3 little princesses

We visited friends in Chengdu before and after our trip to India. They were our 'stop-over' spot though they mean so much more to us than that. Here are their three lovely girls who never stop making us smile and feel so lucky to be able to spend time with them.

Classrooms kills creativity....and my passion

It's tough being a teacher, sometimes feels like a very thankless job with a long road and a lot more work than was ever anticipated....but I became a teacher because I LOVE watching the learner, and I ADORE continuing to learn.....but lately, it feels like there is no love or thanks for every effort no matter how great or small. I didn't become a teacher to be thanked, no I became a teacher because I naively grew passionate about education and learning, unfortunately today's systems seem so bleak, so negative, so beyond anything that resembles learning and teaching. People are unsettled, learning is sometimes stagnant and many, I find, are just set in their ways and aiming to stay that way. I want to be the kind of teacher who thinks beyond boundaries.

I was intrigued by the TED talks video entitled "Classrooms kills creativity", it was inspiring and discouraging. I believe the educational system has made huge strides over time, yes, but still, there is the word 'system' leaving a slight distaste in my mouth. I wish I could be a teacher rebel and go against the grain to allow students to explore their worlds more deeply and fully in a more non-conformist way. How do I do this? I have contemplated removing desks, removing conventional supplies, removing the classroom altogether, THIS would be a place where learning could start. Take away my SmartBoard, take away my 1+1 equals 2, take away those uncomfortable blue plastic chairs, take me outside, take me walking and working and listening and speaking, in fact, just take me away, I wish my students had more time to teach each other....but they don't, though I try so hard to allow for these moments, the expectations on students, standards and teachers these days leave no room to breathe or think or absorb. So....the system still pulls me back to books and desks and walls and conventional structure, oh goodness, if only school meant something different, perhaps I would be more inspired, more passionate again.

Some Pictures of India

So, its been 3 weeks since we've been back in China, and we are counting down the weeks until we are home as we march through the weeks, teaching, marking, hoping for warmth and trying to keep up with the ever-quickening days.
Here are a few photos from our trip to India, if you'd like to see more catch us when we are home in the summer:) (PS-the photos are not entirely in order, c'est la vie!)

This is at Agra Fort, much more beautiful than the Red Fort in Delhi.

Looking over a balcony at Agra Fort

A bathing urn at Agra Fort. BATH TIME!

Agra Fort's entrance area.

The Taj...a lot smaller than I thought it would be in person.

The Taj from the side.

One of the buildings beside the Taj, made for one of Mumtaz's wives.

Entrance building to the Taj Mahal.

The Lotus Temple....FREE ADMISSION, we like free:)

Cyriac, Ben and Cyriac's dad at his house in the hill areas near Kannur.

Ariconuts used to make dyes.

A fish seller who came to the house.

His fish:)

Gorgeous beach, just like Tofino, where men go fishing in these boats.

Cute little crabs made these patterns.

Ben and Cyriac posing like manly men....
Ben and Cyriac being real Indian men:)

Cyriac and the family! Hefzi, Joses and Johan.

Johan's feet.

Chinese fishing in Cochin, South India.

Rubber farm!

Tapping rubber trees.

Neighbours of the Joseph family.

This is the look of mischief that Johan has all the time!

Coffee picker. She was quite shy, and very beautiful.

Coffee beans ready for drying.

Coffee beans still on the vine.

Tea leaf pickers. Though she looks serious here they were all wonderful ladies.

Malabar monsoon drying in the sun.

Our private guides.

A friend's daughter, very lovely girl.

Another ariconut.

Another tea leaf picker.