February 6, 2017
Friday we were assigned our projects. I will be teaching 6th, 8th, 8th, and 10th standard English. The 10th graders have a board exam they must pass in March. Zach will be teaching as well. He is to head the science fair for the Tekra community taking place on February 28th. In addition, we are to work on the community center beautification project and the library theme. Both should be done by February 25th. We both have full schedules now. Our first class is at 9:00 am and the last one ends at 6:00 pm. That is a computer science class that Zach will be teaching.
Each session of classes starts with chanting, prayer, meditation, and slow conscious breathing. I love the Hindu way of life. They are so connected - and so consistent. I participate... both of us participate in all of the Hindu prayers, the meditation, and the breathing. We received a copy of the prayer book when we started orientation. It provides the chants in Gujarati, Hindu, and English. It's so interesting to see and learn about what other religions pray to and pray for. Everyone is praying to a God. Everyone is praying for peace. Everyone is asking for enlightenment.
After our last class today, I sat outside and joined in an older woman's chant. Manav Sadhna started this gathering because the elder women of the community weren't fully supporting the kids coming to the center. So to illustrate the good that they are trying to do for children, MS decided to created a group for the elders as well. Again, I don't know the words. And I don't know exactly what they're saying. I just know that they are joining together to uplift one another. I know that the chanting genuinely puts smiles on their faces. And I know the chanting genuinely makes me feel good.
-AS @travelingsnow