SERIOUS STUDIES!!!

MY SECOND HOUR STUDENTS -   SERIOUS STUDIES!!!

MY FIFTH HOUR STUDENTS, VERY ATTENTIVE!!!

I BET SOMETHING INTERESTING!!!

THE CHEEZY SAFETY VIDEO!!!

WOW!!! ENGROSSED!!!

                                                  
                                           BUSY WITH WORK SHEETS!!!

CULTURAL EXCHANGE!!!

I shared with my students, the meaning of NAMASKAR and the reason for keeping Bindhi. Some of them wish me Vanakam!!! INTERESTING ISN'T IT!!!

SOME OF MY STUDENTS WEARING BINDHI AND GREETING NAMASTE!!!

I slowly got many of them talking to me about various aspects in Indian Culture! They were excited about the bindhi's and a big queue after school hours for bindhi's !!!

TEACHING MADE EASY WITH THE HELP OF TECHNOLOGY!!!

                    I am surprised at the enormous Resources!!! Every room has all the resources!!!
                                                               SEE IT YOURSELF!!!

MY FAVORITE, THE DOCUMENT CAMERA!!!        LAPTOP!!

COMPUTER AND THE BIG MONITOR!!!

OVERHEAD PROJECTOR !!!

All in my class room. Every class has all of them. I thought I was in a FIVE STAR SCHOOL!!!

FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL!!!

I was ready and confident, since I was prepared and early to school ,waiting to meet my students. Even though the power supply was there on 7th, I was unable to open the computer due to password error. My lap top plug broke and i was in a tension as to how i was to take the attendance. I asked Mr. Kevin who is in the opposite room to help me  printout the name list,  from his computer. He came to my rescue and just 5 minutes before the bell, I was ready to welcome my students............

READY TO WELCOME MY STUDENTS!

WELCOME BOARD, GUIDELINES AND CLASS ROOM PROCEDURES.

MY FIRST CLASS!!! MATTER.

 In the evening Emily helped me to get the pass word and now i am ready to use the computer and the laptop for attendance and Grading!!

FIRST DAY FOR TEACHERS 09/06/2011

The Hazel Park High School, Michigan, US, my School on Exchange with Mrs. Amy Zitzelberger, officially reopened on 09/06/2011. Teachers were getting ready, with their syllabus,plans and work sheets etc well ahead of the reopening day. Emily and I completed our planning and printing materials in August itself. Emily was of great help in acquainting me with the staff, building and the technology. The orientation at DC, made me aware of the requirements in the Schools in US. Even though I had the experience of 26 years of teaching , I felt nervous in the new situation. It was always very easy for me in India to get into any class , anytime and win the hearts of students and lead them easily towards learning, discipline, extra curricular activities and ultimately make them score good marks.
I had never ever had any problem, even during my first year of teaching.
For the first time in my career, I was worried if I could reach the students , in the new environment.
Reading the book "the first days of school" by Harry K.Wong and Rosemary T.Wong made me feel better. I stole a few methods from the book and I  was ready, with the class room well arranged, seating numbers displayed, Welcome board, Guidelines and Class room procedures displayed. Who can win over the natural powers.......There were rains from 3rd of September and no electricity supply until 7th September. I could not print the names of students or practice taking attendance online.

 

 First Day For Teachers- Emily and me ready with our materials, laptops, ...............

 

                                                               All set for work ...........

The School Office in the dim day light.

A PART OF THE SCHOOL NOTICE BOARD

 

ROOM 117- MY ROOM AND  LAB(CHEMISTRY) . SEATING PLAN READY!!!

GUIDELINES DISPLAYED IN MY ROOM

CLASS ROOM PROCEDURES

Principal, Mr. Don Vogt, convening the staff meeting before the commencement of school

INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION........FASCINATING COLORFUL FLAGS!!!

    On sixth we had a Staff Meeting in the dim day light(no electricity)at the school cafeteria. Our Principal Mr. Don Vogt, welcomed the new comers and started the meeting followed by other school officials. We had breakfast at school and arranged what ever we could in our class rooms and went home after half day.

WITH EMILY'S FAMILY !!!

Emily introduced me to her family members. Another wonderful family i got attached to.!!! Emily's parents: Mrs. Baker, a lovely woman, who is friendly and makes me feel at home. She cooked a sumptuous dinner for us in spite of her busy schedule. Mr Baker another wonderful person, who is very friendly.

