| Review: Anne Fryer on E.S. Tibet |
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| Written by Anne Fryer |
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The following article was written by Anne Fryer, a previous volunteer with E.S. Tibet.
A few weeks into our trip to India, my partner and I had planned to do some voluntary teaching in Mcleod Ganj, home of the Tibetan government in exile, and thought that we would easily find opportunities there when we arrived. However, to our surprise and disappointment, all the schools there informed us that they already had teachers and didn't need us. We spent a few weeks doing drop- in conversation classes, which were fun, but we felt we wanted something that we could get our teeth into. Although we were enjoying the many opportunities that Mcleod Ganj provides for rest and relaxation, we both had a nagging feeling that there was something missing.
Then, to our good fortune, we stumbled upon “E.S. Tibet”, a school a few miles from Dharamasala, with 23 Tibetan students and a manager, all living and working together, rather like a big family. We visited the school, and were immediately struck by the harmonious atmosphere and warmth and friendliness of everyone there. So, we eagerly accepted the invitation to go and live and teach there for a month or so. My experience at “E.S. Tibet” lived up to and surpassed my hopes and expectations. One of the things that really struck me was the mutual respect that the students show towards each other, supporting each other like brothers and sisters. Having been an English teacher for many years, working in many different countries, and teaching students from all over the world, I can say that the students at “E.S. Tibet” are among the most motivated, hard- working, polite, and respectful students I have ever taught. Every morning my class would greet me cheerfully with big smiles. They were so sweet and funny- some days they made me laugh my head off. And other times, like when I read their stories of their escape from Tibet, they made me cry. Aside from the classes, I'll keep fond memories of chats with the students, listening to the often- touching readings at breakfast time, a lovely BBQ evening, the school basketball championship, the most raucous game of “Pictionary” I have ever experienced, and eating the most delicious momos (dumplings) of anywhere in Dharamasala, until I was ready to burst. I am very grateful to the students and managers at the school for making my time there so special. On the wall in our room at the school were some words from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, on “The True Meaning of Life”. In it, he states that “we must try to do something good, something useful, with our lives. If you contribute to other people's happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life.” I think we found the “missing piece” at E.S. Tibet, and I hope that I may have contributed in a small way to the happiness of the students there, as they surely contributed to mine. |
