White Christmas? Sidsar Christmas.

Once again, my apologies for not writing as frequently as last time. Between the lack of time, more responsibilities, and a problem with the wifi, writing was just not as plausible this time. I'm promise to post a few more over the next few days and weeks.

Christmas here has become a start of a tradition now. This is the second one I have had the joy of celebrating here. The best way I describe Christmas to the kids (which they always ask about it) who grasp a loose concept of it is, that it's significance is like Diwali for Christians. Maybe not the best example but it gives them an idea of how big it is. Once again this year Sofiya Didi and Ridhi Didi approached me to help them out with Christmas. This year we ordered Santa suits from Junagadh which dad picked up on his trip for the school there. And the day before, Sofiya Didi, me, and some of the kids started creating the decorations; one of the girls drew Santa and I drew the Christmas tree and then Sofiya Didi and I painted them.

On Christmas Eve during the evening Ridhi Didi gathered some of the kids and decorated the entrance of the school in preparation for the morning. And on Christmas morning, I got to school early with both Didi's to help our three Santa's get ready. To my surprise a lot of the olders boys were there helping the younger kids get ready; it was quite endearing.

As everyone was coming in the morning with Merry Christmas' and the few Happy Christmas' we stationed our three Santa's for their entrances when no one was looking. The three Santa's were three boys, one from 1-5th grade, one from 6-9th grade, and one from 10-12th grade. They made their grand entrance during the little kids dance; the little kids danced to an adorable Hindi song and finished off with Jingle Bells. The three Santas made their entrance during Jingle Bells and threw out candy from their bags which all of the kids went crazy over.

Sofiya Didi, Ridhi Didi, and the Santa Prep Crew!

The little kids doing a dance during the prathnas

Our three Santas joined them during Jingle Bells

And somehow while Sofiya Didi went to ask Akhil Bhai if she could be the birthday wisher today, I ended up being chosen. So everyday during prayers, the kids who's birthday it is are called up, sung happy birthday by the school and a teacher (different each day) wishes them happy birthday and gives them a birthday card, a pen, and candy. Then the kids each get a turn at the mic and say thank you and what they are going to work towards this year. All of a sudden today was my turn to wish them happy birthday and hand out the little birthday tokens. The English teachers wish them in English, the Hindi teachers in Hindi, and the other teachers in Gujarati...that day was supposed to be Hindi but I was given the liberty of saying it English (thank goodness). Then each of the kids took their blessings by my touching feet which was a crazy but a cool moment for me because I'm considered too young in the US to give my blessings but since I'm considered a teacher there, they paid their respects. 

After the prayers, we handed out a Perk Chocolate bar to each of the teachers and students as a little Christmas gift. (Kids aren't allowed to keep chocolate in their rooms at the hostels, so they were super excited for the treat).

Later that day Amit Bhai stopped by the school. If you guys remember from last year Amit Bhai was one of the male teachers and we ended up playing soccer together and he couldn't score a goal as hard as he and the kids tried. It became a running joke between us. Unfortunately he isn't teaching at our school anymore but he heard I was back and he stopped by. We were going to have a rematch but he couldn't stay until later in the day to play so we played table tennis for an hour or so. It was great to talk to him about how his school and our school was different. Teachers in India are given higher pay at government schools but those schools don't have much potential and are often run down places in towns. He spoke about how different the atmosphere was and how he was frowned upon for doing extra work by the other teachers at his new school. When I asked him about the student population there and compared to ours, he spoke of how different they were; our kids are more focused, brighter, and motivated where his students today are average and don't have the skill set and drive that you find at our Sankul. This isn't to put down any students or teachers there but to point out that while teachers often end up taking government jobs for their stability and pay our students and Sankul are incomparable to other places they will go. Although we have a long way to go, we are truly blessed in our ways.

Amit Bhai and I

Since we couldn't play soccer that day, we decided to settle on Table Tennis. Amit Bhai left happy, he was able to beat me at table tennis a few times. However our bet is still on for the next time I come, I'll still rule the soccer field even with him, Moulik Bhai and Deepak Bhai against me together (they haven't scored yet either).

