'International Buzz'

The third week of November is observed as International Education Week.
The Hillside High School’s IB Program celebrated their Annual International Night during that week. The event highlighted the international diversity of Hillside’s students and faculty. It featured the culinary and cultural contributions of students and teachers from many countries. Food, music, and poetry were all part of the event.
I gave a presentation to the gathering, sharing with them ‘my experiences’. For them my observations are like Indian perspective of U.S academic system. They were keen to know my views and the presentation went on with wit and and laughter. The pictures from Matt's blog sought attention among the people. Thanks to Mr Foxman, Mr. McDuffee & Mrs McKoy for their invitation and for providing me a platform to share my views. I will post the pictures of the program soon.

P.S : Wish me 'happy journey' to the 'Savannah (Georgia) Trip'. Can I keep my blog updated regularly this time? Depends...

November Dances 2008

Dance is recently added to the list of my explorations when I went to Bryan Center Duke University.
On Sunday the Reynolds theater hosted the November Dances 2008, a semester end performance of Duke students.
The Dance Concert is a mix of Modern Dance , Ballet and African Dances. It is really a perfect opportunity for me to see different dance forms on the same stage. The performances included ''My Body- My House'', ''Meet Clair'', Ve' Ve', ''A Proper Hysteric'' and ''Torelli''. The first and last were modern Dances, second and fourth colourful Ballet dances and Ve' Ve choreographed by Mr Vin sett is an African fusion dance ( depicting the ritual art of ground painting.)

If African Dance enthralled me with its mood and movement, modern dance is like testing me to understand the theme of the performance. I am really fascinated by the coordination showed by the Ballet group standing perfectly on their toes.

Harry Potter

Last evening we drove throgh the rural America for 2hrs and reached a small town Called Sea Grove to visit the 27th Seagrove pottery festival.
let me quote from the web pages of the Pottery Festival:
"Come to Seagrove, visit, feel the turn in you. There's something about a piece of Seagrove handmade pottery that moves you. A particular shape or function, color or texture, something unexpected, something that draws you over like an old friend, which will inspire you. Discover more than 90 potteries in a 20-mile area. Meet eighth and ninth generation potters in a place rich with a 200-year old tradition".
Here is the link for the publication that depicts all the information about the festival and potters.

The Sarah.P Duke Gardens

'The Duke Gardens' provides a place where people of all backgrounds and ages come for beauty, education, horticulture, solitude, discovery, study, renewal and inspiration.
The Garden, often spoken of as the "Crown Jewel of Duke University," occupies 55 acres in the heart of the University's West Campus, adjacent to Duke University Medical Center.
It is recognized as one of the premier public gardens in the United States, renowned both for landscape design and the quality of horticulture, each year attracting more than 300,000 visitors from all over the world. (... from the Web pages of Duke Gardens.)

Some pictures from the garden during my recent visit.

Guess. What time Did I visit the Garden?

Let me introduce Buster. Matt's pet.

The Central Library

With a collection of over 470,000 fiction and non-fiction books, more than 800 magazine and newspaper titles, the Durham County Library stands tall with its services in Durham. Research and Reference, Business Reference, Community Services and Job help are some of its functions. Kids, Teens, Movies, Music e-books and more.
One of the goals of the library is to provide educational and entertaining Audio Visual materials to the patrons. The library offers videotapes, DVDs, cassettes and C.Ds. The database available for reference here is wide, vast and large.
The LIFT (Learning Information for Today) Librarian is the super cool service offered by the library to help with job searching, proofreading resumes and cover letters, and practicing to interview.
I was offerred a brief visit to the wings of the library when I attended a lecture on ''Religion and Politics in the 21st century'' by Mr. Seth Donald of Duke University. The meeting hall of the library is open for the free and purposeful public meetings.

Wrestling

One more activity checked out from the list. Last night I went to see an Inter School Wrestling match. Had a close observation of the rules and regulations of the play.
Pictured below are Indoor stadium and Get set and Go scenes of the matches.

People I met during Grand Canyon trip

This Chubby cheeks , dimple chin girl is my friend, Sophia.

( She presented a red rose, and by the evening she told me that I am great. )

Tom, father of Sophia,

he gave us ride to Grand Canyons and hosted me in Santa Fe.

Thank you very much Tom. You are so nice.

Pictured above is Kim Holland, an Ex-Fulbrighter, a great human being.

Thank you mam, Gr8 hospitality.

