Friday, May 11, Darjeeling

Cut flower garden at NorthPoint and the path down to St Michael's

Barber shop where Les got a 30 rupee (6o cent) haircut

The sky was clear this morning, giving us beautiful views across to “the snows” or Kanchenjunga. Sarah, Natalie, and Jackie were met at the front of North Point to be taken down to St. Michael’s. They were paired with their teachers who oriented them to next week’s teaching assignments. After assembly, they spent the rest of the day observing classes. 

Meanwhile at North Point, Michelle and Nicki started their teaching with their host teachers. Les and Jan were given a tour of North Point by Fr. Santy. It is a beautiful facility with Canadian influences:

-St. Joseph’s-North Point has long been supported by Canadian Jesuits.

-The walkways in the quadrangle form a stylized maple leaf.

-Fr. Santy completed his Master’s at the University of Manitoba.

Fr. Van, the last Canadian born Jesuit on staff had coffee with Jan and Les. He is 85 years old and has been part of the school for 60 years.

Sr. Sabrina, Jan and Les also went to Hayden Hall to see the craft shop that featured bags, rugs and other woven goods made by women in the workshop. The brainchild of Fr. Edgar Burns, it started as a place where St. Joseph-North Point students met the poor. Today it has evolved into a centre that includes a medical dispensary, micro-credit program, mother and child health program, after-school tutoring and many other activities. 

After classes, the North Point group negotiated the bedlam of the shuttle taxis to meet up with the rest of the group in the upper market at Chandulal’s store. They showed us beautiful pashminas and exchanged money for us. His email is chandulalarg@yahoo.com After strolling through some other stores, we walked back down to Glenary’s for tea and some baked goods.