Sewing with the Refugees

My sewing class with the refugees from Nepal is going well. We get together once a week on Friday afternoons. There are usually around 10 who participate. We have fallen into a comfortable routine. Setting up the room is automatic. The students are waiting for me to arrive, then we all move our machines and supplies out into the larger room. I don't need to ask anyone to start to work. They are self-motivated and help each other. They do ask me for help with the sewing machines, material selection, and design ideas. I try to reinforce some basic sewing vocabulary, which I think they are picking up. Usually I demonstrate some technique, then they carry it out. A few of the students are advanced in their sewing skills and take it seriously. Some appear to attend class for the companionship, but always work. They made a number of harvest bags to sell and a few bags from recycled jeans. At some point we need to move on. I just need to figure out when and what else to make.