October - Saint Mary's Catholic High School

OCTOBER 2010
Incredible India!
By Dr. Katrina Lace
This summer I had the incredible opportunity to spend five weeks teaching in India as part of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange
program to New Delhi, India. A total of eight American teachers were awarded this prestigious grant, which enabled us to experience
the vibrant culture and educational system in New Delhi, India. Each of the American teachers was assigned to a Kendriya Vidyalaya
(KV) Secondary School in the capital city. Kendriya Vidyalaya schools are government educational facilities, which primarily enroll
the children of government employees throughout the vast country of India. I was assigned to Kendriya Vidyalaya Tagore Garden, a
beautiful primary through secondary school in Tagore Garden, New Delhi. I was welcomed with open arms at the daily school
assembly on my first day at the school. I was immensely impressed with how disciplined the 1,200 students were as they stood
quietly in rows, outside, in the hot sun, for more than 45 minutes during the assembly.
I was assigned to teach English in 9 th and 11 th grade classes, with class sizes averaging 40-50 students per class. Despite the
large class sizes and the lack of air-conditioning, I was stunned by how respectful and eager the students were to meet me and learn
about my life in America and about St. Mary’s High School. My Indian students were thrilled to look at the 2009-2010 St. Mary’s
yearbook and they had hundreds of questions about our school and the students here at St. Mary’s. The students at KV Tagore Garden
were also impressed to see me wearing a Salwar Kameez (traditional Indian clothing). As an American teacher, I believe that I was
able to share many positive examples of American teaching styles and techniques, as well as aspects of American culture with both
students and faculty at KV Tagore Garden. I also benefitted greatly from my experience in India and learned many exciting things
about Indian culture as well. It was very inspiring to see, first-hand, how similar many of the values that we hold here at St. Mary’s
High School, are also shared by the students and faculty at KV Tagore Garden. At KV Tagore Garden, they also begin each day with
school-wide prayer (some days in Hindi, other days in English). Discipline and respect were also fundamental aspects of the
curriculum at KV Tagore Garden, as it also is at St. Mary’s.
My Indian students were forced to converse with me exclusively in English because the only two words in Hindi that I was
able to retain were Namaste and Namaskar (Hindi salutations or greetings). The students and faculty at the school expressed to me
that they felt their conversational English improved during their five weeks of interaction with me, in and outside of the classroom.
Despite my wonderful experiences at KV Tagore Garden, the most exciting and enjoyable aspect of my experience in India this
summer was the delicious food. I relished in eating the delectable and savory dishes that were offered to me at every turn. I quickly
learned that food plays a major role in Indian hospitality and I daily enjoyed an afternoon snack of Chai tea and samosas brought to
me by one of the canteen workers at school. Lunch time at my school was a major event and provided a valuable opportunity for me
to socialize with the Indian teachers, all of whom equally shared their vibrant stories and vibrant food with me daily.
By far, the most breathtaking part of my journey was my visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra. I was blessed with the opportunity
to participate in a rare full moon viewing of this historic World Heritage site followed by an early morning tour. The Taj Mahal is a
majestic monument to love, which truly reveals the ingenuity and perseverance of Indian culture and history.
I have been greatly inspired by my participation in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange to India. I am more convinced than ever,
that in order to truly be a citizen of the world, you must travel outside of your community and experience other cultures. I
fundamentally believe that my experiences in India will provide ample educational opportunities for my American students here at St.
Mary’s and I have already begun a pen-pal letter writing exchange between my American students and my Indian students. India is an
immensely diverse and rich country and I was, and continue to be, blessed by having had such a rich and savory experience.
At left, Dr. Lacey with some of her students. At right, a view of a typical Indian classroom, two students to each wooden bench.
Uniforms are consistent with the work attire of Indian adults, reflecting the seriousness attached to studies.
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