We've spent the week at many meetings and had only a little of time in our classrooms/offices to prepare for classes. We've been happily surprised that many of our meetings are very helpful and aimed at being supportive. On Thursday we had the interesting experience of having to go to FRRO and register as foreign nationals. Just as we were leaving to go to the office our Air Shipment arrived! Laura had to sign several sheets of paper saying that everything was intact and good condition (not that we actually had time to verify any of that) and then we were off. 15 of us teachers and children together went to the visa registration office. It turned out to be 3 hours of waiting in an office with about 150 other people and an impossible system to decipher. Luckily, we had a representative from our school taking care of everything and all we had to do was sit there--or maybe I should say stand there. There were so many people that most of us didn't get chairs. Maya probably preferred it that way. We marveled at the way that many woman just grabbed Naila and took a turn at holding her.
After a long week learning and preparing for school we had a "street food" party in the middle school entryway and Hall of Peace. The school treated us to delicious foods from all over India and supplied beer and wine for a couple of hours. It is really shocking how much of a contrast this experience was with what we have come to expect in the education world. Laws and funding aside we have never felt so supported or appreciated in our professional community.
Maya is also adjusting nicely and has found a few little two and three year olds to bum around with on campus. She has become fast friends with Chloe who is also new to the school.
More pics to come soon.
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