Another Normal Day

It was Shivratri last night. And there was a “mela” (fair) this morning. Some of the kids must have gone off to the mela because attendance was down to 50%. That’s ok. I guess they are entitled to take off once in a while. Most of the kids absent were from Burhikura though a few of the Santhal kids too did not show up. Everyone loves going to these fairs.

But school went on as per routine despite the fewer kids in each classroom. There were only 3 in class four and 8 in class three – the two classes that I teach. But what bothered me was that Radha’s father came to ask for a holiday! When will these people learn? I’ve told them that they are free not to send their wards to school if there’s a good reason for it. I did not force his daughter to come to school either. She could have been absent like some of the other kids. But then to come to school and have parents coming and asking for the school to declare it a holiday, is a bit too much, I think.

The mornings are still chilly. The day is warm but not unpleasantly hot. The evenings are cool. And the infernal gale. Wonder why it starts up at noon every day and subsides by 3 pm. One can set one’s watch by it! The roofs rattle and it can be very irritating after a while.

Franca said she can’t leave a comment on the blog. I checked and it’s true that unless you have a gmail account or a blog holder yourself, you can’t send a message! What a pain. Does anyone know how to get around it?

The kids were playing with the Frisbee that Yvonne sent. They seemed to enjoy the new toy. Hope they preserve it and not let it fly over the wall!

It’s been a quiet day otherwise. Things are running smoothly at the project. We are expecting a volunteer tomorrow. Hope he gets here without too much trouble.

And sorry Yvonne. There are no palas flowers on the branches. I’m uploading this old photo. Hope this will do.