Beach Clean up.

At the end of each Amideast session, I lead a group of 40 scholarship students on an activity to promote civic awareness and responsible citizenship. Last Thursday, along with 3 other groups of 40, we cleaned up a beach along the causeway between Khormaksar and the mainland, Cheikh Othman. This area is actually a protected bird preserve, but suffers from pollution because many of those who drive along there, merely jettison their plastic bags and bottles out the window. There was all kinds of consumer trash: plastic..plastic bags, potato chip bags, bottles, plastic pipes, plastic cups, broken glass bottles and tires too. It was very dirty and stinky, as you can imagine. A TV crew showed up and filmed us, but nobody told me that we came out on TV, so I dont think we made the final cut. It was a workout picking up so much trash in the hot Arabian sun. It wasnt that bad, but it was dehydrating. Afterwards, we debriefed the activity and reflected on the experience over sandwiches and soda back at Amideast. These kinds of volunteer activities are great for promoting awareness. I noticed that the students were impacted by the "unusual" nature of this activity and wanted to share it with their community and perhaps create more clean-ups on a regular basis involving their schools.

As Margaret Mead once said, "Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

انا أسمي ميغيل كنشس

انا أسمي ميغيل كنشس‘ وَ انا مدرس في كُلية التربية عدن. انا من تكسَاس من مدينة سان انتونيو.
دائماًً أقرأ العربية

Check it out! I am learning to type Arabic too now. It’s fun and there are a couple of fonts that are really cool looking. I can handwrite this as well, but not as beautiful as this.

So, I am really enjoying my study of Arabic these days. I have found a teacher, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Saleh, Dean of the Language Institute at the University of Aden. Originally from the Yaffa region of Yemen, Dr. Ahmed is an accomplished scholar who did years of study in Moscow. Of course, he is an expert in fooshal (classic) Arabic, Yemeni dialect, Russian and English as well.

We meet 6 hours a week and look over several lessons. I am noticing that I can go pretty quickly through the lessons because of my previous experiences with Arabic. At San Antonio College, I took a class with Father John Al-Nahal from Lebanon. A pastor at St.George Maronite Church, he taught our class the Huruf, or Arabic alphabet which has 28 letters. This helps and then of course my informal studies of the Hassaniya dialect while I was working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mauritania also help…though there is considerable difference between it and Adeni Arabic or Classical Arabic. Even basic words like Yes and No are very different:

Yes & No:
Yemen: Nam & La
Mauritania: Ehay & Abday

Funny enough, I occasionally discover Arabic words that are more or less identical in Spanish:

Arabic: 1.zaytun 2. inshAllah 3. thor 4. fulana
Spanish: 1. aceituna 2. ojála 3. toro 4. fulana
English: 1. olive 2. Godwilling 3. bull 4. Ms. So & So


These words sound very similar and mean the same things in each language. It’s always a delight to discover the connections that bridge languages and cultures.
The challenge, though, in learning Arabic, is the richness of it’s lexicon or vocabulary. From different people here in Yemen I have heard 2 things about “camel”….one is that there are 17 different words in Arabic that mean camel. Another person told me that there is an old poem that lists 70 different words for camel. I’m not sure which is true, but I am impressed by the lexical luxury of such a language. (how do you like that alliteration?)

Needless to say, it is not easy to learn this language, but I count my blessings. Arabic has an alphabet that has 28 letters that are very graphophonemic in nature. That means the letters represent a sound each time they appear, which makes it easier to read for someone used to a similar kind of alphabet. Though the direction is the opposite of the English alphabet, that is it goes from right to left. I still recall when I first began learning the Huruf in Mauritania how fun it was to try and read signage. It felt like a game where I was “breaking the code”. I like doing that kind of stuff, like cryptoquips, igpay atinlay etc.

Yemen’s a good place to learn Arabic, so that’s what I try and do. Though, they have their own omnia or dialect of Arabic, everyone speaks one language. This makes learning that one language easier. In Mauritania, the various languages kept me on my toes and I used mostly the lingua franca there, French. I picked up some basic language in Hassaniya, and some in Pulaar as well. I even learned some words in Bambaara and Wolof.
Yemeni’s all speak Arabic.
As I’ve mentioned before, learning their language helps me bond with students and understand the challenges they face learning English. I think it’s an opportunity for me to grow and develop a skill that can be useful for connecting with people in the Aden community and the Arab-speaking populace in general. Plus, it’s fun!

Perhaps you’re wondering what in the wide wide world of sports the Arabic script above says. Well here’s the translation:

My name is Miguel Conchas and I’m a teacher at the College of Education in Aden. I’m from San Antonio, Texas. I always read Arabic.

