Some of the Providence children came in on Saturday morning to see us off. Two Sumos took us down to Guwhaiti (4 hours). It could take a lot longer. Spent the night in a Baptist Guest House on the banks of the Brahmaputra that flows through the city (pop 1.2 million). Sunday morning we transferred to Guwhaiti airport for our 1 hour flight to Calcutta. Arrived at 1 pm and flying out at 8 30 pm meant that we had a bit of a wait. Boarded the plane but spent 2 hours on the tarmac while they ironed out an electrical fault. 4 hour flight to Dubai and another wait. But, I think Indian people has shown us their practice of patience. Straight forward flight to Dublin arriving at 11 am.. Pleased to meet with  pleasant weather.

Arrived at the Abbey a little ahead of schedule. Their classmates were out with banners to greet the lads. Both groups were excited at this. Parents arrived at our expected time of arrival. A great reunion. I ensured the parents that their sons had been very positive and extremely hard-working and committed at the teaching and in all aspects of the Immersion. Classmates, teachers and especially parents can be extraordinarily proud of the seven and what they have achieved.

Remember:

“Take pride in how far you have come.

                       Have faith in how far you can go”. (Dale Carnegie)

NB. A full report on the Project in the words of the 7 lads will be presented in early Dec.

‘Please bless all those people who helped us in Providence’

Note: Now in Kolkata airport. Journey going smoothly.

Our last day in Providence and we expected it to be different.
But, how different?


For the 8.30 assembly we made our way in the morning
  sunshine to the hall and to the Providence prayer. As usual all different
  groups move to the designated trades. All our lads had completed their tasks by
  the end of trade time and had beautiful objects to bring home. Those in
  savoury-cooking and confectionery had expertise and recipes to bring with them
  and to try out. Saying Goodbye to
  their instructors was the first round of farewells of the
day.


After the 10.30 assembly, classes commenced. Classes
this morning were shorter than usual to enable the kids to put on their
entertainment for us. Each class came in for 15 minutes. The Sir presented a
photo of the group to each child and also a gift that we sourced here – a woolly
hat for the boys and leggings for the girls. All the girls, we noted, wore
leggings for the cold. The 15 mins was used to take photos and play a word game,
a story and some even had a game of Beggar-my-Neighbour. As each class left
there was a sincere Goodbye , but
not a final goodbye. KG was the last class to come in before lunch and for them
it wastheir final goodbye. (They go home each day at 12.) Thus it was
special. Would we ever see these kids again with their enthusiasm and smiles? In
that language, they are fluent.


Our lunchtime was extra long. We were told not to appear back up
in Providence till 2 pm. They needed to set up the hall.


The hall had been transformed- all the boards gone,
matting on the floor, colourful drapes over bookcases and Providence posters on
the walls. We were greeted by the children as we walked in as a group with our
Abbey India Project t-shirts. (Thanks to Joe Hourigan, Main St, Tipp). All the
  various classes contributed songs or dance, some traditional and some modern.
  No matter what song was sung, all the other kids even from Class 1 joined in.
  Kids here have a sharp ear and pick up songs and airs quickly. The standard was
  exceptional. It surprised us all. We even had a fashion show of traditional
  dress from north-east India. The models, male and female, strutted the catwalk
  with typical disinterested look on their faces – not in the slightest bit
  self-conscious. In all, it was a 1 hour programme and it was choreographed with
  precision. Then, the final farewell part preceded by a rousing rendering of
  the Providence anthem. Each kid from Class 1 to Class 11 stood as erect as
 soldiers  and
gave it their heart. Each kid came up and met each sir individually with a Goodbye and Thank
You and Come back again. It took
a while for all 250 to come and it was very emotional. And nothing wrong with
the showing of that emotion on both sides. A strong bond builds up over the two
weeks.


When all had dispersed Br Steve brought us up to where
  providence began in 1999. Then we just referred to it as ‘Br Steve’s school’.It
amazing to think how it has grown from such a small beginning to what it is now.
That’s Providence for you! 
‘sending out ripples with no logical end’.


At 5.30 we met as a team and shared our experiences of
the day within our closed group. Journals needed to brought up to date with the
  insights and image  of the day.
There were so many. At our closing 
Prayer Ceremony we dwelt on the image of Light. The central candle was
the vision of Edmund Rice, we drew from it in our preparation. Here, we shared
that light with the kids in Providence. We hope we have been part of his work of
doing something for those on the margins. It was a reflective period. Br Steve’s
  message to us asked each one of us to recall our dealings with the kids and to
  reflect on what we had done. It was a fitting waqy to mark the end of our
  project work in Providence.


