Please inform alumni of this excellent opportunity to dialogue directly with the assistant secretary about exchanges and alumni engagement.  We also encourage you to take advantage of this event to bring alumni together locally - perhaps at a cyber-café or American Corner - for discussions on this theme, or to submit questions and comments as a group. 

Below is a drafted invitation for you to send to all alumni:

You are invited to participate in a Q&A Live online discussion with Goli Ameri, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  Assistant Secretary Ameri will be live on the State Alumni website (https://alumni.state.gov) Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (14:30 - 16:30 GMT) to discuss the value of exchange programs and how these experiences further mutual understanding.  Assistant Secretary Ameri has made engagement with the nearly one million State Department exchange program alumni one of her top priorities. 

As alumni, you all know that your exchange experience does not stop when you return home.  Ms. Ameri would like to find out what you are doing to remain connected with fellow alumni and share your experiences with others who might be interested in our programs, and how the State Department and our U.S. embassies around the world can better support your efforts.  The Assistant Secretary will also present exciting new social networking and technology opportunities for alumni.

Please log in to the State Alumni website (https://alumni.state.gov) and submit a question for Ms. Ameri prior to the web chat, or live on Thursday, October 16, at https://alumni.state.gov/https/alumni/news2/qa-live/ameri.

To help facilitate this discussion, we invite you to consider the following questions when participating in the Q&A Live Discussion.  Please feel free to comment upon the remarks of your fellow alumni as well!

•  
  • How did your exchange experience impact your personal and/or professional life?   Have you been able to implement concepts and ideas gained during your exchange experience? 
  • Share your best experiences as alumni, or explain what impediments you may have encountered.
  • How is your alumni association providing ways for alumni to “give back” to the local community? 
  • What are the best ways to network with other alumni?
  • Are you involved in a mentoring program, either as a mentor or a mentee?
  • How are you using the State Alumni global community website?  How can we improve opportunities on the site?

Assistant Secretary Goli Ameri’s bio may be found here:   http://exchanges.state.gov/ameribio.htm. 

If you have not yet created an account on the State Alumni website, please register today at: https://alumni.state.gov/register.

…………………………………………………..
Brandon Marc T. Higa
EAP / SCA Alumni Coordinator
ABBTECH Staffing Services Support Contractor
Office of Alumni Affairs
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
United States Department of State
Tel:  (202) 453-8794, Fax:  (202) 453-8641
State Alumni 

I wish and pray that in the times of crisis, fear and anxiety among the nations around the world may God bless everyone with real happiness and may His blessings remove all the sadness from the faces of people on the special day of EID-UL-FITAR coming up.

I wish you all a very happy Eid and long lasting pleasures for now and forever.

With Love for all.

Afshan Huma

www.savetheenvironment.info

The concept of this ENVIRONMENT CLUB was conceived in USA at PSU (Plymouth State University), where an environmental safety course was organized by PELI (Pakistani Educational Leadership Institute).

“I am standing on the rock in the middle of the lake. Wherever I look I see greenery and tranquility. I stretch my arms and a soft music begins “I can fly”.

The lush green pine trees add magical effect .All the beauty of the world gathered there. I could see the life in water. I could feel the wind touching my skin and my soul. I felt I had died and gone to heaven. The sky so bright and the water splashing on the rock and my feet”.

I hear some murmurs. I opened my eyes to see my husband calling my name. At that instant the greenery disappeared and the peach walls of my room appeared. I was not standing on the rock but was lying in my bed. ALAS! It was but a dream. And so another hectic day began.

I am a very adventurous and nature loving person. I love to explore to do something different. I am always in pursuit of something new and interesting. From childhood I had a dream of traveling alone. As a result when I went in grade 8(in 1980) I became a scout girl. I joined Girl Guide training camp in Ghora Gali (Murree Hills).I was the youngest member of the Girl Guide. I hiked and did trekking. I explored nature: the woods, fauna, flora etc.the memory of the camp bonfire are still fresh in the ocean of my memories.

In January 2008, my director called me one day and asked me whether my husband would allow me to go abroad. Then the process started, I was torn between accepting the training and leaving my family. But as I told u I am an adventuresome person I took the challenge and faced all hurdles to reach Boston (LOGON AIRPORT) as a PELI member. All of us 20 members were so tired but as enthusiastic as we were when we started our journey.

