My coworkers are so patient, friendly, kind, and caring. They are always bringing me food for lunch. (Let's be honest: the stomach rules all emotions: a well-fed human is happy and loves everyone!) Somehow, and I don't think a schedule is in place, everyday someone, among the twenty of us who share an office, has brought another dish for me. Today it was a scrumptious paneer gravy/sauce(paneer is the Indian cheese that looks like tofu). Yesterday it was kidney beans with rice, and so on. All of these are prepared fresh in the morning. Indians believe freezers are to be left empty, that food should be prepared with fresh ingredients, and lunches should be cooked in the morning, not the night before. Many of my coworkers have a snack at break time, which is 11:10 a.m. to 11:35. Many eat a large lunch upon returning home around 2:15 p.m. and nap. Dinner is late, around 8:30 to 10:00 p.m.
The Head of the English Department has the most wonderful leadership skills: Rashika works hard, expects the best of everyone while showing understanding and caring, communicates with everyone, is honest and upfront about areas of concern, is a mother hen looking out for everyone's professional and personal lives, and expects all work to be shared. After I had been at Bal Bharati for about a week, she asked me if my assignment was okay and if I wanted to switch from grade 10 or 11 to another grade level!! Rashika is frequently asking questions about how things are done in the US, respecting my ideas which I offer only when asked, and involving me in extra experiences such as the class party during Teacher Day, which I would not be included in as I am not a class teacher.
I am finding myself making mistakes and asking what must seem to be absurd questions, yet all my colleagues are so receptive, noncritical, and patient in explaining. For example, I do not know how to read their calendar. Today, September 7, only because the students in Class 10 said they had no school on Friday, I asked Pamela about this showing her the calender which did not mark Friday as a holiday. Apparently, Eid, one of many Eids that is, will be on Friday, if the moon is in a specific location on Thursday, if not, Eid will be on Saturday. How does one know? The answer is they just know! Then I learned that the 10th graders' last day of class is Monday as their mid year exams start Tuesday. I had thought the exams started at the end of September. Thank goodness I am almost done with the curriculum!
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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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