Tonight, we shared dinner with the Brothers in the Scholasticate.
We have come to know them over the last two weeks. They have hosted us while
they have been dealing with exams in St Edmunds College. We are grateful to
them.


Tomorrow, we leave at noon for Guwhaiti where we stay overnight.
On Sunday morning we depart Guwhaiti for Calcutta and then by Emirates to
Dublin. Our target is to be at the Abbey gates at 3,40 on Monday evening. We’ll
be tired and suffering from body-clock malfunction. A few days will have us back
near normal.


The next entry dealing with our trek home will be posted on
  Tuesday.


Thank you to all who have followed us. Hope it gives some insight
into our experience.

“Lord,
  bless all those people who helped  us in Providence.

Another warm day from 8 till 3 pm.
It was as summer should be in Ireland. 22 degrees at noon with just small wispy
clouds. The ridge of Shillong Peak above the city is like Slievenamuck  over Tipp but much
closer.


As the children gather for the
8.30 assembly, they spend the time making their own entertainment with active
childhood games. At marbles, they pull back the long finger so far that it pains
to look at. They flick that marble with deadly accuracy to strike the opponent
some 3 metres away. Skoi is the
local version of dodgeball  and
many games can take place in a rather confined space. They crash and bump into
each other but we haven’t seen any temper or school-yard scraps. Danny got a
demonstration of Five Stones-
throwing one stone in the air and snapping up the other four.
He was also asked to take part. It demands good hand-eye co-ordination. I know,
I tried and failed hopelessly.


Lunchtime starts calmly as
lunch (rice, cabbage and potato, dried fish and tomato sauce) is given to each
child. 32 kg of rice used each day and is supplied by the state to each
qualifying school in India. Quietly they sat in various positions outside eating
their meal but, some bring part of that meal home. Once the eating is done it’s
down to serious play. The lads returned early from lunch in the Schol to join in
the fun – skoi, chasing, bulldog, marbles etc. Still, when that little bell
tinkles, all troop to the hall for afternoon assembly and the Providence prayer
repeated after the teacher – Lord.......I love you.....Help me.....to
love you..... love you......forevermore.......Please bless....all those
people......who help us.....in Providence followed by a jolly 300 voice
chorus of “Good afternoon,
teachers”.


Thinking of those children at play or at
prayer, it’s shocking to think of the home circumstances of some of them. One
little girl in Class 5 is head of household. She does the housekeeping and the
shopping. Neither parent at home. Her two younger siblings, also in Providence,
refer to her using the Khasi word for Mammy. Another in KG is childminder for
her 2 year old sister when she returns home at 12.30. (KG’s finish at 12 noon).
This enables the mother to go out to work . Another child in KG spends the
afternoon washing clothes by hand while her mother delivers the clothes washed
yesterday. Another 12 year old boy in one of the lower classes only started
school when the two younger siblings came to providence, freeing him of
childminding duties. These are just some of the strange circumstances some
children find themselves in. Not all are so extreme.


Today was the last full day
teaching. Tomorrow classes will be shortened to facilitate a special afternoon
programme. They dealt effectively with the usual situations –distractions,
moving about, some understanding and some not etc. They polished and revised the
parts nominated by Providence. KG to build up 3-letter words, Class 1 to use and
master in, on, outside, inside, under,
over. Class 2 to use  is,
was  and will.
(The Khasi language don’t have different tenses.) Class 3, using the
  prepositions  between,
among, into, onto. Class 4 replacing nouns with they,
their, them, we, our, us etc Class 5 using comparisons and similes   as quick as ......etc   They
have been revising these to make sure that they are known. In their groups they
have covered many other topics also. David and Susan taught Class 6,7,8 every
afternoon and dealt with such topics as short stories, poetry, songs and this
afternoon David put on a song / magic show for those classes.......starting out
on a new career?


The last class to come in today
was Classs3 – they have a much better grasp of English than the lower classes.
All classes are enthusiastic when coming in and grateful when leaving shown by
Bye Sir and a handshake. Each of the
lads have been dealing directly with 30 children and know them well. We will
bring home one copy with the work of each of the kids. A great souvenir  of the work.


