Curious Tourist

DAY 3 A happy selfie at Jumeirah Beach with Burj Al Arab in the backdrop  We again got up early in the morning but this time there was no usual hurry(even my friend Shubhankar felt at peace that morning). It was going to be a full day at the beach and we got totally engrossed in the vacation mode. This time we didn't even take a shower as we had a plan to bath in the sea whenever the sun would show up. A sunny day was in the forecast and we just couldn't wait for our fun to begin, so we quickly popped out of our room with backpacks stuffed with towels and pairs of extra clothing. We were happy to leisurely amble on the beach and allow the fresh sea breeze to seduce our senses with its soft gusty sounds and aromatic scents. We also saw many locals jogging with great energy along the sea and some children playing football on the damp sand close to the sea. It was still quite early and tourists had not yet populated the beach area, it would be a territory of the local Du

DAY 2 Having a peaceful time at Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai We got up at 6 am(yes you read it just fine) the next morning, thanks to my friend Shubhankar who did not want to waste any time while on vacation(how stupid I was to think that vacations are meant to while away your time). hahaha! Sometimes I wondered whether he actually caught any sleep over the entire trip or not because he was always up and ready whenever I saw him(I literally never found him in his night wear or while brushing his teeth). Well that was a boon for me as I always got the bathroom to myself every morning throughout the entire trip. Jumeirah Grand Mosque So let's talk about Day 2. I didn't take much time that morning, got up, had a bath and was all set to begin another day's adventure with my buddy. It was still time for check out and other people in the house were still asleep, so we decided to take a walk in the neighborhood. We headed towards the Jumeirah Mosque, one of the mos

Day 1 All excited and upbeat, at Ahmedabad Airport   from left: Shubhankar, Anshumaan(that's me) A customary selfie when on board  We were onboard our flight from Ahmedabad to Dubai when the captain suggested passengers who had not yet dozed off to peep outside the window for a breathtaking view of the port of Karachi. My friend and I obliged and leaped to our left to get the best view of the spectacle. The port city was dazzling in the darkness, ships shining like floating candles along the coastline. We were humbled to behold such a spectacular sight, also wondering how important a role this port must have played in the past just as it does today. We left Karachi, moved over to the Persian Gulf and flew towards the desert of Oman. I opened my Google Map, switched on the GPS and excitedly located the blue dot floating in the desert and heading to Dubai. After an hour, we approached a complex network of buildings, roads and bridges and we knew that we had reached our

Change, change, change, I needed to change my actions, What good were they when my students didn't get fractions! So I shifted, I twisted, I had a fresh start, But change was as slow as a shaky bullock cart It was a test of my character, my patience, But I had faith my class will reach excellence, The goal was clear and always in our mind, As we inched closer to it leaving the past behind Expectations were on a high, the bar was also set, At all costs, the goal just had to be met, All actions were aligned and goal was now in clear sight, Courage and grit ran high as we gave status quo a tough fight, All in all, change was good, it was bright and made everything right! Design For Change to build STUDENT LEADERS

I love to teach little kids and then I like to observe the way they use their learning in real life. It makes me immensely gratified and joyful to see them apply the knowledge that I gave them. Earlier I used to work in a technology company, helping my clients to design new softwares but now I work closely with the school and community, designing lives and creating a lasting impact in direct and indirect ways. Working right on the ground level has humbled me and made me realize the vastness of the challenge of ed-inequity looming over our country. The challenge is hard and surely daunting but not impossible to overcome. My journey so far has been to overcome my own hidden fears, personal difficulties and hardships. It is essential to get sorted out yourself before trying to lift up others. I have managed pretty well to tame the ghosts inside of me and started to take the challenge head on. Despite being all upbeat and enthusiastic about facing the daunting task, my journey has bee

Today was a half day at school as it was a Saturday. Saturdays are always more special as I get to play with my kids and do more creative things with them. Today the class librarian Samiksha distributed a book to each student based on their level which they took to the garden along with them. We all sat on the grass under the cool shade of a large tree and began to read our books. The change of surroundings really boosted the mood of my kids and hence their performance in reading. They were able to understand the text much better and it was easier for me as a teacher to give them one on one feedback. I allowed the students to keep the books with them for the weekend, well that's why we call it the library right! :) Later in the afternoon, I had a debrief with my Program Manager regarding my teaching methodology in class. It went really well as I now feel much better equipped to take my class to the next level. Tomorrow is again going to be a big day for me and my kids as I am tak

As soon as I stepped into my classroom in the morning, I was surrounded by my kiddos. Two of them had a surprise for me which they were hiding behind them. They slowly produced a beautifully handcrafted smiley band and said, "Bhaiya you are so good, we especially made this wrist band for you" I was naturally delighted to see such a beautiful thing in the morning. Then Jinal even tied it around my wrist like a Rakhi and it was the happiest moment of the day for me. Such small moments of joy really keep me going and striving for more in whatever I do for my kids. Today was also my observation when my Program Manager came in my classroom to observe my pedagogy and teaching methodology so that he can help me improve my skills as a teacher by giving me a good feedback. I taught Writing to my kids during the observation hour. I hope my lesson went well and that I will receive a positive feedback from him. :)