Fun Indeed

After I first got here class 6 laughed and giggled when I was writing on the board and said out loud, “ quiet guys”. Apparently guys means cows in Hindi. I just figured this out a few weeks ago!

Today Frieda asked me if I had ever thought about teaching in the sates. She told me I would make a good teacher with some ideas I have and things (mostly from Mom and other things I experienced in classrooms as a student). I was flattered to say the least. Right after that in 8th English some boys said that I am a good teacher. I’m not sure if it was sarcasm but it seemed sincere. Put me in a GREAT mood for the rest of the day. Teaching is going much better.

Deepak, who helps me with life skills assembly with the older ones, and calls me “Alaska” all day every day, lives on campus and is a teacher. His story is pretty remarkable. He was raised basically by a man from Wisconsin and while living in Mussoorie as a young adult, met a western lady who introduced him to Shishya. She is now building him a house near here! He goes and teaches in a nearby slum a few times a week. I’d like to see it sometime, but need permission to go. His blog/website is here.

A new volunteer came this weekend. Her name is Lara and she is 23 and from Kentucky! Mike and Charlie’s blog can be clicked here.

Lack of communication is India. Even at Shishya. “Oh, we have parent teacher conferences in a few weeks?” I’m still trying to learn the names of my 105 students I teach English and moral science to.

It is noticeably warmer now. It's even starting to get a little humid!

I went to Friday night devotions for the first time this week. All the young and older boys get together and anyone else for about 45 minutes. There is music then people who want to can say something either what they are thankful for, something from the bible or whatever. Most of it was in Hindi, and for the first time I felt really irritated and sad I couldn’t understand what they were saying. I could tell some things were really sincere and heartfelt and I so badly wanted to understand. I cried when Ratan spoke because I had heard he is very spiritual (he is 8 or 9) and got upset about something the night before during our homework time (I couldn’t figure out why) and I’m sure what he said was incredible. I also cried because I couldn’t understand what he was saying. In Hindi I found out that Rohan said, “Thank you for brining me here.” More tears.

This was our weekend off from taking care of the little boys so all the volunteers (besides Nibha) went to the hillside city of Musoorie at 7000 ft for the weekend. I had been there once before when I first got here. It was nice to go back. We shopped and got to see a little bit more of the area. Lewis found a few really cool antique shops and found a telescope made in 1885! We went to dinner and pigged out at this place called the Tavern. We all discussed out much Jesus loved food too! The Himalayas were in view during the day and I got a great sunset picture at night.



On Sunday morning I suggested we go to St. Paul’s, where Frieda and Ken were married, for church. It’s part of the Church of Northern India and it takes six different traditions and methods of worship from other churches to make their own service. It was interesting and like nothing I have ever really experienced before. Sunday morning I met a girl at the hotel named Johannah from Michigan. She had been studying at the language school and I invited her to breakfast with us. She invited all of us to hike to the Everest base camp with her in a few months. Sure, no big deal. The road is so windy and narrow to and from Musoorie and I felt a little sick going back down. The taxi driver was a jerky, breaky driver. There are signs all the way up that encourage a healthy, respected environment and one sign reads. “Plant a tree or three, it’s like having ten sons indeed.” Or something like that…. but for heavens sake, if I lived in India I wouldn’t plant a tree for that reason.