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Volunteer 4:
Experiences about the Volunteer Teaching Program
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I
have very good experience. I was teaching English in a
governmental school named Padma Kanya Secondary Girls
School at Dillibazar, Kathmandu. It wasn't difficult at
all, as the girls from 4th, 5th class, were hardworking,
kind and sweet. They were listening to me all the time.
Every day, they gave me beautiful flowers.
Together
with Teka, we found out good activities, and I also had
an English book with nice, colorful pictures, crosswords
etc., which helped me a lot in teaching. Children
knowledge was not at the same level, but they helped
each other. I always tried to make them to be active, to
sing a song, to dance, to repeat whole sentences, to be
happy for a while. We laughed a lot together. :) They
also liked the "soap bubbles", what I blew.
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As
I didn't speak Nepali with them, I could motivate them
to speak in English. And they were motivated to speak
with me. Some of them shared their "happiest moment of
the life" with me, others wrote me letters.
To
teach them was a good opportunity to see the Nepali
school system, to see how they write exams or what kind
of need these schools have. It was too short, only
two-three weeks, but I hope it was valuable time, not
only for me. :)
Seriously,
I can't choose only one thing. I liked the programmes, I
liked to sit in the office, I liked Office house where
Sangeeta was always there. I liked my Nepalese Bhandari
family. I enjoyed everything. The best programmes were:
Village stay, Osho, Yoga.
My
memorable experiences in :
Nepali
language:
Nepali language is easy to learn. Krishna, my teacher
helped me a lot to understand and express important
things, although I needed a little bit more time to
practice. Krishna was extra patient; she is a very good
teacher, with a lot of experience to teach foreigners.
It was easy and effective to learn from her. I learned a
lot of thing, in one-week time.
Nepali
family and their company :
To live with a (the Bhandari's) family in Nepal, is a
very good chance to get know their culture, to get good
friends, and to have a comfortable life in a safe place.
My Nepali family and their friends became my best nepali
friends. I felt, I am a family member too. Their home
was my home too. They were my family and friends at the
same time, and they became close to me. They are very
friendly, open-minded people. I miss them very much!
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Village stay :
One of the best things which happened to me in Nepal,
was the one night village stay. The people I found
there, were happy and very friendly. They live a simple
way -without bathroom etc. - but they seemed to be the
happiest people I have ever met. I really mind, that I
didn't stay longer! If I had the chance to go back! |
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Exposure visit :
I had an opportunity to meet another volunteer of Hands
for Help Volunteer Organization. She was a Volunteer
Teacher at Luvu VDC, Lalitpur, Nepal, 45 minutes journey
in motorbike. It was a very ancient Newari Village. It
was good to see the way she taught the children. I was
lucky to visit some Newari families and their home. The
environment was totally different than I thought before
going and than I was staying in Kathmandu. But it was a
memorable experience visiting that part with Anil.
Osho night stay :
I had not heard about Osho before. It was a Meditation
Center established in name of late Indian saint
Rajneesh, which is located in half an hour distance from
mid of kathmandu. It is very peaceful and beautiful
place. The place is surrounded by dense forest and you
can see a beautiful garden and waterfalls too. Anil, his
wife sangeeta and my host brother sandip went with me to
drop me there. In the beginning, we had Osho's popular
pizza and coffee. I made friends there whom with I
laughed a lot. Dancing way of meditation I had never
heard before was the fantastic part of Osho. The music!
Wow!! Was unbelievable! I never believed, that it
exists!
Sight seeing :
There were more sight seeings while I stayed in
Kathmandu. It was good for me not to go alone.
Especially, because I had very kind guides :) I had
chance to see famous and world heritage sights such as:
Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur durbar squares,
Pasupati Temple, Boudha and Swoyembhunath Stupa etc.
Best part of Teka :
...is Anil. Because in fact he is Teka:)
Trainers :
My trainers were very patient, smile people. We had a
lot of fun together, and I learned a lot about
Nepal, the culture, the language, the history of
Nepal, and about Nepali women. And I also learned from
them, the way of seeing how they live their life. I was
impressed very much by my yoga guru, Dwarika. He is an
amazing man! I will never forget him!
Transportation :
Teka helped me a lot with transporting me from one place
to another, usually by motorbike. At the beginning I had
never been alone. Then after I knew local
transportation, Tempoo (three wheelers), Microbus for
example, and I didn't have problem to use these
vehicles, even if the public transportation system is
very different from the European one. Anil also bought
me a bicycle, which I rode almost every day.
Program cost :
It does worth it! It is very rare, that for this money
you got not only food and accommodation, but services,
like these.
Safety and Security :
In Kathmandu, I never felt myself not in safe. Kathmandu
is a quite safe place, controlled by the army, even if
international news suggests something worst. The
placement area is also safe, but at nighttime it is
better not to go alone.
Suggestions to a volunteer : Don't miss anything,
even if you are exhausted! Stay more than one night in
village, and speak with people a lot! Take a lot of
pictures from home, about your village, country, and
family and show them to your Nepali family!
Suggestion to Teka : I will think about it, now I
don't have idea. I had a great time with Teka.
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