Christmas on Cyprus

This is basically a blog of pictures and my time with good friends (new and old) on Cyprus. Thank you to Emily, Jason, Tanis and Josh who made the week such a blessing!

Our Apartment View:

Baths of Aphrodite and the Aphrodite Trail:

  

Trodos Mountain Hike:

Avakas Gorge Walk/Hike:

Tomb of the Kings:

Venetian Bridges:

  

Eating Donuts in the City of Nicosia (the capital) and Lefkara (known for silver handcrafts and lace embroidery):

Beach near Paphos and the view from the boardwalk in Limassol:

The days on Cyprus were filled with great adventures including being chased by goats, while many evenings were spent watching football, eating amazing food, playing Rook and Dutch Blitz and enjoying the quiet company of great people.

Candy Canes and Story Time

The Christmas season is definitely upon us; even in Beirut, the streets are becoming alive with the festive season.  Hamra street is lined with twinkling lights, stores are playing some variation of Christmas music, and many are walking around with bags of gifts for their loved ones.  The classrooms at the school have been decorated for a few weeks and my students became more and more amped up as the weeks towards the holiday approached.  The last weeks have been full of unexpected surprises, laughter and many many hugs!  I am so thankful for the hugs.

My students are a blessing in my life. I feel like a pop star every time I go to class.  Remember that I don’t have my own classroom, so ever 50minutes I am entering into a their class – their space. I am the visitor, but I am a welcomed visitor.  They chant my name as I enter, they tell me they missed me (even when I saw them earlier in the day), and they all want some sort of physical contact – a fist bump, high five, hug or pat on the shoulder.  It’s all quite funny and at the same time very humbling.

This week there were many secret Santa gift givings in the classrooms, and bless their hearts, my classes all had some little gift for me.  I walked out with coffee cups, chocolate, fun zig zag rainbow socks and a few very heart warming cards – these were my favourite.  I love the cards.  My classes spent our last few days finishing up Folktale stories they were writing and sharing our creativity while licking candy canes and cheering for the offering that each new student gave.  Our last period together yesterday we watched a TED talk about Student Voice and Creativity.  I reminded my students how much I valued their contributions in the classroom and related it back to the amazing stories they had just finished.  I sent them off with their Christmas assignment – to see what they could learn from others and recognize the value that different people have in their lives.  It is my hope that my students will end this year with the realization that every student has a voice, that every encounter can teach them something, and that we all have something to learn fro m the other.  

                                                 Yesterday I also woke up to a very special surprise from my school mentor – Elizabeth.  Elizabeth is an incredibly thoughtful, caring and organized mentor whom I appreciate so much!  My little surprise – a stocking hanging on my door. It was full of Lindt chocolate, nuts, coffee, and other special treats she knew I would appreciate.  Later in the day I had another surprise – I took some money out of my bank account and must have been given a Christmas bonus from the school, because there is a more money in there than just my regular paycheque.  All in all, through my students, my mentor, fellow staff and others, it is so wonderful feeling wanted, appreciated and thought of this holiday season.  I feel blessed.

I am heading out on vacation for the next two weeks. I will be travelling to Cyprus, Athens and the finally New Years in Berlin. I am very excited, a little anxious, and wishing the best for all of you.  I am praying that this holiday season isa blessed one for my family. Despite being apart, I hope they know how much I love them. Merry Christmas everyone!

Tea Time

Every Sunday at my grandma’s house you will find at least a few people visiting and having tea.  I love Sunday Tea. I love the fact that I can go to one place and see a number of different people from my family at once. I love that people share what’s been going on in their lives, share stories, discuss hockey, politics, the church, and bodily functions all in the same breath.  It is one of the traditional aspects of my life that I hold very close to my heart.  There are other traditions I miss: Saturday mornings at Granville Island, Christmas Concerts, Christmas Train at Stanley Park, and brunch on Sundays with the boys, but Sunday Tea is on a whole different level.  It’s an institution in my family, and a tradition that is a part of my earliest memories. Only Saturday mornings at Granville Island even come close as far as memories go.  So every Sunday, no matter where I am… I have tea at 3:30pm.  Today, Sunday Tea is just me.  It’s only 5:30am back home in Vancouver and it’s not the same having tea with friends.  I have my tea, my digestive biscuits and a few cranberry oatmeal cookies.  Alone, it is a time of reflection; I pray for my family, especially my grandparents – they have been an incredible part of my life, and I am so thankful for the time they have taken to invest in me as their grandchild. I hope good things for those that I have in my life and I look forward to the moments that we will be able to share in person again.  I am thankful for the love that I have had in my life, the love that I have currently in my life, and I am hopeful for new love and continued love in the future.  I am blessed to come from a family that despite it’s short comings knows how to love one another.  I am thankful that I am able to go off on adventures and know that there are people praying for me. I am thankful for all the memories that have been made, because my family understands that sometimes we need to spread our wings, and sometimes it’s nice to come back to the nest.

