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Miryam's Blog
Miryam Wijler
ISRAEL
ISRAEL
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Sunday morning. I've been in Santinitiken for almost a week now, but I already feel quite at
home. They say good things are easy to get used to.
As I've only just started writing my blog today I'll give you in short, the story of the last 6
days, maybe it will also help me get things in order. I arrived here by train from Kolkata last
Monday, accompanied by the kind and welcoming Bishnu. The ride gave me an opportunity
to view - even if from afar - the local landscape, small villages and great rice fields, and
also to catch up on some local news on an Indian Magazine.
At our destination, Krishna the driver was already waiting for us to take us to the our
apartments (Bishnu's and the volunteer apartment), where I had a good Indian lunch
(prepared by the always happy and great cook - sampa, the maid). Then, at last, krishna
took us to the school in the village, where I met the children and got in to my new character
- Mariam the teacher.
The kids welcomed me warmly and we started off with a short Bingo game to strengthen
their vocabulary. They are all - from the youngest to the oldest - keen to learn and
participate in any way they can. After Bingo, I had a short class with the youngest group
while the other kids were playing in the field and then continued with the middle group and
finished with the advanced. This routine continued throughout the week - with the same
level of enthusiasm and positive energy from the kids.
In the mornings I enjoyed a relaxing tea toast and butter, followed by small tours of town - in
the car with Bishnu and Krishna or by foot on my own, enjoying close encounters with the
local animals, people and trees. Then, a good lunch and off to school.
And so, somehow, Friday came and me and the kids said goodbye - but only for two days.
Tomorrow we meet again. Yesterday, a new volunteer from England joined us and so
tomorrow we'll go to school in a new and reinforced team. In the afternoon we went together
to a local traditional market (in the forest) and then visited the first day of an art festival
organized by the university.
I'll finish today's listing where I started it - it's Sunday morning, and I'm writing in Bishnu's
apartment. The smell of lunch is distracting me and I think it's a good time to say goodbye
for now. Until tomorrow.
Monday, December 10
It's Monday evening and we just had a delicious dinner, prepared by the multi-skilled maid -
shampa. As it's Monday today, we went back to school after a 2-day break, and of course
found the children as enthusiastic as ever, and with double the energy for learning as well
as running and playing. Watching and teaching them is a learning experience for anyone
coming from an institutionalised education system. Unlike most of us, they actually show a
true and ongoing will to learn, and as a result their progress is enormous.
Over the weekend, we visited Bishnupur, a small town not far from Shantinikiten, where we
saw some impressive Terra Cora temples from the 17th and 18th centuries. Unfortunately,
it took a 5 hour bus drive to get there, but the interesting views and the chance to get to
know some more of West Bengal did compensate for the difficult journey. That being said,
we were more than exited to come back to quiet shantinikiten.
Last week, we spent most mornings touring the town and it's surroundings by foot and by
bicycle tours which provided both us and the local community with interesting surprises. On
our first cycling day, I managed to fall from my bike (it has been a few years since I last
rode) which was very amusing for the locals watching me, and somewhat painful for me (not
too much).
I think that will be all for today, my fountain of words is drying for now, so I'll have to write
some more in the following days.
Sunday, December 16
It's Sunday evening and Shampa is preparing Roti for dinner. The task may seem easy, but
it's not, as I learned from experience just the other day. When I tried to make one, I failed in
reaching the desirable perfect circle - I managed to tare my Roti... I guess I wasn't meant to
be a cook.
Last week we went out of town to wonder around the surrounding villages, including the
one near school, where the children we teach leave. The area is beautiful and the locals
are welcoming, even if we do seem funny with our hats and sunglasses, and with our
cameras ready to catch young goats, houses and fields. And even - sometimes - the view
of colorful laundry drying out on in far away fields, staining the dusty green with bright red,
yellow, green and blue.
Of course - how could I leave this to be last? - the kids are as lovely and enthusiastic as
ever. This week, we've been reading simple books with the older group and it was delightful
to see the older group, as well as some of the younger ones, running inside to find books
and trying to read them. Even if they cannot actually read by themselves, their willingness
is the best place one can hope to start from.
Friday, December 21
And so, my last evening in Shantiniketan begins, with cha, and coffee, and a delicious
dinner is yet to come.
We gave our last lesson in school today and said goodbye to the children, missing out the
usual "see you tomorrow" greeting. As always, they were lovely, and it wasn't easy to say
goodbye. Nevertheless, I have no doubt the volunteers who will come after us, will continue
the good work and hopefully, some day one of the kids will be able to take the teacher's
place.
Tomorrow morning we'll say goodbye to Bishnu, Shampa, Krishna and shantiniketan. This
evening I'll say goodbye to the blog, and add my sincere hope that this great adventure -
also known as First Light - will continue to flourish and contribute in it's own special way.
