DUDE! Grand Canyon Rocks-

As one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon showcases an impressive display of erosion and the natural beauty of the Earth. Stretching for 277 miles, the Grand Canyon ranges in elevation from 2,400 feet to over 7,000 feet above sea level. While the exact processes that formed the Grand Canyon remain uncertain, there are several well-informed theories. It is likely that a combination of processes contributed to the stunning views we see today. The key processes involved in the formation of the Grand Canyon include: D - Deposition U - Uplift D - Decay/Decomposition E- Erosion In some order, these processes—or cycles—created the Grand Canyon we admire now. The breathtaking beauty of the Grand Canyon attracts approximately 5 million visitors each year, and most consider it to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

DUDE! Grand Canyon Rocks

Santa Fe

I arrived in Albuquerque by 8 PM on Friday. Tom, the owner of Sohini, picked me up from the airport. He has a wonderful personality and is a big fan of India. After a drive of roughly one hour, we reached Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico. It is a historic city and a popular tourist center that feels like a different country altogether. The architecture and the colors of the houses here are very unique, and I'm eager to learn more about it. I’ll share more details in my upcoming posts. This afternoon, I’m driving to Flagstaff, where we will meet Ms. Kim Holland, who will host us for the night. On Sunday morning, we plan to visit the Grand Canyon, which is just an hour’s drive from Flagstaff. We will return to Flagstaff that evening. The next morning, we’ll head back to Santa Fe. I hope to explore Santa Fe on Tuesday, and then I'll return to Durham on Wednesday. Expect more pictures and videos in my upcoming posts. I just hope I can find the time and an internet connection to write regularly.

Substitute teachers

The substitute teacher system in American schools reflects the accountability and professionalism of American teachers. Unlike in Indian schools, when you take leave, you do not impose your workload on your co-workers. You must plan your lessons and create activities for the entire 90 minutes so that a substitute teacher—regardless of their subject expertise—can effectively engage the class. The substitute monitors the class, collects the worksheets, and prepares them for you to grade. Once established, the curriculum map can largely remain unchanged during your absence. This system promotes accountability for your leave and manages time while maintaining the learning tempo. Tomorrow, I will fly from Santa Fe, New Mexico, from where we will drive to the Grand Canyon in Arizona on Saturday. I am excited about the trip! I'm taking advantage of every opportunity—using my leave and holidays—to visit and explore various places. Tuesday is Veterans Day, so taking leave on Monday and Wednesday gives me a fantastic five-day trip. While a week-long work period followed by a brief journey to explore places and then returning to work is tiring, I feel it's now or never—I have to make the most of this opportunity.

Congratulations America !

I missed a day in my blog, but I witnessed every moment of this historic day. It means so much not just to Americans but to the entire world. It highlights what makes America different, more developed, and highly advanced. The key difference lies in the mindset of the people and the sense of responsibility and patriotism each citizen has towards their country. The maturity and courage displayed by American voters, who chose change by setting aside race, religion, caste, and creed, is highly commendable. There have been many hardships and issues, numerous crises, and countless priorities. Yet, as McCain said, "Country First." This is a triumph for every American citizen. It is commendable how McCain responded to the election results, assuring his support for Obama. Similarly, it was elegant of Obama to tell the nation, "I will listen to all your voices, and I will act as President." Hats off to you, America. Best of luck, Mr Obama!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jll5baCAaQU&feature=channel

A Day In History, A Day Away-

This is election eve, and it's incredibly hot. Both candidates are campaigning strategically in crucial swing states. Barack Obama is continuing his campaign despite the recent loss of his grandmother, while John McCain is on a whirlwind tour, addressing the public in seven states within 24 hours, drawing large crowds of voters. The outcome of the election will likely hinge on just four states: Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida. The tension is palpable as we approach the climax of this dramatic election season. Both parties are making grand and confident preparations for their respective celebrations. 

Here are some key facts: The United States presidential election of 2008, scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2008, will be the 56th consecutive quadrennial presidential election, determining the President and Vice President of the United States. This election is particularly noteworthy because it marks the first time in U.S. history that two sitting senators are running against each other for president. Additionally, it is the first time an African American has been nominated for president by a major party, and both major candidates were born outside the continental United States—Obama in Hawaii and McCain in the Panama Canal Zone. With Sarah Palin as the Republican nominee for vice president, the winning ticket is likely to be historic as neither an African American nor a woman has held either office before. Moreover, John McCain, if elected, would become the oldest first-term president, while the Democratic nominee for vice president, Joe 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, 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.

Daylight Saving Time

The concept of time and punctuality in America can be quite perplexing due to the existence of multiple time zones and the biannual shift in time. The United States is divided into four time zones, which vary by three hours. For instance, if it is 9 PM in Durham, North Carolina, it is only 6 PM in California, despite both locations being on the same latitude. To conserve energy, many countries implement Daylight Saving Time (DST). During the summer months, an hour is effectively "skipped," and then, in October or November, the clocks are adjusted back to normal by repeating one hour. This year, for example, November 2 had 25 hours, while March 9 had only 23 hours. Today marks the end of Daylight Saving Time, where the hour between 1:00 AM and 1:59:59 AM was repeated to restore standard time. Imagine if India followed a similar system; the impact on television programming, office hours, exam schedules, bank operations, and train timings would be complete chaos.

