Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching a workshop to 28 Mitrata children, grades 4-10, in the beautiful Akama Hotel in Kathmandu. What a rewarding experience it was!

In contrast to many American classrooms where behavior management is often an issue, these students were quiet, attentive, and respectful. In fact, they were so quiet that it sometimes took coaxing to get an answer to a question! They weren’t uninterested but were sometimes shy and hesitant to make a mistake, especially since they were asked to speak in English. However, with the translation help of Yogesh and the BSF staff, the students were able to understand the information and relate it to their lives.

In American classrooms, students are often asked to participate in discussions, experiential activities, and small group activities, but these strategies were unfamiliar to the Mitrata students because student in Nepal often just listen to lectures and take notes. The students were also unaccustomed to social emotional affective learning topics more common in America. The topics for yesterday’s workshop included self-control, anger management, decision-making and handling peer pressure, all skills required to live a happy, successful life. I am also grateful to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in St. Louis, Missouri, who allowed me to use their curriculum, handouts, and posters.

I was so impressed with how dutiful the students were as they worked respectfully in small groups and did some breathing mindfulness exercises — during these exercises, you could have heard a pin drop!

At the end of the day, the feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive. They hugged me, presented me with flowers, and asked to have their picture taken with me. One student told me she couldn’t believe how quickly the time flew by, despite the fact that we were together for 6 hours. Other students wrote in their comments about their new perspectives on friends, peer pressure, respect, anger management, and respect for other people.

One of the most thrilling aspects of the day for me was the fact that the young woman I sponsor, Puja, assisted with the teaching. She is starting her second year of university where she is studying to become a teacher. So assisting me gave her some teaching experience and gave us a bonding opportunity. I was so proud of her! I felt like a mother, watching her daughter grow and mature into an inspiring woman.

Puja herself has faced many obstacles, including albinism, prejudice, and low vision. But yesterday, Puja was shining in front of the class, and the love between staff and students and among the students in the room was almost tangible. The Mitrata children and our BSF staff truly operate as a family, and it was my privilege and honor to be included in their circle of love.