Top five moments of 2073 (2016-2017) in pictures

I have made a lot of memories in my first fellowship year. It was quite the roller coaster experience. I wanted to share a few of my memorable experiences. Enjoy!

5. When we moved first into our placement home at Melamchi, it was a long day of gathering flooring material, curtains, groceries, cooking stove, etc. We were so tired at the end of the day that we forgot it was our co-fellows’ birthday that day. We tried to make up for it later on.

Just another dinner time in Melamchi: When other fourth cohort fellows visited us. I could not find our first dinner picture.

  4. For school sports day, I saw a lot of girls who came out to play volleyball. I was so happy to see them compete and I was cheering them all the way.

Eventually, the girls’ team went on to the district matches for the Presidents' Running Shield, outshining other schools in the Melamchi area.

3. This one is my favorite. I taught these boys some dance steps which I had learnt through my life. I used to dance with my cousin dressed up as a boy and I could use some of those moves and help a few first time dancers of class seven. It helped build connection and also helped me understand what connecting to the students actually meant. More importantly, I could be myself while teaching them. I wasn’t afraid of how they would feel about me showing some dance moves and goofing around. I saw possibility in them and they followed that path. Another highlight of this day was me trying to put lipstick on the shy girls of class nine who were also performing a dance.

The dream team during the school’s 43^rd Annual Function

 2. During Baldiwas (Chindren’s Day), the school team worked together to have a literally sweet ceremony. Teachers cooked kheer or rice pudding and chana for the students. There was also class-wise musical chair. Even the teachers had their turn.

My naughty class seven students helping teachers getting the masala ready for kheer

 

1. I am really happy with my class nine. I am the class teacher and I was able to work with them in a number of ways. They understand the importance of doing homework now. They have become more tolerant and collaborative. Their reading has improved. They seem ready for class 10. Here’s a glimpse of when we had our secret Santa event. We will fondly remember that day as when Richa Miss let all the special gifts fall on the floor and get damaged because they were collected in a meek bag. Whoops…But I really appreciate them forgiving me.  I apologized profusely and offered to buy them gifts. However, they decided they will keep what they got from their friends. 

Class 9: They did not follow the idea of 'secret' though, everybody knew who their Santa was beforehand! Can you find the unfortunate bag the gifts fell from?