and sometimes the smoke fills my stomach and gives me a really uncomforable stomach ache.
This week i have another BUSY schedule!! We will be visiting the Khan Al-Khalili bazaar, going to a sufi dancing concert and then going to a 4 day trip to the al-farafa oasis to do community service, and of course CHILL.
i have to get back to class!! i will keep going with these updates to let everyone know about cairo life! despite all the differences and misunderstandings between american and egyptian culture and llife, i really do like it here. however, the nicities that we have in the US that arent avaible here make me REALLY appreicate having wisconsin as my place to call home. thats a whole nother can of worms that i talk about in the next email: waukesha vs. cairo
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Update #4
Hey people--
It's hardly been a week, but I found some time today so I thought I would share with you an interesting experience that I had last night.
Ok so maybe you're thinking ohh maybe she scaled a pyramid or sailed the nile, buttttt thats actually not it. last night it was my job to wash the dishes. however, for whatever reason, we had no running water. of course usually we do, but sometimes it stops. last night was one of those times. DInner was definitely different than I am used to. But it worked.
To cook dinner, my host mom used some reserves that she keeps in 1.5 liter bottles in the cabinet. Then instead of everyone having his or her own plate, we like 3 or 4 used plates in the middle for the main dishes and just used pita-like bread to scoop a portion out of these community bowls and bring it to our mouths. As for cups, we used one and passed it around ( i know, GROSS, but think about it this way: while I am accepting to drink from a glass that that touched everyone's mouth, they are also accepting to drink from the cup that touched my mouth).
Washing the dishes was interesting. My sister Asmaa helped me. We had about 2 liters of water for all the pots, cups, and plates (we didnt use silverware). I can say that we used the water until it was REALLY gross, and then dumped it out. I was really doubting the fact that we could actually wash dishes with such a limited amount of water. BUT it worked.
OK well sorry if this was boring for you, but I just thought i might share part of life that no one ususally thinks about. Of course when I signed up to come to Egypt, I wasnt thinking about cleaning and washing dishes with my hands and grubby water (and still getting them clean). But the family that I live with here REALLY values family life and togetherness. Everyone has her or his job to help the household run smoothly.
This week at the al-Farafara Oasis we are doing a community service project to restore roman ruins! That will be cool.
Something fun about egypt: the prices!! I have been spending money like mad here, but it really doesnt amount to anything in dollars. When I buy water at the corner store every day, I throw in all these wierd cookies and candy bars just because they look fun to try. My total for all these things comes to like $3.00. A 1.5 L bottle of water is 2 Egyptian Pounds or $0.34. a candy bar (even like kitkat or snickers) is about 1.5-3 (max.) Egyptian pounds. you do the math. its pretty NICE
hope to update all of you soon
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Update #5
Hey people
Again--Greetings from Egypt. Right now I am in a part called Mohandiseen. That is where my school is located, as well as the internet cafe where I am right now.
From Thursday to Sunday of last week, our group took a trip to the al-Farafra Oasis. The reason that we went was to do community service projects. The first day we went to a home in the desert where some Bedoiun people made wood carvings, weaved things out of palm leaves, and sewed clothes out of camel wool. We helped them make lunch, do some of the handicrafts and then played with the little kids! For a while, all the women went into one room and danced to Arabic music. I had to take a moment to really realize that I was dancing to Amr Diab with Bedioun children in the Sahara desert. It was pretty fun I'll have to admit. There was also a sandstorm that blew through when we were there!! It was like a mini-tornado that lasted only for a few seconds. It was funny because all the americans jumped into fetal position while the Egyptians just covered thier faces and waited for it to pass.
We also covered a building with cement paste. The cement was actually just sand and water. Its a perfect covering for all buildings here because it dries quickly and is very stong. However, there would be a problem if it ever rained!! The process was really hot and really smelly, but we all got through it alive. All of the volunteers ended up covered in mud by the end. Some guys even started mud wrestling!! It was actually a good time.
One complaint: Terrible food. We ate sliced warm cucumbers, tomatoes and goat cheese, and grainy pita pockets for a total of 5 out of 7 meals. I guess i cant complain- we WERE in the middle of the desert.
