Which continent, exactly?

This blog's title isn't in reference to actual continents (I've now been to four), but is rather drawn from "The Third and Final Continent," a stunning short story by Jhumpa Lahiri, from her collection, The Interpreter of Maladies. In particular, I'm inspired by the following quote that summarizes the attitude I try to carry with me through life and on my travels

I am not the only person to seek his fortune far from home, and certainly I am not the first. Still there are times I am bewildered by each mile I have traveled, each meal I have eaten, each person I have known, each room in which I have slept. As ordinary as it all appears, there are times when it is beyond my imagination.

I love this. It calls on us to consider the tiny details of our experiences, both one-by-one, and in the aggregate, and to maintain a sense of wonder even about the seemingly mundane things that are the building blocks of our lives, and often, the glue that binds us to our traveling companions.

This blog began as a chronicle of my study abroad experience in Cairo in Spring 2008, and continued last year while volunteering in Geneva, and South Sudan with a wonderful organization, VIDES.

Now in graduate school, I'm returning to the Continent this summer while interning in New Delhi, India.

Please enjoy, inquire, and learn.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Improvised lesson plans in pictures

Here's some of the lessons I tried to teach when I was being pulled into classes with no notice and no preparation.  Points for effort? 

 Teaching on the United States, including some American slang to the left.  One student, who I call "Al-ra'ees (the President) for his political tendencies, continues to greet me with “how’s it hanging.”  I’ve created a monster. 

Student horseplay in front of a quick lesson on adjectives/synonyms.

Comparing the US and South Sudan

Adjectives again, this time with a nice letter to their mother I tried to get them to write together using the new words. 

I pulled a short article from a South Sudanese paper I enjoy and had them read for new words and understanding. And yes, I tried to explain hydroelectricity.  Eek. 





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