A Lot to Learn

I’ve been at Future Hope for almost three weeks now, and even though I am assisting in teaching class and taking care of the upstairs boys I think I'm more the student than the teacher. From the boys and girls in class three I am slowly picking up the rules of the classroom. Always refer to the teacher as Miss and never talk when she is speaking. Susma tells me what granaries were used for. Adnan talks about ancient writing apparatus.

But class does not end when school does for me. At lunch, I am finally learning all the manners that just come naturally to the upstairs boys. Always take off your shoes as you enter the main room because that is where we eat and it should be kept clean. Wait until everybody is in the room, has received food, and has been given the signal before beginning to eat. Always ask only for what you can eat and finish what is on your plate. (Also never let the boys serve you unless you want three times as much food). On the maidan the boys show me how to play rugby, where to play football, how not to split up teams (never put Firoz and Basan on the same side).

Even while doing homework and playing at night, I am the one who needs the most help. From Vikki I learn the capitals of the world (at 11, he knows every single one), from Sandeep I pick up statistics from major players in cricket. Surojit teaches me Bengali. Suraj corrects my grammar. Even at play, the boys show me what is what. Sujoy and Abdul thrash me in chess. Sagar shows me how to play Ludo. Manis and Zaihid tell me in their monopoly games, landing on your own property means you get ten rupees.

Preparing for bed, I get my nightly lessons. Subho shows me how to tie slipknots for their mosquito nets while Rahul unrolls the bed that I will sleep on. Homework must be finished before we sleep says Badal. Lights out means one more story says Savenkar. Time to sleep whispers Bijoy as we nod off to bed.