We took a trip to the white desert for the last night to watch the sunset. on the way there there was a random pair of camels roaming the desert!! Again--pretty surreal.
The rock formations in the desert were gorgeous.
It was a really wierd feeling, but I actually wanted to get back to cairo where it was 95 degrees instead of 110 and where I could get a cold glass of water.
We only have one week of school left! this trip is going so fast! Attempting to learn arabic makes me want to learn all the romance langauges at lightining speed. In arabic class, it takes me a few minutes just to recognize the letters and sound out the word. And then, I dont even know what it means! AT least in Spanish and German and stuff I can read the langauge right off the bat! Insha'ala my arabic skills will be okay when i get back :):)
i have to get home
thanks for reading
maria
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Update #6
Asalamu Alakum!!
Greetings once again! My AFS friend Margaret and I have made friends with the guy who runs the internet cafe where I write from because we are here so often!!
Continuing with the saga...
I went to the pyramids yesterday!! In all the travel movies, they make it look like you have to take an excursion to some remote location in the middle of the desert (by the way, in arabic the word "sahara" means desert) in order to reach the site of the pyramids. But actually, they are located on the outskirts of Cairo (in Giza). We just got off the highway, drove about 5 minutes and we were there! Looking out the bus window, they seemed so small, but then I looked at the base and saw a person standing near one. He was only as tall as the first block!
Pictures do not do the pyramids justice. You cant fit all three in one picture with the spinx. The coolest view is from in front of the sphinx with all three in the background. It was hard to get a picture because of all the tourists. From this view, if you turn 180 degrees and walk about 100 meters, you will be at Pizza Hut (or KFC--you choose--as they are right next to each other).
I also went to the Egyptain museum. WOW there are so many amazing artifacts there. BUT, nothing is done to preserve or really exhibit them. Everything is just placed on the floor or wall or in a glass case. SOme of the explaniations of the artifacts are written on post it-like papers, tape or a note card and placed in the case. OTHERS are typewritten. thats what i call quality.
CULTURAL POINT: Now I think I understnad why egyptians stare at me EVERY second that I am in public. Ok... There are many tourists at the pyramids. As tourists, they do not try to fit in with Egyptian culture, and show up wearing shorts, mini skirts, tank-tops, muscle shirts for guys, etc. When I saw that, my jaw just dropped. I dont know why, but it was so WIERD to me to see all that skin. Here I am, an American teenager who is used to wearing mini skirts and bikinis, staring at these people who are wearing "normal" American clothing. These Cairo men (and even women) stare at us foriengers because our skirts reach only past our knees, we wear short sleeve t-shirts, and our long hair blows in the wind.
I think I am starting to get used to the whole clothing change now. I havent worn a tight shirt since the US. I have not put on a pair of shorts or tight jeans since the US. I havent worn make up the whole time that I've been here (its seriously MELTS off your face)
It is not that people dont wear tight clothes and tight shirts, but you have to know that if you do, you will be started at and called to. I was told by at 17 yr old guy who volunteers for AFS that he thinks women really should cover thier hair and wear long pants and long sleeve shirts. Not because he thinks men should have more rights or because women should be submissive. His honest reason: its safer. When I first heard that I was like yeah right thats BS. But I will tell you that the day that I wore a headscarf, long sleeve shirt and a long skirt to go a conservative family member's wedding, I did not hear and whistling, calls, kissy noises, etc. from even one person on the street. Things are very different here.
OK I'm heading to the CIty Stars Mall now in Nasr City ( a kind of subburb of Cairo). I will attempt to take a taxi there...
Shukran giddan (thanks a lot)
M'salama (goodbye)
Maria
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Thursday, April 22, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Poesía de Delmira Agustini y Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
I'm in a latin american literature survey class right now and this poetry is awesome. Such a daring young woman at the turn of the century in 1900. ain't no shame in bearing your feelings. AIN'T NO SHAME IN CHALLENGING GENDER ROLES AND SOCIETAL STRUCTURE!
I'm sorry I can't include the English translation because it doesn't do the poem justice.
El intruso por Delmira Agustini
Amor, la noche estaba trágica y sollozante
Cuando tu llave de oro cantó en mi cerradura;
Luego, la puerta abierta sobre la sombra helante,
Tu forma fue una mancha de luz y de blancura.
