This is the Inner City.

- 15/22 students born in another country.

- Almost all speak 1 or more languages in addition to English. 

- Parent-teacher conferences/meet the teacher night means students and/or interpreters are translating for their parents. 

- 19/22 children are on IEP's (individualized education plans) because they are working below grade level. 

- First staff meeting addresses how to deal with condoms, syringes, and needles found on the playground. 

- Every month you can expect a new student. 

- Math, reading, writing MUST be taught in 6 very different groups. Always.  

- Building relationships, building trust and being a positive influence is vital in making sure they show up to school everyday. 

This is the Inner City. This is my grade 5/6 class.

It's a challenge and it can be tiring. But it's so, so worth it.

In so many ways my students are your typical preteens...
They dab on a daily basis. They speak in hashtags. They sing the apple-pen song. They are social media obsessed. They talk about their crushes continuously (which change day to day).

But in so many other ways they bring new life to the classroom. Diverse world views. Unspeakable memories. Richness of other languages. The tastiest food. Appreciation for the little things in life. I live vicariously through each of their experiences, cultures, and life views. 

These past two weeks were spent working on "Identity Projects". A project with no criteria, no grades, and no set topics. A project that builds community and gives students their 15 minutes of fame, that allows them to be so proud of all that they are. Students researched and presented on what they felt their identity is - their family, their memories, their home countries, and/or their passions in life. Since the beginning of September, I have been documenting all the things they say that blow me away - most of which I have discovered through identity day.

These are the statements that remind me how amazing the diversity of Winnipeg is.
The statements that make me step back and evaluate how privileged I have been in my life.
The statements that prove children's resiliency, maturity, innocence, and acceptance of many things a child should never have to go through.
The statements that give me hope that these students will grow up to be successful, hardworking, and kind people because of it.
The statements that remind me I have so much to learn from them.
The statements that prove to me that I must be more than just a teacher to them.
And the statements that make me realize how lucky I am to have them in my life. 

From the mouths of 10/11 year olds: 

"This summer was the best summer of my life. I got to see my mom 2 times. I usually only see her once a year"

"Last night I was walking outside and I saw this weird man" (explaining her walk around downtown Winnipeg at about 12:00 am).

"When I was 6, I see them, they take baby and put in line, and cut their head off"

"Iraq and Jordan was so beautiful the land. I miss that. You know my family is there"

"I lost everything I had in a flood, thats why I live in Winnipeg now"

"Why do people in Canada put their family in those old homes? Why doesn't their family take care of them?"

"Teacher, I climb tree everyday in Congo" 

"Imagine if Donald Trump was Prime Minister of Canada! Our whole class would have to leave!"

"In Iraq and Jordan I went to mosque everyday. These mean people they don't go, they are not muslim".
"Everyday I watch this on the news" 

"I used to eat fresh mango off my tree everyday"

"Guess what I get to have for lunch today?" Responses: homemade dumplings, Banh Mi Sandwiches, Pho, Pancit, Lumpia, fried plantains, shawarma, falafel ..... this list goes on....

"My dad is nervous is come to tri-conferences, because he can't speak English. When I go to the store I always translate for him" 

"In Congo, I make fire everyday." (student proceeds to rub two sticks together, while others ask for the lighter)

When asking my refugee student from the Congo if he had fished before: "Yes. I go with mom we make stick and put into the water. My mom makes spice and cooks on fire"

"When I lived in the Philippines, I lived with ALL my family. I miss that"

When finding pictures for our Identity projects: "Can you print for me?"
After posting this on his project he wrote "Soldiers come and takes child. It is very sad"

"Just because *name* isn't fast at math drills, doesn't mean he is dumb. He can be smart in another way. Imagine how are parents feel when they go somewhere and can't speak English. It doesn't mean they are dumb!"

Lessons From My Students

These past 5 months were spent as a divisional EAL intake/assessment teacher and an EAL summer school teacher to new immigrant and refugee students from various places; Vietnam, Somalia, Ethiopia, Phillipines, Nepal, Rwanda, Burundi, China, Ethiopia, Lebanon, and a majority from Syria. 

