May be it was just a month ago Bada Dashain, I was striving to get the bus tickets to go to my home towards Itahari. I struggled a lot and got one ticket towards it and it was on october 4th. As soon as I got the bus ticket I came to get the information about our official visit to New Delhi to broaden our knowledge and get something new from them. The idea was just blooming up and we were not totally confirmed whether we would be going or not? and I was in a dilemma whether to cancel the ticket to home or not but finally even on the short notice we confirmed our journey with our belief 'Sense of possibility' and the value of the journey was 'Be positive' as we were sure that the journey would have many problems as it was a 36 hour long journey as we were going there through bus and train. But there was some belief inside that yes, we can do it. We gathered at TFN House and headed towards our destination on a bus to Kalanki where next bus was waiting for us to take us to Rupaidiha (boarder place between Nepal and India).
Everyone was curious as well as nervous as it was a very long journey and even for me it was long though I had traveled long distances via land transport this was going to be the longest of all. And when we reached at Kalanki a bus which had been reserved to pick us and looking at the condition of bus we started to tell each other 'Be Positive' as all the seats of the bus was wet. Though it wasn't the fault of anyone we had to face that because the day before the very bus was used to transport goats to Kathmandu and was washed for us but as it was raining the bus was still wet. It was no use of complaining as we didn't had another option. And as we were using our brain how to sit, Prabin dai (who is the best example of positivity among us) came with some plastics and gave us to put above our seat and Rojee came up with the idea of putting the clothes used for bus window shades above the plastic and we sat over it. Though it was difficult but we managed. Isha and I was sitting on the second last seat of the bus where as Rajan and Bindu were next to us and we must say we four were the person to face the most difficulty at night as the roads were not so good and we were bouncing like a ball. And not only us Krishna dai was the person who was unable to get seat and had to manage himself on a very difficult seat where there was not enough space to put his legs and I was amazed how he managed himself there. Next day we had scars on our knees.
May be around 9 am we reached at Nepalgunj. From there we used horse carriage and rikshaw to reach Rupaidiha boarder from where we started to hear the Hindi language, though it Hindi is not the new language for us but it was quite awkward to listen it being used in common and there we came to know that the bus on which we were planning to go had broken down. So for some hours we waited for the bus and after that started searching for the other options as we had to catch the train at 7pm to New Delhi from Lucknow otherwise we would miss the train.
Then, we came up with the option to go to Lucknow by hiring three sumo jeep and taking the shortest route to Lucknow and we headed towards the journey. Though it was congested, we enjoyed travelling through it as we could view the green fields along the stream. And it was no different than the terai region of Nepal. So I was missing my home a lot as the landscapes were similar. Some roads were good whereas some where very terrible then, approximately after four hours at 6 pm we reached at Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, India. And it was similar to our capital Kathmandu. The same garbage around, pollution, narrow streets, no traffic rules and so on.
We had some time to freshen up at the train station and at 7 pm we got into the train and after the uncomfortable night at the bus, we felt that the journey on train so cosy, where at least we could sleep comfortably. Next morning at 6pm we got off from the train and got to new that it was Old Delhi, not New Delhi and our bus was waiting us at New Delhi. So not only us us but TFI members had to 'Be Positive' towards us this time. But when they arrived to welcome us they were too humble and kind towards us. Then we got into the bus and were taken to the host families where we had to stay with for the next three days.
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| TFI Fellows and Hosts receiving some of us |
TFI hosts were taking our friends one by one and I was being nervous that who would be my host and how she would be as I had to live with her alone for three day. How would she behave and how her family members would react, that were the questions coming up in my mind. Then, my name was called, along with me Seetu and Dilu G, were also called and we found that our host were living in the same area. So we were quite happy that we were at least going to meet. Then, there came a girl Sonal Agarwal and she was my host and as Seetu's and Dilu G's host were busy she was going to them also. Then we headed towards her home via metro. And this metro drive was really lovely. Then we first left to Dilu G's host's house and then Sonal took Seetu and me with her and later we found that Seetu's host was very busy so she told whether we could sit together or not? We were very happy to accept it as we were also wishing the same thing. Then, we were introduced to the rest of the family members, and most of the all there was Chuku, niece of Sonal who was so cute and became friendly with us instantly.
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| Chukku, niece of our host |
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| Me and seetu taking rest at Sonal's room |
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| Sonal Agrawal, TFI Fellow and our host |
Sonal Agrawal, TFI Fellow 2013, born and grown up in Delhi has completed her engineering form Delhi College of Engineering and before joining TFI she voluntarily worked for the slum children which motivated her to join TFI and she is happy about her decision also and after two years she plans to continue her further studies. She is a very polite girl who was so good to us. She had planned all the things for us what to do, where to take us for visit and so on. Staying with her was really the best thing for us there. As she had an appointment with her doctor that day she made us meet with another TFI Fellow Garima so that we would not feel bored and Garima was another good lady to stay with. She was a CA and was having a reputed life but was unsatisfied with it. So she joined TFI and now she says that she is happy and satisfied from her life and after two years she plans to go back to her profession again with happiness. Then, Garima took us to different places of Delhi for visit like Delhi Haat, India Gate and Central Park. We talked with her about her kids, about her plan and how she manages in the worse situation and how is TFI helping her in her classroom and so on. We chatted a lot. She was very open to us.
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| Inter-college drama competition being held at Delhi Haat |
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| Food stall at Delhi Haat |
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| Trying some Rajasthani dishes at Delhi Haat |
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| Enjoying with Garima at India Gate Park |
At the evening, we again met with Sonal and went to Old Red Fort where there was cultural dance program on the occassion of 'Dashara' and there we met Sonali and Shristi with their host families. The program was awesome. Sonali who was sitting next to me was sharing with me the importance and value of their every cultural dance that was being shown. I was so surprised that how could she know every details of her culture because we don't know much about all our cultural dances.
