Joining Hands Nepal
A Family Orphan HomeArchive for education
School Days
Here in Nepal, the school week starts on Sunday and the holiday break between school years only last between 15 days and 1 month, which means school days are here again already! Today is the first official day of school for our children in their new English boarding school. With the entrance exams behind them and all the children doing well, they seem genuinely excited to be going back to school today. Big sister Chhiring was carefully and lovingly braiding Lhasang’s hair this morning to look her best for the first day, as each will spend a little extra time getting ready as well to make a good first impression. It is a happy day also for the staff, for in less than a month we have gone from having no children to watching our 5 orphan children and 3 sisters take pride in prepping for their first day of a new life and new opportunities at Arundaya English Boarding School.
Home Study
Now is the holiday break between school session in Nepal, a time when children and teachers have two to three weeks free to play, travel, and enjoy the spring weather. For us here at Joining Hands Nepal, while we allow the children to enjoy their free time, we also want to instill a good work ethic and a strong focus on learning English. Accordingly, last night we began a family English class after dinner to accustom the children to speaking English not only in school or with foreign guests, but also with each other. We will make a habit of setting aside a certain period time each day where everyone in the house should speak English rather than Nepali, whether there is a volunteer staying in the house or not. These family study sessions will solidify the practice of speaking English in to the children so it becomes second nature, and it will serve the additional function of bringing the whole Joining Hands family closer together with a common goal. Last night we began by practicing the days of the week and the months of the year through a question and answer format. It was a little awkward and difficult for the children at first, but by the end a new tradition had been started, and each day will bring more ease and comfort in the practice.
Eager Student
This morning, while sitting together in the kitchen and cooking our morning meal, our eldest boy, Balaram, displayed his eagerness to learn English. Dropping the shy and quiet mask with which he had arrived, he began to ask the names of different foods in English. Khorsani is chili pepper. Lasun is garlic. Dhania is cilantro. At three new words it was already becoming difficult to remember all of the words, so rather than quit while ahead of the one new word a day we suggested he learn, he instead ran down to his room to get a notebook so he could write down the 3 new words and then ask more. Besar is turmeric. Kerau is pea. And on down the list of foods we were cooking for our morning meal. It is already apparent Balaram is eager to use the advantages provided at our orphan home to try to excel in English, an opportunity not afforded to him at his old government school and isolated village. We will encourage that eagerness, and hopefully he will be a model to the other, younger children.
Joining Hands Nepal 