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 wing it. From the start, we realized we had overestimated the group’s level of English. They had absolutely no idea what we were saying. Even with Google Translate as a backup, getting started was chaotic. But after a few moments of giggles and uncertainty, they began grasping the basics of what we were trying to explain and slowly worked through their worksheets. In the back of my mind, I knew I would 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 translate the English words and phrases on the whiteboard into Hindi. Despite the language barrier, everyone was in good spirits—it helps when your classroom is a beautiful garden. The fresh air, blue skies, and birds singing around us created a joyful atmosphere for learning.
After class, we sat with chai, discussing how to better structure the upcoming lessons to accommodate both students with a solid grasp of English and those who were still illiterate. It was clear that the next few weeks of teaching would be interesting, to say the least!
Later in the afternoon, the girls gathered again in the garden, this time with more chai. Lisa and I joined them, and despite communicating through broken English, Hindi, and hand gestures, we were having fun getting to know each other. Before we knew it, drums and other instruments appeared, transforming our quiet tea gathering into an impromptu music lesson and dance party! We took turns drumming out rhythms from home and dancing with little Omar—the most handsome boy at the ashram (though he’s only five!).
As the golden afternoon sun bathed the garden, the girls twirled in their vibrant dresses, shimmering with laughter and joy, momentarily free from their daily duties. I find myself pausing in moments like these, trying to soak them in completely. These are the memories I will treasure most one day when I am old—the simple, beautiful, fleeting moments of pure connection and joy.
