August 20, 2007
Pinching Madam's Cheeks
“Hello Nidhi madam?” I definitely did not expect the ladies to call me madam since I was half their age! After I got over that initial shock, I noticed the computer room was full of brightly smiling women, ready for their computer lessons. The moment I began explaining how to use Paint and Microsoft Word is indescribable but the ladies’ soft giggles were definitely a good indication that they were having fun. Even though the Tamil was still a problem well into the days of classes, it became much easier for me to explain my ideas as time went on. There is no doubt that I often wondered if I was truly helping the students or just confusing them even more. But when their faces would glow with excitement everyday and they would pinch my cheeks lovingly, I felt like maybe even these few hours a week actually are making a difference. (cheesy I know…) The days that the internet was working were absolutely chaotic. Everyone was browsing the net, calling Nidhi madam for help here and there.
Everyday I would tell the ladies that I have to go teach spoken English classes to the teachers at 4:00 P.M. right after computer class and everyday I would be disappointed when only the school staff showed up. I regret assuming the ladies did not have time or were not interested in coming to spoken English class. Unfortunately, I waited until the last week and a half of my project to ask the women why they did not want to come to Spoken English. One of the ladies, Mahalakshmi, laughed quietly and hesitatingly told me how the class fee was 600 rupees per month. I had initially thought since the computer classes were free of charge, the spoken English classes would be free as well. Still, I am glad I still had that week or so left and asked permission to teach spoken English to them for free for just that week. Even though I had already held many spoken English classes with the school teachers and principal, the first class with the local women felt completely different. Even though most of the ladies did not know English as well as the school staff, it was amazing to see how they tried full heartedly, without holding back at all. Discussing Marie Claire magazine articles on the film Provoked (about domestic violence) one day and just holding conversations about each other’s lives another day was unforgettable. The last day of classes was definitely the most heart-felt because the women kept telling me how much they would miss me and kept asking me when I would come back to visit. Even though I told them again and again how much I loved spending time with them and would miss them greatly, I am not sure I conveyed my true desire of wishing I could do so much more than I did in this short time.
Posted by nidchaud at 11:36 AM | Comments (0)