On this first day of Advent, I am especially thankful for the tradition of faith that my family has shared with me.  I am thankful for their words of guidance, encouragement and at times admonishment.  I am thankful that they have allowed me to develop my own faith and not bound me to a set of religious doctrine.  I am thankful for Jesus and for His sacrifice. I am thankful that He loves me as I am and that He has given me a family that loves me as I am.  I am blessed.

So, on this Sunday… at Tea Time… I remember with fondness many memories at my grandparents home; I remember my family; I remember love.

Social Teaching

Earlier this week I was at a friends condo. Actually it’s his families condo. It takes up one full floor of the building and has amazing, no, incredible views of Beirut touching the Mediterranean and stunning sights of the city.  He lives in the Achrafieh, one of the areas of Beirut City, like Kerrisdale, Vancouver.  He lives on the 20th floor of a beautiful building with marble countertops, hardwood and stone, and antiquities from around the world.  What’s my point?  It reminds me yet again of the life and disparity of life in Beirut.  As we walked out of his side of the condo (yes, he has an entire half of the floor to himself including 3 bathrooms, two bedrooms, and an entertainment area), into the main living area, his mom was on the sofa, talking on the phone while three house servants were giving her a pedicure, manicure, and facial all at the same time.  Seriously?  Apparently this is a weekly thing.  Why do they have three house servants?  Not to mention two personal drivers and a nanny for my friends younger brother.  It’s crazy!  Then you walk out the door of the condo building and down the street and see refugees begging on the street. People who can barely afford hummus and pita.  I recognize, yet again, how blessed I am for what I have been given, the opportunities that I have had in life and the gift of my family and friends.

It is from homes like these that my students come from.  Life of privilege. Life of excess.  They keep $50US bills in their pencil cases.  Most have travelled to multiple places overseas and have family homes in the US, Canada, France or the UK.  They have nannies that pick them up from school, carry their bags for them and drivers who take them wherever they want to go.  However, many of them also don’t see their parents for weeks at a time.  While there area  certain few who are fortunate enough to have mom and dad around regularly, there are many who don’t. This is the social dynamic that I work in, and it is no wonder that their is often a struggle to understand why these kids act and react the way they do.  As their English teacher, I am adored.  I only see most of my students 8hrs every week. Imagine if I was with them all day every school day.  I invest in them; I care about them, and in return I have an influence on their lives unlike any I’ve experienced before.  Yes, in the past I have been able to build relationships with students, but I have never experienced connections like this on such a massive scale before. I have been charged to be an example, a light, a teacher, a guide, and a sounding board for these students in an incredible way. It is not something I take lightly.  Praying and hoping for strength, wisdom and discernment each day!

A few more differences…a list.

Barbwire and bomb detection as you go into a Supermarket: Local supermarkets include Carrefour, Spinney’s, TSC, BouKhalil, Monoprix, Idriss, and Coop of Lebanon to name the big ones.

Metal detectors and pat downs as you go into a mall: ABC Achrafieh and City Centre are the big ones.

Traffic lights, traffic signs and signs in general: they exist but they are ignored… completely!

Mealtimes: In general… eat lunch around 3:30 and dinner around 8:30 or later… breakfast… at some point before noon.

Soldiers and Police hanging out in the streets with their machine guns: pretty much everywhere… bunkers etc located near important locations. DO NOT PHOTOGRAPH them!

Service vs Taxi: service is way cheaper…. but you better know what you are doing and don’t be alarmed if others share the service with you… that’s what a service does.  You may have a few stops before you get to your location.  1 Service = 2000lbp ($1.30 USD) 2 Service = 4000lbp ($2.65 USD). You shouldn’t pay more than 2 Service to go most places in Beirut City.  In a Taxi its going to cost you 10000lbp to 20000lbp.

