Calls.

Today was a day to catch up on phone calls. Had a long phone call with Z., where we discussed his arbitrary arrest and detention for what appears to be no more than DWB and bureaucratic nightmares. Good to catch up with him.

Also called India. M. was visiting FF this morning, so as the usual routine, I gave him a call on his cell phone, whereby my disembodied voice was passed around the core group of those who knew me well for the year. It was fantastic to hear that the two older girls A. and D. (16 and 17) were embroiled in teacher training, where they were learning to teach what appears to be pre-school or kindergarten. Sounded like they were happy and I have to think that they are both very good at it. Their voices have changed -- they sound like young women and no longer sound like girls. When asked how the children address them, I was told "Auntie, Uncle." Which is a little crazy to me. These little girls are now being referred to as Auntie.

S. was also doing well, heading out the door to pre-college, and having only the time to say hello and goodbye. Turns out he's got a girlfriend too, named Shripriya, and just to make sure, I made him confirm that he was in fact her boyfriend as well. (He is.) P. was also in high spirits as always, eager for a conversation, but forever unable to understand WTF I am saying. Nice talking though.

The oddest conversation was with R. He was a hyper kid. He was a smiling kid. But I think he's pretty much entered teenage boy mode. His voice has deepened, he answers every question with "yeah" "yeah" "yeah" or "what?" and there really isn't much to do except pepper him with annoying questions that he can answer yes to. A little sad I can't really talk to him, since the language barrier + the phone barrier + the adolescent male barrier is virtually impregnable...but I suppose it's nothing if not heartening that he's growing up to be like any other teenage boy who is impossible to talk to.

Other than that, normal work day. Took my mentee out to lunch at Kuruma Zushi on my mentoring budget...had some AMAZING sushi with money I did not need to shell out, and did some basic and easy work throughout the day. All good.