March 12 and it’s day three for Team 124. Yesterdays fears for some of us have translated into confidence as we have a better idea of what to expect. We haven’t fully acclimated to the time change yet so we had a pajama party in the wee hours in Sonja’s room. She has glass on the sides of her door so we know if she’s awake. She might want to rethink her accommodations if we invade her space too often which might happen as she has cookies.
Breakfast was wonderful as usual. Plans for dieting have been thrown out the window and I know for one I am going shopping for an Indian cook book when I return home. Get ready Margaret.
Yesterdays fears are lessening and we are growing in confidence. Like G.E we have a better idea. We head out to face the day with joy and trepidation in our hearts. Our game plans are in place and we feel better about how we are going to progress. However, I think someone forgot to mention this to the children. Dorothy, LaChenna and Sonja went long into the night planning songs and activities for their group only to find that a major challenge was having the children form a circle holding hands. It sounded like picking up mercury with ones fingers might have been easier. We are still struggling to find the proper level of challenge for the ages of the children so tomorrow we try again.
Margaret and Vivian went into action, well, mainly Margaret. She has a large and very active kindergarten group. Vivian has lucked out, however she has Borath who plans on being a judge when he grows up by bypassing the legal system and just entering the bench by gaining “experience”.
We were tested yesterday and I think we passed muster because today the older children were quieter and listened better. Margaret and Vivian both brought books and crayons to class which excited the children of all ages and we each managed to integrate the coloring and drawing in with the reading and counting. Again the challenge will be to find the appropriate level to challenge the classes.
In the afternoon we returned to SEAMS to visit with the children there. They are so sweet and I feel like a heel when I can’t remember most of their names. When you do remember you are rewarded with such joy from them that you want to hug them and never let go. I wish they knew how very special they all are . I still would rather dig a ditch for Global Volunteers because I know it will be one of the hardest things I do when I have to leave here.
Well, onward and upward and to quote Scarlet O’Hara……Tomorrow’s another day.
Vivian
A couple of quotes for today Ralph Waldo Emerson
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Second quote—Voltaire
Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do
Individually and as a team we are not guilty—we are trying our best to do our best..
Where to begin? This
morning we gathered for breakfast early as there was a knock at the door around
5:30AM—the missing luggage had arrived –Vivian and Margaret were ecstatic—it
was Christmas. The whole house had been
awakened, thus the early congregating –happiness emanated from all. Then reality came into focus—this was our
first day of work—we were going to our assigned schools. La Cheena was an asset to Dorothy and
Sonja—but the reality was still there—gathering a plan for working with 2 to 4
year olds. Margaret and Vivian were to
school and would not be working together—totally on their own with grade
school children. Their plan was no
plan—just jump in and hope for the best,
Returning home at lunch time I could see we had all been
challenged. LaCheena seemed calm and had
a sense of she was on the mark—able to change direction with the children as
needed. Sonja and Dorothy was exhausted
and stated the attention spans and abilities of the children were diverse—at
times difficult to engage the children.
Vivian and Margaret also found some children motivated and
others seeing the time spent with these ladies as play time. Both women were able to handle each situation
but felt frustration—noting that when the children were not engaged they could
become disruptive to the others. Margaret
mentioned to some students that the principal was nearby—that would calm
the child being disruptive.
We arrived home
chattering away—the conversation focused on our adventures with
children—Stephen and Sheeba were most helpful—suggestions and ideas were in the
air and the energy level increased with plans for tomorrow. The bottom line was
to emphasize the need to have the children use English, keep them engaged with
activities that flow into one another. And (for the grade school children) if
disruptive have them leave the classroom.
Sonja gathered us after lunch to discuss plans for the week
end—unanimous on taking the trip to Pondicherie. Then it was preparation time
before we go see the children this afternoon.
This afternoon we decided to walk to SEAM---looking at my
surroundings all I was seeing was contradictions---beautiful homes with
gorgeous gates against a foreground of trash, unpaved roads and numerous
dogs—not on leashes—are these really pets?
But in the midst of contradictions were people-all shapes and sizes,
doing what people around the world do—taking care of their business, their
family, laughing, talking and being part of a community.
Arrival at SEAN brought the children with hellos,
handshakes, smiles and willingness to meet one to one for reading, math and
conversation. Again, the question was
what do we bring to these children. We
are not teachers and yet that is what is expected. We discuss ways to reach the children but
with many there is the language barrier---we are here to assist them with
conversational English but before we can help them we need to help
ourselves. We need to keep looking for
the best approach, we need to support one another and to always remember every
little step we take just might open the doorway for someone.