Sunday morning. I've been in Santinitiken for almost a week now, but I already feel quite at
home. They say good things are easy to get used to.
As I've only just started writing my blog today I'll give you in short, the story of the last 6
days, maybe it will also help me get things in order. I arrived here by train from Kolkata last
Monday, accompanied by the kind and welcoming Bishnu. The ride gave me an opportunity
to view - even if from afar - the local landscape, small villages and great rice fields, and
also to catch up on some local news on an Indian Magazine.
At our destination, Krishna the driver was already waiting for us to take us to the our
apartments (Bishnu's and the volunteer apartment), where I had a good Indian lunch
(prepared by the always happy and great cook - sampa, the maid). Then, at last, krishna
took us to the school in the village, where I met the children and got in to my new character
- Mariam the teacher.
The kids welcomed me warmly and we started off with a short Bingo game to strengthen
their vocabulary. They are all - from the youngest to the oldest - keen to learn and
participate in any way they can. After Bingo, I had a short class with the youngest group
while the other kids were playing in the field and then continued with the middle group and
finished with the advanced. This routine continued throughout the week - with the same
level of enthusiasm and positive energy from the kids.
In the mornings I enjoyed a relaxing tea toast and butter, followed by small tours of town - in
the car with Bishnu and Krishna or by foot on my own, enjoying close encounters with the
local animals, people and trees. Then, a good lunch and off to school.
And so, somehow, Friday came and me and the kids said goodbye - but only for two days.
Tomorrow we meet again. Yesterday, a new volunteer from England joined us and so
tomorrow we'll go to school in a new and reinforced team. In the afternoon we went together
to a local traditional market (in the forest) and then visited the first day of an art festival
organized by the university.
I'll finish today's listing where I started it - it's Sunday morning, and I'm writing in Bishnu's
apartment. The smell of lunch is distracting me and I think it's a good time to say goodbye
for now. Until tomorrow.
Monday, December 10
It's Monday evening and we just had a delicious dinner, prepared by the multi-skilled maid -
shampa. As it's Monday today, we went back to school after a 2-day break, and of course
found the children as enthusiastic as ever, and with double the energy for learning as well
as running and playing. Watching and teaching them is a learning experience for anyone
coming from an institutionalised education system. Unlike most of us, they actually show a
true and ongoing will to learn, and as a result their progress is enormous.
Over the weekend, we visited Bishnupur, a small town not far from Shantinikiten, where we
saw some impressive Terra Cora temples from the 17th and 18th centuries. Unfortunately,
it took a 5 hour bus drive to get there, but the interesting views and the chance to get to
know some more of West Bengal did compensate for the difficult journey. That being said,
we were more than exited to come back to quiet shantinikiten.
Last week, we spent most mornings touring the town and it's surroundings by foot and by
bicycle tours which provided both us and the local community with interesting surprises. On
our first cycling day, I managed to fall from my bike (it has been a few years since I last
rode) which was very amusing for the locals watching me, and somewhat painful for me (not
too much).
I think that will be all for today, my fountain of words is drying for now, so I'll have to write
some more in the following days.
Sunday, December 16
It's Sunday evening and Shampa is preparing Roti for dinner. The task may seem easy, but
it's not, as I learned from experience just the other day. When I tried to make one, I failed in
reaching the desirable perfect circle - I managed to tare my Roti... I guess I wasn't meant to
be a cook.
Last week we went out of town to wonder around the surrounding villages, including the
one near school, where the children we teach leave. The area is beautiful and the locals
are welcoming, even if we do seem funny with our hats and sunglasses, and with our
cameras ready to catch young goats, houses and fields. And even - sometimes - the view
of colorful laundry drying out on in far away fields, staining the dusty green with bright red,
yellow, green and blue.
Of course - how could I leave this to be last? - the kids are as lovely and enthusiastic as
ever. This week, we've been reading simple books with the older group and it was delightful
to see the older group, as well as some of the younger ones, running inside to find books
and trying to read them. Even if they cannot actually read by themselves, their willingness
is the best place one can hope to start from.
Friday, December 21
And so, my last evening in Shantiniketan begins, with cha, and coffee, and a delicious
dinner is yet to come.
We gave our last lesson in school today and said goodbye to the children, missing out the
usual "see you tomorrow" greeting. As always, they were lovely, and it wasn't easy to say
goodbye. Nevertheless, I have no doubt the volunteers who will come after us, will continue
the good work and hopefully, some day one of the kids will be able to take the teacher's
place.
Tomorrow morning we'll say goodbye to Bishnu, Shampa, Krishna and shantiniketan. This
evening I'll say goodbye to the blog, and add my sincere hope that this great adventure -
also known as First Light - will continue to flourish and contribute in it's own special way.