Time for Play

                                                      Saturday Afternoon, time for relaxing.

The swinging bridge in Loly Goan

         

                                               We are going to have a picnic lunch

                                                  Out and about in Loly Goan at the weekend

                                                         Down by the River in Gitdubling

                                                        The Science Park in Kalimpong

An Article about the origins of the people of the Hill Region

People

The original inhabitants of the

 Darjeeling Hills were Lepchas or Rongpa (the ravine folks) as they prefer themselves to be known as. Though their origin is obscure, they are decidedly Mongolian in feature. The Khampas, another branch of the Lepchas, are warrior-like and more dashing than their docile cousins. The Khampas are recent immigrants from Tibet. The greater bulk of the people in the Hills are Gorkhas . They are industrious and enterprising as a race and speak various dialects. The short Mongolian type Nepalese, the Gorkhas, renowned for their military prowess the world over, and the first to be decorated with the coveted Victoria Cross, finds jobs and security both in the British and Indian armies. They carry the traditional weapon, the Khukri-a curved ornamental knife. Among the population are also the Newars or best known, the world over as the Sherpas. They are well known for their courage, stamina and surefootedness and for their immeasurable contributions to Mountaineering. Also much in evidence in the Hills are the Bhutias and they are divided into Tibetan, Bhutan, Dharma and Sikkimese Bhutias and a greater bulk of Bengalee from Siliguri subdivision. 

St. Joseph's School, Gitdubling: Celebrating Diversity.

One of the buildings of St. Joseph's Junior Secondary School. Built by Swiss Missionaries in the 20th Century

The pupils of St. Joseph's are from many different Tribes. Today they are celebrating their origins.

ST. STEVEN'S SCHOOL kAFER

The building of St. Steven's School was financed by Luxembourg

The school was gifted money to buy musical instruments. Trumpets were purchased.

01-05-14 Workers Day: The 13 workers who look after the school and the hostel children are honoured in style; a wonderful day.

Workers' Day. The Teachers and Students prepared and served the meal.

Workers'Day   The students ready to welcome the Workers into the hall for a celebration of music and  drama.

Lolay Goan,sits at the top of the hill on which Kafer is situated.
A large Buddha Statute.

Kafer Village: A very unlikely place to have a very successful Junior Secondary School.

Lots of Friends.

Daddy came for a short visit on his way to Nepal.

                                                                 Out and about in Gitubling Market Village

                  Enjoying a game of chess 

                                I've got a rubic cube

 "Do you like my hat? My head gets cold."

                                                                                     "Ailsa if you don't finish it, I will."

 Nearly dinner time,seems like everyone is lending a hand.

Premika and Ruairi 

OUT and ABOUT meeting up with FRIENDS

Agnes enjoyed playing with Ruairi and Ailsa

A weekend in Gitdubling down at the River Relly

An outing to Deo Relly SScience Park

 The Forest Swinging Bridge in Loly Goan

 A weekend in Barra Number staying with friends

Ruairi in India

Ruair and Ailsa out and about on a Sunday with some of the hostel children .

Ruairi joined Class3 whilst he was in India. Their were 35 children in his Class.
Ruairi coped with being at school in India, but I do not think he enjoyed it and was happier joining in activities with the hostel children, in the evenings and at the weekend. 

St. Steven's School in the back ground.. The building of the school was financed by a Charity in Luxembourg

Football is enjoyed by children all over the world.

MY GRAND CHILDREN RUAIRI & AILSA & THEIR MUM ELAINE JOINED ME IN INDIA THIS YEAR.

    The children enjoy their Tiffin out of doors.
 Today the weather is good.
Whilst there this year we experienced some
very unseasonal storms:  heavy rain, hail stones and high winds.

                 UKG                              Ailsa joined UKG as a                 member of their class.

There were 19 children in this class ranging in age from 4-5 years

The children welcomed Ailsa into their class and accepted her as one of them.

They were a lively class, enjoying free play time as well as the opportunity to learn : writing,reading,spelling,number work up to 9 whilst Ailsa was there and Nepali symbols and writing skills.

The children very few toys to play with
however it does teach them to share and play together

The shared  local language of the children is Nepali.
Their teaching medium is English