|
  | |  |
I'm not supposed to be here!
Entry 16 of 86 | show all | print this entry |
Today was my first day of community learning. We are to meet at a central place in town with our LCF (Language and Cultural Facilitator) to start language classes. On the first day my host mother is to accompany me to show me how to use public transportation and the proper terms/fare. She received a note from Peace Corps with my meeting spot (in front of Pubic School 31). Well the note was in Russian so I didn't completely understand it. And I guess neither did my host mother. We road the Marshutka (public van/bus system) to Public School 31. (You can ride a marshutka (small van) to anywhere in town at the rate of 150 soums [about 15 US cents] and to the capital of Tashkent on a public bus for 10 US cents.) The vehicles drive very fast, have no shocks and are often filled to the roof with bodies.
When we arrived at PS31 around 8am we went to the office and showed them the note. They directed me to the headmasters office. (In reality I was suppose to meet IN FRONT of the school, not in the school). I showed the headmaster the note and (in Russian) introduced myself and explained that I was with the US Peace Corps. They must have been expecting an international aid volunteer because they had a desk ready for me right next to the headmaster's desk. She told me in English that I was to teach 3 lessons before 10am! I quickly explained in English that I am not a teacher and that there was a terrible mistake. She did not understand much English and directed me to my classroom. She was surprised I didn't know any Uzbek being that it was an Uzbek school, not a Russian or English speaking school. I told her that there was a mistake and to call Peace Corps. When she asked me for the number I reached for my inside pocket, at which point I realized that I forgot my government issued identification, credentials, karkitchka, passport, visa, letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and my Peace Corps phone number list/card. I tried to explain the problem but she suggested that we work it out during the 10am break and before I could object she tossed me in a classroom full of elementary school students and left.
So.... I took my seat at the teachers desk, and calmly asked the class where they last left off in their English text books. The girls seemed to understand a little English, but the boys had no idea. I told them to start taking turns reading out loud. I knew I couldn't leave the class. I had no idea where I was suppose to go and I was sure someone would notice I was missing and track me down. At the teachers desk I sat down and started writing in my Russian workbook, and every once in a while looking up at the students to correct their broken English. I thought that writing in my book would make me look like a real teacher. This is exactly what I wrote in the back of my notebook:
"Peace Corps Training - Site Day 1
I have been dropped off at a primary school. There must be a mistake of sorts. I am by myself and they expect me to teach three lessons today. They are surprised that I don't have a translator. My host mother has left (with my bottle of safe drinking water). I have no karkitchka, ID, or numbers to Peace Corps. I'm positive I am suppose to be at a learning group somewhere else in the region, with my LCF and fellow trainees. I wonder if anyone knows I am missing. Now its 8:30 and I fear I will be behind in my language class. Maybe my Russian assignment card got mixed up because they seem to be expecting an American teacher here. I can't help but notice how the boys and girls are separated."
At about that point (35 minutes into my teaching career) my host mother had found me and pulled me by the arm out of the class and explained that I was to be out front.
I said "goodbye" to my class in English and met up with the other trainees outside (who were freezing) and shared my experience. We went to the building where we will be having our community language and cultural classes (not the school) and got back to our Russian lessons. At the end of my day I took the marshutka (taxi van public transport) back to my home where my family greeted me. After dinner, we had a few visitors, to which my host mom explained the confusion from the morning and everyone got a good laugh out of.
My language class consists of three other trainees from my NGO group.
|
|
If you like this entry, search for other entries from Uzbekistan or try a new search. |
| |
Back to Entry - Back to Home
|
41 votes 
This is a top pick!
