The Green Tara Project

I am going to write as much as possible here because in a few hours I will be returning to KGBV dorm and the Girls, and will not have access to internet for the next few days.

Got into Forbesgunge yesterday, exhausted.  It is a hot and dry time of the year, averaging high 80s during the day.  But the nights are cool, which I discovered in an unusual way.  So, from the airport in Baghdogra, I came to Apne Aap headquarters in Forbesgunge where much work is going on.  In a few days, a contingent of people, including Gloria Steinem, will be visiting, and so preparations for these visitors is under way.  Everything is looking very nice.  But, it is also crowded, and that is how I ended up in the Jyoti Hotel.  For those of you who missed my 2010 trip here, let me remind you that there is no love lost between me and the hotel, and, with last night’s experience, the sentiment remains unchanged.  However, I did discover, upon the air conditioning quitting at 2 am, that, despite how hot it was in my room, the night air outside was quite lovely.  Wish I could sleep outside.

So, this morning it was decided that I would go to KGBV, first for a quick visit, and then return to spend the next few days there.  Because of the spontaneity of the decision, no one at KGBV knew I was coming, and were so surprised when I pushed open the gate.  One after another, old faces greeted me, old faces that used to be much smaller.  The first was Khusboo, just a fantastic girl. And then came Baybee, Amrita, Nisha, Rashem, oh, on and on.  But about half of the girls that I taught in 2010 have graduated and gone on, and in their place are many new ones.  I will be doing the ‘Sister, remember MY name’ game tonight.  So pleased.