Little did I know that the sister school project that I began in September with Kavresthali Lower Secondary School in Nepal would mean traveling abroad for the first time in my life over mid-winter break 2003. Last fall when I started this project there were many roadblocks in the path of communication between Hamilton International Middle School and Kavresthali. They have no electricity and therefore no computers at their school, which is located about forty-five minutes drive north of Kathmandu. I relied on two different sets of travelers who already had plans to visit Nepal to send shipments of school supplies and artwork and pictures to Kavresthali. Then communication lulled and the idea came up that I should visit the school.
After all of the planning the trip was a total surprise. I owe much gratitude
to Sabin Pradhan, father of my current student Joannie Pradhan. Joannie’s
grandparents and several of her aunts and uncles live in Phatan and Kathmandu,
Nepal. Upon arrival in Kathmandu we were treated with incredible hospitality.
Joannie’s uncle, Lalit Pradhan, showed us all around the Kathmandu Valley.
The experiences in Nepal were many and varied. I was thrilled to get emails
from students in my World Cultures class at an internet café in Thamel
where I could answer several of their questions about the students at Kavresthali
as well as the sites, sounds and smells of Kathmandu as I sat immersed in
them. I had the honor of meeting so many wonderful people from Joannie’s
grandparents and Sabin’s former teacher, Raghu to the current students
and teachers at Kavresthali. The visit to Kavresthali included a ceremony
to welcome us involving more flowers than I could possibly hold in my arms
or wear around my neck. I learned that Nepali children come to the temple
of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of art and education, in honor when they learn
to write for the first time. My host thought it appropriate for me to honor
Saraswati and taught me how to take tikka, a bright red paste that is placed
on the forehead with the third finger. I brought home a bronze cast, hand-carved
statue of Saraswati made in Phatan, the hometown of Joannie’s father.
She now blesses my classroom at Hamilton.
We have talked and planned and scheduled for many months at Hamilton to develop a strong international program that we hope will offer our students a global perspective. For me, as a teacher, I too have gained meaningful insight into what it means to be part of a global community through my involvement at Hamilton and especially as a result of this trip. Because children, childhood and growing up are universal experiences, I hold great appreciation for the gift of being a teacher. My position at Hamilton International Middle School allows me to be involved with cultural exchanges, international curriculum ideas, sister-school projects, always learning and broadening my own perspective of people and the world. Whether it is the first of many more travels to come or my only chance to see the world, I will always cherish my experience and the people in Nepal.