Recipes from Ronni & Sheeba

Okra Poriyal (serves 6)

1 tablespoon cooking oil
½ teaspoon mustard seed
¼ cup chopped red onion
1-2 tablespoons fresh whole curry leaves
4 cups sliced okra
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons masala
½ teaspoon turmeric

Heat oil in a large pan. Add mustard seeds and salt – stir. Add curry leaves and onions, sauté until onions are translucent in color. Add the sliced okra and turn up the heat. Cover and cook about ten minutes, stirring on occasion. Okra should no longer be stringy or liquid Add masala and turmeric and stir. Cover and cook for an additional 3 minutes and serve.


Tomato Chutney (serves 6)

¼ cup – 1/3 cup oil
½ teaspoon mustard seed
1-2 tablespoons fresh whole curry leaves
½ cup chopped red onions
3-4 tomatoes, cut in half and sliced thin
1-2 teaspoons salt to taste
1-2 tablespoons masala
3-4 tablespoons water
Pinch of fresh cilantro

Heat oil and mustard seed to a crackle, add curry leaves, red onion, garlic and sauté until onions are translucent in color. Add tomatoes and stir, add salt to taster and reduce for a few minutes. Add masala (in a pinch masala can be made by equal parts chili, coriander and turmeric). Add the water, reduce further and add cilantro just before serving.

Potato Curry (serves 6)

3 large boiled chopped potatoes
3 tablespoons oil
½ teaspoon mustard seed
1-2 tablespoons fresh whole curry leaves
½ cup red onion, coarsely chopped
1 hot green chili
2 tomatoes
¼ cup cilantro
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon masala
1 cup water


Heat oil over medium heat. Add mustard seeds until they crack. Add onions and curry leaves, sauté until onions are translucent in color. Add chili and tomatoes, stir. Add cilantro, stir and reduce for a few minutes. Add the potatoes and very gently stir. Add salt, turmeric, and masala and mix. Stir in water and cover. Simmer stirring occasionally until most of the liquid is absorbed.

Chapatti (makes 15)

500 kg wheat flour
1 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon salt
Water

Mix together adding water until the dough has a play-dough like texture. Let sit room temperature for ½ hour.

Divide dough into 15 equal parts and form into balls. Roll ball out into an 8” circle about 1/8” thick. Brush lightly with oil and fold into quarters. Roll out again adding flour so dough is not sticky. Cook over low heat brushing with oil until browned, turning repeatedly (about 4 times). Dough will bubble. Serve.

The last day....

The last day together for our team, some of us continue on our travels in India and Cambodia while others head back to Minnesota, where winter has already begun! We begin the day with our new routine of yoga on the roof. Our instructor pauses the class to take a quick call on his cell phone, life in India!

We made the rounds to the different hosts and were spoiled with gifts. Tears were shed as we said goodbye to our new, but dear friends. The faces of the children are those that we will never forget. Off to SEAM for our last visit. The children sang and danced, a full performance. The children there are so bright and talented. They have been a joy to work with. Watching Stephen help them study and just engage them all is amazing – you can truly see what a difference he makes in their lives. His love shows through so much.

Hard to say goodbye to India, our team and all the friends we have made here. Stephen and Sheeba have made this an amazing two weeks that none of us will ever forget!

"Love and Serve"

"Love & Serve" is the motto of Saint Thomas Hospital in Chennai ~ more about this amzing place later!

The day commenced with Rubina (my Australian Nurse colleague) & I going to Assisi Ilam Orphanage & Day Care Center, run by the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Joseph. (Sister Rose is the ever-smiling, cheerful Sister-in-Charge) The orphanage is 3 years old, and was built thru funds raised by children in a Catholic parish in Luxembourg. Assisi House is a bright, well-maintained & cheerful place & the children appear to be very well cared for. The Sisters treat the orphans as "their own" & consider them all siblings. (Some of the oprhans lost both parents in the 2004 Tsunami; another was left at the doorstep of St Thomas Hospital...)

Rubina & I had what appeared to be at first the simple task of taking 2 groups of 5 kids(ages 3-5) each & teach them songs, alphabets, colors, numbers, etc. Clearly, Rubina is the more talented teacher, as 2-3 of "my" kids wandered over to her side of the room! It was a fun & lively experience & 1 kid was able to count to 10 at the end of 2 hours! After the kids ate lunch,
it was nap time for them, so Rubina & I had the pleasantly mindless task of folding laundry!

