Day 3: First day of school.

Waking to the intense blue sky and warm wind, I just felt lighter and excited: for we stated work today.  But in a very nice gentle way. For we had the opening ceremony.  All the kids were dressed up, a few parents had come on horse back, but most had walked or came by car and after looking around the school, we had a little open air welcoming ceremony when some of the children in the youngest class recited a poem and did a little dance together.  Very impressive.  They were mostly very confident and pleased to be back at school.   The teachers hugged the kids in welcome.

Then we went inside for a little talk about the programme when  I was introduced to the students' parents and the school schedule and successes were illustrated. The children had their first lessons and ice cream. (The generator has gone out, but the music, come IT teacher, and photographer and some others had liberated enough power for our needs today) Then the children went home and we staff had a nice cup of chai, bread and the most wonderful plum jam and cucumber and tomato together.  I thought it was lunch until we got back to the Alsu guest house where I am staying only to find that they had prepared us lunch.  I am certainly not going to go hungry here.  In the end I ate one mente or something like that which reminded me of Tibetan momos.

I am still on UK time so to me it is almost 10  but really it is 2.50 so time for my afternoon nap.  Tomorrow teaching for real starts.  So lots of prep needed for the week, but my schedule does not look too bad.