Teaching and Learning in the Valley of Gods, 18.7.2003

Hi everybody,

Just a quick note! I am back to civilization for a couple of days and took the chance to say hello to all. Its holiday time in the school i am volunteering and i could take one week off also.

I came to a village near Dharamsala for the wedding of one of the teachers. Such an experience! Real Indian wedding. 3 days celebrations in this amazing place, in the middle of nowhere. Right now, I am back to Dharamsala and Saturday i have to be on my way back to Spiti. I am enjoying so much, i wouldnt be able to express how much! Such a rewarding experience! The Himalayas are overwhelming, even a little scary! The children are gorgeous and i feel at home. I am teaching them personal development (basically, they have a huge difficult to express themselves, are extremely shy when they need to speak up) together with maths, english, writing and anything they ask me for! I am teaching the senior classes, 10 to 15 years old. IT's not easy to live there but i love it. Its all very basic and simple. Not for anyone who enjoys comfort or even the simple things we take for granted (phone, TV, toilet, shower - i have to use buckets to bath!!). Everybody is so kind and innocent. One would thing that would be impossible to meet people like the Spitians nowadays.

Bucket showers! Back to simple life (a little TOO basic, though...)

Anyway, i cant take much longer and will leave you all here. I may stay in Spiti until October (even if it will take me 3-4 days to get back to the nearest developed place because of the winter).

The good news are that we may be able to communicate by letter (it seems that the post works). Isn't that fun???? It would be so lovely to hear from you all. Please, if you fell like having a rest from technology and going back to the old days, drop us a line (dont forget to send me your address also):

Jacqueline Oliveira
Spiti Children Home School
Munsel-ling
Rangrik, Spiti
Distt. Lahoul and Spiti
Himachal Pradesh
172114 India

Love and Peace, always,

Jackie

PS Apparently, it takes only 8-10 days to a letter to arrive from Europe. When i left Spiti, it seemed that they were installing a telephone in the main house, where i leave. But its incoming calls only, so if you feel like trying to phone me, the telephone is 0091-1906-22337. Its 4.5 hours behind London time. The best time to find me is early morning (before 9.30AM Indian), lunch time (13.30 to 14.00) or after 6PM. I dont know how easy it will be to get a connection, but they were all very excited!

Ps2 I am sending some photos of Spiti, my beautiful children and of myself!!! (one of the wedding also, see the face expressions of the bride and groom - the teacher. It was an arranged marriage...)

Jacqueline Calabria de Oliveira * Tel Aviv * (03) 546-9218
jacquelinezara@hotmail.com

Copyright © 2004-2006 Jacqueline Oliveira