Teacher's Day is celebrated in every school in India. The second president of India, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, declared his birthday, September 5 to be an annual celebration of teachers. Because September 5 fell on a Sunday this year, BBPS celebrated Friday, September 3. Our school day started later and ended early. Classes 9 and 10 were excused for the day. BBPS had an assembly with songs, poems, and stories about the importance of teachers in everyone's life. Later, class 12 taught the class 8 sections while class 11 put on a program for the teachers: stories, dances-- for Ganesha, Lord Krishna, and two hip hop dances, music, and recognitions of individual teachers for categories such as the most humorous, the hardest worker, the kindest, and so on. The last hour of the day was with the class sections with a party and pictures. Throughout the whole day students showered teachers with cards of appreciation, flowers, candy, and other gifts. I was given a smiley-face pin, five bouquets of roses, an aloe vera plant, a fountain pen, three gifts of chocolate, and four cards, two gorgeously hand made. The comments were so heart warming: "Its our honour to have a teacher like you. . . thank you." "May God bless you Billion Times" "You are simply the best!!!" and "You are not only a good teacher but also sum1 whom I alwayzz. . luk up to . ." and "I'm very lucky that u are my Teacher, my mentor, my guide!!!" Rashika, the head of the English Department, gave me a beautiful lei of fresh flowers.
I am speechless after a day like this. ME!! THE TALKER!!
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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!
Wow. Can't imagine a reception like that! No wonder American teachers are flocking to teach abroad! Of course, you deserve it all!
ReplyDeleteAt our Mtka district meeting, the superintendant
introduced a Fullbright Scholar just leaving for India. I was SO proud of YOU--the best of the best--representing all of us!
I wonder if Rashmi is feeling a little neglected. Teachers here are not well respected, let alone revered. I suggested that her daily "warm up" should be an Indian story. I think they'll be eating our of her hand...
LOVE your blog. Gotta turn it into a book.