Thursday, December 4, 2008

Bailin and Reynolds' Pen- Pal Exchange!
















My students COULD NOT WAIT for today. They knew today they were receiving their AMERICAN PEN-PAL LETTERS! Enjoy the pics. Videos will be posted soon.

12 comments:

  1. Hey Miss Bailin this is zoe from arizona how do you become a follower

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  2. Carly Verderame
    Grade 9
    Period 4
    EXTRA CREDIT

    I'm glad that students in India enjoyed their letters. I have a pen pal in India. Her name is Kendriya. She is very nice and friendly. She also has very good English handwriting. I was honestly very suprised that her handwriting was clear and neat. My favorite picture is where everyone is standing up holding a letter. I'm grateful that I have this opportunity to write to a student in India. I hope to write back to Kendriya soon!

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  3. Ooops..My pen pals name is Kiran and her school is called Kendriya Vidyalaya.

    Carly Verderame

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  4. Sami Harfouch
    Reynolds
    English 1-2 Freshman
    Period 4
    3/10/09

    2. What do you respect most about Indian people, culture, and traditions after meeting Ms. Shalini and watching Ms. Reynolds’ presentation on her experiences in India?

    The thing I respect most about the Indian people is that they are hard workers. Workers who live harder lives than most Americans do and don't complain about it. They don't have many of the luxuries that we have and yet the keep going on. They also never give up. I heard about their competitions based on their knowledge to get into college and be the best in the class. They put their all into everything they do. Some children have no parents and live as maids for families who take them in. They are great people to us and I'm glad we can live peacefully with them.

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  5. and that was the extra credit assignment, forgot to put that in.- Sami Harfouch

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  6. Kristin Lydiard
    Period 2
    Freshman extra credit

    I think that it was great students in America and student in India got to be pen pals. Although I was not in the program, i feel like it was a great opportunity. This way students got to share there lives and hobbies with a complete stranger. Student got to ask question, and in return get the answers from someone who can relate instead of some adult. It seemed like fun and a thrill waiting for that next letter to come, waiting for there reponse. Students could just connect with another kid, who could be just like then, but they live in India. They could get a chance to explain there culture and what they believe in. It just seemed like a great experience for everyone.

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  7. Hala Alhoch-period 4-freshman-EXTRA CREDIT

    I think it’s wonderful how Indian students get letters from American students. That must have been such an exciting day for them. I love how the school looks so beat down, but Indian students still strive to do their best. As Ms.Reynolds told us in her presentation, these students come from beat up families, but its great how one letter can be such a pleasure to them. One year in school my class wrote letters to kids in Hurricane Katrina, and it was exciting to receive a letter with your name on it, so I can empathize with them. Compared to the Indians, we have everything so easy. Truly though, they are living “the life” because they enjoy everything more than we do. The best things in life are free.

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  8. EXTRA CREDIT
    Kaylie Lam
    Grade 9
    Period 3


    Im glad students in India got pen pals here. It would be good for them to talk to Americans to see how American life is different from their own.
    I have a pen pal there. I dont exactly remember what his/her name is. I just recently sent one. I didnt in the beginning of the year because Ms.Shalini didnt exactly explain it very well so i didnt get what to do. But i got one.
    I cant wait for when my pen pal receives my letter. And i extremely cant wait until they reply back.

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  9. The pen-pal letters were so cute ! Having pen-pals in India is a really good idea because not only do we get to make another friend who lives far away, but they're life also kind of applies to ours because of our experiences with Mrs. Shalini. Its one thing to hear about India from the two teachers invlolved in the exchange, but its put into a new perspective when seen through the eyes of an Indian student. I didn't write to a pen-pal, but now I wished I would have. I think it would have been fun to send your, "pal" american jewelry or something else. I'd like to hear what the Indian students' have to say about Ms. Reynolds and how they felt about the exchange. I'd like to know if they maybe took advantage of Ms Reynolds the way we did with Mrs Shalini sometimes. I think it'd just be fun to ask them questions and see if they reacted to having a foreign teacher the way we did.
    NawwutImeaaan ? Hahaahah.

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  10. Jasmine Safaie
    period 4
    grade 9

    That is so adorable how excited they are to be getting the letters from their pen pals. I would like to visit India someday because from the looks of the videos and pictures they have a high fascination with americans. Also, in the pictures everyone always looks so happy. On the videos they were amused merely by being video taped. They really know how to find joy in life from the little things. Often times kids here can't seem to appreciate musch for what it is. Everyone in the classrooms is polite and respects their elders sayng 'mam' and 'good morning' everyday. Visiting India seems to be very very exciting and I hope one day I'm fortunate enough to experience the great country for myslef.

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  11. Kathryn Cummiskey
    period 2
    freshman
    EXTRA CREDIT

    Their reaction to getting the letters from the american students is really interesting. Our students didn't get as excited when they received the letters, and i think it just shows how much the Indian students appreciated them. They don't hear from kids who live in different countries i'm sure, but they probably hear so much about us. As for us, we don't hear as much about India and its people on a regular basis so its different when we recieve a letter. They don't see americans everyday there, so when they even just hear from one i can imagine the excitement that they would go through. India seems like a very welcoming place and visiting there would be a great opportunity.

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  12. mikayla johnson
    period 2
    freshmen

    i think that it is amazing how kids are always so happy. they go to school and live in poverty and always have a smile on their face. so many people don't the chance to see what India is like it really was and eye opener. trash everywhere and random elephants line the street. its crazy! what we call nerds are some of the most popular people at school. it just shows you how we as Americans take everything for granite. if i was given an experience like this one again i would take it in a heartbeat.

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