Lessons in Happiness

Asia » India » Meghalaya » Shillong
December 15th 2007

Published: December 31st 2007

Look at my photos from Providence at face value and you will see only bright smiles and happiness. Laughing children playing and learning in a mismatch of clothing and various states of dishevel (but they all seem to have shoes). A school facility that offers shelter, running water and even electricity. The classrooms have colourful tables and chairs, murals, blackboards, pencils, chalk. Food ... Read Full Entry

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Ellen

Ellen Around the World

I'm an Aussie girl who's mad about travel! Me and my pack have covered lots of ground over the past few years .... 2003 - 3 months leave to backpack Europe & Canada 2004 - Holidays in Bali, Indonesia 2005 - Holidays in Turkey, Greece & Thailand 2006 - 5 months leave to travel around the world - India, Nepal, to China, across Mongolia and Russia, through Eastern and some of Western Europe. Then home via Canada and the US. January 2007 - Holidays, North Island, NZ September, 2007 I decided I needed a break from the corporate grind and resigned from Ford in Australia, to do a year ... full info

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Grade One

Sonia and Partima

Grade One

Freddie, Medina & Azulalie

Grade One

Up to no good!!

Grade One

Anamica and Sumerlung

Grade One

Darisha & Onestar

Grade One

Mishil, Marisha, Sangeeta

Five meals a day cooked by a chef and served by smiling butler Chetri outfitted in white uniform in the dining room.

Kev & Brother Peter

Grumpy gets a shave Indian style

Registration for the Providence Marbles Competition

Providence Marbles Competition

On competition day, virtually the entire school line up in the hall for ‘registration’

Providence Marbles Competition

Sir Ray and Sir Michael (aka Grumpy) take registrations

Providence Marbles Competition

Competition is fierce, the crowd goes wild and a bunch of little kids walk away winners

Providence Marbles Competition

Billstar, the snottiest, least confident kid in my grade one class is declared winner

Morning Sales

Raju, Jessica, Ridaland and Usefully

Candlemaking

Mid-morning assembly

1st January 2008

Robert Lee
non-member comment

Can We Make A Difference
It's a crime that hunger and such unsanitary conditons still abound in so much of our world. Aftrer all these years of prosperity we haven't been able to eliminate such conditions. If the money that is spent around the world on WAR ,could be diverted to uplifting the people in such circumstances, we could then say, WE HAVE MADE THE EFFORT. As usual Ellen, your descriptive blogs transport us to where you are, Keep it up and enjoy. Bob

1st January 2008

Mariellen
non-member comment

very inspiring
Ellen, I was waiting for your blog entry from India and it was worth the wait! Thank you so much for the detail, the pictures, and for sharing your heartfelt enthusiasm for the school and the kids. I am planning to visit this region on another trip to India and will definitely visit the school and help out in any way that I can. About two years ago, I volunteered to work as an art therapist with Tibetan refugee children in Dharamsala (north India) and it was an amazing experience. I wrote about it on my blog, lemonindi, but I wasn't allowed to post any pics of the kids -- the organizers were worried Chinese authorities might patrol the internet looking for "escapees" from Tibet. It would be great if more people from the "first world" would avail themselves of these kinds of experiences to find out how most of the world lives, and also to find out that beauty, joy, contentment and happiness can be found anywhere, and do not depend on material richness. Thanks again for a great blog!

1st January 2008

Jeni
non-member comment

Thanks Ellen for the most touching of all your blogs !The photos of the children who have nothing and are completly thankful for any thing they have are priceless and left me a with a few tears, I can only imagine the personnal reward you got from teaching there, it can only make you think of all the superficial things we all think we need, certainly made me think. Glad you enjoyed the experience a great memory...keep on enjoying..Cheers Jeni

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