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| Cultural dance at Old Fort of Delhi |
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| Shristi and Sonali enjoying the dance performances |
After the program we returned to our home and then planned for the day after. Sonal told us to go to the 'Compassionate Daily' program, the program where the students of one schools exchange their letters and gifts to the students of another school and make friends and this was organized by some previous TFI Fellows who had now opened an NGO, working for children and this program was mainly organized to boost up the confidence of the students. Next morning we went to Yog-way Community School where Sonal is working as a Fellow and this was the only community school where TFI Fellows were working as others were the public school and also the school which had the highest number of TFI Fellows that is seven. TFI had a different strategy that it had given TFI Fellows to each sections of a class so Sonal was the grade teacher of grade 3 section A and Shruti who is her co-fellow was the grade teacher of grade 3 section B and they were teaching the kids which were taught by TFI fellow in grade 1 and 2. So their kids were the best in the school. And their work was to make them more confident. When I saw Sonal and Shruti talking about the school and kids on their way to school I remembered Seetu and me doing the same. The problem of the school was that there was no play ground and Sonal gave us the information that even the students can't play at home so they try to make them play different games inside classrooms and fun in the most possible way. The classrooms of TFI Fellows were filled with chart papers and the students were interactive. When we went to the next school, we found that even those grade three students taught by the TFI fellows were far more better in English and interactive than the students of grade six students. We also did different activities for the students and made them play games. And here I was missing my own kids. I was thinking whether this kind of program would be fruitful for our kids or not? Will it be possible or not?
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| Sonal and Shruti discussing their lessons on the way |
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| Gifts made by the grade three students for exchange |
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| Teaching the students to write letters |
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| Sonal, praising one of her kids |
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| Students writing letters to their new friends |
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| Student asking permission to answer |
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| Student interaction program |
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| Making the students play games |
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| Motivating the student to introduce herself |
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| TFI students on the left talking to her new friend |
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| TFI student interacting with other new friends |
After the program we went for dinner and then left for Lodhi garden where we had interaction program with other TFI fellows. There we shared our ideas, experiences, dreams for our children and our plans. Then we returned to our home.
Next day as per the schedule we had to go for community visit but as our host didn't have leave we had to go to the school again. And that day we observed all the classes of TFI fellows of that school and their teaching methods. They use so many resources to teach their kids and also they shared us with some resources which we could use in our classrooms. The TFI who were in their second classroom had such an exemplary classroom, everything was managed and rules were set but the first years fellows were still struggling to set up the rules in their classroom. So I kept them in their place and felt motivated as well as hopeful that everything will be fine in the coming days.
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| Walls of Sonal's classroom |
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| News collected by students |
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| Sonal teaching about Ozone layer |
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| Deegant, TFI Fellow teaching Fraction in his classroom |
Then, we headed to our next program where TFN fellows were sharing their experiences. At first I felt that we were sharing our experiences with ourself as there were very few TFI fellows but when Deegant, TFI Fellow who was hosting the program shared the fact that most of the TFI fellows had already left Delhi to celebrate the festival at home, there were only few of them. And those few fellows had planned so perfectly for everything we did that day. We shared our experiences where as they shared with us their resources in their resource mela. After that we met Shaheen Mistri, CEO of Teach For India who was so inspiring. She shared her story with us and answered our queries. I found her very motivational.
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| Seetu sharing her experiences as a TFN Fellow |
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| Shiheen Mistri, TFI CEO answering our queries |
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| Shiheen sharing her story |
After that we went to Ram Leela program which was being held near Sonal's house on the occassion of Dashara and Dilu G was along with us. We enjoyed different games as well as varieties of Indian food their. We had a lot of fun there.
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| At Ram Leela Mela |
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| Dilu G's first experience of 'Break Dance' in Ram leela Mela |
Then, the following day was our day that means we TFN fellows reflected our visit till date, Then we had time with TFI alumns and students team. The students were so inspiring and forward. They were answering our questions so diplomatically as if they were matured and TFI alumns answered most of our concerns about the achievements that they got after joining TFI and even what we can do after the fellowship. So this visit gave me motivation as well as hopefullness. It gave me some new ideas to deal with my kids and I must say an opportunity to learn more. Then, we went for the poetry session where we were told to share our poetry that we have written or the poetry that has touched our heart.
After that Sonal and her friends had planned a dinner for us. After that we returned to our home. And the next day we exchanged our gifts with her and left to TFI office with our luggage and then made some groups and went to explore Delhi where me, Seetu, Rojee, Rijuta and Isha went to Kutub Minar, which is one of the nice place to see the archaeology. Then left for shopping with Sonal. After that we bid our final good bye to Sonal and then returned to TFI and left to Banbasa on bus to reach our home where some of us felt sick and next day we crossed Sarada river and reached Mahendranagar. Here got to listen Nepali language which gave us the homely feeling. From there Milan and me departed from rest of the others for our home to Itahari whereas others left on the bus to Kathmandu and the next day passing the whole night on bus like a bouncing ball we reached our home in the afternoon.
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| Visiting Kutub Minar |
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| Shopping with Sonal |
The journey, though was short gave me the experience that I had never experienced. And came to realize that a little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. Not only the interaction with TFI but even this journey gave me a motivation because this was considered impossible journey in the very time when we had just imagined but now here when I am sharing this it has now become a part of my beautiful experiences where I have gained a lot. So thank God, I didn't miss this trip........................................This is the most beautiful Dashain that I have ever celebrated. A journey full of experiences and knowledge from the starting of Ghatasthapana and a victorious end and blessing of my parents at my home.........
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