Inner turmoils of a teacher Part II

This is written four days after setting off from Richmond and is a refelection on what I have seen and learned in that time. We may have travelled in excess of 24 hours but we really could have travelled to another world. We have seen both extreme affluence and poverty - but enough about Newcastle, what about India? We have learned that your typical Indian motorist uses their horn for alerting a motorist of their immanent approach, for alerting a motorist that they have now past them, on approaching a bend in the road, on passing a bend in the road, on passing a moving bike, on passing a stationary bike, on passing a pedestrian, on passing a house, on passing wind...

We have also learned that Miss Nicholson can barter a street hawker from 600 Rupees to 200 Rupees through indifference alone, that it isn't the sole reserve of year 7 on a school trip to ask a never ending stream of already answered questions. That crocodiles can jump, that one pound spent on a massage chair is a pound very well spent,that our idea of extreme weather is actually just a drop in the ocean and that a cynical old git like me can still me moved after nineteen years in the profession. Seeing children of four years up who come from nothing and have no prospects of escaping that arriving at school full of interest and excitement has made me think somewhat. Where are we going wrong? Does money even come close to buying happiness? Why am i prepared to fritter away ten pounds on a CD or four hundred pounds on a season ticket to watch Swansea get beaten every week? I may be desperate craving a seventy pence can of Diet Coke but do I really need it? Given the lack of opportunities I have to admit that I do still crave it every hour of every day but my resolve may be wavering....

Written by Mr Fraser Dalgleish, aged 41 and a bit.