One evening after a tiring day, over a cup of tea I chanced to share my wife that most of my students haven't seen Pizza, forget about eating them. My wife gave me an immediate hope that she will make one for my students. Such a heartbreaking story is nothing uncommon at the remote corner of the country.
Couple of discussions went on for a few hours. It was a good chance to rekindle our childhood memories. Like the two of us, who've never tasted Pizza, we felt pity for them. As remote as Zhemgang, where everything is rare and monopolized and in absence of a Bakery Shop, turning my dream into reality was my dear wife who out of pity had willingly agreed to make simple Homemade Pizza for my students someday was promising and heartful.
I thanked her in advanced anticipation and good faith.
How badly I wanted to treat them with Pizza came to my mind after knowing most of them have never seen, or heard about Pizza. My wife who neither has training nor an electric oven at home giving me a hope was something beyond humanity, it was encouraging and inspiring.
In advance, she roughly gave me the item required for my unusual planning. I've arranged the required stuff as per her instruction a few days before the agreed date and time. By then, the annual exam was knocking on the door. It was Thursday. I'd class in the 4th period with them. The weather outside was sunny yet chilly. As I was free, I took a break and helped my wife prepare the ingredients for Pizza. She baked Pizza in a normal frying pan for a few hours. Along with other small tasks at hand, I took charge to prepare some Ezzey(chili paste). After working intensely for a few hours of hush and sweating, we happily baked 3 White Mushroom-Pizza and 3 Chicken-Pizza. Once everything was ready, I quickly packed all the items –Coca-Cola, Biscuits, Zaw(Roasted puffed rice), Ezzey and Pizza in a strong carton box. Relaxed, happy and overwhelmed with joy, I headed back to the classroom and my wife had a sigh of relief over a cup of tea (her favourite drink).
In the back of my mind, I was extremely happy that I could finally make 30 innocent kids happy and give them the rough feel of what Pizza looks like and how it tastes, more importantly, the first taste to most of them was something to cherish forever in life long after it is forgotten.
There is nothing as crazy and special as eating.
"Korean people love eating" was what my mentor often told me during my stay in Korea. It was never far from the truth, experiencing Korean students' craziness in eating in one of the seminars with 9th-grader and 10th-grader students from one of the nearby schools (around Seoul). The organizer has placed enough Pizza, KFC and Coca-Cola drinks in front of all the groups. I openly saw the excitement and craziness boiling among the students. I took a back seat and observed patiently and found my mentor's statement very true. As much as the Korean students enjoyed their lunch menu on that day, my Khengpa students may have enjoyed my wife's Homemade Pizza with full excitement and happiness.
There is nothing special and great for a classroom teacher to make students happy and homely. Fast forward to the changing time, as simple as this kindness, I always feel such moments are strong and worth remembering before it fades away from the mind. Eternally!
Comments
Post a Comment