Beauty Contests: Men and Women compete… Mr Lebanon is huge!  Miss Lebanon is pretty big too.

Beauty and Vanity: ok so this isn’t so much a difference as it is an observance…. or hearsay…. getting a nose job is a practical gift for your 16th birthday…. and a boob job for your 19th or 21st birthday.

TV Programming: it comes from everywhere…. but mostly it’s discontinued American Programs with a few new ones thrown into the mix (that are filmed in Canada – i.e. The Flash), Qatar, and France…. they play movies – lots of movies… new and old and Music Video Programs…. VH1, Much Music, MTV and for each language and country.

I know there are more… but I’m feeling a little brain dead at the moment.  If there is something you want to know about send me a message and I will try to address it in my next post!

Week 11 – Midterm Has Passed

Midterm has passed.  I am awaiting the arrival of my temporary residency card. I have booked my flights and hotels for the the winter vacation and my students have completed their 2nd set of Common Exams.  I wish that I had cute little anecdotes to share, a few funny stories, or even a terrifying adventure. I don’t.  Life continues. Life is good.  Routine has set in and I’m adjusting to life in Beirut.  I eat dinner later, I sleep less at night and nap more in the afternoon.  I spend hours grading papers and prepping lessons.  I dream of the next vacation.  I constantly meet new people. I go to the gym and am motivated by the incredibly fit people lifting on the other bench or on the other side of PUMP class.  I read my Bible. I pray.

I have a beard.  It’s getting pretty thick and red.  Red? Yes… Red!  Strange.  Actually, here is something that I have found really funny.  The way that people treat me now that I have beard is a lot better.  I am served quicker.  I am asked if I need help more often.  I can get a Service Taxi to actually not try to gringo me.  As I walk past people they give me an odd look. I think they are confused by this Asian with a beard… who looks kind of Asian, but not really Asian.  It’s funny.  Even the guys at the gym are more likely to ask if I need a spotter.  Lol.  I think I’ll keep the beard while I’m here.

My 6th grade students: I gave them their 2nd Common Exam on Monday; they were all so worried and stressing out over it that I began to have anxiety for them. One of the things I have noticed about my students here is that they are really concerned with what I think of them as their teacher. They want to do well not only for themselves, but also, for me. It comes down to respect. I have a lot more respect from not only my students but also their parents than I think most parents do back in Canada.  In any case… I came back to one of my classes for their second period (I have them the first period of the day and last period of the day), and all of a sudden they started clapping. They were applauding me as their teacher. It was weird. It was cute and I later found out it was because they really love English class.  I don’t feel like I am doing anything special or extraordinary.  I go into my classes with an enthusiasm that comes form working at camp for so long. I try to plan activities that are engaging and interesting and I try to bring to life the stories that we are reading in an attempt to get these kids excited about literature. BUT, it’s nothing I haven’t seen a hundred teachers do back home.  I think the difference is that here and in many places around the world, teachers are valued. What we bring to the table is appreciated. Our work, the hours we put in, and what we invest into our students, is noticed.

Dreams that come unexpectedly: I mean, like when you are asleep, dreams…

Funny Story: I’m sitting in the Mezzanine Teachers Computer Lab before my class after first break starts and my teaching partner comes up to me and says “I have to tell you something…” I’m thinking… this could either be something crazy and absurd (as so many things are it seems these days) or completely awesome… of course my mind went to the extremes. I encourage her to share her thoughts or story or whatever it is that’s rolling around in her head. She starts of by saying: “I had a dream last night… I never dream, nor do I ever remember them if I have them…” Interesting I think to myself… this dream must have been really good if she is wanting to share it with me in the first parts of the morning before good stories need to be told in order to help us make it through the roughness that is a regular Wednesday. She continues: “it was about you.” Uh oh… a dream about me by my teaching partner… “you were sitting in the teachers lounge with your partner looking at a magazine, and when I looked in closer I saw that it was a Canadian Ring Magazine – I could tell because it had Maple Leafs all over it… You were looking at wedding rings.” I informed her that I hoped her most excellent dream was prophetic and that if it is I’m going to make her a groomswoman. lol.

 

Boo. I Hate Tests!

