First Day at School
Friday the 2nd was Toraigh and Dara’s first day at Loreto Cealda School Calcutta. Despite slight early morning nerves the girls were taken off to there classrooms. Myself and Shona went off to organize a few things and came back to the school between 1 and 2pm to see how they had survived. The two chics had become the most popular girls in the school with new friends and everybody asking their names etc. Toraigh was all buzz that her class had been sitting cross legged, meditating as part of their PE. And Dara is starting to pick up Bengali already. She is really good with the accent. Classmates have told both girls that they will teach them Bengali. When we arrived back at the school Dara was whizzing around the playground with an entourage chasing after her.
A message for Ciaran Hillbilly, from the Calcutta clampets Toraigh will send you a reply tomorrow (Sun), as she is just away for a good Indian nights sleep (we only got the Internet installed last night, Fri, when I started this blog). So hopefully we will be able to blog about on a more regular basis.
Toraigh and Dara will also be emailing the Ballycastle school on Sunday. The girls gave the box of pencils from Ballycastle school to sister Cyril, who promptly sent them up to the Rainbow children.
On Thurs 1st, we travelled out to a rural village to teach with some of Sister Cyril's Rainbow children and other day pupils (see bus pic below). We were teaching a group of village kids who were barely out of nursery school. The subject was English. Some of the Rainbow kids and other pupils who were probably about 13 - 14 were taking the classes in both Bengali and English. I took a short spell at the blackboard and then we all played a few games with them. After classes we were mobbed and cheered; and practically every child in the town wanted to shake our hands. White people, especially with two little white girls in bandannas are still a bit of a rarity in these parts that are way off the tourist trail. There are a few images below. Two packed bus loads went out to the villages but there was only one bus for the return journey - it was a bit of a squeeze - six of us were sitting in the cab space with the driver.
Shona will be a jurer on The Young Publisher of The Year Awards, Calcutta, on Sunday, which she will write about after Sunday; but we are heading to the evening reception on Sun night for a bit of social. We wondered if Sarah could baby sit?
The images below are, clockwise:
1. Toraigh and Dara's admirers in the village square. Shona had some of these kids singing etc.
2. Local children looking through the window of the village school.
3. Children/teachers from Cealda school - some of whom are 'Rainbow' children, on the outward bus journey.
4. The village school bell and bell ringer.
5. A sacred cow.
2 comments:
hello!its cara johnny blob granny and ronan here.glad to see you are are doing well.grannys delighted that the girls have made friends.we all send our love.john blob says sorry for his neglect but he doesnt know how to text.but dont worry i will teach him.everyone here is keeping well.looking forward to seeing you all in may.lots of love from everyone xoxoxoxo
Hiya Toraigh!
We have been looking at your blog site in school. It is very interesting. We have printed off your pictures and we will be putting you on the wall, so we won't miss you so much. We like the picture of the sacred cow. How is the Bengali coming along? We would like to learn some too! It is nice to know that you are having a good time. You will probably hear some more from us at home.
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