I feel quite determined to write today! Life has been a series of transitions since I left home on Jan 21st. I am in my last one now, and I feel like the dust is beginning to settle. I am very thankful for that.
On Jan 21/22 I was in the air about 17 hours, not including time in airports waiting for the next flight, and when I arrived in India in the middle of the night I knew that I was in a DIFFERENT WORLD! This great land with all of its people, colors, general chaos, and unbelievable hospitality when you are in a more one on one situation isn't RVA!
On Feb 5/6, I spent 17 hours on an overnight 'express' train from Kolkata to Hamiltongunj. They are both in the same state, and it shouldn't have taken that long, but . . . it did!!! I was so glad to get OFF the train, and I was also grateful for a young man, a student here in Kolkata, who was going home to visit his parents. He helped me keep track of where I was along the route. His mother kept calling him, and Nicholas kept calling me!!! When I arrived in Purba Satali, about a 15 minute car ride from the station, and settled into life there for 2.5 weeks, I also knew that I had arrived in a DIFFERENT WORLD!!! I had traded the busy, noisey life in Kolkata for a quiet, peaceful existence with wide open spaces, quieter children and a relaxed schedule. I was very tired upon arrival. I think that was a combination of jet lag and relationship overload. I was able to rest well in this more peaceful life, and enjoyed the interaction with children that I was helping with their English acquisition and doing all sorts of other things that I wasn't expecting to do, of course! For example, for all intents and purposes, I was the music teacher in Nursery and KG, both sections . . . not an age group I am drawn to, and I cannot tell you how many times I have been told that I don't carry a tune very well without music! Well, no one knew that, and I racked my brain for all of the 'little kid songs' that I could remember. They loved it, and some of the teachers said that they were writing down the words that I was teaching! So, the songs will live on! PTL! Of course, I was also asked to share in church both weeks that I was there, as I entered the church!!! Thankfully, because church is conducted in a language that I didn't understand, I could think about that as the service was going on. The second week, I actually was the sermon!!! I was really quite surprised by that, and they certainly got a nice short one! Highlights of the time were getting to know more about this sweet community and insights into the rural poor. Precious people!!!
I was able to fly back to Kolkata on the 22nd. It took an hour! The nearest airport is more than a three hour drive from Purba Satali, but a vehicle was going with someone else so I took advantage of that! I really wasn't excited about another long train ride.
After one night at Premila's, I moved into the flat (apartment) up on the fourth floor at the property on Creek Rowe. The building is a 'happening place'! A pavement club (informal education) and drop in center for boys who are street children and drug dependent occupy the first floor during the day. About 30 boys who are apart of the residential program of EMC, live on the second floor. There is an HIV/Aids drop in and treatment center on the third floor. This building is more centrally located in the city than the place I lived the past two years. I can walk to the office which has Yi Fy, and is where I do my primary English classes and the weekly women's study. As I have walked the crowded streets this week past all kinds of people and things that I didn't encounter in Jadavpur the chorus, "IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD", rings in my ears.
English classes started yesterday. I must admit that they were a little chaotic due to widely differing abilities and personalities! Some of my students are with me for the third time, a couple are brand new. I am only here for a short time this year, but let's see what we can accomplish. One of the students who has been with me all three years is making amazing progress, and that feels so rewarding. I am going to do two smaller classes for conversation and one for writing to try and help with the ability discrepancies and felt needs. My schedule is a bit freer this year, too, as I won't be working at the school because the children are in their final exams now, and then there will be a two week holiday. These women 'slog' it out in the tranches day after day, year after year with slum kids helping them get something of an education. It is my privilege to serve them in this way.
I am so delighted to be in daily contact with the boys of Anandaloy! They are a lively bunch. About half of them don't speak English which means I can't communicate with them very well. I do think my Hindi might improve because they at least understand that though Bengali is their mother tongue and the medium in which they are being educated. They seem to like having me around, and I am studying with various and sundry who go to English medium schools. I have realized that it is often the vocabulary in their text books that they don't understand. So, I can help with that. Sometimes I am also just a listening ear. I LOVE it and told Premila the other day that I feel like I have landed on my feet!!! I remember as a young girl wanting to work in an orphanage. My mother told me that she thought I was too soft hearted that that my heart would always be broken. Well, I don't know what has changed, but I am loving this time!
It is warming up! I am grateful for ceiling fans.
