24 February 2025
This morning, I taught my first English class for the Skills Development Camp. Planning it was a challenge—I had no idea what level of English to expect from a group whose ages ranged from 15 to 70. With no clear sense of their proficiency, I pulled together a few basic worksheets and hoped for the best.
I had tried to arrange for an interpreter, but no one with strong English skills was available. So Lisa and I decided to just go with the flow. From the start, we realized we had overestimated the group’s English level. They had no idea what we were saying. Even with Google Translate as a backup, getting started was chaotic. But after a few giggles and moments of confusion, they began grasping the basics and slowly worked through their worksheets. I knew I’d need to rethink my lesson plans for the rest of the week.
Thankfully, Guruji arrived to check in on the class and was quickly pulled in to help translate the English words and phrases I had written on the whiteboard. Despite the language barrier, everyone was in good spirits—and it helped that our classroom was a beautiful garden, with fresh air, birdsong, and blue skies all around us.
After class, we sipped chai and discussed how to better structure upcoming lessons to accommodate both students who had a solid grasp of English and those who were still completely illiterate. It was clear that the next few weeks of teaching would be unpredictable, but full of heart.
Later in the afternoon, the girls gathered again in the garden, this time for more chai. Lisa and I joined them, and even though we relied on a mix of broken English, Hindi, and hand gestures, we laughed and shared stories. Then, the rhythm shifted—drums and instruments appeared, and our quiet tea break transformed into an impromptu music session and dance party! We took turns drumming rhythms from home and dancing with little Omar—the most handsome boy at the ashram (even if he’s only five!).
As the golden sun dipped lower, the garden shimmered with movement and joy. The girls twirled in their vibrant dresses, momentarily free from daily chores and duties. I paused, heart full, soaking in the moment. These are the memories I’ll treasure when I’m old—the simple, beautiful flashes of shared joy, when words weren’t needed and connection spoke for itself.
