Greetings Friends! We arrived in Kolkata from Darjeeling 3 days ago...we slept on a train - or rather tried to sleep - and arrived 3 hours late. Apparently they had to fix a section of the track before we could continue the journey! India is in a constant state of repair.
We have spent most of our time at the Loreto School in Kolkata - an incredible institution managed by Sr. Cyril. She asked me to work with her teachers 10 minutes after meeting her! I spoke to 20 teachers for 90 minutes on the foundation of literacy instruction and provided some practical tools for the staff to use with the students in their classrooms. I think they were pleased. William was also invited to teach some classes to the students on bio-diversity. I think the students were thrilled.
We visited Mother Theresa's tomb today as well as did some volunteer work at a village school - 44 children, age 6 - one chalkboard - no desks, no storybooks...the children had a scribbler each and some had a pencil. It was quite incredible. There were cows in the field, boys swimming in a small pond that was formed from a recent down pour and children going to the washroom on a heap of gravel outside the classroom wall. Yet all are eager to learn and were rather disciplined. They are happy to see us and be with us - to have their pictures taken and to get the answers 'right'. It was a very incredible scene....and all in 40 + celcius!
Tomorrow we continue our tour and see a few more monuments...Presently I am with Jeff and Amanda wandering through the markets. The sights and smells continue to overwhelm me and I've grown accustomed to bringing my cotton scarf with me wherever we go so I can breathe into it as we walk.
Our time is almost up at this cafe...know that I love and miss you all and long to see you SOON!
Namaste!
Carrie
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