Bishop Cotton School

Up here in Shimla, the weather really dictates how our day goes. We are tucked away in the hills, and most mornings start with a bit of mist hanging over the buildings. It’s an old place with a lot of stone and wood, and you can feel the history when you walk through the doors. The students live here for a good part of the year, so it’s more like a second home for them. We spend a lot of time walking up and down the paths between the dorms and the classrooms. In the winter, it gets quite cold, so everyone is usually wrapped up in heavy sweaters. The views are nice, but we are mostly busy with the classes and the sports field. The bell rings for meals and for lessons, keeping everyone on a tight schedule. We have a hall where everyone gathers, and it has that old-school smell of floor wax and books. Sometimes the monkeys come around and cause a bit of trouble near the windows, which distracts the younger boys. It’s a quiet life compared to the cities, but there is always something happening. The teachers live nearby, so they are always around if someone needs help with their work. We don't have fancy malls nearby, so the kids just play outside when they have free time. It is a simple, steady way of life in the mountains. We just focus on getting through the school year together.