 

          WITH EMILY, HER SISTER AND HER MOTHER AND FATHER, Mr&Mrs BAKER    

                  
        PAUL, EMILY'S HUSBAND AND EMILY'S MOTHER AT DINNER IN A RESTAURANT!
    

Friendship... Is The Most Wonderful Relationship....

  I had always cherished this relationship right, from my childhood . I gathered them as I grew up with them , studied with them or worked with them. I have heard of love at first sight but I have experienced friendship at first sight…..Yes , I met Melissa at Washington DC ,as one of the FULBRIGHT ALUMNI, who came to share her experiences with us and prepare us for the Fulbright Journey. When she saw the list of participants and found that someone was going to Michigan, her city, she was kind enough to find out who it was and gave me her phone and email id and sent me a mail the very next day I reached Michigan. The same week she took me to visit her parents at West Bloomfield .It was a pleasure meeting her parents, Mr. Duane and Mrs Paula  and in no time I was woven into that beautiful family.

 This is Miss Melissa McDermid (FULBRIGHT TO UK 2010)and I sitting on her parent's porch.

                   This is a photo of Mr. Duane and Mrs. Paula McDermid and I in their kitchen. 

   We then visited Cass Lake, Orchard Lake and Union Lake. The greenery surrounding the cool waters was indeed a feast to my eyes .  

                                                                  ORCHARD LAKE

                                       YOU CAN SEE APPLE ISLAND IN THE DISTANCE

                                        THIS IS BY ST. MARY'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL

                                     WE PUT OUR FEET IN THE WATER AT CASS LAKE

                                                                  NICE COOL WATERS

Reaching US

   Reached safely in DC on 1st Aug and  had a wonderful  time at a five star hotel. It was  " A REAL HONEY MOON TRIP", that's what  the Fulbrights call that phase . We were given a royal treatment. Every one congratulated us and elevated our morale every minute.  The orientation was very useful and the partner interaction helped us to understand the situations at our exchange positions. We  also had lot of fun, food and sight seeing. 

                                                 SIGHT SEEING -  CAPITAL BUILDING

                                                                     WAR MEMORIAL

 

                    MAHA AND ME AT  WHITE HOUSE -WASHINGTON DC, US

       BREAK FAST AND ORIENTATION AT RENAISSANCE DUPONT CIRCLE HOTEL, DC

                                        CHENNAI -US TEAM , MAHA, ME, AMY AND JEFF.

 DINNER  WITH EXCHANGE  PARTNER AMY,  HER MOTHER AND DAUGHTER MAY

 

                                                                  WITH THE Fhi 360 TEAM

                                             AMY, MAHA, ME, WHITNEY AND VANITHA

                   All this ended with a sumptuous packed lunch at 12 noon when we were dropped at the airport on 5th August 2011. Most of the Fulbright Alumni were asking us to be prepared for the adventure and the bumps on our way. When Amy,  my exchange partner, and me, reached the Regan airport,our first BUMP hit us. Our flight was delayed and we may miss our connection flight at Chicago to Detroit..Adding fuel to fire, one of our Indian Fulbright, who was taking her children to US, had left to Chicago by the previous flight and her children  had to travel on their own by the next flight so that they meet her at Chicago and would catch another flight to Arizona. The children were worried if they would be able to catch up with the mother and the flight. We met them, pacified them and assured them that we would leave them with their mother. WHEN WE CHECKED IN THEY SAID THAT THE 8 YEAR OLD BOY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL WITHOUT HIS PARENTS. The children started crying and we were in tension. We approached the authorities and explained the problem. We assured them that we  would leave the boys with the mother and requested them to book their tickets to the later flight, contact the mother and ask her not to panic.At last they agreed and also allowed us to check in without getting into the queue. I really appreciate the fellow passengers who understood the situation and allowed us to check in first, without any displeasure on their faces!!! On reaching Chicago we understood that our flight was also delayed and we had only 10 min's to go to the other end of the airport. We left the children with a Fulbright alumni to be handed over to the mother and ran towards our terminal. At last, we reached,  the pilot had not arrived and the flight was delayed. We could breathe only after getting into the flight. On reaching Detroit airport, Amy 's relative took us to my apartment, after a 45 min drive.It was dark and the surroundings  looked scary!!

