Our final day at Sri Jayendra started out with a morning run for the whole group. It was allegedly not compulsory but Mr Hunt's condemnation that non-participants lacked 'moral fibre' was enough to make us all clamber out from underneath our mosquito nets and take up the last opportunity to run together.
Upon our return, all of us dashed into the showers before breakfast and facing the prospect of packing. Many of us have decided to donate clothes, books and some of our teaching materials to those staying at the boarding house so our suitcases will be considerably lighter. However finding the time to pack during the jam-packed day that awaited us was easier said than done.
As per usual, we all headed over to the school at 9 o'clock, to see our pupils who tend to come up to us before assembly starts, but more importantly, to connect to the wifi outside Usha's study. This opportunity is particularly key for Mr Hunt who likes to up to date with any Arsenal news.
Assembly itself involved prayers, local and international news, and sport. Emanuel got a mention in sport for their handball match victory and 'Royal baby given a crocodile' was one of the international news headlines. As well as this we had 'Thought for the day' ('The difference between the impossible and the possible is a person's determination') and 'Question of the day' (Q: Which country possesses no nuclear weapons? A: Canada). Pupils who know the answer to the question are expected to break away from their strict lines and run up to the microphone to declare their answer. Today at least 20 pupils sprinted up eager to be the first one. For the first time since we'd arrived no pupils had a birthday so no 'Happy Birthday' was sung.
After the pupils had dispersed we were straight into teaching. We taught two lessons to groups in Standard 7 before it was time for the first 'Thanksgiving session' of the day. We all went into the 'Priory Conference Room' on the top floor of the school. This is where most functions at SJS are held and where we have been rehearsing with the choir.
We were greeted by the sight of all of our classes who had completely filled the room as they sat waiting for our arrival. We took our places on the stage facing out to the sea of smiling faces. Usha gave a speech thanking us for spending the past three weeks with the school. I think Mr Hunt echoed all of our sentiments when he spoke about how the pupils' dedication to their studies and value of education was something to be greatly admired.
Various pupils from different classes had made cards for their teachers. They were beckoned onto the stage and read out their messages before handing us their beautiful, hand-made cards. To say this was touching would be an understatement. To hear someone that you have taught for what now seems like a fleeting amount of time express their gratitude in such a heartfelt way produced a mix of emotions. Pride and happiness yes, but also overwhelming sadness at the unavoidable realisation that you will most probably never see any of those children again. One of Sabby's children called her a 'second parent' and I think all of us feel a sort of parental bond with 'our kids' (as they are now fondly termed). Saying goodbye caused many of us to have a so called 'hayfever moment' and I think we all come away from feeling quite amazed at the effect that being involved with their education has had on us both as teachers and learners, and there is no doubt that we have played both parts. More than anything, although wholly unintentionally, these children have reminded us that education is something we really have to value. It seems that you only realise how significant it is when you consider the possibility of you not having one. We have a deep desire for them to persevere with their studies and achieve the potential so many of them clearly possess. However, we can go away feeling reassured that they want more than anything to master this often frustrating and bafflingly irregular language.
Once the 'Thanksgiving' ceremony had drawn to a close we returned to the boarding house for lunch. It was then time for our final ever lesson. This was a rather surreal event especially after we'd just got comfortable being in charge. Surprisingly in my lesson I had no calls for 'games', the favourite being 'bang bang'. It was as if my students wanted to cram as much knowledge in before I disappeared off to the other side of the world. We talked all about the world doing capital cites, continents and even venturing into the concept of Greenwich Mean Time. Many of the others gave away the last of their stickers as well as books they no longer needed to teach with, interesting flashcards of flags and London sights and pound coins.
A three hour break now awaited us with open arms. Although we had a chance for some down time, preparations needed to be made for 'Thanksgiving' Part Two. The SJS choir took to the stage for some final rehearsals while the Emanuels were enrobed in the Indian attire we purchased at Pothys back in the first week. The boys were only required to have a quick shower before donning their kurtis. The girls, on the other hand, required help from Jennifer, one of the wardens at the boarding house and an ICT teacher at SJS, to even attempt to put on their saris. The full attire consists of an underskirt in a colour that ideally closely resembles the sari - this being the six metre long cloth adorned with jewels or covered in patterns. There is also a top which has to be made, rather than bought, from extra fabric deliberately left on the bottom of the sari. We proficiently dress ourselves in the top and underskirt... Then comes the tricky part: wrapping it all around us so the bottom is level and all the jewels are on show, safety pinning and folding various parts so the fabric falls into pleats, tucking some material into our underskirt so it stays up then draping the rest over one shoulder and safety pinning it into place. All this has to be done making sure that everything is even and that the entire 'masterpiece' won't come undone at an awkward moment. Jennifer managed to make the whole process look annoyingly easy and we'll have to attempt to replicate it for the assemblies we are due to deliver to the school next term.
The whole group was then ready to head over to SJS. As well as a 'Thanksgiving' for us it was the 'tiny tots' (kindergarten) 'Mini Convocation'. As far as I can tell, this is the equivalent of a graduation. They all wore red cloaks and matching gradation caps. An inspector of matriculation schools
was the guest of honour and was asked to read out each of their names. They came up to the stage one by one and had a photo with Mr Hunt. Earlier, during the Thanksgiving performances Emanuel sang 'Three Little Birds' and 'Don't Stop Believing' with the SJS choir. Toby, Nick and Hannah gave a spine-tingling rendition in three parts of Mumford and Sons' 'Sigh No More'. Ewan and Hannah also played the veena with Pushpa (Jesus the music teacher's daughter). Hannah later performed a duet with Jesus: a combination of 'Danny Boy' and a traditional Indian song. She also very impressively sang a solo in Tamil with the choir to support her. We were additionally treated to two traditional dances by an ex-pupil of SJS. A very memorable show indeed.
The choir continued to entertain us after the ceremony had drawn to a close. Once we had finished off our dinner from the buffet laid out for guests we all decided to join the SJS choir up on the stage for a good old boogie. We coaxed the Emanuel teachers up, even managed to get Usha to dance with us too and all joined in 'follow the leader', dancing with partners and Miss Fitz' favoured 'lightbulb move' - taken from her Indian dance PE lessons with the Year Nines. After several songs we were all ready to collapse of exhaustion and there was an incredible amount of sweat dripping down everyone's faces. The impromptu communal dance was a wonderful end to the evening and also to the entire trip. I'm sure most of us would not have predicted the celebrations to come to a close in such a way but it reminded us of how far we had come since we arrived three weeks ago. It left us with a final memory of the intangible bond that is continually strengthened between these two schools; something that I sincerely hope will continue for many years to come. If it brings future Emanuels even a smidgen of the sentiments of love for SJS, and the undeniable feeling of having achieved something rather profound, that the stay seems to have had on us all, then the link has been a success.
By Kimberley