No I don’t always read Arabic, but it was nice to write it.

If you'd like to learn more about Arabic, here's a link to a site that gives a free course online:

http://www.madinaharabic.com/Index.htm

I highly recommend studying a foreign language for the rest of your life. Any language will do: Romance languages, Khmer, Russian, Japanese, Arabic, Chinese or Nahuatl. It raises your consciousness and may even be useful to you sometime in the future. Furthermore, it’s more than just words: it’s people, its culture, & it’s alive.

blogosphere & EL learning

As you can tell, I have really enjoyed blogging about my experiences here in Yemen. It's been a great way to share the experiences and adventures as they happen here. Family and friends have been able to read regularly about life for me here in Yemen. Since I saw this positive international phenomenon happening, I recalled a session on using blogs had piqued my interest at the 2005 TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) convention in San Antonio. So, about 4 weeks ago, I decided to experiment with blogging and English Language learning. First, I set up a blog for this semester's Writing II class at The University of Aden,

http://writing2aden.blogspot.com

It's very practical as a bulletin board. I can post news for my students and upload handouts or announcements for activities, scholarships et al. I'm planning on having them work in groups to produce collaborative writings which I will then post to the blog.

At Amideast, I mentioned the blog idea to staff and then along with Teacher Lindsay Martin-McCormick developed one,

http://amideastaden.blogspot.com

This blog shows student writings from various classes at Amideast. Several writings are already posted and it's interesting to see what they choose to write about. If you want to hear what Yemeni students have to say, check it out. Eventually, we could easily take some of these postings and make a simple newsletter as a hard copy for those busy students who cant find the time to surf.

Both blogs also have links to useful sites related to English Language Learning and English sites aimed at Yemenis. If any of you have any comments or suggestions about these blogs (including mine), please email me.

in the infamous words of mr. jon bon jovi

"oooooh we're 1/2-way there...oooooooo- OH! LIVING ON A PRAYER!" That's right folks, hard to believe, but I'm at the 1/2 way mark already. 4 months down and 4 months to go. The glass is half full and half empty too. What can I say? It's been intense, interesting and the pace is picking up too, because I'll be conducting teacher trainings at Amideast using the Shaping Teaching course materials that I picked up in Cairo. I'm excited.

So another semester has begun at Aden University’s College of Education in Khormaksar. I’m now teaching Writing 2 and I feel comfortable now that I have a semester under my belt there. Also contributing to my comfort zone, is the fact that I’m teaching the same students as last semester. More of them know me at the university and really like me. So much so that, I feel like a rock star at times. I roll up on my Chinese-manufactured giant “Rocky”-brandname, full-suspension bicycle listening to Cha-Cha-Cha classics like “El Bodeguero”. I think I’m the only westerner still on campus and I’m also the only one riding around on a bicycle. So, my presence is well-known and I take my fame in stride.

It’s kind of fun actually. Everybody wants to talk to me, buy me a lemonade or a tea. It’s an exotic allure I carry because well, in the words of Butterfly from the Digable Planets, “I’m cool like dat, I’m cool like dat and I’m cool like dat.” I’m friendly and personable and I enjoy talking to whoever is there; from the guys that work in the cafeteria to the administration in the English department. Most of the time, I enjoy shooting the breeze with the students. Naturally, they have a lot of questions about English, America, and things like whether I’m of Arab descent. I have a lot of questions for them, about their culture and Arabic. Some have traveled to other Arab countries and it’s interesting to hear their perspectives.

I sometimes take my Arabic textbook to the University and it’s a lot of fun reversing roles with my students. They are really supportive of me trying to learn their language. Some like, Mahal and Doody, have a very nice teaching style. They coach my reading nicely and enunciate words very well for me.

Sometimes the students and I share music with MP3 players or play games like UNO. Yesterday, I took my guitar and did a little impromptu jam session there. I like taking my guitar to the beach to the boardwalks too. People here don’t see a lot of guitars and they are curious when they see me. The kids gather round and ask me to sing. Here are some songs I play for the students: “Know your Rights” by the Clash (some students thought it was very funny), “La Boa” by Sonora Santanera, “Rudi, A Message to You.” (Selecter or the Specials- I cant remember right now.) They also like the classic guitar instrumentals like Les Jeux Interdits and Malagueña. Flamenco rasgueo appeals to them too. I explained a little about the guitar and let them try it out. The Yemenis really seemed to enjoy strumming to a rhythm. It was a lot of fun singing, taking turns and it was a good informal intercultural exchange. Some guys laughed from afar or as they walked by, but most are curious enough to stop and listen. One guy came up with his own lyrics in English and wanted to rap while I played. So we did and that was nice.

