On September 14, my bus was very late, twenty minutes late. I was worried that it was not coming, that a change had been made that I was unaware of. Thank goodness I had Priya's mobile number so I called to ask her. On the bus, I asked her how the teachers and students knew that the General Knowledge Test was being given September 13 as I only discovered that day when I showed up to class 11 C to find them being tested period 3 and then having a class meeting period 5, both times which are English on the time table. I could not find the GKT anywhere on the calendar, so Priya showed me a different section of the school diary that listed additional tests to those on the calendar.
When I arrived at school a good half-hour late, I was told that a schedule change was beginning: double periods for class 11. Good thing I plan ahead so I could do a double day of teaching.
During lunch, a teacher came to tell me that I had to take 11C to the All Purpose Room the second part of my double period. Right before the second part, a student came to the class to inform me that we would not be going to the All Purpose Room.
I could not find my bus after school. The bus numbers were covered with sheets of paper with locations written on them. I had no idea which bus would take me home. A nice student approached me and told me which bus was mine. By this time, the bus was jammed full of students and teachers. I could barely get inside the bus. Of course, this was a day when I was carrying a lot of notebooks to correct and my laptop in addition to my usual bag with my umbrella, lunch, water bottle and teaching materials. The ride was very uncomfortable. Apparently, as I was told later, the bus schedule was changed because class 10 was not having classes at school as they had a couple days to study for their mid-year exams. Priya suggested we get off half way home and take a rickshaw. She held my hand to help me cross the roads safely and reminded me to keep everything tight on my lap. She is my guardian angel.
After I got home, I kept thinking about flexibility. That word had been used with emphasis in both interviews I had when I applied to teach overseas. Flexibility has a new meaning for me now. Multiple, daily flexibilities is my staple.
"We need bad days to truly appreciate the good days," said ME!
Life has its sitcom days.
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Watch out India. . . Here comes Mary!
My arrival in New Delhi was full of warmth --both the weather and the people. Dhirendra Sharma, a physics teacher at Bal Baharti Public Schools (BBPS) who has designated himself as my Unofficial Mentor (He was accepted into the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program for the fall of 2010, but very unfortunately a match in the US was not found. The same place I was in last year. I know how profoundly disappointing that is!)
A driver took both Dhirendra and I to 14 Anandvan, Paschim Vihar, my home for the next five and a half months. Barely had the door been opened and I was greeted with a "proper Indian" welcome: red powder on my forehead and a very sweet, round ball that was scrumptious. I met Madhu, Neena, and Menaka who all live in the same society (the appartment complex of Marathi Indians). I was shown how to use the airconditioner, the television, and the stove.
The next morning Madhu stopped by on her way to work to see how I was doing, my neighbor Shweeta came over to meet me and invite me to go out on Sunday to buy Indian clothes, and then I had lunch at Neena's. Kunda, Rashmi's sister had a mobile phone and international calling card delivered to me, and that night Madhu walked to the market, Reliance, with me so I knew how to get there. At the door security takes bags and checks receipts before leaving.
Sunday the 15th of August was Independence Day. The society had a celebration in the morning with the National Anthem, dances, and snacks. I met more people in the society, all very welcoming.
Shweta and I took a pedal rickshaw to the TDI shopping complex: air conditioned and security checks before entering. She picked out three outfits for me steering me away from my usual choice of blue and blue and blue. I bought kurdas and churidars (leggings) and one salwar kameez with a scarf. We browsed a book store and another shop before lunching at Pizza Hut which had extremely attentive service and a different menu than the US ones. I had a salad and Shweta had garlic bread for appetizers before sharing a pizza. Sunday afternoon I took a taxi to the Park Hotel for my USIEF (United States India Educational Foundation, the Indian counterpart of Fulbright) two-day training. The driver took me to the wrong hotel! Thankfully, the City Hotel, which is where I was delivered, called the Park to confirm my reservation as well as arranging a taxi to take me to the correct hotel!
A driver took both Dhirendra and I to 14 Anandvan, Paschim Vihar, my home for the next five and a half months. Barely had the door been opened and I was greeted with a "proper Indian" welcome: red powder on my forehead and a very sweet, round ball that was scrumptious. I met Madhu, Neena, and Menaka who all live in the same society (the appartment complex of Marathi Indians). I was shown how to use the airconditioner, the television, and the stove.
The next morning Madhu stopped by on her way to work to see how I was doing, my neighbor Shweeta came over to meet me and invite me to go out on Sunday to buy Indian clothes, and then I had lunch at Neena's. Kunda, Rashmi's sister had a mobile phone and international calling card delivered to me, and that night Madhu walked to the market, Reliance, with me so I knew how to get there. At the door security takes bags and checks receipts before leaving.
Sunday the 15th of August was Independence Day. The society had a celebration in the morning with the National Anthem, dances, and snacks. I met more people in the society, all very welcoming.
Shweta and I took a pedal rickshaw to the TDI shopping complex: air conditioned and security checks before entering. She picked out three outfits for me steering me away from my usual choice of blue and blue and blue. I bought kurdas and churidars (leggings) and one salwar kameez with a scarf. We browsed a book store and another shop before lunching at Pizza Hut which had extremely attentive service and a different menu than the US ones. I had a salad and Shweta had garlic bread for appetizers before sharing a pizza. Sunday afternoon I took a taxi to the Park Hotel for my USIEF (United States India Educational Foundation, the Indian counterpart of Fulbright) two-day training. The driver took me to the wrong hotel! Thankfully, the City Hotel, which is where I was delivered, called the Park to confirm my reservation as well as arranging a taxi to take me to the correct hotel!
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