three weeks...

I know, I know, I've been slacking. I've just been so busy that I haven't been able to write. The problem is, every day is so full that I have so much to write that many days I dismiss the prospect of a post because I don't have the time to do it justice. And then the unrecounted experiences add up. So, like last time, there's no way I call tell about everything that's happened since my last post.

Today, Weis, a 60 year old Dutch woman, left. She was the last of the volunteers besides me, so now I'm alone at the flat and it looks like it'll probably be that way for the rest of my time here, which is only three weeks. Its ok, I have enough to keep me occupied, I'll just miss having someone to talk and process with. Especially because I know these last few weeks will be quite emotional.
Summer camp ended and regular school started back up. Summer camp was fun, the kids really enjoyed it. At school I'm teaching linear equations to the advanced group, and the intermediate group is working on geometery, currently the area of triangles.
A few weekends ago I went to visit Mayapur, the main world Hare Krishna place. It is really beautiful. I saw more (white) foreigners (not tourists, religious folks) there than I ever do in Kolkata.
I continue to play football, frisbee and cabardee with the kids outside of school.
My birthday was on Tuesday. Weis and I went to Bobby's house for lunch. We had rice, dal, chapatti, panner, potato and jackfruit curry, tomoato chutney, and cucumber. It was delicious. Bobby's husband gave me a little statue of a man and a woman sitting together. It was very Western, and odd choice, I thought, but I really like it. I was surprised that he got something for me at all. After lunch, we watched The Notebook. Its such a good movie. It took me back to being with my friends in America though, so it made me a little homesick. After the movie, the girls came to the flat. The brought me a piece of cake, which we all shared. I know they all scraped together to buy it for me. It probably cost 10 rupees, about 20 cents. It was really sweet of them. After we ate cake, we had their first extra English class. The other day when they were over for computer class, Piya said to me, "Auntie, will you teach me, Mili, Arati and Prativa English?" I said, "what? You already have CRAWL English class! What would I teach? We do noun, verb, etc at school." Piya made a face. "Spoken English class." I agreed, though I wasn't really sure it would be much help. The classes are turning out to be less about actual spoken English. Piya and Mili read, focusing on correct pronounciation. Its cute that they're trying so hard though.
I just can't believe I leave in three weeks. Its unreal that its almost over. I've gotten so used to being here, it'll be a huge transition to go back home.

I'll try to write more for the next three weeks...
~m