Week 1 recap!

I am now halfway through my Ruhi trip and am having a blast. Some students who graduated a couple of years ago came to visit me and they reminded me of how special the Ruhi Foundation is. Though they are studying and having fun at their new schools, its not the same as Ruhi. They planned on stopping by for a hour or so but ended up spending the whole day there. They were catching up with me, teachers, and old class mates for the whole day. Two girls, Neha and Kajal, ended up in the office with me doing mehndi! Its clear to me that Ruhi is a home for them where they are safe, loved, and respected. There won’t be another place like Ruhi where the teachers and students all care for eachother and feel like a big family. The fourth graders are speeding through their book and love it (I hope). There’s something about the dinosaurs in the book that they find so amusing and entertaining. The fifth graders also seem to be liking their book. We did a worksheet in class and many of them drew little labeled cartoons of their favorite characters from the book. The third graders are harder for me to control but they’re still so cute and sweet. The cards they write to me are adorable. Here’s one of my favorites.This is just one example but all the cards, gifts, smiles, and hugs exemplify their warm nature. Monday we’re planning on going into the village to see Kiran’s home, one of my smartest fifth graders. The reason why I keep coming back is because of how sweet the kids are. Even four years on, it still astounds me how happy they can be. Coming home to one-room houses which they share with six or seven of their siblings. And for the girls, having to live in a home where they are put second to their brothers. All the Ruhi kids are so amazing and they deserve the whole world. Its unbelievable that this trip is almost over and I really wish it wasn’t. More updates soon!