14th October

14^th October

For those of you who remember the hassle around the new teacher joining at the beginning of school. Well, she has quit, as the commute was too much for her. She had a point- it was costing her 1000tenge a day and 30minutes each way by taxi, and she now works at a school much closer. Steven and I went to visit it today, ostensibly to talk about FLEX – a programme run by the USA that gives 1000 kids from the ex-Soviet Union a free year’s study in American High school. There is no one good enough at my school (well, who qualifies anyway, its only for 7/8/9^th classes), but there are a few kids in the area who we are urging to apply.

It was also nice to see the school, and once again notice how every school here is different! Clean, white, airy and spacious school, with a young staff and happy kids - It was really nice to see! The English level is really low, but both Steven and Michelle are starting English clubs there, so that will help, and its nice to see how kids respond in an environment where they aren’t shouted at all the time (they seemed much more adult and better behaved)