India Service Program Blog

Thursday, August 8, 2013

 

 

"We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill

 

 

Today, Thursday, August 8'th starts the end of our time here in Chennai. After breakfast, I left for Assisi and Frank and Sam left soon after for Christ King school for our last day at the schools and daycares due to the holiday on Friday. Following our usual crazy and exciting morning, we came back to the house to have a delicious traditional India lunch served on banana leaves. At the end of the fun dining experience, Stephen and Sheeba presented Frank with his first and oh-so-longed-for official lungi. Of course after receiving it, it was immediately put to use for pictures and practice. Soon after, Stephen, ,Frank, and Sam went to experience an Indian bus, rickshaw, and train ride. Upon their return, we headed to Seams for the daily reading sessions with the kids. After some time, Frank and Sam left to go see an apparently hilarious Bollywood movie which took up mostly the rest of their night. Stephen and I stayed at Seams for a good bit after that where I continued to read with them and even practiced writing in Tamil. We soon said our goodbyes for the day and walked back to the house. Over dinner, Sheeba and Stephen shed some light, in much detail, on the very complicated caste system which I thought I knew much about bit was certainly shown otherwise. After a very interesting and eye-opening conversation, we headed to bed to get some rest for our final day here in Chennai.

 

 

Jamie

 

 

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

 

 

Morning with the students of the fifth standard at Christ school included a competition between girls and boys in performing multiplication and division problems. The girls won handily. Singing, a round of "Simon says," and reading from a pop-up book rounded out the session. Sam and Frank signed more autographs. Many of the kids who already had autographs brought theirs back so that we could add telephone numbers.

Jamie advises that the Assisi kids were pretty cooperative today. Jamie has an excellent memory for names, and has practiced some Tamil phrases. This makes him effective in communicating with the students. (At SEAM, he can call out every student by name in a matter of seconds.)

After class, Sam and Frank visited the government museum in Chennai. The museum is notable for its collection of bronze creations dating to about 1200 AD and its collection of Indian modern art.

At SEAM, we conducted another round of a dozen reading sessions. A couple of the kids were disappointed that they didn't get rewarded for reading with phone time, but this approach was better as it helped the kids focus on the work instead of rushing through it to get to the cell phone games. Some of the kids pretended to be crushed -- they're good actors, but not that good.

In the evening at the Music Academy Madras in downtown Chennai, Frank and Sam attended a ceremonial dance recital. The 70-minute dance performed entirely by one woman to the music of a five-piece ensemble, originated in the 12th Century and takes the performer about six years to learn. It's far more complicated and athletic than it seems, because the dance tells a story, and the story is relayed not just through movement but through facial expressions.

 

 

Frank

 

 

 

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

 

 

"Those who live passionately teach us how to love. Those who love passionately teach us how to live." -Sarah Ban Breathnach

 

 

Today, Monday, August 5th, starts our second work week at Seams, Christ King School, and Assisi Illam. Just as we had last week, after waking up and having breakfast, I left for Assisi and Frank and Sam went to Christ King School. Upon arriving, I was greeted with a quick game of soccer with some of the older kids who had the day off school. We played some games for a little before sitting around and actually having a pretty successful teaching session of the ABC's with the toddlers who usually have quite short attention spans. Just as last week, before I knew it, it was time bid Assisi farewell for the day and return to the house for lunch. Over some beef briyani, Frank informed me of his morning and how they, as well, had a very successful morning teaching the kids, having some educational contests, and a good reading session. After lunch, we went to a place called "The Cottage Emporium" to shop for some bronze statues and Indian textiles. Immediately after arriving, I knew I could get lost in there for hours and spend every last rupee that I had on the magnificent collection of cultural goods surrounding me. They had what seemed like literally every piece and kind of Indian art that any foreigner would ever want or need. Before draining my wallet, we checked out and headed back to go to Seams. We spent the usual one-on-one time reading with them before everyone headed off to catch movie. I stayed at Seams for a good bit after that finishing up our reading session and playing some games as I was not too hype on the idea of seeing another 3 hour movie in Tamil. As it was getting late, I said my goodbyes for the night and took my leave back to the house to have some dinner. Not too long after did they get back and explained their night's cinematic adventure which seemed to wear everyone out. We were all feeling quite tired and headed off to bed to get some rest for our next fun filled day.

 

 

Jamie

 

 

Monday, August 5, 2013

 

 

At Christ King's today we taught the kids how to measure things using centimeters and meters and how to convert the two into each other. After about an hour and a half of practice, we read about the human body and dad led a digestive system learning train. Jaime told me the kids were crazy today, crying the whole the time, he had to run the whole time to control the kids.

 

 

After a particularly time consuming yet delicious lunch at a local hotel, Stephen explained to us the reason there were so many broken pumpkins. It’s a Hindu way of signifying either a new or full moon.