           EMILY WELCOMING ME WITH BALLOONS AT MY APARTMENT !!!

                      EMILY DISPLAYED A WELCOME BANNER AND FLOWERS IN THE APARTMENT !!!

                  Mrs Emily ,a teacher from the Hazel Park School was already  there in the house. Amy left me with her and went to her house which was another hour drive , as it was 9pm already and she was exhausted. The apartment was nice and comfortable, but i  somehow felt uncomfortable and  unsafe . Emily could read my mind and quickly said" i will not leave you here tonight ,you will stay in my house and come back in the morning," I did not hesitate, I went with her, had dinner and slept peacefully since I was exhausted. I realized that friendship needs no time!!!The next morning we left early after breakfast, went for shopping and returned to the apartment. On surveying the building in the day I felt I was foolish to be scared last night.Emily and I ,went for shopping again , had lunch in an Indian restaurant and was back home at 3pm. I felt still more comfortable after saying hello to my neighbours and now I am brave and alone,started skyping home.. I started getting phone calls from my new friends, and invitations for lunch and dinners.Amy and Emily were so thoughtful ,they had furnished my house so beautifully with all amenities and  minimum accessories from rice to chili power, soap towels all............were ready at home. Emily is always  ready to take me out any time i need,  since there is no public transportation.Emily is very friendly and caring ........ I  have started my Fulbright journey very comfortable from the home front.Waiting, mentally and physically prepared to meet my students........my school starts from Sept 6th ,till then i have to attend some orientations and preparations,think i am going to have  lot of fun.I am trying to get the best out of my experience here so that i can carry home something good which is not there,may be the technology oriented 
methodology........ I will keep  sharing my experiences ...........

SHOPPING AT MICHIGAN AS SOON AS I REACHED MICHIGAN. WITH EMILY

                                                                AT THE VEGETABLE DIVISION, EMILY
 

JOURNEY

JOURNEY…

My actual Fulbright Journey commenced on July 2010 when I started applying for the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program. Thanks for the encouragement given to me by my principal Mrs Lakshmi Ramakrishnan , the confidence which my present Principal, Mr.Laksmipathy gave me and the support given by my husband, without which this journey would not have been possible…… The process of filling the application made me know my strengths and built confidence in me. It was only then I came to understand how much work I have done and also appreciated my own quality of work. THANKS to FULBRIGHT. Every step I put forward was with great confidence and with the will that I can and I will succeed. Slowly but steadily I crossed all the steps on the way till I received the letter saying that I was selected and must get ready for the next steps. It was then I realized that I am going to leave my home, country and live in a place where I do not know any one, even though it had always been my dream to go to the United States.

           I had a  mixed feeling of Joy, that I have got what I worked for , but at the same time fear, of living alone leaving all my people .I picked up courage and started working on the arrangements for the Journey . The Fulbright Nehru Scholar Orientation at Goa, India, arranged by the USIEF, made me realize my achievement and so gave me the courage to put out stronger steps forward. After that I was all excited and started looking forward to experience the new culture. The four week online orientation was indeed very useful and helped us to prepare ourselves to face the new culture with an open mind and also made us ready to adapt ourselves to any situation. I was ready, all set , to experience and make the best use of the opportunity to learn and share the differences.

                                                           ORIENTATION AT HOLIDAY INN, GOA, INDIA
 

                                                        FUN AT THE GOA BEACH, INDIA

 
                                                  SIGHT SEEING AT GOA, INDIA

      Mahalakshmi, another Fulbright Teacher from Chennai was there at the airport at 10 pm  on 31.07. 2011.We had already become close friends from December 2010 after meeting at the interview and TELP exam. We started discussing and preparing together for the Journey. Since we were going together we did not worry about our travel. Both of us have never traveled alone and this was our first experience going out of the country, on our own.

                   MAHALAKSHMI AND ME ATTENDING ORIENTATION AT GOA, INDIA

We enjoyed the journey from Chennai and reached Frankfurt at 7.30 am on the next day.We were on our way  to the board the flight to DC, when we were stopped saying that there was an emergency search going on due to a bomb scare and we had to wait. We reached Washington DC safely,  at 3 pm, on first August 2011.