EIL Intercultural Learning

I've been in India now for about two weeks. Apart from the first few days (due to lack of luggage!), I have had the most amazing experience.

I can't get over how nice, kind, friendly and welcoming every person has been: from my host family, to the EIL staff, friends of friends, the teachers and the students in the school. Everyone has welcomed me and treated me as part of their own family. I have been so so lucky.

Although the work in the school is physically tiring and emotionally draining, I'm really enjoying every minute of it. It can be difficult to discipline the children, as they see foreign volunteers more as their friends than teachers. But I'm working on it! And I can see they're making progress already. With one class in particular I have been reading the Mr. Men books - so far we've read Mr. Noisy, Mr. Quiet and Mr. Bump. So today I was discussing the term "characteristics" with them - about how different people are happy, sad, lazy, noisy, slow, forgetful, etc. I asked them to write about what kind of characteristics they liked/disliked in people, and then about how they would categorize themselves. Out of about 35 students, I think 32 said: "I am a happy person." It was adorable. Out of a list of maybe 30 different characteristics, nearly everyone said they were happy. It really makes you angry with yourself for ever feeling sad, when these children are so happy despite having such horrible diseases and living in terrible poverty.

I've met some really lovely volunteers here in the school. There are 2 German boys, 1 German girl and 1 Canadian girl. Most days after school we go somewhere together like a market or mall or to the cinema.

I'm really settling in here, after only 2 weeks. I love the food: my family here are vegetarian too so I'm getting lots of paneer, daal, rajma, and so much fresh veg. which is available everyday here brought fresh from the farmland around Delhi.Then there's all the street food like samosas, pakoras, aloo tikki, etc...all available for about 10c, made freshly in front of you. Although everything's so cheap, I'm definitely over-spending! I can't help it! The clothes and jewelry are just so stunning that I can't pass a market without buying something.

I like Delhi, although it's so huge and a bit overwhelming at times. The pollution and dust is disgusting really. I constantly feel so dirty here! Planning an escape to the Himalayas next weekend for some fresh air and to celebrate the Hindu festival of Shivratri! All I can say after 2 weeks is, I love India!