Later that day we took the bus to Bhayavadar with the kids who are day school students. We were headed there for a few hours. It was a fun experience and a good insight into the life of the day school students, plus we had a lot of fun on the bus ride. 

On our way to Bhayavadar! School bus adventures!

As for Christmas, I always feel a little weird celebrating in 80 degree weather and not the snow, but I wouldn't want it to be any other way. It's become a little Christmas tradition of my own that I always look forward to now.

Merry Christmas from Sidsar!

- Aekta 

Long days, great days.

My apologies for not writing a blog daily this year. I don’t know where my time has gone by the end of the day. Actually, I do. Let me tell you a little about what I am up to everyday.

Much like last year, my days begin early and my nights are late. There is no need for me to set an alarm in the morning, much like the roster on a farm, my ears are filled with the giggling and talking of the kids as they run past my building in the dark of the morning back to their hostels from PT (morning exercise). My day begins at 6:50 am. But if you think my mornings are early, then you are mistaken; the kids wake up at 6:00 am and are getting their morning exercise whether it is in the blistering heat or the shivering temperatures of the winter, until it is time to get ready and go to breakfast.

This year I have been forgoing breakfast and grab a granola bar from my bag on my way to the school. I am usually walking into school with the last of the day school kids who have just arrived on their distinct yellow buses and the stragglers who are walking from the hostel who are mostly boys. Walking into the school the kids are running back to the courtyard, from dropping off their things in the classroom. Almost all the kids walking by, greet me with warm smiles and energetic, “Good Morning Didi!”; I must say “Good Morning” at least a 150 times before the day even starts. The songs pre-cursing the prayers begin, signaling for everyone to assemble and take their places. Teachers line the sides in chairs as the boys flank either side of the girls, who are seated in the middle. The morning prathnas are much more than just prayers; they are presented by the students who lead songs and prayers with music, jokes that leave you laughing even in the coldest of mornings, news that include news of the state, nation, and world, some general knowledge trivia, recognition of those who have birthdays that day, any announcements for the day, and finally the national anthem or pledge. Once the morning chapel is over, kids rush back to their classrooms for their first three periods. Here the kids stay stationary in their classroom regardless of grade, and teachers rotate each period; there are nine teaching periods in total that amount to forty minute classes. Some of the subjects being taught here include: Social Sciences, English, Math, Sanskrit, Hindi, Science, General Knowledge, Art, Commerce, Computers, etc.

A view of the morning prathnas

After the first three periods, there is a nasto break (a snack break) where the kids head to the Bhojnalay (cafeteria) for 20 minutes. During this time Manisha Masi, pulls me away from the teachers to make me drink chai and chow down whatever snack she brought for me that day. The first few days I insisted that she doesn’t need to do anything different for me, but my words don’t affect her. I am not to leave her sight until I have finished everything she has opened for me, “because she needs to make sure her daughter is fed and not hungry”. I am learning not to say no because I know she won’t take that as an acceptable answer. Trust me, Masi is going to send me back round and missing her loving care. Manisha Masi is also the bell keeper among many other things that keep this school running; she rings the bell to signal all of the ends and beginnings of classes and breaks. During breaks I also hang out with the teachers in the female teachers’ lounge; I am currently working on teaching Dishaben how to say different things for Happy Birthday, Congratulations, etc.

After that break, there are three more periods, which is followed by lunch, a half an hour break, and then three more periods of class.

