Adventure, Create, Myanmar / Burma, Nigeria, Photography, Travel

Kan Kaung Ba Zay Myanmar… Sannu Nigeria

Gretchen M Fogelstrom

A couple weeks ago I said goodbye and good luck to the wonderful people of Myanmar.  It was a year of re-awakening for me.  Seeing the juxtaposition of extreme poverty literally leaning up against extreme wealth brought me to full attention once again.  I had the good fortune of teaching 29 third graders and helping them to defog their vision and start to see some of the realities of their emerging country.  For those of you that have followed along these last 10 months, you know the ups and downs.  But ultimately it was an experience that gave me yet another lens in which to see the challenges that are faced by so many people around our globe.  And this includes the challenges of the upper class (wealthy) that can easily distance themselves from the hardships of life, but need to keep their eyes open, reach out and help those less fortunate.  That is what I tried to do with my little, wealthy, eager third graders.  I hope they see the world a bit more clearly and with more compassion now.

I am now back in the Oregon, USA.  It is a gorgeous state I must say. So green, so clean, so healthy and working hard to be good to the world.  And of course it is always nice to be home to the familiar.  But I am not here for long.  I am leaving next week for a three month job in Abuja, Nigeria.  I will be filling in for a teacher that had to leave the school year early. This time I’ll be teaching 4th graders.  Will I ever return to the what I know and truly love – secondary and humanities?

I have always wanted to visit the continent of Africa.  I am thrilled for this opportunity.  I am trying to learn a bit of Hausa, one of the many local languages.  “Sannu” means “Hello” by the way.

So until I get settled in Nigeria, I will leave you with a few parting photos of Myanmar, Inle Lake to be exact.  Have a great spring!

Gretchen

Boats
Tourists boats on the lake.
Buddha
I just loved this Buddha. The plants, the color… This one I found in the center of the lake on a small island surrounded by Stuppas in all states of ruin.
Fishermen 1
These are the famous foot paddler fishermen of Inle Lake.
Lotus and fiber
I visited a Lotus flower fiber weaving group out on the lake. They pull the fiber from the stems and weave it into a rough fiber similar to linen. Very beautiful and very expensive.
Monks
A typical scene walking down the back streets. Young monks heading back to the temple.
Pasta
I ordered spaghetti and this lovely man made it right there on the spot.

4 thoughts on “Kan Kaung Ba Zay Myanmar… Sannu Nigeria”

  2. Gretchen, this has been a great journey for me, as well as you. And you’re off again. So I’ll be waiting for the next chapter in your blog. You may have a career in blogging. Love and many hugs, Sandy

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  3. Share your thoughts about the wealth v poverty especially in Yangon and the usual tourist trail. I got down the back roads on a bike and really loved it cycling from the mountains to the bay of bengal.

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  4. Gretchy, Excited for you! Where are you now? How long, etc???

    Lea McLeod, M.A. Founder, The Job Success Lab (+1) 503-694-8778

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    From: Sunshine Impressions Reply-To: Sunshine Impressions Date: Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 12:31 PM To: Lea McLeod Subject: [New post] Kan Kaung Ba Zay MyanmarŠ Sannu Nigeria

    WordPress.com Gretchen Fogelstrom posted: “A couple weeks ago I said goodbye and good luck to the wonderful people of Myanmar. It was a year of re-awakening for me. Seeing the juxtaposition of extreme poverty literally leaning up against extreme wealth brought me to full attention once again. I”

    Reply

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