This is the final post from Thana, an Iraqi colleague who has shared in several training programs run by Simmons. She was recently in Chennai (formerly called Madras), India on a six-week training program. She writes:

I want to say thanks to the NITTTR for holding this training program and also thanks to our coordinator Dr. Ravichandran.

I am lucky to have had this opportunity, and me and my colleagues got a lot from this training. I found the lectures and the training practical and visiting many libraries very useful. I also learned a lot from the teaching skills of our Indian teachers – they are excellent, and they are wise, modest people, easy to touch your brain and heart.

I appreciate that Indian ladies taught me to be more patient in life. I always said no woman worked hard like Iraqi women – for many years we hold big responsibility at home and at work?but now I am sure Indian women do more and more.

I loved to see a church and next to it there is a mosque then a temple, and all people live safely with each other without any fanaticism.

Another important thing is that my language became better because I kept speaking English for all 2 months, and I am so glad to have 26 friend from many countries – I loved them and they taught me also so many things.

Avelina from Philippines was the oldest age among us, but she was the youngest one in her spirit and heart. She woke up early morning at 4am to do her sport run round the institute, and each day she went to church and when back she woke us up with red flowers for each one. She is wonderful grandmother librarian.

Moe Min Than from Myanmar is a nice young lady. She had a hard time to speak English but she tried to learn more and more and we loved always when she said “no good” when she meant not good. She loved dancing and she brought the joy and happiness to the training group. Really, all the Myanmar group’s 6 trainers are wonderful people – I didn?t know anything about this country and now I have 6 friends from it. I miss them a lot.

Some of my colleagues in training are members in IFLA and they encourage me to be a member. I am sure it is necessary for me to be ?so I will be.

Finally, I want to say bye my wonderful friends and I hope to meet you again – good luck for everybody andhope that 2009 will bring all joy and good future for all the training group!

Thanks to my friends Annam, Ibrahim, Yugni, Bahia, Reem, Joseph, Nasta, Mory, Avelina, Aung Naing, Moe, Bavunndorj, Dev i, Gholam, Khtoibu, Kebaenesh, Kennedy, Khin win, Moise, Mabakuena, Mildred, Moe Min Than, Mohammed, Muborak, Nilifar, Thida, Thuzar.

Thanks for reading my blog? I hope you enjoyed it.

Regards,
Thana