Later in the afternoon, we went to another orphanage run by the Sisters, called Saint Joseph's Home. We met Sister Backiyam, who started the home 23 years ago; sadly, due to illness, she is confined to her room, but she has a lovely sparkle in her eyes, and smiles brightly. The kids put on a musical performance for us, which was quite lively~ they are a talented bunch, esp the 2 drummers!

In the evening, Rubina & I went to Saint Thomas Hospital (www.stthomashospital.org) Words can not describe this place. Run by the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Joseph, it was started by their Medical Superindent, Sister Rexline, a physician. It was originally a small clinic & dispensary & has evolved over the years into a multi-specialty hospital with many village clinics.

Upon meeting Sister Rexline, who's probably no more than 4'5", you realize that you are in the presence of someone special (she was friends with Mother Teresa & there's a photo of the 2 of them, over Sister's desk) Her colleague, Sister Agnes, a nurse in the operating room, gave us tour of the entire complex..what an amazing place. Can't wait to go back!

“All work and no play make Jack a dull boy”

Free weekend commences! After an early breakfast we were surprised to find a luxury van waiting to transfer us: 3 full, comfy seats and air conditioning with separate controls for the second and third seats.

We set off into the daunting Indian traffic on a new 4 way highway. First stop: temple town of Kanchipuram, where Stephen expertly guided us through three Hindu temples (Ski Akanbaranathar, Karlasanther and Devorajuswarnie), explaining the dizzying details of carved representations of various gods and goddesses in sundry incarnations.

Next stop: shopping for silk scarves at the sari shop, where we again experience Stephen’s incredible patience. I think we spent hours there. Just when we all thought we couldn’t possible allow ourselves to purchase another scarf the proprietor would whip out another stack in an entirely different style. Once again we ‘ooohed’ and ‘aaahed’ and grabbed and justified purchases (“How much do you tink this would cost at home?”)
*****
Off to a great lunch at a local hotel – buffet this time, a wonderful, superabundance of choices allowing no opportunity for moderation.

We settled in for the “2 ½” hour drive to Pondicherry, town of heavy French influence. We are thankful for the expertise and finesse of our drive. En route George regaled us with selections from his boundless repertoire of travel trials and tribulations.

We arrived at our jaw-dropping accommodations: Shalimar Guest House, located between Pondicherry and Auroville, owned and operated by a French woman and her Indian husband. It was built in the French style, surrounded by a lush and lovely garden and is stunning. It is immaculate and beautifully and elegantly decorated with Indian textiles and artifacts, marble floors and wide verandas. What a change from our guest house, and a nice change of pace. Madame served cold beer before we headed off to town for the evening.

We explored the French part of town, complete with palatial looking gendarmerie, and walked along the beach, imagining what the streets might look like if only the power hadn’t been cut.

The day concluded with a great meal together at a French/Indian restaurant, where George treated us to a lovely bottle of locally produced white wine.

All in all a wonderfully enriching, soul restoring day spent with terrific travel mates.

Chennai celebrated another day of Devali which meant for us no school. We all headed off to the childrens homes – Jane and Robina to SEAM and George and I to Assisi. The difference between the two are great. I know that in India all of these kids are lucky to be in either place but you can’t help but notice how much nicer Assisi is.

Afternoon was spent dining out and shopping, shopping and more shopping. We headed to the fabric store. Five levels of chaos mixed in with fabric – it was too much! Hard to even know where to begin. Next came the jewelry. At the gold store people pushed and shoved their way to the counter and lined up outside the door. Lucky for Robina and I Indians don’t like silver! The shopping experience was like the day after Thanksgiving in the states – at Walmart, after a new game station comes out.

Stephen is a patient man!

We were all grateful and relieved to return to the guesthouse for a quiet evening and a cold beer!

“Love the truth and be true to Love”

We start the day with another delicious breakfast! The Americans enjoy 2 cups of coffee I can tell they are excited and relieved to have more coffee! Everyday it seems is getting easier our group is very humors, positive and friendly.

George and I go to ASSIS and we are greeted by the beautiful children saying Aunty and Uncle Hello it really does touch your heart. We go upstairs and 13 little people follow they are so clever they get chairs out and sit around a circle. I start with numbers 1-10 with most children counting to 10. I hear George talking softly and saying “children, children now children” it brings a smile to my face. A smile bigger then the one that I started the day with. The children have the longest eyelashes and the most amazing smiles the light up a room. We then venture down stairs with all the other children and Sister Rose has a stereo with western music and Indian music, we all start dancing to the “chicken dance” and George dances with Sister Rose it really was fun! Sister Rose danced to a beautiful Indian song and everyone smiled it truly was beautiful. She has the grace and charisma of a kollywood star!