Happy Halloween

New Tech guys in Halloween style.

The term "Halloween" is a shortened version of "All Hallows' Even," as it is the eve of "All Hallows' Day," also known as All Saints' Day. Historically, both celebrations were observed on the same date, and All Saints' Day was a day of religious festivities in various northern European traditions. One of Halloween's most prominent symbols in America is the carved pumpkin, commonly referred to as a jack-o'-lantern. These lanterns originated in Europe and were initially carved from turnips or rutabagas. The Celts believed that the head was the most powerful part of the body, containing both spirit and knowledge. They used the "head" of the vegetable to ward off superstitions. Halloween is an international holiday celebrated on the evening of October 31st and is increasingly recognized in the morning and afternoon as well. Common Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, visiting haunted attractions, carving jack-o'-lanterns, reading scary stories, and watching horror movies. Irish and Scottish immigrants brought various versions of these traditions to North America in the nineteenth century.

Melody

There is much about America that is not widely known outside of the country, and for those within it, these may not seem significant. America has many aspects beyond what we commonly recognize or assume. Listen to this melody played on a unique musical instrument, and take note of the various instruments in the background of the picture. I am truly impressed by the diverse art and music forms found in America. Today, I had the best A-day ever, as I was able to keep all the children focused on their work for nearly the entire 90 minutes. I absolutely love it!

turning the odds in

Here are the pictures from a classroom activity where I led a discussion with a group of students at the end of the class to deepen their understanding of the concept. Although I often plan to take such pictures, I tend to forget during the class or run out of time by the end. I use various tools to capture students’ attention, such as simultaneously projecting the operations of the TI-84 calculator on a projector screen while explaining the content using overhead projectors. I also create PowerPoint presentations and suitable worksheets for both class instruction and practice. As an Indian math teacher, I find that planning is typically done for you through textbooks. However, American classrooms present a different challenge. It’s not just about having the content in mind and being able to work through problems independently and instantly, while demonstrating them on the board; students need activities to keep them engaged throughout the lesson. If I’m not well-prepared on any given day, the class can quickly spiral out of control. Even when I am prepared, there are still days when certain students take the lead in disrupting the class. As a teacher, it’s essential to have a variety of ideas ready to engage students and hold their attention. I must cater to the differing needs of various students simultaneously. One might ask for a pencil, another may need to sharpen theirs because the lead broke, someone else could be dealing with a tissue issue, and another might raise their hand because they didn’t understand the first step of a problem. Additionally, someone might need to go to the restroom, while another student may distract themselves by checking a text message. There may even be students who cannot see the problem on the board because they forgot their glasses or have issues with their contact lenses. Sadly, all of these situations can arise at once while I’m still trying to teach and ensure the lesson is completed on time. Sometimes these requests can be quite trying, but other times they are genuine concerns. How do you handle this? In American classrooms, it’s important to stick to the rules and establish procedures. These procedures help shape classroom behavior. During new teacher orientation, one popular phrase is, "Don't smile till December." In the two and a half months I have been teaching, I had the opportunity to observe five different schools, and one thing that amazes me is the significant variation in student attitudes from school to school. Some first-year teachers have mentioned to me that students may even change their behavior from teacher to teacher. Interestingly, the same students may behave differently on different days with the same teacher. When freshmen enter my class with behavioral issues, it is often due to their relatively new transition into high school. Meanwhile, sophomores compare the technology I use with what they experienced the previous year. Many of them feel that my direct instruction denies them the opportunity to work on individual laptops for their projects. They are correct in their assessment, putting aside differences in culture and education systems. They wonder why we should struggle to understand a topic taught in a different way. Why can't the teacher communicate in a manner that makes sense to them? I recognize these thoughts running through their minds, and I want to respond patiently while doing my best to facilitate their learning. My point is that unless they try different approaches and methods, they will remain at the same level of knowledge. My goal is to learn the ways of r(t)eaching them as much as I can and implement what I discover in the classroom. Often, the results are very positive.

I understand that between a challenging beginning and a satisfying conclusion, there will be ups and downs.

A Day With A Difference

Yesterday was a Teacher Work Day, and we were busy preparing the report cards for the first nine weeks of the term. While progress reports are issued every three weeks, report cards are more formal and the data will be submitted to the School District. I plan to write a detailed post about the grading system soon. It’s the festive season back home, and I want to thank my friends, relatives, colleagues, students, and everyone else for filling my inbox with emails, e-cards, and messages of Diwali and birthday wishes through various platforms like Orkut and Skype. I especially appreciate the New Tech staff for taking the time to wish me on this occasion. I also acknowledge the kind thoughts of those who wanted to reach out but couldn’t. I understand your situation. This Diwali was a very different day for me in many ways, but I embrace it.