This evening we walked down to the
central shopping area of Shillong (Police Bazaar) and spent about an hour there.
Not as crowded as Calcutta but a lot busier than even the busiest 
town or city at home.


Tomorrow will be a special day, we
expect.  But now, sleep and
slumber; perhaps to dream.

Lovely morning again as we left the
Schol (Scholasticate) for Providence slightly after 8.00. Very sunny during the
day but it had changed by evening, even with a hint of rain.


Today was Childrens Day and is marked
all over India with treats for children by the teachers. (There is a
corresponding Teachers Day when the roles are reversed.) The children were given
a special bought-in lunch of chow, chilli and crisps. As we walked back down to
the Schol they were evidently relishing the fare just outside of
  Providence.


Later in the afternoon, the full school
including ourselves gathered in one of the yards for fireworks and bangers –
none of them of the very dangerous variety. It was enjoyed by all with shrieks
of joy and excitement. Fountains showered sparks all about. We enjoyed it as
well but can see the possible dangers. Today, many children showed us marks and
burns on their arms and hands from the Diwali fireworks last
night.


After the 8.30 a.m. assembly and
prayer, the groups moved off to the various trades. Our instruction in these
 trades 
continued with each trying to complete an item before the end of the
week. In the papermaking, Cormac 
and his instructor George (Class 7) have produced around 50 sheets of
hand-made paper of different
colours. Most are dry at this stage and ready for cutting and then off to the
card / screen-printing section. Ridalang (Class 8) has been showing Pat not only
how to make but also how to decorate those candles produced for the Christmas
market. Sam works upstairs in the card / screen-printing section and under the
continuing direction of Ranjit (Class 8) is decorating their latest Christmas
card designs.  In the kitchen of
the savoury cooking trade Liam has mastered those recipes that Saibor (Class
8)  has taught him. Neil has worked
with Rexene and completed  his
tasks (bags) all the way from cutting to final product. Niall in the bag-making
is learning the trade that shows the least progress each day. Not Niall’s fault,
it’s the nature of the procedure. He has learned fast from Ranjkynsia (Class 4)
and the end product is nearing completion and will be worth the effort.  Danny today had to bake a large
chocolate tart from start to finish after the training given to him by Tracy
(Class 8). And Susan in the beauty-care salon has been on the receiving end of
chatty Brisilla’s (Class 8) instruction. They are all on the final furlong in
the trades. All the other trades continue on as usual while we are
here.


Our relationship with the teachers
in  Providence has been very good.
There is continuous communication 
during trades or  in  dealing with class business. Had an
organised evening of chat on the first Monday this evening again we got together
  officially with plenty of talk and laughter. The best group yet for chat and
  interaction, according to the 9 teachers.


Outside Diwali fireworks and bangers are
to be heard. But shouldn’t stop us getting the necessary sleep to build up the
required energy for tomorrow.
PS. bit late with this post as the internet was down for a while l;ast night.

 Diwali – Festival  of
Light, a major Hindu festival. It’s not celebrated much up here in the nort-east
in comparison with the lower areas of India. But it is a general holiday here
with all schools etc closed. Oddly enough, St Edmunds College (Third Level)
remains open. It’s the only one doing so in Shillong. Don;t know the
reason.


We  followed the normal early morning
timetable –up at 7, breakfast at 7.30 and up to Providence for
8.30.


Providence is closed for classes
today (Diwali) but during the weekend we developed the idea of organising a
Games day for Class 6, 7 and 8. They ran the proposed events by Br Steve
checking that they were appropriate for the group (boys and girls) and their
physique. The day was to run from 9 till 3. We don’t deal with these classes
during the teaching so today was an opportunity to complete the bond with  the total Providence
family


At 8.30 the little equipment needed was
brought to the Providence field and goals were erected for the opening event – a
match between the Abbey (+4 on loan from Providence ) and the Providence Premier
team. David Q acted as referee complete with a full set of yellow and red cards.
The match was preceded by a line up of both teams and the singing of both
national anthems. Some of the Providence team played in bare feet or in
flip-flops on ground that would hardly be sanctioned by FIFA. A high standard by
both teams. It ended 0-0 although the Abbey had 2 golden opportunities. The
girls match followed ending in a 1-0 victory for Brisilla’s
  team.