Todo aquí lo alumbraron tus ojos de diamante;
Bebieron en mi copa tus labios de frescura,
Y descansó en mi almohada tu cabeza fragante;
Me encantó tu descaro y adoré tu locura.
Y hoy río si tú ríes, y canto si tú cantas;
Y si tú duermes duermo como un perro a tus plantas!
Hoy llevo hasta en mi sombra tu olor de primavera;
Y tiemblo si tu mano toca la cerradura,
Y bendigo la noche sollozante y oscura
Que floreció en mi vida tu boca tempranera!
**Me encanta más la frase "Me encantó tu descaro y adoré tu locura" porque te sientas así cuando estás verdaderamente enamorada, ¿no?
Otra buena representación del amor:
Explosión de Delmira Agustini
¡Si la vida es amor, bendita sea!
Quiero más vida para amar! Hoy siento
que no valen mil años de la idea
lo que un minuto azul de sentimiento.
Mi corazón moría triste y lento…
Hoy abre en luz como una flor febea.
¡La vida brota como un mar violento
donde la mano del amor golpea! **
Hoy partió hacia la noche, triste, fría…
rotas las alas, mi melancolía;
como una vieja mancha de dolor
en la sombra lejana se deslíe…
¡Mi vida toda canta, besa, ríe!
¡Mi vida toda es una boca en flor!
**la oración que me gusta más.
Dos otras que tengo que incluir que no es de la misma epoca pero aún más fascinante (por una escritora que consideraría mi heroe).
Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
read on this womans life, shes amazing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juana_Inés_de_la_Cruz
PRIMERA:
Hombres necios que acusáis
a la mujer, sin razón,
sin ver que sois la ocasión
de lo mismo que culpáis;
si con ansia sin igual
solicitáis su desdén,
por qué queréis que obren bien
si las incitáis al mal?
Combatís su resistencia
y luego, con gravedad,
decís que fue liviandad
lo que hizo la diligencia.
Parecer quiere el denuedo
de vuestro parecer loco,
al niño que pone el coco
y luego le tiene miedo.
Queréis, con presunción necia,
hallar a la que buscáis
para prentendida, Thais,
y en la posesión, Lucrecia.
¿Qué humor puede ser más raro
que el que, falto de consejo,
él mismo empaña el espejo
y siente que no esté claro?
Con el favor y el desdén
tenéis condición igual,
quejándoos, si os tratan mal,
burlándoos, si os quieren bien.
Opinión, ninguna gana,
pues la que más se recata,
si no os admite, es ingrata,
y si os admite, es liviana.
Siempre tan necios andáis
que, con desigual nivel,
a una culpáis por cruel
y a otra por fácil culpáis.
¿Pues como ha de estar templada
la que vuestro amor pretende?,
¿si la que es ingrata ofende,
y la que es fácil enfada?
Mas, entre el enfado y la pena
que vuestro gusto refiere,
bien haya la que no os quiere
y quejaos en hora buena.
Dan vuestras amantes penas
a sus libertades alas,
y después de hacerlas malas
las queréis hallar muy buenas.
--------------------------
(parte más importante abajo según yo)
¿Cuál mayor culpa ha tenido
en una pasión errada:
la que cae de rogada,
o el que ruega de caído?
¿O cuál es de más culpar,
aunque cualquiera mal haga;
la que peca por la paga
o el que paga por pecar?
¿Pues, para qué os espantáis
de la culpa que tenéis?
Queredlas cual las hacéis
o hacedlas cual las buscáis.
----------------------
Dejad de solicitar,
y después, con más razón,
acusaréis la afición
de la que os fuere a rogar.
Bien con muchas armas fundo
que lidia vuestra arrogancia,
pues en promesa e instancia
juntáis diablo, carne y mundo.
SEGUNDA:
FINJAMOS QUE SOY FELIZ
Finjamos que soy feliz,
triste pensamiento, un rato;
quizá prodréis persuadirme,
aunque yo sé lo contrario,
que pues sólo en la aprehensión
dicen que estriban los daños,
si os imagináis dichoso
no seréis tan desdichado.
Sírvame el entendimiento
alguna vez de descanso,
y no siempre esté el ingenio
con el provecho encontrado.