Last time I was here, I was more so shadowing teachers in classes, evaluating teaching styles, and seeing what changes and improvements need to be made in general in regards to the teaching style. I also coached and observed coaching and towards the end, held classes on psychology. This time from the first full day forward I have been conducting my own classes and being more active. So far I have essentially been a substitute teacher, which has been pretty cool. I’ve covered classes mostly that were supposed to be Gujarati and Hindi periods; don’t worry, I didn’t attempt to teach either of those, instead I taught my own things. I have taken on the task of teaching more motivational and psychological teachings as well as making the kids practice their English. Some of the things I taught were having kids understand: Why they go to school, What their reasons for learning are, Why learning is important, how to strengthen their weaker subjects, how to balance their schedules and work. Four of  teachings I began to work into my lectures (we call them classes in the US) are 1) “you can lead the horse to the water, but you can’t make the horse drink”- in their teachings I used it as, your parents can send you to school but it is up to you to learn 2) “anything worth having is not easy to get” – only hard work will get to you to the things you want, not shortcuts and laziness 3) “If you fall 7 times, get up 8 times”- make sure you never give up, trying and falling short is acceptable but be sure to try again 4) I used two examples for this: the example of Sachin Tendulkar and the example of a baby, a baby first learns to get up, then stand, then takes one step while holding something, then another, then they begin to walk and then they finally run…they are not born running; and that even once Sachin was a beginner learning how to hold the bat before he became a master of the game- through practice a and persaverace we can all achieve great things. Lastly, that anyone in this classroom has the ability to go far in life; there is a reason they are at this school, they are smart and capable, but how far they want to go is up to them. They have it in them to achieve greatness.

While I mix English and Gujarati throughout the class and explain new words as I go, I leave 10-15 minutes at the end of class to make sure I am asking each of them questions in English and having them respond and having them translate Gujarati sentences I am giving them to English. It has been wonderful to see their response to my teachings, some classes are very good with their English, some struggle but are trying, and there are more and more this time who approach me in English and try to converse with me. Some classes are very attentive, some are motivated, a few troublemakers here and there but the time I am given to teach, I’m loving every moment of it.

The first day I taught 6 classes, then second day I was scheduled to teach 4 but ended up teaching 7, and so on each day. Some of free periods are busy with writing this blog or doing some preparations for class or other work I have, like studying for the GRE. But mostly my free periods are spent talking to teachers about how things work in the states, what improvement there can be here, talking to the kids whether it be in English or Gujarati about what they like and dislike about school, how to improve, what they want to be and what they enjoy doing in their free time. Today I had a nice long conversation with Pransi and Khushi about how classes and subjects work in the US and what they want to be. Both 9^th graders want to be doctors while Khushi wants to become a heart doctor, which I taught her in English means a Cardio Specialist and Pransi wants to specialize in Dentistry. (Fun fact about Khushi- she has been selected to go play Chess at the National Level.) Some free periods are spent teaching the kids how to play football or volleyball or anything else they want to learn and others, are spent sitting in on classes (usually English classes) like Jinkal Didi or Ruchi Didi’s. I even had a free period when Sudha Didi was teaching rifle shooting so I went there and watched her instruct then took a shot at it myself (pun possibly intended). I hit the target 6 times, not too shabby for a kid holding a rifle for the first time. Other times, I play with the primary school kids on the playground or stop by their classrooms. The little first and second graders squeal with excitement when they see me whether they are 5 feet away or 500 feet away, making me smile so big, and refueling my energy.

Kushi and Pransi!

Sudhaben teaching one of the kids about the Rifle

Attending class with Ruchi Didi!

After the 9^th period around 4:30, the kids are released from school for sports play. This week there are Koh (an Indian sport) competitions within the school so all the kids gather at the playing medan (field) outside the gates around 5:15). There are usually two matches, so I usually head down there to watch (if I don’t go, the kids playing aren’t very happy with me the next day that I missed their match). Once the two matches are over, all the kids are released to go play and practice their sports. I have been helping with shotput and football. Yesterday I played football with the older boys and Moulik Bhai; while I didn’t get scored on, we ended with both teams taking PK’s (Penalty Kicks). Good thing my team won, I didn’t realize their was a punishment of  40 squats for the losing side. I laughingly told my boys, if I knew there was a punishment I would have made sure we won by three instead of just two. This weekend I’m going to work one-on-one with our goalkeepers.

One of the Koh matches

After sports play, which we play until you can’t see the ball anymore, I head to the girls’ side of the hostel to play table tennis with some of the girls. Mansi and Jinkal have given me a run for my money but I remain unbeaten, but they have challenged me back so I will be heading there again. (Fun Fact: both of them have gone to play at the State level for our school along with several other girls. I am so proud of them!) . More than anything I just enjoy spending time with the girls and working on empowering them. I have seen a huge change in their mentality since last time and their involvement in sports and around the school.

