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School Is In Session! And, Introducing Cuddles.

School is BACK! We have new students, a WHOLE BUNCH. We are up to 165 students. In addition, we couldn't stand to let our fourth standard students go on to our sister school, even though it is an excellent school, so we just kept them and added a fifth standard. The teachers are very, very excited. But the most exciting news is that Usha, our new headmistress, has arrived. In the three days she has been on the job, she has made a fantastic impression. When the junior teachers tried to compliment her, she said, "Don't, I have only been here for a few days. Tell me later, after I have worked very, very hard, if I have done well."

I am so happy, I am so happy for the teachers. But I am most happy for the children, and the parents who sacrifice so much to send them to school.

Here are pictures of the new textbooks and the new bookbags, donated by a lovely lady here in Hyderabad. Also, here are some pictures of some of the new students. Several of the girls are bringing their baby sibiling to school, as usual.

And this little guy is my new buddy. I can't even pronounce his very long Telegu name, so I have started to call him "Cuddles." He is super cute and has fantastically long eyelashes, I'm very jealous. Now, my first little buddy, Naga, was fiesty and incredibly independent. This little guy is a loving little cuddle worm, the counterpart to Naga. Cuddles finds me about ten times a day for a good, long hug.

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