The crayons are packed away, the books donated, the yellow
shirts washed for the last time and the volunteers all back home: The six week trial of Book Bus India is over.
We have come a long way since the first day when we nervously climbed in the
jeep not knowing what to expect, driving to school along unfamiliar roads with
a bag full of books and minds full of curiosity. That day we received the warmest welcome
imaginable and from then on, every day, we eagerly jumped in the jeeps, looking
forward to what the day would bring: it might be a game of volleyball, a jeep
stuck in the sand, 100 bear headbands or another rendition of the banana song!
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| The final banana song! |
A big thank you to ALL at Mandore Guest House for making our
stay so pleasant, answering all our questions, looking after us, feeding us
fantastic food and making us feel at home.
 |
| Thank you to all at Mandore Guest House |
A special thank you to Surendra, who in his capacity as honorary
project manager, did us proud, without his contribution this pilot would never
have succeeded. And thanks to Sanjay for
his all his help, photos, driving and for putting up with all the crazy people
in yellow shirts for singing in his jeep!
14 volunteers, 10 of them past”Book Bussers” came out to
join the project in Rajasthan, their stays ranging from 2 to 6 weeks . I think I can say that every one of them,
myself included, has had a fantastic experience here, both at school and away from
it. I would like to thank every one of
them for their commitment and contribution to the project, their dedication and
hard work and their unfailing senses of humour which made every day successful
and also great fun.
We have been made to feel welcome wherever we go. We have experienced dancing, drumming, the colourful
festival of Holi, the local markets, cows everywhere, stand offs with camels,
the impressive fort, the interesting Indian use of the roundabout and too many
other things to mention. We have explored the blue streets of Jodhpur, the Thar desert at Jaisalmer, the
temples at Ossian and the lake palace at Udaipur. We have been given flower
garlands, scarves, copious amounts of chai, speeches, pink hair and genuine
smiles.
At school the children are ever eager, keen and a pleasure
to teach. The teachers are dedicated and interested to learn. The communities
are welcoming and grateful.
I think we can safely say the 6 weeks were a great success,
full of unforgettable memories, for all those involved. The teachers, pupils
and volunteers alike have had their eyes opened to new experiences and new ways
of learning. It has been a genuine
cultural exchange with every party benefiting from the coming together. We have
learnt about Indian customs, education, costumes and culture and the children
have learnt in English about colours, numbers and opposites, to name just a
few.
When the long term project in October begins many more
children, schools and communities can benefit from the Book Bus visits: the
books, the activities, the exposure to English and the joyful, interactive way
of learning. And hopefully many more
volunteers will come to Mandore, to work with these eager students, gain an
insight into their way of life and to experience the hospitality and warmth of
the people of Rajasthan.