Directly from there I head to dinner which starts at 7 and lasts until about 7:45. But I make sure I am done by 7:30 pm so I can attend Bhanji Uncle’s Class with Jinkal Didi. Bhanji Uncle holds a conference call via skype every weekday to help the kids practice English. It takes a lot of effort and dedication for him to be up early before work to hold a class for an hour each day. Here Jinkal Didi supervises the class each night and I have been helping with that. Before the class I converse with the kids in English to keep them entertained and practicing. After the class ends around 9, I walk with Jinkal Didi and the kids back to the hostel and head back to the Vevati Bhavan. Gazing up at the stars, walking between the palm trees, in the swaying breeze is the most peaceful walk. Once I am back, I either sit down stairs and prepare for my classes the next day or study and read until 11:30, sometimes later. When the kids come in at 10 pm for extra reading I head upstairs.

Evening English Classes with Bhanji Uncle

While this seems like a long explanation, I am not even covering the half of it. By the end of the night, I am asleep before my head even hits the pillow, exhausted, anxiously awaiting for the sound of my little brothers and sisters to give me my wake up call at 6 am, signaling the start of another incredible day.

- Aekta

My heart is full.

Today was the day I was waiting for since the day I left the Sankul last year. Despite trying to make it back throughout the year my schedule was packed between classes, coaching, soccer, and various events I ended up planning. None the less, there was not a day that didn’t go by where I wasn’t missing my kids or telling whoever I could about them and my time in India. 

Finally after months of trying to figure out a time to go, then waiting in anticipation to be there once my tickets were booked, this day couldn’t have come soon enough. 

After a fairly busy morning, we finally reached Sidsar around 3 pm via breakfast at Masa’s farmhouse and stopping by to pay our respects to Bhabhu in Bhayavadar. While we were in Bhayavadar I got to meet the three little pups that will grow up to be guard dogs (one will be a guard dog at the school). But cute puppies don’t even compare to the rest of my day. 

On the way from Bhayavadar to Sidsar my excitement was through the roof of the Honda City we were driving in. As soon as we pulled into the Vevati Bhavan (the Admin building and also where my room is), the girls had been playing there waiting for me to arrive, surrounded the car with themselves, their smiles, and their squeals of excitement and yelling “Aekta Didi”. When got out, I was greeted by the biggest smiles and the biggest hugs. They had an idea I was coming today, dad had not told them the exact day.

Quickly after hi’s and hugs, I explained to them that I had to go do something important. Dad had set up two fish tanks in one of the first and second grade classrooms (a rare commodity in India). The little kids had be waiting for days for the fish to come, but dad could only get the fish in Rajkot (a city). He let me deliver the fish which I loved: 1) because the kids are so cute and they got so excited and 2) because they will now remember who I am and wave to me in the corridors. 

As I walked towards the primary school with the fish, I ran into my favorite person. I would try to deny that I don’t have favorites but when it comes to Manisha Masi, I do; she always take care of me and has such a loving personality. I had been waiting a year to see her and of course no one makes chai like Masi, so to drink her chai. 

Along the way kids would start realizing it was me and would wave feverously and would run out of the line to give me a hug with excitement while getting mad at me for taking a whole year to come back. I could also hear the new kids, confused of who I was, so the kids who were there last year would inform them, it was adorable. 

All the girls who passed me kept telling me they had a Koh tournament during sports/free play time today, so I headed there when it was time. I was so excited to see the girls getting involved in athletics and being active. There are some exciting changes that happened while I was gone and this is just one of the many, I have already encountered. 

In the upcoming days I will talk more about the changes and progress. But today I will keep it short, as it’s been only two days since I got to India and I’m exhausted from the jetlag. I am so excited to see all the things I will be able to do in the next two weeks and all the new memories I will have the chance to make. Today, I am just thankful for being back here and having this opportunity again. My heart is full. 

- Aekta

P.S. For those of you wondering, no I did not remember many names. I remembered a few names of the kids of who I interacted with the most but I did remember all the returning kids’ faces! I did remember all the returning teachers but there are a lot of new teacher’s names I have to learn! 