Todo el mundo es opiniones
de pareceres tan varios,
que lo que el uno que es negro
el otro prueba que es blanco.
A unos sirve de atractivo
lo que otro concibe enfado;
y lo que éste por alivio,
aquél tiene por trabajo.
El que está triste, censura
al alegre de liviano;
y el que esta alegre se burla
de ver al triste penando.
Los dos filósofos griegos
bien esta verdad probaron:
pues lo que en el uno risa,
causaba en el otro llanto.
Célebre su oposición
ha sido por siglos tantos,
sin que cuál acertó, esté
hasta agora averiguado.
Antes, en sus dos banderas
el mundo todo alistado,
conforme el humor le dicta,
sigue cada cual el bando.
Uno dice que de risa
sólo es digno el mundo vario;
y otro, que sus infortunios
son sólo para llorados.
Para todo se halla prueba
y razón en qué fundarlo;
y no hay razón para nada,
de haber razón para tanto.
Todos son iguales jueces;
y siendo iguales y varios,
no hay quien pueda decidir
cuál es lo más acertado.
Pues, si no hay quien lo sentencie,
¿por qué pensáis, vos, errado,
que os cometió Dios a vos
la decisión de los casos?
O ¿por qué, contra vos mismo,
severamente inhumano,
entre lo amargo y lo dulce,
queréis elegir lo amargo?
Si es mío mi entendimiento,
¿por qué siempre he de encontrarlo
tan torpe para el alivio,
tan agudo para el daño?
El discurso es un acero
que sirve para ambos cabos:
de dar muerte, por la punta,
por el pomo, de resguardo.
Si vos, sabiendo el peligro
queréis por la punta usarlo,
¿qué culpa tiene el acero
del mal uso de la mano?
No es saber, saber hacer
discursos sutiles, vanos;
que el saber consiste sólo
en elegir lo más sano.
Especular las desdichas
y examinar los presagios,
sólo sirve de que el mal
crezca con anticiparlo.
En los trabajos futuros,
la atención, sutilizando,
más formidable que el riesgo
suele fingir el amago.
Qué feliz es la ignorancia
del que, indoctamente sabio,
halla de lo que padece,
en lo que ignora, sagrado!
No siempre suben seguros
vuelos del ingenio osados,
que buscan trono en el fuego
y hallan sepulcro en el llanto.
También es vicio el saber,
que si no se va atajando,
cuando menos se conoce
es más nocivo el estrago;
y si el vuelo no le abaten,
en sutilezas cebado,
por cuidar de lo curioso
olvida lo necesario.
Si culta mano no impide
crecer al árbol copado,
quita la sustancia al fruto
la locura de los ramos.
Si andar a nave ligera
no estorba lastre pesado,
sirve el vuelo de que sea
el precipicio más alto.
En amenidad inútil,
¿qué importa al florido campo,
si no halla fruto el otoño,
que ostente flores el mayo?
¿De qué sirve al ingenio
el producir muchos partos,
si a la multitud se sigue
el malogro de abortarlos?
Y a esta desdicha por fuerza
ha de seguirse el fracaso
de quedar el que produce,
si no muerto, lastimado.
El ingenio es como el fuego,
que, con la materia ingrato,
tanto la consume más
cuando él se ostenta más claro.
Es de su propio Señor
tan rebelado vasallo,
que convierte en sus ofensas
las armas de su resguardo.
Este pésimo ejercicio,
este duro afán pesado,
a los ojos de los hombres
dio Dios para ejercitarlos.
¿Qué loca ambición nos lleva
de nosotros olvidados?
Si es para vivir tan poco,
¿de qué sirve saber tanto?
¡Oh, si como hay de saber,
hubiera algún seminario
o escuela donde a ignorar
se enseñaran los trabajos!
¡Qué felizmente viviera
el que, flojamente cauto,
burlara las amenazas
del influjo de los astros!
Aprendamos a ignorar,
pensamiento, pues hallamos
que cuanto añado al discurso,
tanto le usurpo a los años.
I'm sorry I can't include the English translation because it doesn't do the poem justice.
