Oh, the insanity!

Sorry that I have been really slacking lately with keeping the blog updated, but things here have been crazy busy.

Green Camps are at the final stage of the grant writing process, and let's all keep our fingers crossed that we receive one of the 3 grants that we are applying for. We have the basic write up and budget for the Green Camps (well..Environmental Leadership Camps now) done, and have a few days now to tailor it to the individual grants that we are working on. I am very excited for it though, we have made some big changes to the program, which will hopefully make the camp not only more attractive to funders, but also more sustainable and impactful (not quite a word, but you get the picture). In past years, the camps have been all about the environment, which is cool, but there was not training on how to take that knowledge and use it. This year, we are adding elements of team-building and Leadership skills to the camps, and along with completing a environmentally based service project during each of the 5 camps, we will also be selecting 16 student leaders to plan larger scale projects in their areas. The NGO we are working with, Green Tavush, is awesome..and I am very excited to see how all the changes work out in the long run.

I also just found out that I was selected to be a leader at this years GLOW camp!!!! Very exciting stuff. It is a camp for young Armenian girls, where they learn about gender-related issues, self-esteem, and other topics. A program like that is very important here, where the males are entirely doted on, and gender roles reflect that of the states in the 50s. I am so stoked for the camp this year, and will be diligently working on my Armenian until then, since all of the courses are taught in Armenian.

This weekend is the first weekend that I will stay in Dilijan. Between Green Camp (oops...Environmental Leadership Camps) meetings and getting together with other volunteers, I have not had a weekend home in 5 weeks now. Insane. Come to think of it, I have a meeting in Ijevan this Sunday too. Honestly.

Next weekend is Easter in Gyumri! Holidays here (even little one's, like St. Patrick's Day) are harder then the rest, and I am happy that some of us are going to get together for Easter, one of my favorites. I was away for Easter last year too, and that sucked. At least this year there is a rumor of an Easter egg hunt (no worries Mem and Gramp, it will not ever beat out yours!) and I will even get to go to the Catholic Church there.

Speaking of Easter, I have a few cool things that Armenians do for the holiday. They have dried wheat, and make some type of dish with it, just for Easter. Armenians paint eggs as well, but then they knock the ends of two eggs together, and whoevers egg holds up without cracking wins. Wins what? I don't know, but I am sure I will be able to tell you next week. I am sure I will have more for you after that day. I am sad that I will not be experiencing it with my family, but I really want some PCV time.

Well, it is late and I am tired, so off to bed for me. OH! Before I go I want to tell you about the pretty great classes that I have had lately. Since March 22nd was World Water Day, the focus of the Ecology lessons happening with Sunchild this week is WATER. My second favorite topic, behind the ocean. I had a talk with my director, and now the guy that I teach with is actually staying for my 'games', which I am pretty sure he enjoys. Yesterday, we did a oil-spill clean up activity. I split the kids into groups and gave each group a bowl of water, a thread (boom), some cotton, and a spoon. I then dumped a cup of vegetable oil in their bowls (little Sevans, is what I called them) and told them they had 10 minutes to clean it up. It went REALLY well...even the other teacher was getting into it (plus, he could tell where I was going and picked up the explanations when my Armenian stumbled). It was great, actually held the kid's attention for at least 30 minutes (what can I say, if they are into it, I am going to stretch it for all its worth, limits be damned!) and they seemed to get the message. It is easier to stop an oil spill before it happens, then to clean up after it. Today's activity was along the same lines, except for there was 3 bowls of water. One with scraps of paper mixed in, one with dirt, and one with vinegar. The kids (without tasting or smelling) had to vote on which they would rather drink. Obviously, since they didn't know about the vinegar, they picked that one, and then I had one girl smell it. They quickly changed their minds. I then gave them 5 minutes to clean the water using spoons and 'filters' (an old shirt stretched over a bowl) and when all was said and done, we talked about how not all water looks polluted, and how sometimes the most dangerous pollutants (chemicals, etc) cannot be seen or cleaned.

The English classes are also going fairly well. I told Sunchild that I will no longer teach English by myself. Not only is it taking a paying job from a HCN (host country national) but it is also not controlled enough. I average about 20 kids per class, and that is too much for me and my Armenian. They are working on it, and ideas of co-teachers have been kicked around, so hopefully I will have someone in that classroom with me soon enough!

The 2nd school English classes are also going well. I love the 4th form kids (you can see pics on Facebook!) because they are so adorable and willing to listen. It also helps that there are only 8 or so of them in the class. The 5th and 7th forms are coming along. I still cannot control either class by myself. But they associate me with games now, and will usually settle down after 5 or so minutes. I played a great game with the 7th form on yesterday about animals. I wrote a list of animals on the board (and on post its) and then wrote a list of physical features (stripes, eyes, fur, mane, tail, beak, etc)..the kids wrote down the words and translated them all. Then, I called the kids up one by one and put a post it on their back. Their class mates then had to describe the animal (in English) using the traits and other words they knew until the person was able to guess what they were. It went really well. I successfully had every SINGLE of the 22 kids up to participate, and by the end even the so-called 'stupid' kids were yelling out words. I am seeing a difference in at least one of the teachers I work with. She has begun to call on those 'stupid' kids, and is giving them the chance to participate along with the rest of the class. Yay!


Well..I am sleepy, and have successfully put off more grant work until tomorrow, when I will for SURE buckle down and get it done.

Miss you all!