Daragon Village, West Bengal

Rimbic scenery-last town before the hike into Daragon
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It is a difficult task,trying to put the last two weeks, especially since I am still trying to process it all. We arrived drenched in sweat and think humidity after a four hour hike from the nearest town. Oddly enough, we ran into Ryan and Amanda (our friends who have lived in the village for the past three years) on the trail. They were on their way with their two year old son, Asher, to Darjeeling; Amanda was to flying to Thailand for an International midwifery conference. Talk about a crazy life- these two seem to have it mastered. They have ignited a spark in the village that is impossible to overlook. The Swasta Kendra Health clinic and the Red Star Social Club Primary School are the early beginnings of a stable future for these hardworking families who have been forgotten, or better yet, forsaken by their government. The socio-economic changes that have taken place in the village since my last visit three years ago is astounding, but I'll save that soapbox for another day...

Leah and Elizabeth working their magic with class 1
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So our first night in the village was filled with the same genuine hospitality one usually finds when traveling abroad in culturally rich atmospheres. Smiles, giggles and "Namaste"s (the Nepali greeting) were in abundance along with hot chia (Nepali tea) and a deliciously hot meal.

I went to Daragon not sure of what way we would be able to help in. I was thinking something along the lines of helping in the Clinic, but that was covered, the women Ryan and Amanda trained had everything under control. In fact, I rarely saw the clinic except for during the afternoon feeding program for the local, malnourished children. Instead I found myself teaching Math and Social Studies to Class 3, ages 8-9, in the mornings and trying to entertain the younger classes, ages 7-4, in the afternoons. For those of you who know me well, I can see that smile crawl across your lips as you think of my tendency to not like having to entertain small children I don't know and in turn, their tendency  to not be entertained by me. Needless to say, the afternoons were long but the  weeks went too fast. Thank God for Leah and Elizabeth, they are like libraries when it comes to kid songs and games!

Adorable little girl with hankie on her head
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The Red Star Social Club Primary School was established in replace of the local government school that is in shambles and lacks a consistent teacher. Ian,another friend from Denver, has also moved to the village to teach full time alongside two other local, volunteer teachers. There are about 70 kids attending the school from nursery to Class 4. The older kids speak and understand english very well and I thoroughly enjoyed our mornings together. The evenings at the  feeding program were my favorite part of the day. I nearly fell in love with a little boy named Silas who had previously suffered from Rickets due to malnurishment, and his older sister Rojeena

Blurry, but fun, picture of class 3
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The brilliant, mystical backdrop of the Himalayan  mountains during monsoon only served as a catalysis for the beauty these people shared with me during our stay. Once again, I am left wondering and hoping that I left as much with them as I am taking with me.