The NASA Saga

Chapter 2: The Reactions.

Today at 11.00 clock grade 4 received the response to their letters from NASA.

(Homegirl is NOT an arts teacher, so run with this please!)

However, we made sure they receive these answers with all the respect they deserve for being inquisitive 9 year olds.

So it had to look official.

For the students who were unable to attend a letter writing session, or were to shy to ask questions, we had someone else send in letters!

(It was me. That someone else was me. Sorry. Anti-climatic.)

And we also got some treats because it was time for celebration.

It all began with me shaking a bunch of brown envelopes and asking "So NASA replied" and a stunned silence followed.

Then, as I started calling out names for the kids to collect their envelopes, there was a quiet whisper, "we all got seperate letters?"

There was a lull in momentum, when upon receiving the letter Anabiya cynically remarked, "This is not from NASA, this is ma'am's handwriting."

So I asked little miss Sherlock to open her letter.

And then we were back to stunned silences.

Mustafa, who couldn't be there and whose letter said that we missed him and his energy of a 1000 suns will light up the world one day, broke the moment by dabbing.

And Haniya kept staring at her letter with her mouth agape even as I tried to give her a background on who these people were that had written back to her.

The only thing that broke her out of her reverie was Anabiya shuffling to see who wrote to her.

They now share excitement over @TheSpaceGal writing to them and plan to look her show up on Netflix.

(So all of us can now collectively pray that Netflix has made it available in Pakistan).

Last I left Alisha, she was giggling.

And Minahil was very bothered that the glue had worn off a bit so one of her responses might come off.

It was code red. We had to abandon everything to fix it.

Shy Muhammad who wanted all the answers but was too hesistant to ask any questions, went around showing his letter which told him he is a star and we will make sure he shines the brightest one day.

(We're working on that. Send prayers. I saw him laugh for the first time today.)

As for Rayyan: he is still in disbelief.

"Miss, ek din mein kaise? Miss sach bataayein."

"Miss aap mazaaq tou nai ker rahein? Miss sach mein SPACE se jawaab aaya hai?"

"Miss yeh SUCH mein astronaut hain? Miss main ghar jaa ke check keroon ga."

"Ek din mein jawaab de diya?"

Mahrukh wasn't at school today so we'll just have to wait to see what she does.

However, Anabiya and Haniyah have duly informed me that they are planning to hang out together this Sunday and study more about NASA and SUPARCO which Anabiya has taken to calling Pakistani NASA.

Rayyan has since assured me that I am his favourite teacher and he knew that since day 1 of meeting me. (I will quietly accept that.)

He is also asking if he has a shot at going to space if he studies a lot of math because he *loves* math.

Thankyou so much @TheSpaceGal, @Cmdr_Hadfield, @DLR_en, @Alee__Emran and everyone else who responded (On reddit, insta, in my dms etc.)

The kids have become a bit of legends at school and they are carrying it well.

Thankyou everyone who made this go viral! The kids don't know how this happened but I am sure they would be very grateful to all of you if they did.

This is a wrap on the live coverage of the NASA Saga.

May Grade 4 continue to have questions, always!