Games events then started. The
lads organised a Whirlwind Relay
Race – a favourite in Abbey Sports day. Then a relay sprint between 4 teams
from the 40 or so present. Everyone keen to participate. Participation and
enjoyment was the important thing, not finals or winning. The all enjoyed the Balloon Race and the Tunnel
Race (passing the ball all the way back between the legs). Water was in
demand owing to the exertion and the strong sun blazing down from the clear
sky.


Lunch time was a welcome break and a
leisurely affair, necessary after a busy morning.


Games resumed at 1 pm and
throughout the afternoon our lads joined in more and more in the games –their
own wish and the definite wish of the Providence crowd. The connecting and
bonding was evident. The Balancing
  Act created such a good feel that we did it a few times. Snatch
the Bacon tested the reactions of all and all in a great sense of fun
followed by Green Light / Red Light.
The level of laughter and entertainment and joy had rise so much since
proceedings started at 9.00. Now the crowd drifted to the near end of the field
for the Penalty Shoot-Out.  The four teams adopted an Abbey Sir
and eventually Sam Noonan’s team
was victorious scoring in the narrow goal –width determined by the length of the
bamboo crossbar. Boys and girls participated in trying to put that ball past
Cormac.


The afternoon’s activities finished with
the necessary penalties to decide the victors in this morning’s match. David Q
stood in the narrow goal and performed well. Abbey finally won
4-2.


Most were exhausted at this stage but so
happy with the day. The organisation of the Games Day had gone according to the
general plan worked out over 2 evenings although changes had to be made as time
passed.


Class 6,7,8 were so genuine in
expressing their gratitude to each and every one of the 
Sirs. Not a day of teaching, but equally exhausting and in keeping with
the purpose of the project.


Our normal evening programme commenced
at 5.15 including preparing lesson plans for tomorrow. We want to make sure that
the kids really know those areas that Providence asked us to
  cover.


Before dinner we joined the young
Brothers from the Schol on the roof for Diwali fireworks and bangers. The sky
around is continually being lit up; fireworks and bangers will continue right
through the night. And the north-east is cool on Diwali! What must it be like
where its taken seriously?


Dinner at 7.30 and then rest to prepare
for the final few days.


  

Another warm day today with nice sunshine till it began to chill
around 4.30 and it is quite cold tonight – totally clear skies. Outside at the
moment is the sound of very loud bangers as mainly Hindus celebrate Diwali, a
festival of lights.


Being Monday, the teaching started again and we launch
on the final week. Novelty and that initial buzz has gone and now the qualities
of commitment and dedication are called on to persevere to the end and give
those kids everything we’ve got. Don’t want to have any regrets at the end. We
  definitely want to complete the tasks that Providence set for us as regards the
  material we should teach eg Class 1 to be able to recognise and use the
  prepositions in, on, inside, outside,
  under, over. Before we came that seemed very little with the possibility of
  completing the task in just one class period. It isn’t that easy. Remember the
  kids in KG and Class 1 find it very very difficult to understand an explanation
  or direction in English. Need for plenty of objects,of examples,of  drawings,
of repetition, of repeating, of taking down and drawing and colouring and then
revising again the following day. .... and then to be somewhat disappointed.
Could be disheartening. But the lads are recognising these facts, are sharing
their experiences and dealing well with the task. The preparation and lesson
plans they work on each evening stand to them. They now realise the need for
detail in those plans and not just headings. One has to be filled with pride
watching all of them in action right till the end of the
day.


Today, I took photos of each one with their various groups –
interrupting their work. The kids were thrilled to gather around for a photo
  with their Sirs. Copies of those photos will go to the Sir and to each of the
  kids. Faces from the Abbey will be on the walls of those houses we visited and
  Providence faces will look down from bedroom walls around Tipp and
Limerick.


Before assembly, at various breaks and after class in the
  evening, our 7 are keen to play and bond with the kids from various classes.
  Through the language of play they want to tell these kids that they count and
  that they are special. Many of the kids arrive in after the 8.30 assembly
  having been in buses caught up in total gridlock that happens at school times.
  Others, although very small, will have had to work at home before setting out.
  Getting to school and learning is just one of the tasks they have to perform
  during the day.


