I was out doing the bidding of Peace Corps when I met Alfred. He's the headsir of St. Xavier's, a private school next door to Shripur, a government secondary school where I had been doing some scouting for a possible site for a volunteer. St. Xavier's facade suggested that it was an upper-tier school. Like its headsir, St. Xavier's was clean and well kept. My meeting with Alfred was accidental. As I was leaving Shripur, I stopped to get a look at the large, enclosed playground across the street. Alfred was following behind some students when he approached me.
Posted in Birganj, Peace Corps culture, Technical training | Also tagged Bal Mandir School, Birganj, Goans, headsir, N/196, SEDU, shoe day, Shripur, site development, Tribal School
If I'm tired of talking about one thing it's my work. As soon as I see a friend, the first thing that is asked is, So, how's your school?
I tell and retell stories about teachers interrupting my classes, the headsir walking out of the office while I'm talking to him, and just the generally unwelcoming tone that the school held towards me for the past six months. I stuck around, taught my classes, played some basketball, all until something finally gave—me.
Introducing Alfred