Many of which who have had interrupted or lack of education.

Many who have experienced more heartache and war than most of us with ever know. 

It was these moments that made me realize just how amazingly brave, resilient, innocent, kind, optimistic these kids are:

When giving them one piece of liquorice as a treat means saving it for recess so they can share it with 7 other siblings. 

When asking them where they would travel to if they could go anywhere in the world, they say "home", even after taking my phone to show me that their city Deir ez-Zor currently looks like this. 

When they compare having a pizza party and going on a field trip to winning the lottery. 

When doing an art project about their favourite places, they make rainbows, sunshine, and flowers and name it "Syria". 

When you ask them to draw a picture of their family and they draw this and say "happy happy day"

When they lack many English words but they have all mastered "love, friends, family, home, school, happy". 

When meeting their parents means you are genuinely invited to their houses for dinner or lunch everyday. 

When you are working on posters about Canada and they insist they draw the Syrian flag on it because they are proud that Canada accepts they are both. 

When doing a mapping project means they place a mosque and church side by side, with matching hearts as decor. 

When you teach them vocabulary of a house and a student points to the bedroom in excitement because for the first time in their life they have one. 

When they are unbelievably dedicated to their education because for the majority of their lives they were denied it. 

Dear little ones, you have taught me more then I could have ever taught you. Never forget where you came from. Never stop learning. Never change. You are the true heroes of this world, and you are so loved. 

A post of new beginnings

A post about my whirlwind life - written in various places; on a beach, 3 airplanes, multiple airports, my room, a classroom, in Senegal and in Canada - all the places that hold a special part of my heart.

 I'm starting this post as I sit here in sunny Dakar on the beach, waiting for Oumar to finish work. I question why I have to leave, why I don't just live here, and how incredibly blessed I am to now be a resident of two countries, and have two places to call home.

 As Oumar likes to say, 2015 was our year. A year of travel, a year of engagement, a year of marriage.

This time I cry as I leave Senegal. Not just because I'm sad to leave the most interesting, different, challenging, beautiful, cultured, and inspiring country I've ever experienced, but because I know the best is coming. This time Oumar and I await sponsorship. We wait for our time to live together. We wait to figure out life in Canada, life in Senegal, life in both. 

This trip was the most important trip to Senegal I've ever made. My family was able to meet my other half, my rock, my everything. They embraced the culture here in Senegal. They fell in love with the very same things I fall in love with each time I return here. The people. The overwhelming generosity. The colourful dresses. The food. The intense smells - Incense, spices. The pure happiness and content of people; young, old, rich, poor. 

 "Rich or Poor, it doesn't matter. Life is beautiful in Senegal"

Something about this place just wins over your heart. It reminds you of all those little things you take for granted, and opens your eyes to all those other things that don't necessarily matter. It creates "those moments" that make you so happy to know you are exactly where you want to be:

 

When you realize there is nothing more important than family. Close, far, new, old. Blood or friend. 

When language, culture and religion are not barriers. When you realize there is a world of communication beyond words.

 

When you accept that the best things in life take time. Friendships, love, and the journey it self. 

When you really love someone so you put in all of your time and effort without even realizing it is time or effort. When talking to your husband means having two reliant internet connections on opposite sides of the world. Where seeing each other means hopping on a plane and traveling for 20+ hours. 

 

 When you listen to the conversations of those around you and soak in every experience only to realize just how amazing your worldview becomes when you travel. 

When you spend an afternoon on the beach and a little girl with not a care in the world comes to play with you. When she spends 15 minutes taking the shell off peanuts so that she has something to give you.

When you ask her where her parents are and she points to the ground. 

When she looks at you and the only thing she can say in English is "I'm so happy".

When you arrive at a new apartment and the owner proudly brings you this, expecting nothing in return. 

