Maarten & Lauren
January 2016Canada,
“When I first arrived at Gokuldham in late December I
was unsure what to expect. I was eager to get
experience in a classroom setting because I’ve long
considered becoming a teacher. At the school I taught
mainly Social Science with Nilesh and Bharat, plus a bit
of English and Math. Through the Social Science
classes I was able to learn a lot about Indian culture and
history, and was impressed with the enthusiasm and energy of the students.
On a couple occasions my Canadian accent caused funny
miscommunications – during one lesson I asked the class what sheep are
used for. They gave me answers like fishing and transportation. It took me a
few moments to realize they thought I’d said ship instead of sheep. Staying
on the Gokuldham campus was a very enjoyable experience, with friendly
people, superb Gujarati vegetarian food, and lots of cultural events and
outings – including the kite festival in Nar, a Republic Day ceremony at the
school, and a mass marriage that was attended by
over 15,000 people. I can say my expectations were definitely exceeded. I feel much more certain
now about following a career in teaching, and I’ve been humbled by the
kindness and generosity of the Gokuldham staff. It’s been an unforgettable
experience.”