Every month I am required to give a standard common exam to my students. Most of my students are coming out of PYP (Primary Years IB), and in being in grade 6 are experiencing these massive tests for the first time. It is very difficult for me as a teacher to give these tests and I think I dislike them as much as if not more than the majority of my students. I think one of my favorite aspects of working at Charles Dickens in Vancouver was that our “testing” was based on observation, interaction and self-assessments. The students loved to learn, they loved to try new things and they weren’t afraid to take risks. Though I have students in my current system who love learning, it is far more difficult to motivate every student when they are afraid of what a test might say, and as much as I can create a dynamic learning atmosphere with thoughtful questioning and pro-active anecdotal comments, the fact remains I have to give my students a common exam. Here are a few reasons I don’t like standard common exams.

First of all and most importantly, standardized tests measure only certain kinds of knowledge or abilities — arguably the lowest level and least important. They don’t do a great job of measuring higher level thinking skills or creativity, and they say nothing about whether or not students are able to solve real-world problems, let alone whether or not students are willing to read for information or enjoyment.

Secondly, standardized tests cause anxiety–sometimes extreme anxiety—in many test-takers, thus reducing any useful knowledge about their knowledge or abilities. Since we aren’t going to learn useful things about these kids through the scores, why put them through the pain? On top of that, standardized testing causes anxiety for me as a teacher. I didn’t like tests as a student, they caused me no small amount of distress and that feeling is heightened when I have students that are experiencing the same thing.

Thirdly, we know a lot about what learners need – and we should provide those things and then TRUST that learning is happening. Learning is stunted or even stopped by constant or intrusive evaluation. Paraphrasing John Holt, who paraphrased an unnamed father: If a gardener planted carrots and provided the right amounts of minerals and air in the soil, sunlight, and water — but then, in his anxiety over his crop, dug up the baby carrots every day and measured them to make sure they were growing — well, the farmer might not get a crop of carrots at all! If some of the carrots still grew despite all the digging up and replanting, they would probably be smaller and less straight than if the farmer had just let them grow. In the same way, we should provide good learning environments for children, but then trust them and let them grow.

These are only a few of the reasons why I wish I didn’t have to give these tests to my students. One last reason… when I have a student that I know is bright, contributes amazing thoughts in class discussions, but panics and can’t think in a test situation and bombs the test it’s crushing: crushing for the student, and crushing for myself as well.

Update by Picture

It’s been a busy week. I don’t really have anything profound to say… so here are some pictures from my recent trips to the Cedars of Lebanon, Besharreh (the birthplace of the Lebanese poet Gibran Khalil and the location of the Gibran Museum and many ancient churches and monastries), and the Monastry of St-Antoine in Kozhaya.

The Cedars are definitely beautiful; this UNESCO World Heritage Site has many impressively large Cedar trees that date back for centuries, but it was the Jesus Treeor Crucifixion Tree that impressed me most. Carved into one enormous dead tree were various depictions of the crucifixion of Christ. An amazing bit of woodworking in an amazing natural setting. My pictures do not do the art justice, but hopefully you can get the idea.

 

The Crucifixion Tree symbolizes the Trinity, unfortunately, some of my pictures didn’t turn out.  Hopefully what you can see is the face of God, Jesus on the Cross looking to the face of God and in the background you may be able to see the Flame of the Holy Spirit.  Some of the pictures that are missing show the lashings on Jesus’ back, and God reaching out to His people. It really is an amazing piece of art and an incredible depiction of the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

The following pictures come from the other two stops on my journeys this past week/weekend… Take a look at the monastery buildings built right into the mountain and its beautifully serene surroundings.

Coming up in my next post…. actual information about teaching at International College Beirut.  What’s amazing, frustrating, and funny about being a foreign hire at a Lebanese Private school.

Exploration to the South… and the North

Lebanon is not a big country.  In just over an hour by cab I have been able to travel to the limits of what is safe Southwards, and it’s about the same Northwards.

I had the awesome opportunity to go into the Chouf Mountain area of Southeastern Lebanon last weekend- many of the students and faculty have summer homes in this area and last weekend the English Department was able to go to our Head of Departments Summer Home.  It was absolutely beautiful!  The trip took us on roads through these “mountains” and we had the privilege of seeing Moussa Palace (the Presidents Summer Residence – and literally an old castle), and Deir Al Qamar, which is the area the Princes, who controlled the Mt. Lebanon area, lived in during the 1600’s.  We ate lunch at Nabila’s summer home (our head of department), dining on fresh hummus with fresh basil and thyme, pizza and the most amazing potatoes I have ever eaten. Nabila’s summer home is located on an acreage that has fig, apple, pomegranate, and pear trees, grape vines, tomato plants and more.  We were able to pick pomegranates right of the tree and eat them as a snack before lunch – they were amazingly sweet!

