Ushodaya Up School

Ushodaya Up School is situated on Muddanur Road over in Chilamkur. It’s a bit of a trek if you’re coming from the main town, but it’s right there on the roadside so you can’t really get lost. The building itself is pretty old-fashioned with thick walls that keep it somewhat cool during the hotter months. We have a small courtyard in the middle where we gather in the mornings. It’s not very fancy, just some concrete and a few potted plants that we try to keep alive. The traffic on Muddanur Road can be a bit noisy with the big trucks going past, but the kids are used to it and don’t pay much attention anymore. Our classrooms are simple with fans that hum quite loudly when they’re on full speed. We spend a lot of our day just making sure the children are actually sitting in their seats and doing their work. There’s a small room in the back where we keep all the old files and some spare supplies. Sometimes the roof leaks a tiny bit when we get a really heavy storm, so we just move the desks around until it stops. People in Chilamkur know us well enough, and we see the same faces every day. It’s a straightforward kind of place without any bells or whistles. We just show up, do the teaching, and head home when the sun starts to go down. It's a long day but it's what we do.