Teachers from OPEN GATE School, Prague visits DAIS

I found myself staring out of the window the other day. I was gazing at an uneven quilt of blue and brown patches of corrugated sheets and pinkish-yellow and white thimbles. Small black and yellow triangles were sporadically appearing and disappearing beneath all of this. The fantastic image was being abruptly disturbed by high concrete towers and flickering neon-lights. And it was not quiet: no, there was a kind of disharmonic repetition of distant trumpets and horns, fusing and diffusing with monotonous humming of air-conditioning. Out of nowhere, an incomprehensible, melodic voice made it effortlessly through the window panes in to my room calling for attention and evening prayer. You see - this was the first time I had found myself fifteen floors above the ground; it was the first time I had found myself in Navi Mumbai. And it was great.

 

 

I am a teacher and I come from a relatively small and a relatively calm and quiet country; I come from the Czech Republic. Just for clarity about how “large” my country is: the population of the Czech Republic would dissolve in the streets of Mumbai one point seven times and you would not even notice. But I am proud of my country; I am proud of its successes and little victories. I am proud to see so many Skoda cars in the streets of this city that never sleeps; I am proud to see so many Bata shoes on the feet of the people who never seem to hurry but get everywhere in time and on time; I am proud to see pictures of Charles bridge in Indian TV commercials, which will never cease to amaze me.

 

I am proud but I am also thankful and very happy because I was offered a unique opportunity to spend a month at DAIS. I like to say DAIS, because it makes me think of the nice d-a-y-s I could have spent being a member of the community of teachers, students, administrative staff … the whole DAIS family. I felt an “insider”, not a foreign visitor and that was thanks to the open hearts and minds of the people here. I will walk away with more than notes for TOK, lesson plans for Lang.&Lit. units, GloPol case studies, food for thoughts from Drama lessons. I will walk away with memories of dedicated and loveable pedagogues, talented and motivated students and staff that goes beyond the possible in order to help. You truly have an extraordinary school in an extraordinary country.

 

 

I do not believe that a country is made of rivers, hills, bridges or castles. No, a country is made of people who live it, shape it, make it. No wonder TV says “Discover incredible India!” I did discover that India is incredible and beyond description. Thank you for having me and my colleague!

 

Mgr. Lukáš Chytrý & Kristyna Drabkova - English Department OPEN GATE – gymnázium a základní škola, s.r.o. Czech Republic Krystyna