Thank you all !

My boss-Dr Logan, Ms Poole, and Ms. Stuver

Mr.French, Mr.Rogers and Ms. Nash

Dr. Rojas and Ms. Taylor

Mr. Lodge and Ms.Schuler

Mr & Ms. Johnson

With Mr & Mrs Rathmell, Ms.Schneider.

I am glad that our paths crossed, and I truly enjoyed your company. Each of you is unique in your own way, yet you all possess qualities of kindness, care, and helpfulness. It was a wonderful experience sharing conversations, dining together in the cafeteria, walking through the hallways, sharing classrooms and office space, taking rides in your cars, and attending meetings. I look forward to the opportunity to meet all of you again. Until then, goodbye, my friends. Please keep in touch. Whenever you feel like it, I will be here to welcome you to India. (Pictures taken on Monday, December 15th)

The last professional meeting

The ILT meeting on Wednesday gave me a chance to ease a bit. However, with the 19th Dec fast approaching, I feel like I’m running out of time. I can hardly keep up with all the work! I need to get my house in order, pack my belongings, shop for essentials, and treat my well-wishers and friends. As for schoolwork, I have to finalize the grades before I leave. At home, there are many people around, and I have to direct everyone on what to do. This whole week has been hectic, filled with farewells, gatherings, parties, and shopping.

My Heros

Thank you, Jajuan, Jamon, Greg, Travion, and Kwaku (from right to left), for making my exchange program so memorable. I will cherish our memories for a long time, and I know you won't forget me anytime soon either. Let's keep in touch, everyone. I miss you all!

Ms.Nash, My Guide

Pictured above is Ms. Nash, the embodiment of enthusiasm, a favorite among all the students. She has been both my Guru and guide. The strength and support she provided from the very beginning of the exchange program were immensely effective. Her commendable ability to multitask and her caring, friendly nature make her popular among the students. Above all, she maintains a cool head in any situation. Her classes served as a valuable reference for me; I could walk in to her class whenever I wanted, observe, and learn effective strategies for dealing with students. Ms. Nash demonstrates remarkable classroom control, deep content knowledge, and a skillful application of project-based learning. It's truly impressive to realize that she is only a second-year teacher—she is indeed a born teacher. Ms. Nash, I sincerely thank you for your time and support. I owe you so much.

What is cool about America?

The stationery and infrastructure at schools from  pencil sharpening machine to jet-fast photocopying machines

The Project Based learning 
The flexible classrooms
The care for inclusibe education 
The technology inclusion in art and STEM

The unmanned petrol bunks,

The parking ticket machines.

The security gates.

The no conductor buses.

The swipe-in tickets.

The drive-through banks and fast food centres.

The huge convex mirrors at the staircases.

The iconic food and its with a wide variety of choices

The free museums and public places

The landscapes and natural beauty

The cleanliness and evident civic responsibility

The respect for disabled and veterans.

Mr.Tharp. The supporter.

Mr. Tharp is a remarkable individual—a great traveler, wrestler, hiker, and an excellent teacher. He was a true supporter during my exchange program. Having worked as an exchange teacher in India and Europe, he is well-versed in the complexities of crossing cultures. Together with his wife, Barbara, he took wonderful care of me and truly became a fatherly figure. He dedicated a lot of time to engaging me in constructive activities and introduced me to adventure games like Orienteering and Hiking. We had a fantastic experience at the North Carolina State Fair, and he took me to live sports events, performances, and important places. Some of my favorite memories include the black box rehearsal, the visit to the library, the wrestling match, and our Saturday brunch with the delicious strawberry waffles that I will always cherish. Additionally, the support he provided, such as taking me to Indian grocery stores and various other places, is invaluable and cannot be repaid. Thank you very much, sir, for everything you did for me, including the very useful gift of a TI-84 calculator.

Mill Valley - San Fansisco - Aparna Mam

I am often ending up reporting incidents from two or three days earlier. I will try to present events in the order they occurred. Today, I am writing about my trip to San Francisco, specifically what I did on Sunday and Monday. During the day, I explored various places around the city. The scenic beauty is remarkable, featuring tall redwood trees, hills covered in lush green grass, the calm blue Pacific Ocean, and impressive bridges and tunnels. Visiting the Golden Gate Bridge, possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world is one of the best memorable experiences I ever had. I have no words to explain the panorama of the Golden Gate Bridge at night, with San Francisco in the background.

By the evening, we welcomed the family members of Aparna Ma'am (a co-Fulbrighter) who had arrived from India. We then continued our exploration of the city, visiting the Financial District, Fisherman’s Wharf, world-famous Chinatown, and Union Square. I highly recommend driving through the iconic "Crooked Street" at least once in your lifetime.

The golden gate bridge

Pelican Harbour

Cathy- who guided the tour. A good friend of Mrs Aparna.

I learnt a life time lessons from you mam.

You stand inspiration to me and many.

Thank you very much for your time.

With Aparna Mam and her Family

The video of SFO airport entrance.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Who wouldn’t be thrilled to see penguins, sharks, sea otters, giant octopuses, eels, seahorses, thousands of fish, and other aquatic life all in one place and just within arm's reach? I felt like a kid again, excited to see and even touch some of these amazing creatures when I had time and an oppurtunity to Visit Montery Bay Aquarium during my visit to Asilomar Boulevard for attending Claifornia Math Council.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium features one of the tallest exhibits in the world: the kelp forest. The aquarium has a clear mission: to inspire the conservation of our oceans. It promotes the concept of sustainable fishing and educates fishermen and consumers alike about the importance of fish conservation.

