When we first moved to USA, things were not easy, but it was important for us to put our three-year-old in school. Being a naturally smart, curious and social kid, he loved school.
We did not own a car yet so we walked practically everywhere. On our walks, we used to pass a church about a mile away from our apartment. Outside the church, we had noticed this sign saying that they were accepting preschool registrations for the year. We thought we could try to get our son registered there. It was walkable and without a car, this school seemed like a really good option.
The next day, I called them to find out the process for enrollment. I went to the school with all the necessary paperwork and while talking to the secretary I mentioned that we had just moved from India, I was not working and my husband was a full-time student at the University of Texas. At this time, I don't know what prompted me but I asked her fi there was any way she could help me. She stepped out and came back in a few minutes and told me that the school was going to waive off registration fees and would enroll my son as a full-time preschooler for the fees of part timers! Since we had no income at that time and would be using our savings to pay for the preschool, this was a blessing and I could not thank them enough for their generosity.
 |
| Longhorn in a Bluebonnet field |
My son started school that fall. He and I walked the mile to school and back, whatever the weather. Soon it began to get colder and wetter, but we walked. Often our pants, shoes & socks would get damp, so I began to carry extra pairs of pants and socks for my son that I would make him change into once we had reached school.
Sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving, I got an email from someone who introduced herself as another parent with children going to the same school. In her email she said that she and some other parents carpooled their kids to school and would be happy to take my son along too. They had thought of everything – they told me that they had even managed to procure a spare car seat from some friends and all I had to do was keep my son ready every morning on time. I was so touched by their kindness and thoughtfulness. None of these women knew me, they only knew that I walked to school with my tot in the cold winter months and offered to help. Just like that!
The Principal of this school, Mrs. C was a seventy year old vibrant woman who had such intelligent, kind and smiling eyes that even the most timid child was able to connect with her. Every morning she was at the door welcoming all the children to school. I was amazed at how many of them she knew by name! One day, after I dropped off my son, she struck up a conversation with me and asked me what I thought would my son like to dress up as for their musical event in the coming month. I told her that I had not thought about it yet. “Don’t worry, I have some ideas”, she said. The next day she had a basket with a big buckled belt, cowboy hat, and a red scarf. She told me how to put on the scarf and to make my son wear jeans and a checkered shirt. Needless to say, my three-year-old made the cutest cowboy ever!
After that, Mrs. C and I would often talk. She would tell me about little things, the knowledge of which would make my life easier and adjust to life in America, faster. In one such conversation, she asked me if I had been to the public library yet. I had not. The very next day she drove me to the nearby branch of the library, helped me become a member and drove me home! The library was only a few bus stops away from where we lived and it became one of my favorite places to spend time, especially when it got too wet, cold or hot outside.
One day, Mrs C called me and said she was calling to me from below my apartment! She had loaded the back of her car with books, toys, DVDs, drawing paper and a big box of crayons. She brought all that for my son because she figured that we must not have a lot of kid stuff. So she just brought her grandchildren’s old things for us. I was left quite speechless at this sweet gesture! This kind lady was suffering the pain of her own first born dying of cancer at this time and she worried if my three-year-old gets to dress up just like the other kids or has toys to play with at home!
Kindness does not see nationality, color, religion, language or any other difference. Our very first experience of America was the warmth, welcome and the many kindnesses shown by the people at this school.