 

When someone who you just met on the street yesterday genuinely asks you how your family is doing. 

Sigh. This is home. 

Of course the highlight of the trip (and this year) was our wedding. It took place on Boxing Day at a resort called "Framissima Palm Beach". They planned and organized EVERYTHING.  We spent the morning by the beach calm, worry-free and relaxed - so relaxed that guests didn't believe Oumar that he was getting married because he was sitting near the bar up until 20 minutes before the ceremony. The day was everything we wanted it to be - simple, fun, care-free and full of love.

It is truly amazing was how two families who have two totally different cultures and who don't even speak the same language can share a day full of laughter, love, and smiles.

 

 

Life Back in Canada:

As most of you know I recently had a term position teaching Grade 3 here in Canada. Although I loved my class, and I loved having the opportunity, I also had the feeling of being completely lost - wishing that I could take my class in Thailand, place it in Senegal, and somehow make Senegal close to Canada. It dawned on me... I was missing the diversity, the challenge, the culture, the experience of teaching those who see the world differently than me. 

So, I have returned to the place where my teaching career began. But this time, I truly understand what, and who I want to teach - teaching English as a Second Language to Immigrants, Refugees and/or International students. Even though classes are intense, I am intrigued by those who surround me - classmates, teachers, and future students who are immigrants/international students themselves. Each diverse, insightful and rich in their own way.

As I sit here writing this post I can't believe my life. Traveling between continents, pursuing a career that allows me to feel the very things I feel when I travel, and awaiting approval of my husband's sponsorship.

So, the blog continues, this time to document my journey between two homes, and my experiences as an ESL teacher. My life in a nutshell...Always surprising. Still figuring it out. Forever grateful.

Finished!

Another year down.... and where did the time go? 

There were many days that I complained about the heat, the disorganization of things, motorcycles driving on sidewalks, everything containing sugar, no one understanding me... but in reality, Thailand was very good to me. I'm leaving to go back to Canada with a handful of great memories, new friends and unbelievable experiences. Although I wish I could stay abroad and travel the world,I am ready to have some quality time at home with family and friends.

Despite all my complaints, there are many things I will miss. Here is a photo collection of my favourite moments and places from this year!

 This street. My neighborhood for the past two years. 

 Renting this house. Learning how to take care of a house- broken pipes, water heaters, bugs... rats.... welcome to life in a tropical country.

My all time favourite Thai food - Som Tam (spicy green papaya salad). I have also enjoyed that I now have a stomach of steel - I have eaten all types street food in some of the dirtiest places and never get sick. In these past two years I think my body has now been exposed to almost all types of bacteria...

 BTS rides. And also seeing ridiculous people everywhere you go in Bangkok. 

 Shopping in Bangkok = HEAVEN. 

 Nights at Asiatique - Bangkok's larger and more extravagant version of the Forks. 

Getting to hang out with cool Thai people.... or our student's parents in this case. (and having that be entirely acceptable).

 Everyday with these monkeys. 

 Bridge over the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi, Thailand.

Taking my family to Koh Samet.

Weekend getaways at this beautiful island. Koh Samet, Thailand. 

Renting motorbikes in Samet

 Family Time on the beautiful beaches of Krabi.

Enjoying this View.  Pranang Cave Beach, Krabi. 

 Railay Beach, Krabi. 

Embracing our inner Thai.  Participating in Loy Krathong Day. 

Supporting our students at their soccer tournament.

Exploring the streets, shopping, and noodle eating in Hong Kong. 

Experiencing this Skyline of Lights in Hong Kong. 

Enjoying the view. Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. 

 Becoming a little kid again at Hong Kong Disneyland. 

 Taking a typical tourist photo at the Petronas towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Exploring the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Climbing up a very steep mountain at the Batu Caves, Malaysia. 

 Staying in this gorgeous hotel in Nusa Dua, Bali

 Spending a holiday away in the sun. Bali, Indonesia.

Taking in the local culture in Ubud, Bali. 