On 3rd September 2008, BINA (ITA) called the Lahore group for the feedback session. When she asked about our opinion on the programme I felt that I dint face any problem in USA. The 2008 PELI member Aroona Hashmi explored the PSU with the same spirit as she did in class 8 in 1980 in Murree hills.

On 28th June 2008 .PSU co-coordinators welcomed us warmly and after a day or so the kitchen administrators invited me to cook whatever I want to. And I am the only member who had the privilege to use the kitchen of the PROSPECT HALL (dining hall). I told them the ingredients of the dishes I wanted to cook a day before and I whole heartedly appreciate that they prepared everything before I came in around 11 or 11 30.Pom was very hospitable and would always ask if I want to drink juice or water. They provided an apron and gloves to me. I made chick pea salad in American language and alluo choolay in our language. I tried many things like Pasta, Chicken chowmein; Omellet (Pakistani style).they ate what I cooked and would say to everyone “AROONA MADE THIS”.

When we had writing sessions with New England Teachers we exchanged a lot about cultures. When they found I like fusion cooking, SANDY (the English language teacher) gifted me a cooking book. From here I got an idea to cook a Pakistani dish for the PSU members at cultural night. Many were of the view it’s useless. But I took it as a challenge and BLAKE appreciated it too. MICHELLE and SEAN provided me with all the ingredients I wrote to prepare CHICKEN BIRYANI (rice and chicken).

Voluntarily SOHAIL, SAIMA&HUMA helped me. The rice were quiet different from those we cook in Pakistan. I had real trouble in boiling them properly. SEAN helped me in baking Biryani in oven. Everyone admired it and relished the Biryani especially all from PSU and guests. This is my exclusive experience. I exchanged my cultural heritage through Biryani,

There are many people who dream, but few can see their dream coming to reality and not many live to tell. I am sharing a part of me that became reality when we visited the NEW FOUND LAKE. (As all can see and share the dream through the picture available at the site).The place looked familiar. I dint remember anything until I stood in the middle of the lake on a stone. My arms stretched, the wing touching my soul from inside and out. As I recall now my eyes well up with tears. Life is not a bed of roses nor does every one get a chance to experience what I did. .I only remembers the water splashing on my feet and the pine trees a witness of my happiness.

53rd World Assembly
July 14-17, 2008

University of Minho
Braga, Portugal

Theme
Learning, Leading and Linking:
The Impact of Policy and Research upon Practice

TITLE: DOES TRAINING HELP ENOUGH? … TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVE AND PRACTICES

AUTHORS: AFSHAN HUMA & YASIR PIRZADA

The paper was based upon a research study conducted in the city of Rawalpindi (Punjab-Pakistan). The study included detailed exploration of in-service teacher training structures in Pakistan for primary school teachers and analysis of the results of a survey study conducted to know the impact of in-service teachers training upon the attitude and practices of teachers within the classroom in private and public schools. It was a comparative study conducted three months after the summer vacation of 2007. During the summer vacation both the private and public schools arranged in-service trainings for the teachers. The teachers of both public and private schools were asked through interviews what new skills and knowledge they got from the training and how far they could implement whatever they have learnt through the training they were also requested to tell stories of success and failures. Heads of the schools were also interviewed to find out the impact of trainings upon the performance of teachers. The paper explored the similarities and differences of the impacts of in-service training in public and private schools. It also highlighted the possible reasons of differences in the two sectors as inferred from the interview questions. At the end some recommendations were given for future planning for the professional development of primary school teachers in the country and to ensure the positive impact of these efforts so that the development and changes brought through teacher education may be sustainable and more fruitful.

It was a nice experience to present a paper on an international forum where in the last 53 years we were the first to present from Pakistan. Thanks to PSU and ITA for making us linked together in a network of PSU alumni.

Regards
Afshan

If you’d like to play along, feel free to email your pictures to mclauriat@plymouth.edu.

The PELI website belongs to all of you, with PELI 08’s posted Master Action Plans reflecting the intensity of the institute as an educational and cultural experience for everyone involved - from both the U.S. and Pakistan. Special thanks to partner Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi for in-country facilitation.

