Catherine's Blog From UK
Monday 10th December
Well, I arrived from Mumbai in Kolkatta on the 30th November. The driver met me
at the airport (with a card with my name on it - never had that before!) and drove
me to Bishnu's flat in the city. I still can not actually believe that the driver managed
to dodge all those bikes, carts, cars, buses and people weaving around on the
road! I stayed that night at the flat where Bishnu's wife had prepared an amazing
meal.
The next day I got the train to Shantikitan - the driver took me to the station, got me
to the right platform, found me my carriage and then made sure that no one had
pinched my seat. When I arrived in Shantinikaten Bishnu met me, along with the
other volunteer - Miryiam. On the Sunday we went to a lovely market in the forest
where hand-made goods were being sold.
I met the children on Monday - actually, I heard them before I saw them as they
were shouting out for us as we approached. They were so enthusiastic. All week
Miryiam and I have rotated the two older classes, but we teach the youngest class
together. They so small but so keen to learn English that they repeat every word
you say. Having said that the kids are really smart and they have learnt an
amazing amount of English since the school began this year. They also love
teaching us Bengali words - which come in very useful!
In the mornings we have been going for walks and cycle rides in the surrounding
area. People think we are mad for going on foot but it has been really great to see
the area at our own pace, drinking tea along the way and going down some of the
more quiet lanes. We have decided to be good and visit the Tagore museum this
week - we will see if that happens!. Shantinikaten is a lovely, relaxed town and
seems to be a really vibrant community - on one of my first evenings here we went
to an art fair where the students of the university were selling their works.
At the weekend we went to Bishnupur - a bone juddering 5 hour bus journey but
well worth it as the temples are beautiful. Although the food there was great it was
even better to get back on the Sunday knowing we would be having Shampa's
food. Mmmm.
Saturday 15th December
This week we have had slightly smaller classes as some of the children continue
helping out with the harvest. They are all still really enthusiastic although they seem
to enjoy it the most when we act out what we are teaching. Suddenly someone will
shout 'you are dancing' in the hope that we will make fools of ourselves! With the
older class we have been reading simple books. It's has been great to get time
with them in smaller groups and they really love the books as they feel like they are
putting what they have learnt in the last few months to practical use.
The other day Bishnu took me to the nearby village where the children come from.
We saw a few women with machines sorting out the rice, went past the bar where
a man was preparing it and I saw a workshop where Santhal drums are made.
We also went by the Bengali school where some of the kids go in the morning. It
sounds like playing games in English is much more fun than going to school at
6am.
We also walked to school one day (with a bit of rickshaw cheating) which was
lovely as many of the villagers recognised us and kept calling out to us. We saw
monkeys on the way, which we don't normally get to see when we arrive by car.
Everyone thought we were mad to be going by foot voluntarily. Shampa was
especially concerned as she thought we would never find any food along the way -
hence the huge brunch before we set out. Practically had to roll our way there!
Friday 21st December
Well, I just finished my last lessons and I'm really sad. The children have been
great and I will really miss them. I have never met children who are always so
happy and enthusiastic - and it starts as soon as the car pulls up to the school
when you hear them shouting out 'hello'.
As a leaving present we gave everyone in the older classes a notepad and a
pencil so that they can write down the lessons. So far they have been using slates
and chalk, which has been great for writing, but hopefully each one will now be
able to write down the lessons and be able to revise them later if they want to
really remember it all - you never know, it might happen! The sweets seemed to
be just as appreciated.
During the week we walked a few times to the village and managed to gather a
crowd around us one day when we started sat down in the dust and started
doodling pictures of the houses and animals.
We are leaving tomorrow and I am not sure how I will survive without Shampa's
cooking. I think I might try smuggling her out with me in my rucksack.
Monday 10th December
Well, I arrived from Mumbai in Kolkatta on the 30th November. The driver met me
at the airport (with a card with my name on it - never had that before!) and drove
me to Bishnu's flat in the city. I still can not actually believe that the driver managed
to dodge all those bikes, carts, cars, buses and people weaving around on the
road! I stayed that night at the flat where Bishnu's wife had prepared an amazing
meal.
The next day I got the train to Shantikitan - the driver took me to the station, got me
to the right platform, found me my carriage and then made sure that no one had
pinched my seat. When I arrived in Shantinikaten Bishnu met me, along with the
other volunteer - Miryiam. On the Sunday we went to a lovely market in the forest
where hand-made goods were being sold.
I met the children on Monday - actually, I heard them before I saw them as they
were shouting out for us as we approached. They were so enthusiastic. All week
Miryiam and I have rotated the two older classes, but we teach the youngest class
together. They so small but so keen to learn English that they repeat every word
you say. Having said that the kids are really smart and they have learnt an
amazing amount of English since the school began this year. They also love
teaching us Bengali words - which come in very useful!
In the mornings we have been going for walks and cycle rides in the surrounding
area. People think we are mad for going on foot but it has been really great to see
the area at our own pace, drinking tea along the way and going down some of the
more quiet lanes. We have decided to be good and visit the Tagore museum this
week - we will see if that happens!. Shantinikaten is a lovely, relaxed town and
seems to be a really vibrant community - on one of my first evenings here we went
to an art fair where the students of the university were selling their works.
At the weekend we went to Bishnupur - a bone juddering 5 hour bus journey but
well worth it as the temples are beautiful. Although the food there was great it was
even better to get back on the Sunday knowing we would be having Shampa's
food. Mmmm.
Saturday 15th December
This week we have had slightly smaller classes as some of the children continue
helping out with the harvest. They are all still really enthusiastic although they seem
to enjoy it the most when we act out what we are teaching. Suddenly someone will
shout 'you are dancing' in the hope that we will make fools of ourselves! With the
older class we have been reading simple books. It's has been great to get time
with them in smaller groups and they really love the books as they feel like they are
putting what they have learnt in the last few months to practical use.
The other day Bishnu took me to the nearby village where the children come from.
We saw a few women with machines sorting out the rice, went past the bar where
a man was preparing it and I saw a workshop where Santhal drums are made.
We also went by the Bengali school where some of the kids go in the morning. It
sounds like playing games in English is much more fun than going to school at
6am.
We also walked to school one day (with a bit of rickshaw cheating) which was
lovely as many of the villagers recognised us and kept calling out to us. We saw
monkeys on the way, which we don't normally get to see when we arrive by car.
Everyone thought we were mad to be going by foot voluntarily. Shampa was
especially concerned as she thought we would never find any food along the way -
hence the huge brunch before we set out. Practically had to roll our way there!
Friday 21st December
Well, I just finished my last lessons and I'm really sad. The children have been
great and I will really miss them. I have never met children who are always so
happy and enthusiastic - and it starts as soon as the car pulls up to the school
when you hear them shouting out 'hello'.
As a leaving present we gave everyone in the older classes a notepad and a
pencil so that they can write down the lessons. So far they have been using slates
and chalk, which has been great for writing, but hopefully each one will now be
able to write down the lessons and be able to revise them later if they want to
really remember it all - you never know, it might happen! The sweets seemed to
be just as appreciated.
During the week we walked a few times to the village and managed to gather a
crowd around us one day when we started sat down in the dust and started
doodling pictures of the houses and animals.
We are leaving tomorrow and I am not sure how I will survive without Shampa's
cooking. I think I might try smuggling her out with me in my rucksack.
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