Dinner was quiet—Stephen was alert that some of us were
stressed and moved the conversation to the positive events of the day. Everyone was able to find a morsel that may
have positive outcomes. We are a united
team which makes it easier to have the upbeat feeling.
It is 8:30 pm and all are still preparing, sharing ideas and
gathering materials for tomorrow. Also a
night of listening to the hit parade of songs for 2-4 year olds.
One last thought---am I the ugly American—here are all these
children who are fluent in their native tongue and learning English—all I’m able
to do is remember a few words of their language. . I feel privileged to be a small part of their
lives. Thank you Global Volunteers
Margaret
“in learning to know other things and other minds, we become more intimately acquainted with ourselves and are to ourselves better worth knowing.
Philip Gilbert Hamilton (author)
Today Team 124 officially met and got to know each other in our orientation class. I can tell already that we have a great team: Vivian and Margaret who have traveled together from Massachusetts, and made it despite a harrowing trip rife with hiccups along the way, Sonja from Illinois who had arrived the day before , and LaChenna from DC who already has spent a week here, and then there’s me, from California. LaCheena is a delight and seems to know much more than one would expect from a team member that has been here for a few days, we have unofficially assigned her as our “go to gal” for questions about her experience so far. After our introductions I was saying a silent prayer of thanks for being able to share this experience with such intelligent and interesting women, and I’ve discovered that they all have a good sense of humor and no one is taking themselves too seriously. We have already shared funny stories about ourselves, and I feel like I’m in a group of old friends instead of folks I’ve just met.
Stephen gave a great overview each facility we will be working with. He has already given us information in handouts, but talking about them again brings each facility into clearer focus for me. After that we decided where each team member would work the first week. It was decided that Dorothy Sonja and LaCheena would work at Assisi and Margaret and Vivian would work at Grace School.
We each landed on three things that we wanted to do (making sure it is an action phrase – to “do” something), and we shared our objectives with the team. Then we categorized our objectives and built them into team goals: To Enjoy Local Cuisine (and I could write an entire blog about how much I love the cooking provided by Rani, who appears to seamlessly create delicious delights), To create new Friendships, to Encourage a Cultural Exchange, and to Grow (I may grow with Rani’s cooking via my waistline, but our goal is more on an existential level!)
After our orientation meeting we had a great lunch. I noticed that I was still eating after everyone had finished (and I’m not a slow eater). We also laughed and chatted and Stephen, in answering one of my many questions, told us the story of how Ganesha, the Hindu Lord of Success and showed us the wooden inlay on the front door. How could it be that I’ve walked through that door and never noticed him?
I think we are looking forward to going to Seams later this afternoon, but after our lunch and chat we were given time to rest. Poor Margaret and Vivian, in addition to not having any luggage yet, are still exhausted from their very challenging trip. Sonja and I had a fun chat while I read some other Global Volunteers blogs.
After our free time (which we all spent doing some things and also taking a nap) we walked to SEAMS to meet with the children. When we arrived we were give a warm welcome from the children, who ran up to us and started shaking our hands and introducing themselves. They are all so uniquely beautiful and wonderful. They called us “Auntie” and several giggled about some of us being grandmothers, and whispered to each other that this one or that ne is a grandmother. It was challenging to hear and pronounce their names, but I’m sure that will come easier in time. After our initial greeting, we went inside to have our more formal introductions, we were treated to two lively songs complete with enthusiastic clapping and drum accompaniment. We noticed the different expressions from the children, some very happy, some a little sad, some silly and some bored. All wonderful as children are.
Our dinner was a special treat out, at a Anjappar, a restaurant that tickles tastebuds with wonderful spices. We learned that our food, according to Stephen, was not spicy, and we all laughed. All the wonderful flavors were a delight to the senses. The restaurant has been franchised around the world, but originated from Chennai. It was fun to see Roshan anticipate the arrival of his favorite dish “Lollipop Chicken” and enjoy his special treat ordered especially for him.
I think we are all tired but anticipating our first work day tomorrow with excitement and perhaps a little trepidation. Stephen warned us today to not have too many expectations the first day, and that days will get easier as time goes by. I know our group intention will be for learning as much as we can tomorrow about the children and setting an intention of love and not only doing our best to teach the children, but allow them to teach us in their own way as well.
Dorothy
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