Monday Thoughts.

This is the view of some of the students houses behind my classroom at Gadgade school. Every time I try to add pictures to this blog something goes wrong. Today I have the card and we seem to have both power and a line so here goes.

The young man is Purna Tamang. He is the newest and youngest teacher and the most enthusiastic. He is the only member of staff who can speak to the students in their own language. He feels strongly that these children in government schools are at a disadvantage and intends to be the best he can be to do something about it. Today he left a little early to go for an interview at the Education Offices in Bhaktapur. Together with the Head he is trying to get literacy levels lifted in the village. One of the students many disadvantages is uneducated parents. Purna and Uttav (the Head) are starting basic skills lessons and expect that the main attenders may well be the grandparents. Parents are always (especially mothers) way too busy from sunup to sunset to give this the attendance they might care to, but grandparents would like to be able to work alongside the children.

There was drumming at our neigbour's house all night. This means that someone is ill. It turns out to be Viv's student friend, Suntali. It sounds like she may have flu. This morning a group of young women called to perform some service with incense and the Shaman was doing something with a kid (goat). If all that fails she may consult a doctor.