My Sidsar School Experience: The teachers, my Mota Bhais and Bens

More often than not, you have heard me talk about the kids, and mention the teachers. It's just that each blog, a sentence wasn't enough to cover them and I sometimes hadn't interacted as much with them at that point yet.

As I tell the kids, please forgive me if I can't remember all your names, I ask that teachers today, that you please forgive me if I leave you out by mistake.

The teachers here have been so welcoming since the first day. The first interaction I had with them was 30 minutes after I arrived on the first day, when we went to Dr. Padhiyar's coaching (class) for teachers. I was asked to speak about students strengths and weaknesses and teachers and their roles. I'm pretty sure I scared them all when all I spoke was in English (as I was instructed to), which we joke about now together because they thought I couldn't speak Gujarati at all. And I was intimidated by them, I didn't know them, and here I was having to speak to them about what I thought, as some stranger who they'd never met before. But since day one, they have been nothing but welcoming, caring, and inquisitive.

(Ben & Didi means sister and Bhai means brother)

The first class I sat in on, was Dishaben's 8th Grade Social Sciences class. I played football with the tenth grade boys and Amit Bhai, and that was a total blast (sorry for not letting you score if you're reading this Amit Bhai). I naturally grew closer to the didis since I spent more time with them and I eventually learned all of their names which I can't say for any other group of people, sorry Bhai's and kids, I really did try super hard to. Each day the bhais and didis would guide me around school, taking me to their classes, inviting me into their class if I was walking by, reminding me kids names (thank you!), and taking the time to talk to me, and see how my day way going. They were eager to learn not only about me and the US, but how they could improve.

Kiranben, Dharmishtra Didi, Purvi Didi,
Jinkal Didi, Jalpa Didi, Dishaben, Vidhi Didi

I enjoyed talking to Vaibhav Bhai on multiple occasions about all sorts of things and playing volleyball with him, Ramesh Bhai, and the 8th grade boys against the 10th and 11th grade boys (we won, go 8th grade!). The relationships that grew out of spending time with the Didis are some of the most valuable; they would take me with them everywhere, eat meals together, and spend breaks with them, and so many other things. I just wanted to say thank you to Dharmishtra Didi, Madhuri Didi, Darshna Didi, Chetnaben, Dishaben, Purvi Didi, Jalpa Didi, Avani Didi, Ridhi Didi, Sofiya Didi, Vidhi Didi, Binal Didi and Jinkal Didi for for all you did for me these past two weeks. When I was going somewhere by myself, you took me with you, you looked after me, little things like asking if I liked the food and offering to make me something, or offering me your snacks during the day, bringing me into conversations, waiting for me after dinner, or taking me with you or letting me help you are the little things that made my experience extra special. The day school teachers like Kiranben, Pooja Didi, Rashmi Didi, and Shraddha Didi that keep the cute little munchkins learning and having fun. Shaileshbhai who is in charge of the Bhojnalay (cafeteria) who not only takes care of the kids meals each day but took the time to make sure I was enjoying the food too. Ramesh Bhai with his humor and his fun effort at English with me, Anub Bhai always working with the kids and making jokes, Deepak Bhai and Bhavik Bhai along with Ashish Bhai, Hitendera Bhai and the many others who I talked with, sat in class with, and had fun with. Mayur Bhai putting me on the spot in Sanskrit and making me come up with answers to riddles, which let me tell you I wasn't very good at. I sat in many classes, spoke with many teachers, but I proabably spent the most time in class with Jinkal Didi and Binal Didi since they both taught English and I thought I could be of some help there instead of other classes like Hindi or Gujarati and I also spent a lot of time with Sofiya Didi and Ridhi Didi through dance practice and classes.

Vaibhav Bhai

Sofiya Didi and Ridhi Didi

Dharmishtra Didi, Jinkal Didi, Shraddha Didi

There were also Kevin Bhai, Ajay Bhai, and Sarju Bhai who were in the admin building. Ajay Bhai and Sarju Bhai had become a daily interaction along Devyaniben and Masi who took such good care of us while we stayed there. Sonal also cleaned in the admin building each day and had become a smiling familiar face. We also saw Kevin Bhai throughout the day, everyday who seemed to be able to do everything, from teaching music class, coordinating events, helping with daily things, he would be there working late, and especially doing a million things to help get everything in place for the Karyakram. Things that often we don't see when we come by for a few hours or just for an occasion all the hard work that is put into it by these guys.

Lastly I just wanted to thank someone extra special, Manisha Masi. Everyone took care of me but she took extra care of me. Manisha Masi is Dr. Padhiyar's personal assistant. She would just check in on me throughout the day, bring me chai when she made it for Dr. Padhiyar, bring me snacks. On the third day I learned just how strong (and caring) she was. I was talking to Vaibhav Bhai about schools in the US and differences and she comes up to me and goes, "I didn't see you at breakfast this morning, I have mumbra (snacks) and chai ready for you, let's go". I said I would come once I the break was over so I can finish talking to Vaibhav Bhai but by the time I finished that sentence, she was already pulling me across the lobby to the canteen, Vaibhav Bhai told me I better go, she doesn't take no for an answer. Masi has one of the biggest hearts and always looked out for me and took care of me. There are so many stories and things I can tell you, but no words can do her justice.

Manisha Masi

No words can do any of these teachers justice. Each and every teacher and staff member, works so hard and so passionately for these kids. They begin and end each day with smile and are always working to get better so they can do even more for these kids. Often their work goes unnoticed but it is these teachers and staff that look out for these kids, teach them, and make them feel loved at their home away from home.

These kids are extremely lucky to have them as their teachers.

I always say I have gained so many Nana Bhais and Bens (little brothers and sisters) in the kids but the truth is I have gained so many Mota Bhais and Bens (big brothers and sisters) in the teachers also. They kept me like a Nani Ben, they looked after me, welcomed me, and kept me as their own. For that I will forever be grateful to them and love them all. I will miss them all.

Thank you to all my bhais and bens for making my time there amazing.