Yester Year Village

The N.C. State Fair has provided me with an opportunity to understand American villages and their handicrafts and art. North Carolina boasts a significant and unique heritage. The "Yester Year Village" at the fair showcases all the traditional crafts of rural America under one roof. Although the fair has become more commercial over the years, many people appreciate its role in promoting agricultural art and village crafts. The exhibitors at the fair are very friendly, demonstrating their skills before the audience, which allows visitors to appreciate their talents. When I asked them if I could take their pictures, each exhibitor was cooperative and pleased to gain exposure for their profession and promote their art. I could sense their affection for their craft; they all genuinely love their respective professions. Some of the traditional rural crafts featured include quilting, rug braiding, wood carving, skiff building, basketry, soap making, pottery, and creating decorative items and toys from agricultural waste.

Decorative items from corn

God is blessing me.

It was a wonderful coincidence that when I chose to visit a church today, it happened to be its 142nd anniversary. The White Rock Baptist Church is celebrating 142 years of a strong and relevant congregation here in the city of Durham. I spent three spiritual hours in this serene church, witnessing baptisms, sermons, and prayers. The church is truly beautiful, and the large organ above the dais is a major attraction. This was only the second time in my life that I visited a church, and it was the first time I spent a significantly long time there. My visit sparked my curiosity to learn more about Christianity and baptism. From what I gathered, baptism (from the Greek word meaning "immersing" or "performing ablutions") is a ritual act involving water, by which an individual is officially admitted as a full member of the Church. Traditionally, baptism has been seen as necessary for salvation. It is one of the seven sacraments of the Christian Church and is often referred to as the "first sacrament," the "door to the sacraments," and the "door to the Church." All sacraments were instituted for the spiritual benefit of the recipients. However, five of them—Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, the Eucharist, and Extreme Unction—primarily serve the individual in their personal spiritual journey. The other two sacraments, Orders and Matrimony, mainly impact a person as a social being, sanctifying them in their duties toward the Church and society. I am grateful to the Fulbright Commission for giving me this wonderful opportunity to participate in a teacher exchange program. It has allowed me to explore new places, meet diverse people, witness various events, and learn about different cultures. Looking back at my blog, I feel proud of the activities I undertook during these two months. This experience will surely contribute to my personal growth and maturity.

'Fair'y post

Today, I had a great time visiting the North Carolina State Fair. The fair is a true 'melting pot' of North Carolina's rich heritage, agriculture, arts, crafts, and music. It provides a platform for exhibitors to showcase their farm products, cattle, and pets. I saw cows, goats, pigs, rabbits, and turkeys, among other animals. There were also games, rides, competitions, and exhibits, offering unlimited entertainment.

Apple candy, Cotton candy, Pan Cakes, Hush Puppys, Elephant ears and Hot dogs are the popular food items.

I tried this 'freak out' ride. Uff... scary...

O.K find, Where am I?

I checked out one more activity from my 'to-do list'.

Lots of video and pics in the coming posts...

Meeting the Members of Board of D.P.S

The board members

Last evening I was invited to meet the Members of the Board of Durham Public Schools. I was introduced to the Board by the Supeintendent and Dr. Logan. They welcomed me and wished me for the success of the program. It was an honour and a moment of pride to me.
I had a chance to express my views and share my experience as a Fulbright Excahnge teacher.

I thank the Board members for their time and I appreciate their kind guesture.
I was presented a T-shirt, a kind of -making me as a member of the Durham Public Schools. There were print and electronic media covering the event.

In the lap of America

Almost two months of teaching and two and half months of stay in America-
I feel like this. There is a lot that I can relate my stay here in America with this picture.

After almost two months of teaching and two and a half months in America, I have come to feel a certain way about my experience here. I can relate my time in America to this image: I've found places where I can feel comfortable, and I have worked hard to reach them. I had to climb up and establish myself in my comfort zone. It took time, and I still need to be cautious and hold on tightly to avoid falling. I must endure any inconveniences I feel while presenting a smiling face to others. My stay here has become more meaningful than I initially expected. I have kept myself busy with work and activities to help distract from homesickness; this is the only way I can adapt to the situation. It's also what has allowed me to appear "groovy" to my friends. However, I genuinely miss my family, friends, colleagues, students, and my school. I miss you all

I miss India.

500 N Duke Street, 54-102

My apartment buliding

The front view.

Welcome home.

Please be seated. Coffee or tea? Which one do you like to be served?

I have been staying in this apartment for the last two months. It has become my world after 5 PM every day and for most of Saturdays and Sundays. My laptop and TV feel like family members, while the kitchen and the loft bedroom are my occasional retreats. My apartment is located downtown, directly across from the Durham School of Arts and close to the bus terminal and Amtrak train station (only two trains run through Durham). Interestingly, my hometown, Ongole, is famous for its oxen, while Durham is known for the Durham Bull. In Ongole district, tobacco is the primary crop, and downtown Durham features numerous tobacco warehouses, many of which are being converted into luxury apartments. My apartment building, Bullington Warehouse, was once a warehouse and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine," renowned for its Research Triangle Park and Duke University. If you want to learn more about Durham, click here. Don’t forget to take a 360-degree tour of some important places!