What is your name? What is your age? What is your village?
- Deerog Dewal. I am 14, from Paragpura.
When did you come to the hostel?
- I’ve been here 18 months.
Describe your family. Describe the family members, who they are, their ages, etc. Tell how it is to live with your family. What were the hardships and challenges that you faced, living at home?
- We have no health or financial problems. I have a sister, 15. One brother, 11. My father contracts to build roads. He is paid in installments. He has a 12th grade education.
What did you do before you came to the hostel? Work? Study?
- Went to school.
What challenges do you encounter here at the hostel?
- None.
Do you like the hostel, the school? In what ways do you like or dislike them?
- I like the school here. It’s very good. I also like the breakfast. At home we had only one cooked vegetable, but here we get two. The food is very nice.
What makes you happy?
- Talking with my friends here, in a large group. Laughing and gossiping. My happiest day was when my brother was born. I like to study social studies and the history of Rajasthan.
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?
- I want to meet Salman Khan, the movie star.
What would you like to do in the future?
- I want to study law. My mother puts her hand on my head, and tells me to study. So I will. She wants me to succeed. I would also like a big house.
What is your favorite thing?
- Chocolate ice cream. I love meat. We eat meat at home, goat, fish, deer, rabbit.
Tell me about your mother.
- I love her a lot. She passed the 5th level.
What makes you cry?
- When we girls fight. Sometimes I miss my mom.