Some who missed the visits to the homes last week travelled
  today. It’s an important part of the experience to make this journey a few
  times. A few of the houses seem adequate but the ones of timber slabs and tin
  do shock. We have made the journey on 2 days; they are tiring. But to think of
  these kids (much shorter legs than ours) doing that day after day after day in
  great heat and in monsoon and still heartily chime up with ‘Good morning,
  teachers’ after assembly and apply themselves to the task of learning from 8.30
  till 3.45 and then to head back home again in fading light in nothing short of
  heroic. They put us to shame. Indeed, we can learn something from
them.


Trades occupy the period from 8.30 till 10.15.We are
  involved in just 8 trades but there are many others also. 
Motor cycle maintenance training is provided. A group of students remain
in this module for 3 months during trade times. They learn all the usual
servicing  and repairing jobs on a
few bikes in that department. He kids like it.  Also gardening  and electrics. 
Another trade we are not involved
in is whole-meal cooking. Led by Class 8, they can produce a full meal with a
varied menu. They can make it Indian or put up  less spicy fare  What
they produce is tasty and nourishing. We know. Our mid-day meals are prepared by
them and they tick all the boxes.


Tomorrow is Diwali so no classes. It’s a major holiday. But Class
6,7,8 ( with whom we have had very little contact) are coming in and we have
organised a Games Day for them. More of that in tomorrows
report.


Thanks to those who have added comments to this blog. It’s
  encouraging. Give the address (www.indiaproject2012.weebly.com) to one other person.

As usual sun was up around 5 a.m. but we
didn’t move till 8. Another short lie-in in order to restore the energy needed
for our final week’s work. It was sunny and warm in the direct sunshine but
chilly in the shade. Just outside the Scholasticate (our residence) the cherry
trees are in blossom. Around here the cherry blossoms twice each year – now in
Nov before the cold spell and again in March before the great heat. Refreshing
to have cherries and so many other flowers and shrubs in bloom.


Today’s big event is the annual
Eucharistic Procession for the diocese of Shillong. Thousands upon thousands
descend on the Cathedral for the 10 am Mass and the procession afterwards.
Usually, we are told there is a crowd in the region of 1.5 lahk (150,000). That’s an
impressive gathering. After our breakfast, the front of St Edmunds was already
filling up with Sumos arriving from outlying parishes. I met with Fr Nollibert of Saw Symper
who told me that he had come ‘just a short distance’...1 hours
drive.


We headed for 10 a.m. Mass in the
Cathedral expecting to be inside for the Mass (in Khasi) and that it would
last around an hour. Leaving at 9.30 for the short walk down we were in a steady
stream of people most of whom were in local dress. Very colourful and elegant.
Children were also turned out in style. Gentlemen, young and older were
perfectly attired suit and tie. All around we had people portraying the real
meaning of ‘ in their Sunday best’. Some of us admitted to feeling a bit scruffy in
this company.


On arrival at the Cathedral we
noted that the Mass was being celebrated outside with the crowds assembled on
the steps and grounds of the Cathedral. We took our place on the steps and used
ingenuity to enable sitting to some degree of comfort. The sun high in the sky, standing room only for
most; we hadn’t brought water and the Mass set to last for at least 2 hours. The
singing although in Khasi did impress and an excellent sound system for the
large gathering. Mass started with a procession of at least 50 priests to the
temporary altar area. Noticed soldiers (with rifles) passing through the 
crowd and purposefully scanning the crowd. People didn’t make anything of
it, just normal security; but we found it strange. Readings and a long sermon
didn’t mean much to us but the congregation seemed to be at ease with it all along. The
age profile covered the full range, possibly fewer in the older age bracket
judging from the people around us. By this stage the road all along in front of
the Cathedral was thronged also.


At lunch time, the grassy areas
around St Edmunds accommodated those in from outlying villages having their
packed lunches. They had come from afar with some leaving at sunrise and only
leaving here as  darkness fell. Not
an easy day even when they are here in Shillong.


At 1 p.m. the procession had started and the leading group
passed by St Edmund’s gate at 1.50. We were there with the Brothers group ready
to fall in at the allocated spot. The procession passed by organised by
parishes, each with its own banner and being led in prayer or hymn by a parish
leader. They passed by for ages at the rate of 800 per minute by taking a few
samples and this continued for almost 2 hours accounting to almost 100,000 and
then those gathered along the route. After a long wait we finally took our place
with the KC College group and participated for the next hour or so. An
impressive event and all in a very reverent atmosphere.