Craig, Kim,s Husband.
I ever remember the apple pie, pan cakes, Sarkar movie and the first snow fall of Flag Staff.


Nico, a French French teacher. You read it right. He is from France.
Thank you for the lunch at 'Himalayas'. And best of luck. ( I think, you know why it is for.)

The tour guide of Grand Canyon. The 'Dude' at Rocks.

Pottery Part II

This is in continuation with my previous posts that discussed about American handicrafts. Please see the self explanatory video.

We have visits by different authorities for the coming 3 days. Today officials from New Tech Foundation came to visit. Tomorrow, we have curriculum audit and the next day visitors from the community. The Progress Reports are due again, this time on Thursday. So a kind of overwhelming work.

One more over. Just 5 to go

Suddenly it feels like all set to end. Just 5 more weeks to go. With thanks giving break, California Conference and Christmas's week, it looks like hardly 15 -20 days. I started checking the activities one by one on the to-do list.
Thinking about constructive way of spending time, I visited Nasher Museum and Duke Chapel this weekend.
Said hello to 'James Bond' of Quantum Of Solace on American Screen.

Pictured above is the beautiful organ of the Chapel.

Pictured above is Nasher Museum. Sorry Cameras not allowed inside. So not many pictures. Click on the links to see the details.

Pottery

Want to know how to make these porcelain bowls. Here is a demonstration given to me by an enthusiastic potter of N.C state fair. Though these professions are not new for India I never got time or opportunity see such stuff. This is learning by seeing. Learning by experiencing.

my first snow fall

Santa Fe - Grand Canyon trip has added one more gr8 experience in my life. I witnessed a Snow Fall for the first time. On my return from Grand Canyon I stayed for a night in a historic city 'Flag Staff'. Craig and Kim Holland (an ex-fulbrighter) hosted us. It snowed for hours that night. I spent a long time watching the piling up to inches through the transparent doors and windows enjoying an 'apple pie' near a wood burner. By the dawn I jumped out the house to play with the snow. It was picturesque all around. I helped Craig in wiping the snow off the car, I made snow balls and threw into the air. Ran inside the house got warmth and went out again to play and to see the snow melting and pouring down the roof gradually.
To the cotrast on my way to Flag staff from Grand Canyon I saw acres and acres of half burnt trees left from the last year's forest fire.

Happy Children's Day

It was like celebrating Children's Day when I visited Rio Grande, a Kindergarten School in Santa Fe, with my co-Fulbrighter Ms.Shohini. I played, danced and enjoyed there on Tuesday .

It was a part of exposing the kids to the International Culture The Class teachers ( Katy and Anna) invited us to celebrate India Day in their class room. We taught them stories about Hindu gods and all of them were curious to know about elephant headed 'Ganesha', flute playing 'Krishna' and ten handed 'Kali'. Girls are asked to tie 'brotherhood band' to boys and boys decorated the girls with 'Bindi'. We all danced to the steps of Shohini who taught them a nature song and I made them do boogie woo gee to an action song. The 4/5 year old kids enjoyed each moment.

It was a wonderful experience to spend time with tiny kids and it provided an opportunity to see the curriculum, schedule and innovative techniques of the American Primary Classes of a rich private school.

I extend the greetings from the Algebra II students of H.N.T.H.S, with whom I shared the details of Children's Day today.

Happy Children's Day .

Meteor Crater

I had a great chance to visit the Meteor Crater Center(Northern Arizona). The tour to Visitor Center provided me with an educational touch to the Grand Canyon trip.
The Meteor Crater is over 4,000 feet across, and 550 feet deep, and the observation telescopes allow you a close up look at points of interest in the crater.A 1,406 pound meteorite fragment, the largest ever found in the area, is on display for visitors to view and touch. The former Museum of Astro-geology has been remodeled and includes the displays on the never-ending process of impacts and collisions in our solar system. The Interactive Learning Center has twenty-four exciting exhibits, making it the most extensive and informative museum of its type on planet earth. There are two interactive computer displays that contain high-tech graphics on space, meteorites and asteroids, the solar system, and the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet that impacted Jupiter. I could also see the fossils for the first time in my life.

DUDE! Grand Canyon Rocks-

As one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon shows an impressive display of erosion and mother earth's natural beauty. Stretching for 277 miles, the Grand Canyon ranges in elevation from 2,400 feet to over 7,000 feet above sea level. The truth is that no one knows for sure though there are some pretty good guesses. The chances are that a number of processes combined to create the views that you see in today’s Grand Canyon.

