Monday, March 19, 2007

Watch Out Mouthy Punks

The seminar is finished and was a success.  Two days before the seminar, I went to the university to confirm that we could still use the room.  They had cancelled us because the 'commission' came, but I have no idea what that means.  From the snatches of reality that I understand, it meant that everything I had planned for two months had to be redone in two days.  Luckily, I was able to find a new location and work out a new cafĂ© for lunch in that short amount of time.  I had planned for 50 students to attend the seminar, and I was hoping at least 25 would show up.  We had a great turn-out with 43 students.

 

Last Friday was my first cooking class at the hotel.  I think it went well, though I can't tell if the trainees enjoyed it.  I'll find out if they let me teach again. 

 

The weather here is starting to warm up.  I took the plastic off of the windows and now I have a clear view of the outside world.  Being able to see the sky through my windows is a definite mood enhancer.  The apartment was starting to feel like a cage.  Soon there will be more fresh vegetables in the bazaar and we can have a more balanced diet than we've had lately. 

 

Wednesday, the 21st, is Nooruz.  I don't have any definite plans for the day, but I've heard there will be a concert in front of the university.  There has also been talk of an outing to the zoo.  Now we just need to keep our fingers crossed for good weather.

 

About two months ago, the U.S. Embassy opened an American Corner.  It's a decked out resource center that they pay for.  That's where I've been hosting my English club, although we had trouble with the staff.  One woman was always yelling at me in Russian so not only was she disrespecting me in front of my students, but I couldn't understand a word of it.  There was also a punk 'technician' who talked to us (volunteers) like we are stupid because we have accents.  First I tried to be diplomatic about it and talked to the director about having club there with support from the staff.  She was very receptive to the idea and said that the staff would give us whatever help we need.  That's not what actually happened.  After one particularly horrible day of dealing with them, I called the embassy and ratted out two of the staff members.  It worked.  My students and I have enjoyed club much more since the workers stopped acting like we were bedraggled mice that the cat dragged in.  I didn't want to pull the 'American card,' but it is our embassy that funds their resource center and pays their salaries.  I wasn't being unreasonable to want to host my English lesson there.  I think they all understand that now.



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