While you may see all that’s missing, I see the possibilities. And in them comes a memory of a day when I taught a group of eager, crazy and thirsty students who braved a cold snap to prepare for TOEFL for the possibility of getting into an American College.

That day is pretty much like today. The freezing cold (35F), steady rain and fierce wind forced us to shove newspapers under the door to try and keep the cold and wind out. That day we spent 6 hrs in that classroom, me standing and pacing (in an effort to stay warm), the women crowded on on 2 small benches, while the men sat on thin mats on the floor.

I still remember that day fondly because it was a day in which we felt we had made great progress. Though tired, We all emerged from the classroom smiling. They over having triumphed over their circumstances to gain some treasured and priceless knowledge; me from being able to squash out ignorance and teaching them how to learn independently, in the process of teaching.

IN that instance, Knowledge was its own reward.