I joined George and Jane for a 45 minute trip to inner Chennai for them to change there airline tickets. It took 1 hour to get there and both George and Jane are very happy as they have changed airline tickets.

This next section is very emotional for me and I am sure George will agree. We meet with Doctor Sister Rexline it feels surreal to be in her presence. Sister Angus gives of the Villages. Sister Angus is very calming, friendly and knowledgeable. The first place we visit is a hut where a Mother and Son live. The mother had a fall into a well and is paralyzed and is confined to her bed in this tiny straw roof hut. She also has a smile that lights up the room. She tutors children from the village she shows a copy of the student records and for the month of November 2007 there is already 10 students recorded. She also shows us photos of a Christmas party she has organized. Both George and I receive a gift from her she has handmade a woolen brooch in the shape of a rose. I had to look away as I had tears in my eyes. It will be treasured for life. Next we meet a driver and we arrive at another village and meet Sister Nita who is treating patients from the village. George and I agree it is like a community centre. Many locals visit the clinic to receive pain relief for tooth aches, back pain. While we are sitting in the clinic children gather at the door smiling and running away and then coming back. I went out and said hi and then more children come so friendly and touching. We then drive to another village and visit another community centre run by an anesthetist that doesn’t have any patients; we then visit the library run by St Thomas it is filled with many books, biology, religious and sport. It is Dewela festival with fire crackers going off everywhere we watch children lighting fire crackers in the streets, laughing and sharing them with family and friends.

We are driven back to St Thomas and Doctor Sister Rexline greets us and explains that she has been supporting the lady in the hut for 11 years and she has put money away for her and her son if anything happens to herself. I am speechless and feel so honored to have meet Doctor Sister Rexline and her staff.

It truly has been an evening I will treasure for a lifetime.

“The longest journey begins with the first step”

The team gathers comfortably for breakfast – relieved at having secured our assignments, becoming increasingly relaxed in our growing familiarity with each other and the locale. Most are better rested. Off to Day 2 of our micro missions to make the world a better place.

Teachers and staff at St. Joseph’s School - 500 students from all classes of society – look elegant and cool in their lovely saris. The office staff are in bare feet, making ankle bracelet music as they walk.

I arrive at Miss Pintomercy’s Upper Kindergarten class of 41 five year olds and notice that today’s student uniforms are navy blue, black shoes and blue socks, contrasting with yesterday’s head-to-toe white. Only the gray and blue neckties are the same. The sea of beautiful little brown faces greets me with enormous white smiles. They are indescribably endearing, all wanting to grab my hand and ask my name again.

I immediately begin to gush with perspiration and notice that none of the four ceiling fans has been called into service. The children are reciting a story in English about a hunter and some birds. Over and over and over they repeat the words and I wonder if they understand what the story is about.

The class is eager to sing “I’m a Little Teapot” again, which I taught them yesterday. It seems that memorizing the words was homework last night. It is remarkable how quickly they learn songs and stories by heart, thanks to the Indian system of multiple repetitions and the addition of prompting gestures. I sneak a glace at their copy books and note they already have begun writing in cursive.

I taught them the “Rainbow Song”, complete with visual aides, and the liked it and learned the words quickly. I decide to bring paper and crayons so they can draw their own rainbows – the American system of reinforcing learning via multiple avenues.

At one point Miss Pintomerci vanished – I know not where – and the kids lost no time noting the absence of her and the ever present “whacker”. All I can say is that it was a blessing that “only” 38 of the 41 enrolled students were present.

Off to Mrs. Kavitha’s Lower Kindergarten class: over 50 3 ½ and 4 year olds registered. I repeated my ”Rainbow Song” presentation to this slightly less responsive group, assisted by the teacher who coached me to add on in small increments, going back to the beginning and repeating the whole thing again after each addition.

Time to go back to the Guest House, damp, bushed and hungry. All teachers of small children deserve sainthood!

I notice how things at first so shocking and unfamiliar are becoming less noticeable: mud, garbage, perilous mélange of people and all manner of vehicle traffic in the streets.

Other visitors preceded Karisa, Sheeba and me to SEAM: four members of the local Ladies Club were “well-wishing” by bringing snacks and other items for the kids. They do a great deal of charitable work and were eager to tell us about it. We spent the evening looking at books and flashcards and talking. Their enthusiasm is humbling. Their obvious appreciation brings a lump to the throat and I ponder life style differences and how values develop.