D- Deposition

U- Up Lift

D- Decay/ Decomposition

E - Erosion

In some oreder these processes (or many cycles) formed the Grand Canyons. The breathtaking beauty of the Grand Canyon is enjoyable for all who visit. 5 million people visit the park every year, and most consider it to be the trip of a lifetime.

DUDE! Grand Canyon Rocks

Santa Fe

I reached Albuquerque by 8 pm. on Friday. The house owner of Sohini, Tom received me from the airport. He is a very good personality, and a great fan of India. By a drive of roughly one hour we reached Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, a historic city and tourist center. It looks like a different country altogether. The colour architecture and structure of the houses here is very different from usual. I am trying to read into it. I will get you more details in the coming posts.
This afternoon I am driving to Flag Staff where we will meet Ms. Kim Holland who will host us for this night. Sunday morning we will visit Grand Canyons which is 1 hour ride from Flag Staff. That evening we will be back to Flag Staff. Next morning return to Santa Fe. I am hoping to explore Santa Fe on Tuesday, Wednesday back to Durham. More pictures and videos in the coming posts. I am afraid wether I can get time and Internet connection to write the posts regularly.

Substitute teachers

Tomorrow I will fly to Santa-Fe (New Mexico) from where we will drive to Grand Canyons(Arizona) on Saturday. I am really exited about the trip. I am utilising every opportunity ( leave/holiday) to visit and explore various places. Tuesday is 'Veterans Day'. Taking leave on Monday and Wednesday makes, wow! a 5 day trip.

Week long work and tidy journey, exploring places and again back to work... It is tiring.
But it in now or never situation no other go.

The substitute teacher system in American schools tells you about the accountability and professionalism of American teachers. Unlike in the Indian Schools, if you are on leave you are not imposing your work load on your co-workers. Plan the classes and frame the work/activity for the whole 90 minutes so that a substitute teacher (not necessarily from the same Discipline) can engage the class comfortably. He/She monitors the class, collects the work sheets make them ready for you to grade. The curriculum map once framed will not (need not) be disturbed (mostly) even in your absence. It makes you more accountable on your leave and absence. It manages the time, maintains the tempo.

Congratulations America !

I missed a day in my blog.
But
I witnessed each moment of the Historic Day.
It means so much not just to Americans but to the whole world.
It tells you why America is so different, more developed and highly advanced.
The difference is in mind set of the people, the responsibility/patriotism of each citizen towards their country.
The maturity and courage shown my American voter in choosing the change by leaving race, religion, caste and creed aside is highly commendable.
So many hardships, so many issues, lot many crises, so may priorities,
But-
as McCain said, 'Country First'.
It is the triumph for each American citizen.
It is so gracious the way McCain responded to the election results assuring the support to Obama.
It is so elegant hat Obama said the nation that ' I will listen to all your voices and I will act as President'.
Hats off to you America.
Best of Luck Obama.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jll5baCAaQU&feature=channel

A Day In History, A Day Away-

This is election eve right here. Its so hot. Both the candidates campaigning strategically in the crucial and deciding states, Obama lost his grand mother, but still managing the campaign as scheduled, McCain is on his whirlwind campaign addressing the people in 7 states with in 24hours, large voter turn out ...
It is just 4 states, Ohio, Notrh Carolina, Verginia and Florida, that are going to decide the result.
Its all the drama, its climax.
Both the parties are making grand and confident arrangements for the celebration.
Some facts-
The United States presidential election of 2008, scheduled for Tuesday November 4, 2008, will be the 56th consecutive quadrennial United States presidential election and will select the President and the Vice President of the United States.
The 2008 election is particularly notable because it is the first time in U.S. history that two sitting senators will run against each other for president, and because it is the first time an African American is a presidential nominee for a major party, as well as the first time both major candidates were born outside the continental United States—Hawaii for Obama and the Panama Canal Zone for McCain. Since the Republican nominee for vice-president is a woman, Governor Sarah Heath Palin, the eventual winning ticket is very likely to be historic, as neither an African American nor a female has achieved either office. In addition, the Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, would be the oldest first-term president and the Democratic nominee for vice-president, Senator Joseph Biden, would be the first Roman Catholic vice president.
The election will coincide with the 2008 Senate elections in thirty-three states, House of Representatives elections in all states, and gubernatorial elections in eleven states, as well as various state referenda and local elections. The president-elect and vice president-elect are scheduled to be inaugurated on January 20, 2009.