Kachai Reflection

When I landed in Imphal I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Stepping out of the plane it was almost surreal seeing the small airport set against the towering mountains in the background. The ride to Kachai was just as remarkable. The brilliant colors of the sunset stood in stark contrast to the dark hills covered by vegetation we drove through. After finally reaching my home for the next month, I was surprised by the thought that had gone into its arrangement. A sturdy bed in the corner with a small table beside it. A large wooden closet to hang my clothes, a kettle for boiling water, and fairy lights strung up along the walls of the room. Simple and thoughtful, what more could I ask for?

The family I stayed with owned one of the main tea shops in the village. There was a seating area with board games that was always packed in the evenings. While their younger daughter was away at school, her room became a tv room where everyone would sit and watch the sports matches or movies that were playing. Every day there were new faces, as well as the regulars, meaning there’s no shortage of people to talk with. The kitchen was mainly for family and very close friends. As I’d eat breakfast and dinner with my family every day, I’d have some of the most insightful conversations regarding life in the village. From learning about the origins of local festivals, to seasonal farming practices and preventing poaching, I was incredibly lucky to engage with incredible people every day.

When I first saw the school, I was taken aback by the size of the campus. Growing up in a city, our breaks consisted of going outside and hanging out on the playground in a small, fenced enclosure. Here, the kids were running about the giant grass field playing volleyball and football, resting on the long benches overseeing the vast valley below, or relaxing in the dormitories. The classrooms were simple wood structures, with benches placed inside facing the board in the front of the room. Close by was the teachers’ room, where they could organize their work between classes and during break. Further away was the assembly hall, dorms, and the kitchenettes where students cooked food for themselves.

One thing that sets this school apart is the personal connection the teachers have to the place. Many live on or near campus, with some residing as wardens in the dorms. Lots of the staff are related to the principal of the school, and that sense of family extends to the rest of the teachers. The teachers hang out with each other during breaks, and oftentimes unwind after the day in the principal’s house. We even went on a weekend hiking trip together, giving everyone plenty of time to grow closer and learn more about each other.

The kids come from various villages and range from pre-k to 10th standard. Since it’s a boarding school, many of the older kids serve as role models and parental figures to the younger students. Historically there was a lot of conflict between tribes in the area, but now at the school, children from all tribes form powerful friendships that will carry on long after they graduate. Since the school teaches an English medium, students become bilingual, opening many job prospects in the future. The school enables children to become the first in their family to go to college. In my first week there, I helped kids fill out their applications, and soon after I saw their joy as they were accepted.

I found settling in was made far easier by the hospitality and warmth of the people of Kachai. The parents of the family I stayed with even got me new shoes when they saw mine were muddy. Their younger daughter in my first-grade class was always wanting to play, and their older daughter, though only there for a few days, did everything she could to make me feel at home. The members of the sunbird team in Kachai were wonderful and would go out of their way to show me their favorite aspects of life in the village.

Teaching in Kachai, I grew more in one month than I had in several years. I’ve always considered myself open-minded, but this was the first time I put that into constant practice. From eating completely new food, to adapting to a different lifestyle, I was able to experience so many new things. Whether it was catching fish in the rice fields by hand, or learning a new traditional dance, the opportunities were endless. This internship may not be for everyone, but if you’re willing to adapt and immerse yourself in this journey, I promise you won’t regret it.

Josh Samuel
Brown University, United States