The hallmark of this summer’s institute entailed cross-cultural and educational engagement across communities. From Plymouth State University’s College of Graduate Studies professional development initiatives with your New Hampshire counterparts to local libraries and community festivities, you garnered “glowing reports” as one of your fans commented just last night. Thank you so much for your contributions: on campus and off; in the classroom, out in the field, and in the dorm; and in Boston and Washington.

As a Pakistani Project update - Graduate Assistant Bich Tran completed her M.Ed. and received a job offer from a local New Hampshire school. But she always will be part of the project, sharing her insights and Vietnamese culture as an extension of the rich cross-cultural exchange.

Master Action Plan designer Kim Rawson was married to Ryan on a glorious New Hampshire day overlooking the mountains. She put together a “Pakistan” table with John Allen, Mary Ann McGarry, your Lincoln host Lisa Riley, and Kim’s dear friend Sania from Gujranwala, so we all ended up talking about - yes - Pakistan.

Thanks to PELI 08 for a rich and dynamic institute. Thanks for sharing your visions and hopes. And thanks for giving voice to the valuable work that you are doing in Pakistan’s educational sectors. As a delegation and as individuals, you created a wonderful tapestry of experiences and memories.

To all of PSU’s PELI alumni: 04, 05, 06, 07 and now 08 -

Best wishes,

Blake (aka Madame Director)

I thought we’d share some photographs of the beautiful bride on her special day….

Hope you are all well.

Michelle

Bich has forwarded along the story of her exciting Graduation day- she wanted to share it with everyone!

Michelle
________________________________________________________

MY GRADUATION AT PSU!

Office of Graduate Studies, Dr. Baker’s office, Monday noon
August 25

“Dr. Baker, I know that we only have one graduation ceremony in May each year. I finish in August. Could I please have some pictures with the gown and the cap with you and the College of Graduate Office?”

“Will see. We will think about it”

26 Emerson Street (Bich’s apartment), Tuesday afternoon

An email came from Baker, asking: “Bich, we need to talk about some details. Could you come to see at my office at 1:45 tomorrow?”
Replying the email: “Yes, I will come to see you at your office”
Wondering and a little bit nervous: What are “some details” about?

Office of Graduate Studies, Wednesday morning, August 27, 9:30am

Nina: “How are you Bich?” “I have some photocopying work for you from Dr. Sandy”
Ellanna: “Hi Bich. Actually when you are done with that photocopying, I have a fun project for you”, said Ellanna, handing me a giant pile of envelops, letters and educational journals.

“Can I work at that desk, Ellanna?”, I asked pointing at the free desk on the left of reception desk. “How about at the big meeting desk in the basement level? You have more space down there. 1:45 show up for the meeting with Dr. Baker. You know that?”

“Yes, I know. Thank you Ellanna”
(Oh yeah, Ellanna. I am doing well in a small desk. Now I also know that that is just because you are trying to push me working in the level so you can keep things secret)

“What’s up”, said “coldly” Michelle
“I just stopped by to say hi”
“Hi”
“Hi”
“I would like to see Blake”
“She will be here at noon”
“OK”

I left her with a warm hug.
“Thank you for stopping by”

“How are you, sweet? It is so nice to see you”, sweetly smiling Lisa

Lori, “Hi Bich. What’s going on?” (Oh yeah, you know all about “what is going on, Lori)

Half of the morning in the basement level with a pile of stamps and envelops near Lena, and Roger’s offices

“That’s a fun job to do, eh”, smiling Roger, walking by. (Now I realized how wicked that smile was!)
“So, what brought you here? Why did you end up coming here?” “You are interesting”, said curiously Lena.

1:00 pm, Michelle’s office, Ellanna, Michelle and Bich

I walked up to the front desk, looking for Ellanna:

“Ellanna, I need a break and then I need to come to see Dr. Baker at 1:45. After that I can work for a while more”

“We will take you to the hospital”

“Why do I go to the hospital? For what?”

“Michelle, hang around at the hospital for about 20 minutes. She needs to be here for an appointment at 1:45”

“Go with me, Bich. We go to the hospital. I will show you a secret road”

“Michelle, I have never been here. But why do we have to go to the hospital?”
Amazingly, she walked me along the hallway after the college office’s door which links to the hallway of the hospital. Nurses. Hospital staff. Parents. Children. Is this part of Spear hospital? Interesting. We turned right and I saw the sign of the cafeteria. Checking my purse. Only 3 bucks left. I didn’t bring enough money for a lunch.