We wrap the day with a great meal with Sheeba and Stephen. Stephen enchants us with the story of their meeting and marriage and enlightens us about various religions in India.

7:30 P.M. and time for bed!

India Volunteer

Thought For The Day
“The longest journey begins with the first step”

The team gathers comfortably for breakfast – relieved at having secured our assignments, becoming increasingly relaxed in our growing familiarity with each other and the locale. Most are better rested. Off to Day 2 of our micro missions to make the world a better place.

Teachers and staff at St. Joseph’s School - 500 students from all classes of society – look elegant and cool in their lovely saris. The office staff are in bare feet, making ankle bracelet music as they walk.

I arrive at Miss Pintomercy’s Upper Kindergarten class of 41 five year olds and notice that today’s student uniforms are navy blue, black shoes and blue socks, contrasting with yesterday’s head-to-toe white. Only the gray and blue neckties are the same. The sea of beautiful little brown faces greets me with enormous white smiles. They are indescribably endearing, all wanting to grab my hand and ask my name again.

I immediately begin to gush with perspiration and notice that none of the four ceiling fans has been called into service. The children are reciting a story in English about a hunter and some birds. Over and over and over they repeat the words and I wonder if they understand what the story is about.

The class is eager to sing “I’m a Little Teapot” again, which I taught them yesterday. It seems that memorizing the words was homework last night. It is remarkable how quickly they learn songs and stories by heart, thanks to the Indian system of multiple repetitions and the addition of prompting gestures. I sneak a glace at their copy books and note they already have begun writing in cursive.

I taught them the “Rainbow Song”, complete with visual aides, and the liked it and learned the words quickly. I decide to bring paper and crayons so they can draw their own rainbows – the American system of reinforcing learning via multiple avenues.

At one point Miss Pintomerci vanished – I know not where – and the kids lost no time noting the absence of her and the ever present “whacker”. All I can say is that it was a blessing that “only” 38 of the 41 enrolled students were present.

Off to Mrs. Kavitha’s Lower Kindergarten class: over 50 3 ½ and 4 year olds registered. I repeated my ”Rainbow Song” presentation to this slightly less responsive group, assisted by the teacher who coached me to add on in small increments, going back to the beginning and repeating the whole thing again after each addition.

Time to go back to the Guest House, damp, bushed and hungry. All teachers of small children deserve sainthood!

I notice how things at first so shocking and unfamiliar are becoming less noticeable: mud, garbage, perilous mélange of people and all manner of vehicle traffic in the streets.

Other visitors preceded Karisa, Sheeba and me to SEAM: four members of the local Ladies Club were “well-wishing” by bringing snacks and other items for the kids. They do a great deal of charitable work and were eager to tell us about it. We spent the evening looking at books and flashcards and talking. Their enthusiasm is humbling. Their obvious appreciation brings a lump to the throat and I ponder life style differences and how values develop.

We wrap the day with a great meal with Sheeba and Stephen. Stephen enchants us with the story of their meeting and marriage and enlightens us about various religions in India.

Karisa, IND0711A1

Thought For The Day:
"Be the change you wish to see in the world" ~ Gandhi

Day one of Team 59 to India and how could I not start us off by quoting Gandhi? All four of us volunteers have arrived via different routes (some more efficient than others) and places in the world and have come together to work and experience India in this community of Porur.

The day begin with some of us attending a Catholic service with Stephen and Sheeba, very interesting to see in Tamil! We met make at the guesthouse for a breakfast of ramen. It is evident already that Rani, the cook, will spoil us with delicious meals.

After breakfast Stephen led us through the orientations process. We talk about the work projects, schedules and free time activities. We all share our individual goals coming on this service program which Stephen helps us turn into team goals. We brainstorm the characteristics of an effective team and all pleged to abide by them.

After orientation another fine meal of curried rice and yogurt. The afternoon was free as the rains prevented us from touring Chennai. Some walked around our new neighborhood, others visited the internet shop and one of us slept off the jet lag - - again! Dinner at a hote, Stephen expertly ordered for us all. The real adventure was crossing the main road! And now, the day comes to an end with the sound of fireworks in anticipation for the upcoming Divali holiday and the smell of sweet Jasmine flowers.

Welcome Global Volunteers!

Shirliana Glassberg - Webmaster, Global Volunteers: The staff at Global Volunteers welcomes you to India and invites you to share your thoughts with others through our online blog. Have a great team and thank you for helping us, to help made a difference in the world.