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Sunday, November 4th, 2007
"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.
Monday, November 6th, 2007
“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!
7 November 2007
“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.
November 8th, 2007
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!
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