Liz (my co-SALTer) and I recently returned from a two week trip to Kolkata and Hyderabad. In Kolkata, we were reunited with the MCC India staff. They are a fantastic group of people, so it was fun to see them all again. While in Kolkata, we binged on high speed internet (glorious!), ate at Pizza Hut (don’t judge, it was delicious), went to an English book store, and enjoyed air conditioning.

In Hyderabad, Liz and I watched the staff kids while the adults attended various sessions. Unfortunately I contracted pink eye from one of the kids, which was not pretty. Sore and pussy eyes aside, I was still able to enjoy the retreat.

We’ve been back in Dhamtari for a week and a half now, and it has been the most challenging and trying week yet. Most of the frustration centers around our teaching schedule (or lack thereof). Right now, Liz and teach five hours a week each(and that’s if my classes aren’t canceled, which regularly happens). That leaves A LOT of idle time during the school day. There are a myriad of issues I could gripe and complain about, but I will spare you. In short, I feel very underutilized. The students here could benefit from more English instruction, but the school won’t permit us to increase our teaching hours. It’s frustrating to feel bored and useless when there is plenty of work to be done. Liz and I are trying to brainstorm different places we could volunteer in Dhamtari to fill up our days.

I feel better now than I did a week ago. I really love teaching and the students here. They are wonderful. I just wish that I could help them more. In the meantime, I will continue to teach when I can, read (I just finished my 18th book since I arrived in August), do crossword puzzles (dorky, I know), learn Hindi (it’s a struggle), and hang out with the students.

Shanti,
Mary