 

 

After more one on one reading time at seams, we went to the busiest street in Chennai, which is essentially a giant shopping center. We went inside a huge department store and walked down a very crowded street with store fronts on each side.

 

 

Sam

 

 

 

Saturday & Sunday, August 3-4, 2013

The team took a road trip out of Chennai to visit temples and other sites of spiritual and historic significance in the towns of Pondicherry, Kanchipuram, and Mahabalipuram.

The temples generally were built in the seventh and eighth centuries onward. They served far more than just spiritual purposes. For example, buildings in the area were never as tall as the temple; in that way the temple protected the village from lightening strikes. The temples are served to capture and store rainwater which recharged the ground water so that crops could be grown year-around. Artwork in the temples ranged from simple to ornate, depending on age. All the artwork tells stories of Hindu gods such as Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer.

On the Neem tree at one temple, people hung small colorful wooden and string creations that symbolized their responsibilities and hopes. For example, couples who want to have children tied miniature handmade cradles to the tree.

Temple elephants blessed us by tapping on our heads with their trunks. We didn't exactly ride the elephants, but we did climb up on them for photographs.

At the temple near the ocean stood two stone lighthouses in contrast to each other. The first was ancient with a flat top where large bonfires would be built to help guide approaching ships. The second was of contemporary design.

In Pondicherry, we visited the ashram, or place for contemplation, of Sri Aurobindo, a freedom fighter who became enlightened, and his acolyte, a French-born woman who would become known as "The Mother." After Aurobindo's death, to further his teachings and wishes, The Mother founded a commune on several thousand nearby acres and named it "Auroville." Purpose of Auroville is to have one place on Earth where no one owns property and where the main activities are contemplation and meditation on the meaning of life. Centerpiece of Auroville is the Matrimandir, or "Mother's Shrine," an impossibly large other worldly golden lotus ball where only certain people can enter in order to meditate. About 2,000 people representing several countries currently live at Auroville, although their planned population is supposed to be 10 times that. It's difficult to know what to make of Auroville, because no one sees the inhabitants, the personnel hierarchy is a secret, and no one seems to know what results the community has achieved.

Pondicherry stands out in Southern India for several reasons. It's a French city, and as such was planned with a grid system of roads. This is in contrast to India's other cities, which grow randomly as people occupy undeveloped areas. Later on the government has to come in and try to retrofit infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and water.

Pondicherry is reminiscent of the French Quarter in New Orleans, only without all the nightclubs.

Of the historical shrines, two stood out. First is the memorial to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, son of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who, like his mother was assassinated. Rajiv Gandhi was the leader who tried to bring the nation into modern times through education, commerce, and science.

Second is the shrine to Dr. Ambedkar, who fought against the caste system. In the caste system, now outlawed but not forgotten, every person was destined to stay in the caste in which you were born. If you father was poor, then you had to be poor. If your father was a farmer, then you had to be a farmer. At tremendous personal sacrifice, Dr. Ambedkar shocked everyone first by getting a high school education and then by getting a doctorate degree in economics. In the first half of the 20th Century, the caste system was so firmly entrenched the Dr. Ambedkar came to believe that the best way to eliminate it was to get people to change their religion, which of course was difficult. In the end, he played an important role in assuring that the country's newest constitution, after succession from England, ensured that no one any longer had to abide the caste system.

 

Frank

 

 

Friday, August 2, 2013

 

 

"In a gentle way, you can shake the world." -Mahatma Gandhi

 

 

Today, August 1'st, started off like any other. After we woke up and had breakfast, I left for Assisi to start my day. Instead of playing ball with the toddlers for the majority of the time, we sat with them to read and helped them practice some simple English nouns... but of course we did play games, sang songs, and consoled the almost constant tears of children yelling for their amma and appa. After leaving and returning to the house for lunch, I learned that Frank and Sam had a great time at Christ King school playing educational games and Simon says, dancing, and even entertained them with "The Math Train". Almost immediately after lunch, Stephen, Frank, Sam, and I left to take time out of our day to visit Little Mount Church, Santhome Cathedral, and St. Thomas Mount to learn all about St. Thomas and how Christianity came about to India. Next, we all went to Seams for a couple hours where, again, we sat with the children individually to read and practice English. We even learned some Tamil in the process and definitely had plenty of fun joking around as the kids are clearly feeling more comfortable with us by the day, as well as us with them. With clear bonds being formed and their obvious affection shown, it is easy to see how they have won the hearts of many volunteers before us as well as many to come.

 

 

Jamie

 

 

 

Thursday, August 1, 2013

 

 

Today at Christ king’s dad and I taught a different class than usual as the 4th and 5th graders were taking tests. We taught younger students, who were very excellent listeners and very eager to learn. We held some math competitions consisting of simple addition and subtraction, where the girls won every round. We also played a game of John Cena says. The kids had a lot of fun with everything we did.