A few thank you's, a few memories, and the best experience of my life.

Thank you for reading my blog these past few weeks and following my experience and journey. If you are joining me towards the end, I hope you get a chance to go back and read a few of the earlier ones to help you get a full picture and enjoy them all. What had started off as an informal blog (and my first blog ever) to update a few people in the US, has reached well over 1000 views. Your messages, comments, texts, emails, phone calls, and words of encouragement have been greatly appreciated. Most of the blogs were written late at night off my phone when I tired after long, 16 hour days with the kids, so thank you for putting up with my little errors, run on sentences, and typos. However between the long days, hard work, and being with the kids, I wouldn't change a single thing. I am back in the US but if you ask me to get on a plane and go back, I would do it in a heartbeat.

When I left for Sidsar, I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into and was a bit nervous. But when I left Sidsar, I was never more confident that I had made the right decision in wanting to come. I had gone to Shree Vijapura Vidhya Sankul with the intentions to teach, coach, and help wherever I could but I left having learnt so much myself. Each day I learned from the kids and teachers whether it was in class, on the field, or just talking to them while eating dinner. Each interaction I had with each student and person has impacted me where I could write a blog on each one and that still would not be enough. Through these kids I was reminded what it is to truly love to learn and want to grow, of course there were kids whose favorite thing in the world wasn't studying but even they enjoyed learning. There was an eagerness about them and this caring and exciting energy that ran through the campus. Through my classes that included topics like introvert/extroverts, state of minds, time management, attitude/behaviour, confidence and so on, each day was a blessing to have the opportunity to teach them new things and often reinforce topics they knew about. The eagerness of the girls wanting to learn football has me determined to go there with a daily plan next time and the excitement of the boys wanting me to play sports with them has me excited to go back and get on the field. I gained so much from sitting in classes with different teachers and seeing how they teach and what works there and doesn't. I learned a lot from them and Dr. Padhiyar, things that go far beyond the four walls of a classroom. I am waiting to go back again to be with the teachers and kids, to be a part of the daily schedule again, and to live and learn along side of them.

While my trip was a success and a joy and the school and staff are wonderful, there are still things to fix and things that we can always improve. We are one of the first schools in Gujarat to have a wifi campus, smart boards, tablets for each of our kids. There are opportunities to develop minds through things outside of the classroom like horse riding, karate, swimming, rifle shooting, public speaking and debate and so on. A campus that takes your breathe away and an enviroment where the mind and body can thrive both peacefully and brilliantly. As we move forward, let's keep focusing on making this the best school possible, not only for the betterment of this school but for the success of these kids and the kids to come.

I also just wanted to take a quick moment to thank my parents for giving me so many opportunities in life and particularly this one. Thank you for supporting me and helping me get to Sidsar and allowing me one of the best experiences of my life. I am what I am because of how you have brought me and Bhai up and all the things you both have sacrificed and done for us. Thank you for everything. I am thankful you were able to be there and share this experience with me.

When people tell me they are proud of me, it is a great feeling, but I am just doing what I can. If we can help, why don't we. It is our duty to help those we can, to uplift those we can, and to do what we can. This is our country, this is our school, and these are our kids, we should do everything we can to give them the proper tools to a better and brighter future. But it doesn't have to just be here, do something where ever your heart desires. To do something, you just have to get up and start doing it, there are always things to be done and people to be helped.

I am proud to say I have gained some of the most valuable things while I was in Sidsar. I have friendships and relationships that I will cherish forever and 500 little brothers and sisters along with my wonderful big brothers and sisters. And some of my most prized possessions like the cards and letters the kids made for me before I left and the watch Dr. Padhiyar gave me that matched the rest of the teachers. You have no idea how much these things mean.

But the things I experienced and continue to feel, I have tried countless times to put into words, but each time they fail to do my experience justice. The perfect words don't exist. However, I hope that I have been able to convey enough and been able to bring you into my world through this blog and the numerous posts. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read this blog and supporting me and the school.

