Smile for Teaching

Wow! Nepal is amazing.  Every day, every building, every person has a story to share that inspires passion and respect for Nepal and the people that live here.  Day five and I keep learning new aspects of Nepali culture. On our walks to the school every day, you can feel the city of Bhaktapur thriving around you.  Even a year after the earthquake its presence can still be felt.  Many buildings remain damaged or are in piles of bricks.  Even though many people’s lives have been damaged they remain strong and continue to rebuild their nation brick by brick.

The horns, the smells, and crowed streets only add to the building excitement as we near the school.  We walk past piles of rubble and half constructed buildings and then after turning a corner there it stands.  It’s a tall building, painted blue and speckled with the faces of smiling students eager to learn.  Entering the classroom for the first time was nerve racking and I was unsure, but I walked on in with a smile on my face and greeted the class.

Each class I taught was a learning experience for the students and myself.  As I began to improve in my teaching ability every student in every class began to improve as well.  Being able to see the student’s improve inspires me to continue to do my best even when the going gets tough.  My first class I taught made me realize that just smiling and giving information was only a way to pass time, but as the day went on I was able to make the students smile and laugh by engaging them in activities.  Knowing that all the work I had put into preparing my lesson plan the night before was bringing the classroom to life made me feel as if I had won the lottery.

Seeing the students learn with a smile gave me a sense of accomplishment that I am now striving for every day.  I enter each new day with a smile on my face because I know that making each day better than the last will be the key to making the most of every moment.

Happy Fathers Day to my Dad!!