El intruso por Delmira Agustini
Amor, la noche estaba trágica y sollozante
Cuando tu llave de oro cantó en mi cerradura;
Luego, la puerta abierta sobre la sombra helante,
Tu forma fue una mancha de luz y de blancura.
Todo aquí lo alumbraron tus ojos de diamante;
Bebieron en mi copa tus labios de frescura,
Y descansó en mi almohada tu cabeza fragante;
Me encantó tu descaro y adoré tu locura.
Y hoy río si tú ríes, y canto si tú cantas;
Y si tú duermes duermo como un perro a tus plantas!
Hoy llevo hasta en mi sombra tu olor de primavera;
Y tiemblo si tu mano toca la cerradura,
Y bendigo la noche sollozante y oscura
Que floreció en mi vida tu boca tempranera!
**Me encanta más la frase "Me encantó tu descaro y adoré tu locura" porque te sientas así cuando estás verdaderamente enamorada, ¿no?
Otra buena representación del amor:
Explosión de Delmira Agustini
¡Si la vida es amor, bendita sea!
Quiero más vida para amar! Hoy siento
que no valen mil años de la idea
lo que un minuto azul de sentimiento.
Mi corazón moría triste y lento…
Hoy abre en luz como una flor febea.
¡La vida brota como un mar violento
donde la mano del amor golpea! **
Hoy partió hacia la noche, triste, fría…
rotas las alas, mi melancolía;
como una vieja mancha de dolor
en la sombra lejana se deslíe…
¡Mi vida toda canta, besa, ríe!
¡Mi vida toda es una boca en flor!
**la oración que me gusta más.
Dos otras que tengo que incluir que no es de la misma epoca pero aún más fascinante (por una escritora que consideraría mi heroe).
Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
read on this womans life, shes amazing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juana_Inés_de_la_Cruz
PRIMERA:
Hombres necios que acusáis
a la mujer, sin razón,
sin ver que sois la ocasión
de lo mismo que culpáis;
si con ansia sin igual
solicitáis su desdén,
por qué queréis que obren bien
si las incitáis al mal?
Combatís su resistencia
y luego, con gravedad,
decís que fue liviandad
lo que hizo la diligencia.
Parecer quiere el denuedo
de vuestro parecer loco,
al niño que pone el coco
y luego le tiene miedo.
Queréis, con presunción necia,
hallar a la que buscáis
para prentendida, Thais,
y en la posesión, Lucrecia.
¿Qué humor puede ser más raro
que el que, falto de consejo,
él mismo empaña el espejo
y siente que no esté claro?
Con el favor y el desdén
tenéis condición igual,
quejándoos, si os tratan mal,
burlándoos, si os quieren bien.
Opinión, ninguna gana,
pues la que más se recata,
si no os admite, es ingrata,
y si os admite, es liviana.
Siempre tan necios andáis
que, con desigual nivel,
a una culpáis por cruel
y a otra por fácil culpáis.
¿Pues como ha de estar templada
la que vuestro amor pretende?,
¿si la que es ingrata ofende,
y la que es fácil enfada?
Mas, entre el enfado y la pena
que vuestro gusto refiere,
bien haya la que no os quiere
y quejaos en hora buena.
Dan vuestras amantes penas
a sus libertades alas,
y después de hacerlas malas
las queréis hallar muy buenas.
--------------------------
(parte más importante abajo según yo)
¿Cuál mayor culpa ha tenido
en una pasión errada:
la que cae de rogada,
o el que ruega de caído?
¿O cuál es de más culpar,
aunque cualquiera mal haga;
la que peca por la paga
o el que paga por pecar?
¿Pues, para qué os espantáis
de la culpa que tenéis?
Queredlas cual las hacéis
o hacedlas cual las buscáis.
----------------------
Dejad de solicitar,
y después, con más razón,
acusaréis la afición
de la que os fuere a rogar.
Bien con muchas armas fundo
que lidia vuestra arrogancia,
pues en promesa e instancia
juntáis diablo, carne y mundo.
SEGUNDA:
FINJAMOS QUE SOY FELIZ
Finjamos que soy feliz,
triste pensamiento, un rato;
quizá prodréis persuadirme,
aunque yo sé lo contrario,
que pues sólo en la aprehensión
dicen que estriban los daños,
si os imagináis dichoso
no seréis tan desdichado.
