Volunteer Teaching in Kolkata

My project is still going well. The children in the informal school are really sweet and very lively. I've been reading with them, teaching them a little English and playing a lot of clapping games in English and Bengali. I've borrowed 2 children's books which they love. Just before Christmas I made Christmas cards with all 40 of the children which was great. Teaching computer skills without a common language has been a challenge but they've picked up quite a bit.

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I'm having such a good time! I've tried lots of Bengali food and I've been eating it with my hands. The sweets r so delicious. I've done a bit of haggling in the market, seen a Bollywood film and been to an Indian wedding. My project is really interesting. None of the teachers speak much English, it's only the social worker and the organizers in the office. In the mornings I've been helping out in the informal school which is where the children go when they first arrive at the children's centre before they enter the formal school.

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I am really enjoying the project in Kolkata. Along with Divya I teach nursery rhymes and action songs to children in the Balwadi (nursery school). I also help to teach the English alphabet and English numbers. They have learnt quite a few action songs and some of them know all the words to all of the songs! I also help the kids play with the toys when they get a chance. That takes up all morning then after lunch (which is bought in the canteen/restaurant run by the union, always very nice) I teach English to the top two classes in the primary school.

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My recent trip to Goa which included Mumbai and Pune was brilliant. I really enjoyed spending a few days in Mumbai and seeing the Gateway of India and amazing architecture around the centre, along with Juhu beach. The hotel in Goa was good and within a two minute walk of a clean, quiet beach with a variety of beach shack restaurants and water sports. It was very relaxing and lots of time was spent lazing on the beach. I also did a few day trips I organised myself including dolphin watching, going to Panaji, going to various churches and to midnight mass on Christmas Eve and going to a spice plantation.

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