 

While we were there, Jamie played and read with the children at Assisi, who enjoy reading despite their short attention spans.

 

In the afternoon, dad and I went to 2 different shopping malls, one of which is the oldest in Chennai. It was an interesting and unique experience, as the malls were very different from the ones in America we're used to.

 

At SEAMS, we had more one on one reading time with the kids, which grows more and more fun everyday as we become better acquainted with the children and their English skills grow.

 

 

Sam

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

 

At Christ school today, we had two classes combined, due to a holiday observed by some institutions. Our students most enjoyed the "Math Train," which involved the girls and boys forming long choo-choo trains, running around the room counting to 100, and falling down etc. when the two trains collided.

They also learned a new song, "This Is the Way We Brush our Teeth... so Early in the Morning." The catch was that while one group of kids would song the song, the second would have to act it out. The final verse was "this is the way we do our homework," at which point all the boys fell on the floor and pretended to sleep.

Most of the kids think that Sam looks like John Cena, the wrestling star, and today he made it a point to sign John Cena autographs, and to show off his arm muscles, for most of the class.

Jamie advises that the Assisi children are becoming more comfortable with him, and they are enjoyed a lot of games and reading. Frank and Sam are trying to talk Jamie into coming to Christ School for a session or two, so that he can witness the pure pandemonium of 60 happy and excited children.

At SEAMS, we conducted six 30 minute one-on-one reading sessions with the children. This was the only time we saw them in a relatively calm mode, as they had just awakened from their afternoon naps. Before leaving, we encouraged "feats of strength" which involved the kids trying to lift us off the ground, instead of the other way around.

One of the things we try to focus on in teaching is the idea that in India the kids learn by rote and tend to focus on memorization in order to pass tests. When they interact with us and other guests, however, they have an opportunity to learn to interact conversationally.

When our work was finished, Stephen Sr. and Sheba briefed us on religious cultures of India. Of particular interest were the Jains, who eat nothing living and move through successively higher planes of observance until finally they are naked (because clothes have come from plants or animal) and eating only fruits that have fallen off trees by themselves. The Jains are the nation's money lenders, and are strict and successful ones at that. There's only one Jain in Southern India who have reached the higher planes of observance that If he does go out, it's a time-consuming process, because at his level of worship he has to sweep the ground in front of himself as he walks, thus ensuring that no bugs are injured by his presence.

We learned of another religion -- one followed by the country's greatest industrialist, Mr. Tata -- in which the dead are kept in the Tower of Silence and left for vultures to eat. There are at least three challenges with this. First, the tower is in the middle of Bombay, and it's remarkably odorous. Second, the vultures often drop body pieces as the fly out of the Tower. And third, there are too few vultures. This has necessitated the creation of vulture nurseries.

In the evening we attended a popular action movie, Singham 2. Singham, which means "lion," is an assistant police superintendent who keeps African drug smugglers out of the Indian Ocean. The actors and actresses speak a mixture of Tamil and English, called "Tamlish." Indian movies typically are long -- from 2.5 to 3 hours -- and always include musical numbers. Viewers want singing and dancing in every movie, because there aren't a lot of other popular culture outlets where they can enjoy that.

 

 

Frank

 

 

 

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Quote of the Day: "Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes." I chose this quote because it reminds me that today the children are following us, but in the future other people will be following these children. Either way, it is usually is better to be a leader than a follower.

Today Dad and I went to the Christ King's school, where we held a competition to see whether the boys or girls could name the most animals. It resulted in a tie. Then the children sang us some of their favorite songs, including Dad's favorite, "Five Little Monkeys." Before we proceeded to another classroom, I signed many autographs for my new friends.

Next, we went to a younger classroom, where we helped the children practice addition and subtraction. We called each student up to the blackboard, and once they successfully solved a problem, then they got to select the next student who would come forward.

We said our goodbyes and we to talk to Ebenezer, the principal of the school. He seemed like a cool guy because he is friendly and gave us positive comments and helpful advice to sing and do more interactive songs and dances with children.

While we were at the Christ School, Jamie was working with the little ones at Assisi. Jamie interacted with a particularly interesting child who seemed to be very mature for his age, which we think is somewhere between two and four. He is a quick learner -- he catches on faster than the other kids, and he has a longer attention span, too.

In the afternoon Stephen's brother, "Stephen Jr.," took us on a car tour of the city of Chennai, where we witnessed the unique culture of India. We passed malls, and old temple, theaters, an outdoor bazaar, and the home of some Kollywood actors and other wealthy celebs. Stephen Jr. explained the he was first in his family to own a car, and that it wasn't until four or five years ago that traffic in the city started getting bad.