After a restful period in the Chouf and visiting the Palace… we headed to the head of the Middle Schools summer house.  It was more like a Villa!  The entryway was a museum out of Damascus, filled with beautifully handcrafted artifacts, an incredible ceiling and overall intricacy.

Overall, last weekend was incredible!

Looking northwards, I have already been to Byblos, which is about 40 minutes north of Beirut by “service.”  With an extra day off in the middle of the week because of the Private School teachers striking in Lebanon, a few of us foreign hires decided to get out of town and headed to the town of Bartoun.  Bartoun is situated on the coast of Lebanon about an hour north of Beirut. It is beautiful!  We headed up around 11am to have lunch and relax on the beach for the day.  Thanks to Hannah, our social engagement organizer in Fadlallah (Foreign Hire Residence) for the idea!  We ordered a variety of share plates that were delicious – including hummus, eggplant dip, meat plates, white wine, and a veggie plate that was a huge mound of uncut vegetables. Hilarious, and tasty! The tomatoes were bright red, and everything was incredibly fresh!

So with a mid week vacation… what else does one need?  A holiday weekend of course 🙂  This weekend is the Eid al-Adha Feast holiday.  Eid al-Adha is the second of two religious holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide each year. It honors the willingness of Abraham(Ibrahim) to sacrifice his promised son. Ishmael (Isaac) as an act of submission to God‘s command, before God then intervened to provide Abraham with a lamb to sacrifice instead. (Thank you Wikipedia)…

It is a fantastic feast holiday, which my students informed me is full of sweet treats and baked goods as well as gifts of money. It leaves me wondering… where are my gifts and sweets. Lol.  I’m celebrating heading out on a tour on Sunday:

The Cedars
The most venerable representatives of the Cedars of Lebanon, which once covered the country’s mountains, are in the Besharre region in the North of Lebanon. Hundreds of trees stand on slopes 2,000 meters high in the shadow of the 3,088 meter peak of Qornet es- Sawda.From Lebanon’s cedar forests, Solomon got the timber to build his temple and palace, while the Egyptians Pharaohs used the wood carve their sarcophagi and ‘sunships’.

Besharreh
In the north, the picturesque gateway to the Cedars of Lebanon, is the birthplace of the famous Lebanese poet Gibran Khalil Gibran. Here one may visit the Gibran Museum and the many ancient churches and monastries.
Kozhaya
Part of the Holy valley where Maronites used to during the Ottaman’s period. Monastry of St-Antoine of Kozhaya is one of the numerous monasteries built in this valley. It is built partly inside in the mountain and party outside it. It is surrounded by a very beautiful panorama of forest and valley.

Here’s some cool info about the importance of the Cedars in Lebanon:

The Lebanon Cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon, and is displayed on the Lebanese flag and coat of arms. It is also the logo of Middle East Airlines(MEA), which is Lebanon’s national carrier. Beyond that, it is also the main symbol of Lebanon’s “Cedar Revolution“, along with many Lebanese political parties and movements, such as the Kataeb (Phalange), the Lebanese Forces, the National Liberal Party, and the Future Movement. Finally, Lebanon is sometimes metonymically referred to as the Land of the Cedars.

The Lebanon Cedar is frequently mentioned in the Bible. Example verses include:

• “Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.” (Zechariah 11:1, 2)
• “He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.” (Job 40:17)
• “The priest shall take cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet stuff, and cast them into the midst of the burning of the heifer” (Numbers 19:6)
• “The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon” (Psalm 29:5)
• “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar in Lebanon” (Psalm 92:12)
• “I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive” (Isaiah 41: 19)
• “Behold, I will liken you to a cedar in Lebanon, with fair branches and forest shade” (Ezekiel 31:3)
• “I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars” (Amos 2:9)
• “The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.” (Psalm 104:16 NRSV)
• [King Solomon made] cedar as plentiful as the sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. (1 Kings 10:27, NIV, excerpt)

(Thanks again Wikipedia).