Heaven: a long soak in a bath, pasta for supper in a pub reminiscent of 70's Britain, right down to the smoke and just relaxing for a bit, after a hard day's training. We also all know that we are healthy enough to be allowed to stay in the country too so that is a relief. And all our work permit paperwork has been sorted. I am shattered but happy.
Going to the training was a bit awkward, There seem to be two camps in the school both with their merits and their demerits? Such a good English teacher. I knew that the training in Bishkek was taking place weeks ago, which is why I booked my holidays to fit in with it. I then had to change all my plans when the English coordinator arranged training for us too earlier in the week. I genuinely felt it was important to meet with all my colleagues and go the main school in the group, and that was the training I had first heard about, but I felt that I almost had to tip toe their today for fear of causing offence elsewhere. Anyway I left the flat about 8 as the big school is some way out of town, however, one of the hairiest bus rides flying along straight at the coming traffic meant that I got there about 9.15. To my surprise ( I am always surprised here) no one was at the school. I wondered around the area, but it was only at 9.45 and still no sign of anyone that I thought to look through the windows. Nothing, not a desk, not a chair, nothing. I phoned the Head, apparently I was standing outside the old school. (It is emblazoned with the name Bilimkana, which is why I thought that was were to attend) but fortunately over the road was an even bigger school which is where everyone was gathered and about to start.
Sadly I did not take my camera so cannot show you that it is a much bigger school. We gathered upstairs, mostly teachers from my school and the school in Bishkek, but also a couple of the teachers who had attended the English training earlier in the week. We started in the hall having an interactive meet and greet where, they were pleased when I introduced myself as the Angliski teacher - excuse the spelling. We then went back in and to my delight the topic was discipline, what causes ill discipline and possible strategies. Obviously someone had to translate it for me and I only got some of it, but it felt very positive. Three biggest tips that I recall - don't cry (thank goodness it is not just me that struggles at times) and know your students, which is I think very good advice and try and find something that each student can do to encourage their positivity.
I only attended for half a day, the others were there two days and I have no idea what they covered, but it meant that for some of the staff their five days off was really only two days. And almost all the staff, in fact only the trainer was male, are women and most of them have three of four children. They manage their juggling act mainly because of their family support networks, and because the children are quite spread out in age but I still think that they are very inspirational for all having a career and such heavy family commitments. So it was nice that they also laughed a lot during the training and seemed to value it. The trainer said that when he started these interactive sessions the response had been very negative, so that everything had gone so well this time seemed a real step forward in bringing the Foundation staff together.
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