Praying that His purposes for this time will be accomplished, and that when the dust settles on the exam front that I will also be able to spend more time with the dear girls that I have lived with previously.
On Jan 21/22 I was in the air about 17 hours, not including time in airports waiting for the next flight, and when I arrived in India in the middle of the night I knew that I was in a DIFFERENT WORLD! This great land with all of its people, colors, general chaos, and unbelievable hospitality when you are in a more one on one situation isn't RVA!
On Feb 5/6, I spent 17 hours on an overnight 'express' train from Kolkata to Hamiltongunj. They are both in the same state, and it shouldn't have taken that long, but . . . it did!!! I was so glad to get OFF the train, and I was also grateful for a young man, a student here in Kolkata, who was going home to visit his parents. He helped me keep track of where I was along the route. His mother kept calling him, and Nicholas kept calling me!!! When I arrived in Purba Satali, about a 15 minute car ride from the station, and settled into life there for 2.5 weeks, I also knew that I had arrived in a DIFFERENT WORLD!!! I had traded the busy, noisey life in Kolkata for a quiet, peaceful existence with wide open spaces, quieter children and a relaxed schedule. I was very tired upon arrival. I think that was a combination of jet lag and relationship overload. I was able to rest well in this more peaceful life, and enjoyed the interaction with children that I was helping with their English acquisition and doing all sorts of other things that I wasn't expecting to do, of course! For example, for all intents and purposes, I was the music teacher in Nursery and KG, both sections . . . not an age group I am drawn to, and I cannot tell you how many times I have been told that I don't carry a tune very well without music! Well, no one knew that, and I racked my brain for all of the 'little kid songs' that I could remember. They loved it, and some of the teachers said that they were writing down the words that I was teaching! So, the songs will live on! PTL! Of course, I was also asked to share in church both weeks that I was there, as I entered the church!!! Thankfully, because church is conducted in a language that I didn't understand, I could think about that as the service was going on. The second week, I actually was the sermon!!! I was really quite surprised by that, and they certainly got a nice short one! Highlights of the time were getting to know more about this sweet community and insights into the rural poor. Precious people!!!
I was able to fly back to Kolkata on the 22nd. It took an hour! The nearest airport is more than a three hour drive from Purba Satali, but a vehicle was going with someone else so I took advantage of that! I really wasn't excited about another long train ride.
After one night at Premila's, I moved into the flat (apartment) up on the fourth floor at the property on Creek Rowe. The building is a 'happening place'! A pavement club (informal education) and drop in center for boys who are street children and drug dependent occupy the first floor during the day. About 30 boys who are apart of the residential program of EMC, live on the second floor. There is an HIV/Aids drop in and treatment center on the third floor. This building is more centrally located in the city than the place I lived the past two years. I can walk to the office which has Yi Fy, and is where I do my primary English classes and the weekly women's study. As I have walked the crowded streets this week past all kinds of people and things that I didn't encounter in Jadavpur the chorus, "IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD", rings in my ears.
English classes started yesterday. I must admit that they were a little chaotic due to widely differing abilities and personalities! Some of my students are with me for the third time, a couple are brand new. I am only here for a short time this year, but let's see what we can accomplish. One of the students who has been with me all three years is making amazing progress, and that feels so rewarding. I am going to do two smaller classes for conversation and one for writing to try and help with the ability discrepancies and felt needs. My schedule is a bit freer this year, too, as I won't be working at the school because the children are in their final exams now, and then there will be a two week holiday. These women 'slog' it out in the tranches day after day, year after year with slum kids helping them get something of an education. It is my privilege to serve them in this way.
I am so delighted to be in daily contact with the boys of Anandaloy! They are a lively bunch. About half of them don't speak English which means I can't communicate with them very well. I do think my Hindi might improve because they at least understand that though Bengali is their mother tongue and the medium in which they are being educated. They seem to like having me around, and I am studying with various and sundry who go to English medium schools. I have realized that it is often the vocabulary in their text books that they don't understand. So, I can help with that. Sometimes I am also just a listening ear. I LOVE it and told Premila the other day that I feel like I have landed on my feet!!! I remember as a young girl wanting to work in an orphanage. My mother told me that she thought I was too soft hearted that that my heart would always be broken. Well, I don't know what has changed, but I am loving this time!
It is warming up! I am grateful for ceiling fans.
Praying that His purposes for this time will be accomplished, and that when the dust settles on the exam front that I will also be able to spend more time with the dear girls that I have lived with previously.
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