TWA Teacher: Nurul Aini
I embarked on this journey to India prepared to experience the best and the worst. But I was extremely relieved to find out that there was no reason to worry. India has given me a variety of experiences, from the sights, sounds and smells (Kuvam).
Meals are colourful affairs which make for good photo memories. It is thrilling to order items that I can't pronounce and don't know what it contains but usually have wonderful bursts of flavour.
Auto rides never fail to excite and bring out the innermost ‘scaredy-cat’. Looking at the way people drive here, it's no wonder that the first Asian Formula 1 driver is from India. The alertness to avoid mishaps and swift reactions of the drivers with their honking often make our stomachs lurch and ears hurt.
The variety of shopping options is so eclectic, it can get any shopaholic jumping on their feet. From quaint boutiques in Pondicherry to pavement shopping in Pondy Bazaar and big modern malls in Bangalore, it will satisfy any taste.
But of course, most of my time in India has been thoroughly enriched by the great working experience with HeyMath!. I was firstly surprised by the importance placed and the interest shown in the work of the TWA participants. Discussions and sharing of ideas were done very openly, and suggestions were considered and taken seriously. The meetings at HM had a different feel compared to those I am used to in school.
My project was mainly on the infusion of Science to Mathematics and I got a view of the processes from ideation to scripting, to animating and coding before the lesson goes live for usage. It really opens my eyes to the amount of effort and efficient teamwork needed to create these creative IT lessons.
Staff here had truly made the work environment comfortable by quickly settling us in and ensuring we had everything needed for us to work. We were also happily invited to all the ‘HM culture’ activities like the birthday-song surprises and treats and potluck session.
We looked forward to the twice-daily coffee fix served directly to us. For a non-coffee-drinker, India's coffee has sweetly converted me. That's not the only thing India has made me love. Mutton tastes awesome, like I've never tasted before.
We had the opportunity to participate in the Math Heritage Trail to Dakshina Chitra. We saw a twinning programme between Queenstown Sec (Singapore) with Lady Andal (Chennai) and Maruthi Matriculation (Pondicherry). It was great to see students from different backgrounds interacting for the same goal and discovering mathematics in the heritage and culture of India.
The school visit to PS Senior Secondary showed me how students' attitude towards learning is so different from the students in Singapore. It was inspiring to see their eager faces, attentive to the content being delivered.
This TWA has without doubt given me a new perspective towards the education landscape and a beautiful cultural exposure of India. I will leave Chennai remembering its sights, sounds and smells.
Thank you HeyMath! for the priceless opportunity and the warmth given throughout my stint here.