“What would I have now?”
“Do you want me to go back to my office for some money? I will be right back”
“OK. Thank you, Michelle”

3 minutes later

Blake appeared at the cafeteria door with Michelle. Here she is!

“How is Blake? You have a nice break?”
“Nooooo. Yeah, but I sometimes come to hang around with other people.”

At the Spear hospital cafeteria, I was so innocent that I didn’t even know that I was being escorted by the two ladies who were trying to keep me misled and keep eyes on me, watching me finish my unexpected lunch with a hamburger sandwich. How the members of PELI are doing back in Pakistan, post PELI works, Kim Rawson’s wedding, … are the subject of the conversation. (Oh yeah, dear Blake. Now I know what you mean when you say you come to the office to “hang around with other people”)

I have NO clues about a BIG thing in my life is going on…

Finish the lunch. It was Michelle’s treat. Blake hurriedly walked back. I was accompanied by Michelle. The hallway led us back to the college office’s door.

Upon opening the secret door…

“Put it on. Put it on”

Vice President, Dr. Maslaskowski and Dr. Baker grasped me right at the door. It is a quite dark corner. I didn’t have enough time to realize what was going on but a big black set of clothes. Oh yeah, “it is a gown”, I said to myself. “Is that for rehearsal?” I asked.

“No, not for rehearsal”, “You put this on”. One of them replied but I was unable to recognize whose voice it was! Awkwardly I zipped the gown. And “someone” put on my hand a cap. “Put this on, also”.

There were many strange noises and it seems to be there was a rally in the front desk. Looked over the reception where I could see more sunlight. President Sara Jayne Steen, Vice president Julie N Bernier, my supervisor Whitney Howarth, all the people I saw this morning at the office and many more from undergraduate office. They are clapping with big smiles on their faces.

Now, I understand what was going on. My graduation!

On behalf of my sponsor who was away this whole week and also the one who knew “what is going on”, President read the message from him which said:

“I am sorry I cannot be there to celebrate this wonderful event with you, Bich and your friends and supporters at PSU. You have come so far in many ways, - from the other side of the world, from a culture that shares a little with ours, fro hearing few native English speakers other than scratchy shortwave BBC broadcasts, from a home with no hot water, no stove, no refrigerator and eight people in two small bedrooms. Today is the proof that good things and strong people come in small packages. I am so proud of you. I hope that you have finished your studies and you will take your nose out of the books once for a while! Congratulations!- Bac Russ”

When you ask me:
“You have graduated from PSU. So, tell me what do you think about the people at PSU?”
Then I’ll say: “They will surprise you from the beginning to the end”. Gee wiz! Everyone in PSU, especially in College of Graduate Studies, is SO good at keeping things secret.’

PSU says: “Give us your best and we will give you ours”. Really. You will see. I am serious. Really.

26 Emerson Street, August 28, 5:34 am

I woke up. Rose. Diploma. Gown. Cap. PSU bookmark. Cards. Photo frames. And other college souvenirs are on my desk. Ah! I graduated yesterday!

Tears of happiness and gratefulness were in my eyes. The movies of my days since I knew about PSU slowly came back: when I started the application to PSU with the great support from my sponsor, Russ Thibeault, months of waiting to hear from PSU with hope and realisticness, from the morning when an email popped up in my yahoo mailbox which granted me a full teaching fellowship, saying “You’re almost accepted to PSU”, the night I landed on Manchester, NH airport in a bloodily cold winter, the day when I started my online first class.

I have made it today because of your great support and care, PSU! I have you all as my aunts, my uncles, my sisters, my brothers, and my friends. I felt so warm and caring when you asked me first thing in the winter morning when you saw me “Are you warm enough, Bich?”

PSU has lighted my family’s name and my clan’s name. Tens of years later, there will still be a legend: “In our Tran family’s name, there is descendant who was helped to go to America for a Master degree”

PSU has written that legend: The legend of my family’s name. Thank you very much.

Bich Tran has officially finished her coursework at PSU!!! (it was also her 30th birthday yesterday!! Happy Birthday Bich!) Everyone at the College of Graduate Studies gathered this afternoon to have a surprise ceremony in her honor. (It was very emotional for Bich!) Here are some photos of the event.

Congratulations BICH! Good luck to you in all that you do- be sure to keep in touch!