Wednesday May 9 Panighata

Natalie and Jane with marigold and rice tilak

Jan, Sarah, Nicki and Jackie

We are entertained!

Jackie, Michelle and Nicki

Panigata students

Panigata students

Panigata students

This was our last full day in Panighata. Things started of with a bang; a terrific thunderstorm took out the power. It wasn't restored until early afternoon. We continue to teach our classes: sometimes we come back elated after really connecting with the students, other times we feel deflated because the lesson didn't work as well as we had hoped.

In the afternoon, the school held a farewell concert for us. We were escorted in with dancing from the tribal lands. The Nepalese students presented us with a scarf and placed a rice tilak on our foreheads. After the school sang us a welcome song, a series of musical, dance and comedy acts followed. We were invited up to the stage where we regaled our enthusiastic audience with "There was a Bear" and "The Banana Song". The show concluded with Natalie and the school rock group belting out "Summer of '69". We continue to be moved by the warmth of the students and staff of the school.

Les, Jan and Michelle walked to the Loreto Sisters house to use the internet. On leaving, we met up with Natalie, Nicki, Jackie and Sarah accompanied by Manoush and company who were taking us on the long promised walk to the "Jungle". On the way to the forest, we saw quite a few monkeys. The main feature of the walk was a steep climb. There was a spectacular view over the forest to Panighata and the Balasom River.  A few mosquito bites later were back into the village, reaching the school as the sun set. Jane continues to fight a nasty cough but Les is just about recovered from his. We are looking forward to cool, mosquito free Darjeeling tomorrow.