I have already talked and face timed with the kids once I have returned to the States and it was amazing to see them even though it had only been a few days. I did not want to leave but I hope to continue helping them with the help of Dr. Padhiyar through video conferences while I am here in the US. We are also trying to come up with a way to get more students and leaders from our generation to go over and also help teach and coach in Sidsar as a part of a possible exchange or study abroad/teach abroad volunteer program.

I am counting down the days I have been gone and am anxiously counting down the days to hopefully when I will be able to go back. But until then, I will continue to miss them all dearly. I left a piece of my heart in in Sidsar and I am already excited to go back, whenever that will be.

I'll leave you all with what I always told the kids, "When it's time to study, study and when it's time to  play, play". Learn to balance studying and playing, learn to manage your time and do both, both are important. Focus on studying and learning when you are supposed to and you can enjoy playing when you have the chance.


- Aekta



A few of my highlights and favorite times in pictures. I wasn't able to post all of them but here a few:

The school building, always was a great feeling to walk in. 

Loved having the opportunity to teach there!

Some of my favorite times were just talking
to the kids and spending time with them.

Coaching a few of the girls during their free time.
(They came to me asked me to teach them more!!)

Handing out tamarind to the girls waiting patiently
the day we went to the gausala. You can see Manisha Masi
and some of the girls picking them off the tree in the background.

Playing soccer with the 10th & 11th grade boys.
They didn't know how to dive, let alone ever see a girl do it.
Hopefully I changed their views a little bit on what girls are capable of doing.
(P.S. They didn't score on me...sorry Amit Bhai!)

Sitting in various classes with different teachers and kids.
The kids made sure I came to their class atleast once,
that's a lot of classes to cover but I think I made it (6th-11th grade).

The kids have so many amazing resources to use and learn from!

They have things like Karate, Horse Riding, Rifle Shooting,
Swimming, NCC, etc. 

Eating meals with the kids everyday was always a fun time. Dad and Ajay Bhai eating
with some of the boys.

After I gave all the little day school kids (grades 1-5) candy for Christmas.
They were so excited!

Walking the campus with Kiranben and a few of the day schoolers.
We were headed from the school to the hostel where
 the school stationary is. (stationary was like a mini "bookstore")

Spending time with the didis and teaching them
and showing them things from the US.

Visiting the girls in their hostels, who all eagerly pulled
me each way to go see their rooms. 

They have a mini rope line on the playground!
Had fun with the kids, who showed me a few of their own tricks!

Some of my favorite times included just spending time 

with my mota bhais and bens (the teachers). This was the night 

before the Karyakram when we were doing rangoli.
(Left to right: Vidhi Didi, Vaibhav Bhai, Binal Didi, Dharmishtra Didi)

My three 11th grade girls: Khushbu, Khyathi, and Mansi

Some my 9th grade girls!

I always looked forward to prayer time in the morning and evening,
The kids are so creative and talented!

Prince (left) and Bhargav (right) reading the newspapers
during their free time. They have newspaper and magazine
 stands around the school for the kids.
Prince has one of the biggest hearts and is always
helping others and Bhargov was always
ready to talk with a friendly smile. Loved talking to these two
throughout the weeks. 

Meet Krish. I ended up spending a lot of time with him. He is involved in everything, from helping lead prayer time, to doing arts and the christmas dance, to sports and he enjoys being in class too. I helped him with his cricket talent routine for the Karyakrum and taught him how to cushion the ball when he was bringing it back down from a high hit. He also wanted to learn soccer and basketball or anything else I knew. Here he is doing a soccer stepover and learning how to do through the legs crossover in basketball. He's an eager and fast learner! 

"Didi, take our picture too!" These little guys came to the soccer field to watch me play
 and to learn everything they could from what I was teaching. Loved it!

His mom wanted a picture of us and I did too!
Paavan was always smiling and happy to talk!

Saying goodbye was hard but I'm glad I got to

spend my time there with all these smiling faces.

One of the many cards and letters the kids made for me.
How can you not love it?

Sunset from the gausala. The sunsets were beautiful
 every single night at the school.

The walk on campus will never get tiring.
(the hostel on the left, the admin building after it, and school at the end of the path where the people are going towards) 

Until next time Sidsar, until next time.