In the evening, we returned to SEAMS, where we had one-on-one reading time with the children and enjoyed taking many photographs. While we were inside reading, Sheba and some other children used fire on a stick to exterminate some inch-worms. As we left the mission, the pastor came out to speak with us. He was especially eager to find out if we were enjoying Indian food.

As we left SEAMS, we encountered a construction site where we saw a strange effigy hanging from the side. Upon further inquiry, Stephen Sr. explained that this "dummy doll" attracts the evil eyes so that they are not cast upon the building, which is admittedly a good strategy, because you notice the doll well before you notice the construction site. After the building is completed, they take the dummy to the intersection of three roads, where it will be burned and where there will be an offering of a sacrificial goat or chicken. This Hindi practice assures a prosperous future. My dad said he want to hang a giant dummy doll around his neck.

We also learned about demon figures that are placed on Hindi houses. They attract evil eyes away from the houses so that the families can rest safely.

We returned to the guest house where we enjoyed a delicious dinner and retired to our rooms for the night.

The End

 

Sam

 

 

Monday, July 29, 2013

 

 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

 

 

Today, Monday, July 29'th, starts us off on our first day working at the schools and daycares. Over breakfast with Stephen and Sheeba, we discussed our plans for the day as well as what to expect at our designated places. Immediately after breakfast, Sam and I headed of to Assisi Illam with Stephen and Sheeba, leaving Frank behind who would shortly be going to Christ King school. Immediately upon arriving, we could hear a crowd of children from 2-4 screaming their Monday morning blues. With the assistance of songs, rhymes, and candy, the initial wave of apprehension passed along with the diminishing screams and tears of homesick toddlers. We were quickly able to fit right in when it was time to play and the toys were broken out. After what only seemed like a couple minutes of fun games and activities, Stephen was already back to pick the 3 of us up to head back to the guest house. The 5 of us had lunch, shared our first experiences at Assisi Illam and Christ King school, and even spoke more about daily Indian life and daily happenings. Later on that evening, we walked to Seams where Frank, Sam, and I alternated reading with the boys and tutored them in English...making sure to reward their efforts with camera time which fascinates and brings them more joy than I would've ever expected. After spending a few fun-filled hours at Seams, we strolled on back to the house to finish the night off with a delicious meal, some late night ice cream, as well as some lovely evening conversation filled with even more information about this beautiful and awe-inspiring country.

 

 

Jamie

 

 

 

Sunday, July 28, 2013

 

Quote of the Day:

"We are not retreating, we are advancing in another direction."

That's what General MacArthur said in Korea when news reporters asked him why all of a sudden he was changing directions.

It's a good quote for work with Global Volunteers, because it highlights the need for flexibility. We understand that our hosts are in charge, and our role is to be flexible and to do whatever they need done in the way they want it done. With that approach, everyone's goals can be met.

Today, Sunday, July 28, 2013, is day one for Team 128 of Global Volunteers working in the community of Porur in Chennai, India. Our team includes Jamie from Pennsylvania and Maryland, and Sam and Frank from Portsmouth, Virginia, in the United States, who spent the day with our hosts Stephen, Sheba, and their first grade son Roshan getting oriented to our surroundings and learning about the work requirements for the coming two weeks. (The team was short three people, one had difficulty obtaining a travel visa. And the other two cancelled due to an injury,)

The team set two main goals. First is to grow culturally, and the second is to serve the children at the schools and orphanage where we'll be working. We discussed the attributes that will make our team successful, and key among them is patience. Stephen suggested that if you don't have patience when you come to India, you quickly will gain it. And if you do have patience when you come to India, you quickly will lose it.

We are reminded that in all cases, our responsibility is to help the children learn to read and write English. Although India has more than 100 "official" languages,  English is the language of commerce and technology, and they must be fluent if they are to one day join the modern part of the workforce.

We also, reviewed the United Nations directives concerning hunger, health, and IQ, and how those impact the students' ability to learn, and we reviewed local customs and laws, learning that "kite fighting" is illegal in the area because glass crystals on razor sharp wires have sliced peoples' necks. We practiced the traditional Tamil greeting of "Vanakkam," or "hello" said with hands folded in front of the chest if the addressee is an older individual.

At the SEAM children's home, we met 30 boys and girls with whom we'll be working over the next two weeks. Each introduced themselves to us, and several of the boys performed dances. In the yard, they taught Sam and Jamie a game that involved Sam and Jamie getting pulled to the ground. The girl's focused on Stephen's cell phone, except for two who were washing shirts against the pavement at the back of the dormitory.

The team enjoyed Tandoori chicken at a local restaurant before calling it quits for the evening.

Our new best friends at the guest house in which we're staying are the orange and black "badminton racquets." When there are too many Mosquitoes in a room, we pull them off their wall-mounted recharging racks, wave them around in the air, and electrocute any bugs that come in contact with a satisfying crackle.

 

Frank