Kelp forest. See the diver feeding the fish.

From the Coast of Pacific

For the past few days, my blog has transformed into a travel blog showcasing America. On Saturday, I stepped into the third ocean I've experienced: the Pacific. During the conference, I took some time to explore the surroundings. Asilomar Conference Grounds, known as Monterey Peninsula's "Refuge by the Sea," spans 107 acres of protected beachfront land in the quaint and picturesque town of Pacific Grove. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds as an esteemed part of the California State Park system. I arrived at the venue late at night, around 11:30 PM, and went to sleep shortly after being assigned a room. When I woke up in the morning and stepped outside, I was pleasantly surprised to find the tranquil and blue Pacific Ocean just 50 feet away. In the evening, I visited the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Fire place at the front desk.

View, just by a 10 feet walk from my room.

California Math Council

I apologize for not writing a blog for the past few days; I was busy attending the California Math Council's 51st Annual Conference. Asilomar Conference Grounds hosted this event, where hundreds of math teachers gathered to share ideas and learn about the latest developments in mathematics education. There were numerous conference rooms and more than 200 sessions to choose from, tailored to various interests. On Friday, I attended sessions on "Using the TNSPIRE Calculator" and "Using Contextual Situations to Teach Linear Functions." During the session titled "Renew Yourself: Teaching Math in a Foreign Country," I had the opportunity to meet presenters Brian Lim and Stuart, who shared their teaching experiences in countries like Zimbabwe. I represented the Fulbright program and shared my experiences of teaching in the USA. On Saturday and Sunday, I chose to attend sessions such as "Trigonometry Comes Alive with Sketchpad" and "Differentiating Math Instruction in a Self-Contained Classroom." I also met Vishakha Parvate, who presented the Sketchpad session. The keynote speeches were incredibly valuable and provided an opportunity to hear from some esteemed figures in the field of math instruction.

The south of the boarder

South of the Border (often referred to as SOB by locals) is a unique blend of Southern and Mexican culture. At first, you might wonder what all this Mexican-inspired decor is doing in South Carolina, far from its traditional setting. However, it won't take long for you to embrace SOB as a vibrant neon yellow and pink version of Tijuana, with the added benefits of English-speaking staff and safe drinking water. The mascot of the area is Pedro, a cheerful, mustachioed caricature wearing an oversized sombrero (a type of straw or felt hat). Pedro not only features on the billboards, but he also greets visitors as a 97-foot-tall figure at the entrance of SOB, making him "the largest freestanding sign east of the Mississippi." You even have the opportunity to drive between his legs. During the summer, the South Carolina state line becomes the starting point for fireworks displays, and SOB offers an extensive selection. You can stock up on Roman candles and other fireworks at Pedro's Rocket City. Outside, a 30-minute audio loop of MTV hits plays repeatedly without interruption.

Courtesy: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/

Spanish moss, Blue Crab, and Seagull

Spanish mosses:Savannah is a lush city filled with oak trees, which are often adorned with Spanish moss. While browsing the internet, I stumbled upon an interesting story about these mosses. Spanish moss is not a true moss or lichen; it is actually a flowering plant that grows hanging from tree branches in full sun or partial shade. The story goes that in the 1700s, a traveler and his Spanish fiancée arrived to start a plantation near Charleston, South Carolina. She was a stunning bride-to-be with long, flowing raven hair. As the couple strolled through the plantation site, discussing their future plans, they were suddenly attacked by a band of Cherokee who were unwilling to share their ancestral land with strangers. As a final warning, the Cherokee cut off the bride's long, dark hair and threw it into an old live oak tree. Over time, the couple returned day after day, and they noticed that the hair had shriveled, turned gray, and began to spread from tree to tree. Eventually, the moss made its way from South Carolina to Georgia and Florida. To this day, if one stands under a live oak tree, it is said that the moss seems to leap from tree to tree, defended by a legion of beetles.

Blue Crab:

The blue crab is a crustacean found in the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, which is the Maryland State Crustacean and the subject of an extensive fishery. They can deliver an extremely painful pinch and are noted for being particularly aggressive and difficult to handle safely. Even when out of the water, they will lunge towards movement they consider a threat.

Seagulls:

Seagulls are medium to large sized birds with hundreds of different kinds. They are with usually grey or white, and with harsh, wailing or squawking calls. These are typically long-lived birds, with a maximum age of 49 years. Browse the link for the gallery of Seagulls.

Courtesy: Wikepedia

Paula Dean - Southern Food

Paula Deen, who did not know how to boil an egg by the time she got married at 18, has become a popular Food Network star. She is known for her renowned restaurant, a lifestyle magazine, two cooking shows, and several cookbooks. Southern cuisine and the city of Savannah owe much to Paula, as she has brought fame to the food scene and attracted visitors to the city. Along with her two sons, she opened a famous restaurant called  The Lady and Sons. People often wait in long queues for hours in the morning just to reserve a table for lunch.

The buffet Stuff.

My lunch order: Asparagus Sandwich .
A 'New York Times' favorite!

Topped with jack cheese, purple onion

and thousand island dressing on grilled pumpernickel.

From the Atlantic coast

Tybee Island: The name "Tybee" means "salt" in Native American language, but today it evokes images of sunshine, surf, and adventure. This small barrier island features a wide, 3-mile-long beach lined with sea oat-covered dunes. It's a perfect spot for leisurely walks along the ocean and for enjoying the waves of the Atlantic. History enthusiasts will also find plenty to explore on Tybee Island, including Fort Screven, the Tybee Island Lighthouse (established in 1773), an intriguing museum, and the Fort Pulaski National Monument.