Sírvame el entendimiento
alguna vez de descanso,
y no siempre esté el ingenio
con el provecho encontrado.
Todo el mundo es opiniones
de pareceres tan varios,
que lo que el uno que es negro
el otro prueba que es blanco.
A unos sirve de atractivo
lo que otro concibe enfado;
y lo que éste por alivio,
aquél tiene por trabajo.
El que está triste, censura
al alegre de liviano;
y el que esta alegre se burla
de ver al triste penando.
Los dos filósofos griegos
bien esta verdad probaron:
pues lo que en el uno risa,
causaba en el otro llanto.
Célebre su oposición
ha sido por siglos tantos,
sin que cuál acertó, esté
hasta agora averiguado.
Antes, en sus dos banderas
el mundo todo alistado,
conforme el humor le dicta,
sigue cada cual el bando.
Uno dice que de risa
sólo es digno el mundo vario;
y otro, que sus infortunios
son sólo para llorados.
Para todo se halla prueba
y razón en qué fundarlo;
y no hay razón para nada,
de haber razón para tanto.
Todos son iguales jueces;
y siendo iguales y varios,
no hay quien pueda decidir
cuál es lo más acertado.
Pues, si no hay quien lo sentencie,
¿por qué pensáis, vos, errado,
que os cometió Dios a vos
la decisión de los casos?
O ¿por qué, contra vos mismo,
severamente inhumano,
entre lo amargo y lo dulce,
queréis elegir lo amargo?
Si es mío mi entendimiento,
¿por qué siempre he de encontrarlo
tan torpe para el alivio,
tan agudo para el daño?
El discurso es un acero
que sirve para ambos cabos:
de dar muerte, por la punta,
por el pomo, de resguardo.
Si vos, sabiendo el peligro
queréis por la punta usarlo,
¿qué culpa tiene el acero
del mal uso de la mano?
No es saber, saber hacer
discursos sutiles, vanos;
que el saber consiste sólo
en elegir lo más sano.
Especular las desdichas
y examinar los presagios,
sólo sirve de que el mal
crezca con anticiparlo.
En los trabajos futuros,
la atención, sutilizando,
más formidable que el riesgo
suele fingir el amago.
Qué feliz es la ignorancia
del que, indoctamente sabio,
halla de lo que padece,
en lo que ignora, sagrado!
No siempre suben seguros
vuelos del ingenio osados,
que buscan trono en el fuego
y hallan sepulcro en el llanto.
También es vicio el saber,
que si no se va atajando,
cuando menos se conoce
es más nocivo el estrago;
y si el vuelo no le abaten,
en sutilezas cebado,
por cuidar de lo curioso
olvida lo necesario.
Si culta mano no impide
crecer al árbol copado,
quita la sustancia al fruto
la locura de los ramos.
Si andar a nave ligera
no estorba lastre pesado,
sirve el vuelo de que sea
el precipicio más alto.
En amenidad inútil,
¿qué importa al florido campo,
si no halla fruto el otoño,
que ostente flores el mayo?
¿De qué sirve al ingenio
el producir muchos partos,
si a la multitud se sigue
el malogro de abortarlos?
Y a esta desdicha por fuerza
ha de seguirse el fracaso
de quedar el que produce,
si no muerto, lastimado.
El ingenio es como el fuego,
que, con la materia ingrato,
tanto la consume más
cuando él se ostenta más claro.
Es de su propio Señor
tan rebelado vasallo,
que convierte en sus ofensas
las armas de su resguardo.
Este pésimo ejercicio,
este duro afán pesado,
a los ojos de los hombres
dio Dios para ejercitarlos.
¿Qué loca ambición nos lleva
de nosotros olvidados?
Si es para vivir tan poco,
¿de qué sirve saber tanto?
¡Oh, si como hay de saber,
hubiera algún seminario
o escuela donde a ignorar
se enseñaran los trabajos!
¡Qué felizmente viviera
el que, flojamente cauto,
burlara las amenazas
del influjo de los astros!
Aprendamos a ignorar,
pensamiento, pues hallamos
que cuanto añado al discurso,
tanto le usurpo a los años.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
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