Aste Shikchi

I'm always surprised at how learning to understand and speak even a little bit of Bengali has helped me interact with the children at Future Hope. As I continue to see new faces in my work in the school, I eagerly ask tumer nam ki (What is your name?) and try as hard as I can to remember the name and face of the new boy or girl I've just met. Every time I see someone I know, I ask tumi camon acho (How are you?) and hope that they respond with ami bhalo achi (I am fine). In class, the unruly boys and girls listen only when I tell them akhoni bosho (Sit now) and, playfully yell Chup korro! (Silence!) As the children read to me from their books, I make sure to say khoob bhalo (Very good) after, which usually brings smiles to their faces.

After school, in the upstairs room, the boys are happy when I tell them Ajkay ami ekhanay khabo (Today I will eat here) and/or Ami maidan jabo (I will go to the maidan) and proceed to tell me about their days at school. Especially when I was getting to know the children, simple questions like Con subject bhalo laghay (Which subject do you like) immediately piqued their interest. Tumi Bangla bolthe paro? (You can speak Bengali?) they would all ask to which I would respond, stumbling but determined, Ami Bangla shikchi. Ami thomake English porrabo are tumi amake Bangla porrabo which I hoped meant (I am learning. I will teach you English and you will teach me Bengali). Usually the boys would laugh and say Tik ache (Okay), perhaps somewhat impressed by my efforts.

On the maidan, I've become a little bit more confident with the commands I have learned and speaking in Bengali usually adds to their power. Line korrro! (Make a line), I yell to these boys, wrestling and pushing against each other, eager to play football. Grabbing and separating two boys who've resorted to scratching and punching to resolve a hand ball dispute, I implore, Kothi korrbay na! (Don't fight) which usually, if temporarily, causes the violence to subside.

Back at the home, I try to help some boys with their homework. Some call for my help but actually know the material just fine. For these boys, I attempt to say, Eta tumi jano. Tumi khoob budhiman (You know this. You're very clever). For others who really need my help, just a little bengali cements concepts. One boy was having trouble with his multiplication and no attempt I could make would get him to understand his tables. But as we worked are way up to 2x6 and he was having trouble with 2x7, I said 14 are dhoo tow (12 + 2) which he immediately understood. At dinner, kum bhat (less rice) saves me from the three person meal I might have been obligated to eat. And as I head home for the night, Kalke ami ekhanay ashbo (I will come here tomorrow) gives the boys the reassurance that tomorrow I will return.