A little background on Susie: She was a teacher before this school started up, but had to quit because she lost the ability to walk and could not get out to the school where she worked.
Upon arriving at the village, we were greeted by Susie's son who just turned 16 a few days ago. He and his brother had to quit school for a few years in order to help out with household chores so that her husband could get a job and keep money coming in. The very first thing this boy says to Mags is, "Auntie you cannot come in. I am studying my books. It is very messy." This was the kids' day off from school. And this boy was studying because he was finally getting the chance to go back to school. How beautiful is that?
Anyways, we went next to visit the school, where Susie told me a bit about the curriculum, the changes that were to be made to the building, and the children that she and one other local teacher were taking care of. The children live in the classroom during the school year, so it is much like a boarding school. Susie also lives in the classroom because there is no way for her to get around easily, so it makes more sense for her to just stay there. They are teaching the standard Indian curriculum so that when the children are ready to move to another school, they will be on the same level as all the other children.
The classroom itself was really quite nice. Nothing by Western standards, but you can tell that a lot of time and love went into it and that the children have it really well there. They also have a computer, which you can tell by the way Susie lit up when I inquired about the computer classes that was listed on the childrens' grade sheet, is a rarity for smaller schools. It's only the one computer, so only one of the classes have it at their disposal, but she was definitely proud of it.
All this was wonderful, but what was really touching is how open she was about her life and how easily she welcomed me into her home and workplace. Immediately, she offered to have her husband make chai, and I was also given an omelette that I hadn't asked for. She gave me some background on her husband and sons, as well as some problems that she was currently having with her sister. She even went a bit into her struggles when she lost the ability to walk and her health began to deteriorate so much that she could not talk. She's obviously doing much better now.
It's just so beautiful the way that the Indian people are so open with you. Nothing is hidden. People bathe on the street. They are willing to tell you all about their life having known you for only a few minutes. They welcome you into their homes and feed you until you're ready to burst. I can't help but love it.
We also visited a Hindu family that lives behind the school and who are less well off than Susie's family currently is. They were incredibly excited to see Mags, who knows them quite well, and took us both immediately inside. We were then offered sweets. Now, this isn't any ordinary offer, though. The sweets they offered were not in the home, but had to be purchased at the local sweet shop about 5 minutes' walk away. But that trip was made with joy. They were just happy to be able to share what they could with us.
The day before this and the rest of that afternoon were absolutely exhausting for me, as I felt like I never stopped moving. But having that time in between where people were simply excited to have me sit there and listen to them or eat sweets with them was absolutely wonderful. It's afternoons like that that give you the energy and the ambition to keep going in this city that never stops. Thank goodness for teachers and Hindus.
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