The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Back home with fond memories

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 27, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Back home with fond memories

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: She spent just six months in Belur, Karnataka, but is incredibly sad "about returning home to the United States".

"I am also very happy to be able to go back to America with so many memories, stories and lessons to share," says Emily Silver who worked with the Spoorthi Koraga Children's Education Centre.

Sharing her feelings about India and Karnataka, Ms. Silver said: "I don't know where to begin, the experience has meant much to me and is difficult to explain."

She thinks the children may not understand why she should have spent so much time with them and feel she has learned much from them by living with them. Now, it is difficult to say goodbye to them.

Trying to describe her emotions, she recalls how she taught them many words in English and the lesson on "feelings" at the English class.

"We learned the words happy, sad, nervous, proud and more and I have many of those emotions right now." She feels proud because she met some of the "most amazing, hard working, intelligent, funny and kind children in the world" in Belur.

While Ms. Silver wants to tell her folks back home what life in India is like, she says: "In America we have so many things but life is not as happy and peaceful as it is here.

"It is important for them to see how nicely you live, without all of the things people in America think they need to be happy."

She is grateful for all that she has learnt even learning "swalpa swalpa" Kannada, including some songs and dances.

But she has taught some bigger lessons: "At your young age, some of you have already been through more difficult times than I will ever go through in my entire life. You are working harder at school than I ever had to.

"You have fewer toys and "stuff" than most children in the U.S. have, but you have so much more happiness and relationships that are so much stronger than those of children there.

"The relationships you have with each other are priceless and cannot be bought with any amount of money."

Aside from some help with their English, she hopes she has helped them appreciate their culture and their country.

Some of the children wanted to come and live in the U.S. but she wanted to stay on in India. With their hard work, intelligence and talents they could make it big right here.

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