"It's a small world" has taken on literal meaning for me this year, as one connection linked to another. My best West Bengali became part of a Swedish government grant program near the same time I was granted my sabbatical, forming an opportunity for four teachers to travel to Kolkata in late October - plenty of time to meet before I traveled to their home!
Their trip provided many wonderful memories, powerful conversations between student-centered educators from three countries, a chance to speak English with new friends & provided a trial run as a host for visiting guests!
We visited a "club" in Kolkata with a professor from Calcutta University. Many middle class Calcuttans have a membership to an organization or group which has a YMCA type set of parks, a pool, swimming & tennis lessons, outdoor dining, alcohol is served...it's a oasis of green & family time in a crowded city....surrounded by tropical greenery!
We shared an excellent last meal on before departing back to Stockholm & then, less than two months later...I was invited to share holiday dinner with the staff at their school in Stockholm just two days after arriving! WOW - the connections have been perfect!
Martina, Marcus, Sara's son, David & Sara enjoying the first course of a magnificent traditional Swedish holiday meal.
Celebration started with Glogg, spiced wine, heated in slow cookers....red on the left, white wine on the right. Almonds & raisins are spooned into the bottom of wine glasses & then the warm glogg soaks into them as you sip, leaving saturated, yummy sweet treats at the bottom of the glass!
The buffet was stunning - cheeses, breads & crackers, two kinds of herring, caviar & hard boiled eggs, smoked salmon, three kinds of pate, vegetarian dips, a dozen kinds of cold salami & sliced meats, pickles, fruit & warm rice pudding.
I came
back to the table with a full plate...and then learned the 20 ft table I
went to first was just the cold table...there were 40+ hot dishes, a
dessert table & an for pay bar!
Needless to say I left the evening very full! I felt very welcomed by the staff & great to reconnect with the four truly fantastic teachers I'd met in Kol!
Their trip provided many wonderful memories, powerful conversations between student-centered educators from three countries, a chance to speak English with new friends & provided a trial run as a host for visiting guests!
Martina, Marcus, Sara's son, David & Sara enjoying the first course of a magnificent traditional Swedish holiday meal.
Needless to say I left the evening very full! I felt very welcomed by the staff & great to reconnect with the four truly fantastic teachers I'd met in Kol!
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