I also played some Shakira songs, the Wanderer by Dion (the girls liked that one). Colours by Donovan (the guys liked that one), Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones – (I think they did not like it, but I really had fun performing it- I need that one on Karaoke.) I also sang “Never Been To Spain” by Three Dog Night and “La Cucaracha” but I inserted Arabic names here and there to spice it up and get their attention. They REALLY liked that a lot. One guy recorded me performing “La Boa” on his telephone. (A Star is Born!) I think they never see this kind of stuff- a person playing and singing with guitar. I marvel at that, and I think the same would be true in America if somebody pulled out an “oud”, a Middle Eastern stringed instrument, and started singing Arabic songs in an open area at a University campus. I like taking my guitar and playing for the students and I like even taking it to the boardwalks along the beaches here where families and kids are. They are curious and come and listen and ask me to sing. They have no idea what I’m singing about but they smile a lot. Kind of like what I do when I hear an oud player or hear them sing songs. lol

Speaking of guitar styles like flamenco and cha-cha-cha… I’ve been kind of missing Hispanic culture…mi cultura, mi lengua todo ese jale. Within the expat community, there is a varied bunch, German, French, American, English, New Zealand etc, pero desafortunadamente no hay hispanoparlantes. Anyways, to get my fix, I usually email/chat con los amigos or visit the internet or listen to musica en mi ipod, pero last night I finally met some people que hablan espanish- and very well. I was sitting at a café having some juice when I overheard a Yemeni yell at another “Ven Aqui!”

I half-jokingly yelled out, “ No me digas que alguien aqui habla español!?” and they actually responded in Spanish, diciendo, “De donde eres?” Al enterar que habían topado con un mexicano- tal vez el único en Yemen, se pusieron todos muy alegres!” How did they become so well-versed in Spanish…well it goes back to the days when South Yemen was Communist and had strong ties with Russia and Cuba. Fifteen to 20 years ago, these particular Yemenis had studied or worked and learned español in Cuba. Instantly we became friends exchanging numbers and vowing to get together soon for some good times. One of them, Adel, is crazy for Juan Gabriel, y empezó a cantar “Querida”. Ay ay ay, Juana La Loca.

Yemen is an interesting place as you can tell, and I’m making the most of my time here in Aden working, studying al arabiyya and making friends. I want to savor the last 4 months, working with the people of this country. If I can encourage them in their efforts for education, or share with them my thoughts, then in July when I board a plane heading to San Antonio, I know I will have succeeded. I know already I will return home with new information and experiences forever to be carried in my head and my heart. Como dice Julieta Venegas en su canción, Oleada, …y todo lo que ya vivi lo sigo cargando ….lo llevo muy dentro de mi nunca lo he olvidado….lo siento tan cerca de aquí- lo llevo muy dentro de mi

Que sean felices!

The Aden Wetlands Protected Area

Last week I went with 2 of my students to visit the Aden Wetlands Protected Area (click the name for photos). They are both applying to be high school exchange students next year in America. It would be cool if we somehow meet up there. Anyways, Maged, Mueataz and I visited this wonderful place. They take treated wastewater from a certain village (suburb) of Aden and then it is channeled to land near the coast. This is an area that is not as rocky as the city. The result is you have a nice area that is green, lush, fertile. Birds love it and we saw plenty of interesting species. Mueataz arranged for the visit with a friend who works there, Fares. Fares is actually a former Amideast student,and he is a local volunteer that is trying to promote the site for local awareness. The site has been funded by the United Nations Development Program and uses sustainable techniques and appropriate technologies. For example, there is a nursery made of mud brick walls and a palm leaf roof. There are alot of palms that grow there, specifically a species they called Hadash which they use to make vinegar, Khal. That vinegar is then turned around and sold locally. The palm trunks are used to make furniture..chairs, stools, and tables. All of the structures are made of natural materials..they even have a swingset made of tree trunks and rope.
Beyond the palm tree area, there is a wide green space where cows graze and birds find food. Mueataz and Fares had arranged a camel ride for me through this part. It was fun. My camel tried to go renegade so I had to have a guide too. At one point I got off, took pictures and when I remounted the camel started to rise and I simply fell on the ground.- Thanks to my catlike reflexes and jedi training, I was able to avoid any catastrophes. lol
So, it's a wonderful place that I had no idea existed here. Hopefully, more students and Yemenis will come to appreciate the eco-friendly ideas and practices used here.
Check out the photos on Picasa: http://picasaweb.google.com/TeacherMiguel