Traveling to Spain.... and eating the best food. All day. Everyday.

Taking typical tourist photos in City Park... and enjoying "normal" weather for once. 

 

Renting an apartment steps from Barceloneta beach. 

 Exploring Parc Guell and seeing Barcelona from above. 

Making a new friend, and indulging in Spanish food - Paella and Tapas.

Visiting the Picasso Museum. 

Partying it up in Ibiza

Doing absolutely nothing all day except lay by the pool and beach - Ibiza.

Exploring the beauty of Dakar's People.

  

Visiting the beautiful Goree Slave Island, Senegal, West Africa

Going on an African Safari

 Seeing 1000 year old Baobab trees.

Enjoying quality beach time at Yoff Beach - Dakar, Senegal

 Indulging in local African cuisine. 

Long walks with this view in Ouakam village, Dakar, Senegal.

 Walking with goats. 

Spending time with my love.

Sharing my love for sushi. 

 Seeing this monstrosity that is the African Renaissance statue.

 Learning about a simpler and arguably happier way of life with new friends. 

 Watching my students graduate from P6!

 

 Seeing the beauty of Africa.... again!

 
Visiting Goree Island for the 2nd time

 Spending more quality time with Oumar.

 Relaxing in Saly, Senegal

and last but certainly not least.....

GETTING ENGAGED!

While I have attended countless years of schooling and am in a career in education, my most eye opening experiences and valuable lessons come solely from traveling. 

With another year of travels behind me, I feel very blessed to have had these opportunities.

Across 8 countries, 20+ cities, 4 continents, 3 oceans, various cultures and religions (this year alone!) I am returning home with a the most memorable and important lessons. 

What i've learned..

 

We are all the same.

Whether we are riding a tuk tuk in Asia, sitting on a red soiled street in Africa or out and about with friends Canada, we are all driven by the same desires in life. We want to love, be loved, protected, and comfortable. From traveling Southeast Asia, to Spain, to West Africa, I realized that we are all working towards these common goals. 

I noticed young people in particular were the same. Walking down the streets of Dakar, you could pick any young person and plunk them and Canada and you would have no idea that he wasn't from there - iphone in hand, the newest nike shoes, sagged jeans....

Traveling continues to show me that we are more similar than we are different.

Experience is the most valuable thing one can have. 

I can admit that I grew up spoiled - lived in a nice house, always had the newest clothes and toys etc. But one thing I will always be the most grateful for is the opportunity to travel. Traveling makes you reevaluate your priorities in life, it makes you push outside your comfort zone and appreciate what you have.

You are able to do so much more than you think. 

 When I think about these past two years I have done more traveling that I have done in the rest of my life combined.When you throw yourself into 
new countries you can be surprised by how much more you learn.

The world is only as dangerous as we make it. 

Traveling allows you to go past what you see in the news. It allows you to witness and experience things with your own eyes and through your own perspectives.The problem is we never hear the good news or local news about good deeds people have done, we only hear exaggerated major headlining stories.

After countless warnings about going to Africa and how unsafe it was, I went anyways. Amidst all the Ebola scares,I was never sick, never in danger, and more at peace than ever. The people were friendly, helpful and just genuinely happy.

and last but not least...

Teaching is single handedly the best job in the world. 

  Sure teachers have great holidays....but everyday is also an exciting new challenge. 
.... and the reward is amazing. 
 

 
Seeing this--  when your student couldn't even form a basic sentence at the beginning of your time with them.

Teaching has shown me that you can learn a lot from a child's innocence - they have a less complicated and more beautiful way of looking at the world... and its inspiring. 

I cant believe this chapter of my life has come to an end - but I will take these experiences with me for the rest of my life. I can assure you that my traveling days are not over - maybe just put on the back burner for a while as I try to set up my life in Canada. 

As for my next plans - I will planning for Oumar to come to Canada, visas etc, and of course thinking about wedding plans.

Thanks to all who have kept up with my blog! Its been my pleasure to share my travels and experiences with you!