Wits Without Words

It's amazing, the extent communication can reach without words. And I may not necessarily mean without any words necessarily, but really just common words. One of my women, Vooja, has been making eye-contact with me when one of the girls acts like they understand something that they actually don't. She is quick and helps me teach the others when they don't understand something by explaining to them in Hindi. We work together, yet we can't really converse about this strange partnership we've formed. She even gets the sly remarks I say between teaching them things and smiles to herself. I find myself glancing over at her out of fear that she knows I am not a teacher and I don't know my English as well as one should when teaching a group of self-motivated and quick to learn Indian women.

I'm also starting to understand the women when they talk to one another in Hindi. I don't know how and even more so do not know how to explain it. I know when they are talking about something completely irrelevant and I can definitely understand when Aarti is trying to describe an English phrase or word to others in Hindi. I know when they are making fun of one another. I know when they are talking about me. And, to my good graces, I can tell they have very few negative exchanges in regards of me. Unlike some other volunteers, I feel confident with them. We are friends. Can you be friends with someone that you can't have an intimate conversation with? Sometimes I so desire to share my passions, my worries, and the beauties in my life with them. But for now, pictures and basic English are what we are limited to.

We sit cross-legged in a circle on a bed in a small room. It's something so simple, yet so intimate and comforting. I'll find friendly arms on my leg as we play a game or cover an English lesson. Inder's daughter reminds me of Mr. Darcy (yes, I'm comparing a child to a cat) in the sense that she is the skinniest little thing, yet seems to expand like Stretch Armstrong. If she didn't live in the happiest home with the most lovely parents that give me hope for Indian marriages, then I would most certainly try to stuff her into my carry-on.