At 4.30 we made our way back to the
Schol to rest the feet, but assembled up in Providence at 5.30 for the usual
evening programme. We are heading into the final week and want to give it all to
these kids right till the end.

Being Saturday morning and with an
active week behind them, it was an occasion for a bit of a lie –in. Breakfast at
8.30. Everything moves early in Shillong starting at sunrise around 5 a.m. It
had been a cold night again  but
not frosty.


Today was a day to recharge and take a
trip into the rural area above and beyond Shillong. Left at 9.30 accompanied by
some of the teachers and Br Steve. Sam’s tummy had been a bit unstable and
discretion dictated he undertakes a less demanding day.


The bus left at 9.30 and we  headed off with some of the teachers.
After minutes of slow driving out of Shillong we came to the gate of the Indian
Army base, presented our passports and were allowed to continue on to Shillong
Peak. Here at the viewing point (1000 feet higher than Shillong itself) we had a
beautiful view and succeeded in picking out the roofs of St Edmunds and of
Providence far below.

 We donned full Khasi festival gear
and availed of the full freedom to take photos. Little commercialisation at the
Peak. Each part of the dress is of significance, is very expensive and is left
with the family on death. The conker-like necklace is of gold and silver (ours
were mere imitations). Also a few local stores offered Khasi souvenirs at  non-commercial prices. With the warm  morning sunshine there was no big rush to move on.


We moved further on enjoying and soaking
in the local scene – agricultural, landscape and social. A short stop at the
local farmers market where the teachers picked up produce. Another brought us to
the beautiful picnic site of Khrdemkulia. Our final approach to the spot was
along a rough road by the river bed. He spot was more crowded than the teachers
expected. It was indeed a beautiful spot. We all headed off in different
directions to explore the locality – potato ridges, some small farm holdings,
original roads and a countryside without definite bounbaries. We picnicked down
by the stream’s edge before departing.

 Our final stop was at Elephant
Falls, one of the many waterfalls in this part of India known as the ‘Scotland
  of the East’. In places it reminded one of Kerry or Wicklow. The third fall
  here provided a photo opportunity for the group. Only 
20 km back to Providence but we ran into a traffic snarl-up on the edge
of the city and moved scarcely a mile in 40 minutes.


We arrived home at 4.45 suitably
refreshed. A beautiful and refreshing trip into the hinterland...all part of the
experience.


Before dinner tonight we met for some
Project business. An eventful day and enjoyed by all.

Very dry today, but cold and chilly. It is a Garo Day of Harvest celebration and all colleges, schools and government offices are closed. Normally Providence would also be closed today but all the children came in for normal classes. Some of the trades were curtailed - Liam"s savoury cooking that is normally sold to the St Edmund boys at morning break had no customers. Cormac worked as usual being taught how to make paper. It looks nice. Sam is dealing with the decorations on Christmas cards upstairs with Johnny. Pat already has produced a number of decorative candles downstairs. Niall's bag-making is a slow tedious operation even for the skilled instructors but he is making progress. Neil is now on his second bag in the rexene department.Today, Danny was busy mixing in the confectionery department in order to present the Magic Moments at morning break.
After classes finished an impromptu football match developed in the Providence field. Some skillful players on view.

On Thursday Nov 8 all of us ( the
team, kids in Providence and
teachers and brothers) celebrated Danny’s birthday. Specially commissioned cake
  at 10.30 assembly, ‘Happy Birthday
........’ chanted by all 300, a special
  Providence-made card signed by all
the children, another from the teachers.
  Then at dinner, the Brothers
joined in the celebration with song and extra
  treats. No other Abbey
student has had such a unique birthday 
celebration.
After class, we accompanied some of the children to their homes in Nongrah and in Umpling. Both locations were too far away to walk, so we took the children there in taxis.
They would ususlly come to Providence on the local bus. Still, after being dropped by the taxis, we had a long walk in order to visit 4 homes. To get to some of them it meant a steep decline along a rough path and hopping over streams. In one house, it was explained to us that the family had moved here from an inferior dwelling. Took a while to imagine and accept that.
 But always we were made feel so welcome and the kids were so proud to have us visit their home. A long walk back to a taxi stand in the rapidly descending darkness and back in the Scholasticate at 5.30.

The teaching and immersion aspects of Project 2012 is living up to the
standards of
other years.