My first couple of days on campus!

I traveled to Shanti Bhavan on July 3rd and after a two hour drive from the airport in Bangalore, arrived to the school. Once I unpacked and settled in, two students gave me a tour of the campus and immediately helped me feel welcome. I spent the rest of the day in training sessions, learning more about how the school operates and my role for the next six weeks.

Inside the main school building. All of the students sit on the red stone for assembly each morning.

The next morning began with another training session and then assembly at 10:40am. I was really impressed with how they conducted assembly because of the different presentations students gave to practice their public speaking skills. Each morning four students present the world news and then the audience asks follow-up questions. Additionally, a 4th grader presents the daily virtue and the school engages in further conversation about what the virtue means and how it shows up in their lives. We had visitors this morning so there was a special assembly which included additions such as a song from the choir.

Dilip and I practiced presenting the morning virtue before assembly. Each student spends 30 minutes the night before and then again in the morning to prepare. Kindergarteners are lined up in the back of the photo to head to class.

Photos from dinner! Volunteers sit at separate tables for breakfast and lunch but are allowed to join the kids for dinner.

Photo of my dinner from last night.

Almost all meals consist of rice, curry with vegetables, and chapati (Indian flatbread). The school is predominantly vegetarian so we are rarely served meat. On campus there is a garden where all of the food grows, so everything is very organic!