The students rang the bell at 7.10, which was too early for breakfast. I guessed it was to wake them all up and we had breakfast outside after 8. This was because it actually wasn't raining. It was still cold but looking better than the last couple of days that seemed to last forever.
I had my classes planned which were mainly introduction lessons and they all went well. It felt so much better to actually be working and getting to know the students (who did actually turn out to be all Buddhists, but not to a high level). During the morning, the sun even came out and we actually felt like being outside. The difference it made was incredible; it was like being in another world. It also meant I could wash my clothes for the first time here, which I did amongst many Indian women who had obviously been waiting for a dry day to do their washing. As I rubbed my clothes on the stone and they beat theirs with a paddle, it didn't feel that strange to be doing it. Of course I stood out for them but they have seen all the teachers and students here and after hand-washing my clothes in Ecuador for 3 months, it just felt like doing what I have done before.
After lunch, I went with Maggie to buy some more things, including a plastic jug to use to wash myself. Students collect water from the spring and it is heated on the water dispenser so I can get hot water but I wash like in the 19th century – with soap and hot water in my room.
After that, like I used to do in Ecuador, I tried to improve the back garden path by removing some rocks and flattening it. I also want to make the garden nicer to look at and be in as it looks like a dumping ground for nature right now with big rocks sticking out the ground and no real form to it.
Overall, it had felt a much better day due to the weather and the lessons, so my feelings for the place have improved a lot since yesterday. I didn't even put my second (fleece) top on until 6pm!
After dinner, the students had their weekly meeting and I attended it to find out more about the things that happen here. They all gave stories of their experiences of going to the Dalai Lama's teachings in the first 2 weeks of this year. They often mentioned how they are all Buddhists but realised that they don't know so much about it and that some of them learned more things. It was very good to be present for this and learn more about them. I told them this and also that I hope to learn a lot more about them and that to be able to help them as much as I can while I am here.
It seems that my first impressions were not quite right, and I am glad to be able to say that.
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