Millinium Development Goals
Achieved by this team from July 13 - July 17;
37.5 Hours of class room instruction in conversational English and computer skills by 2 volunteers and 37.5 Hours of preparation time.
10 Hours of childcare by 1 volunteer
1 School, 2 Children's Home and over 150 students impacted
Monday, July 13, 2009
Today began with a very early start. At 4am Alexi and I got up to make our flight back to Chennai. In our tired and hungry state, we found a Coffee Bean at the airport. We had toasted bagels with cream cheese. All of a sudden we were surprised to hear that it was the last call for our flight. We thought we had forty five minutes. Fortunately we made it on time. We met Stephen at the airport and headed to the guest house.
Over my second breakfast, we told Sheeba and Stephen about our incredible weekend, which included a spa visit, temples, tanning, and an elephant orphanage. Alexi and I then got ready for the long day ahead of us, returning to our schedule in the first week; she went to Assisi Illam, I went to Grace School.
I arrived in time for the fourth graders. I taught them about vowels and coma use, we ready stories, and played hangman. Then I had the second graders who were full of excitement and energy. Alexi was glad to be back with the little ones at Assisi and they were glad to see her.
We had lunch. Then went to Grace School to teach the third and first graders. We taught the third graders about the equator, hemispheres, longitudinal and latitudinal lines. Then we played a game reviewing material they’ve learned with us. We made it competitive, dividing the class in two. The two teams were The Lime Greens and The Lions. The Lime Greens won by a majority. Then read stories to the first graders.
Later we went to SEAM, where Alexi continued teaching computer basics and I continued working one on one with Pragash. We then had dinner, did the dishes, and went to bed!
Tuesday, June 14, 2009
Today was a very special day! It is Roshan’s first birthday! Lisa and I ate breakfast alone today on account of Sheeba and Stephan taking Roshan to church. Then we both went on our separate ways; I to Assisi Illam and Lisa to Grace School. I worked with the little ones on reading, dancing, singing, and finished with coloring… their favorite. Lisa worked with the fifth, fourth, and second standards on various subjects.
At lunch we were sad to hear that Lisa would be leaving us a day early to go on her next adventure. We will be sad to see her go on Thursday! We also discussed the altered schedule for the special festivities. We both headed to Grace School to work with the third and first standards. Today, the third standard was ready to play “Pop Quiz” the game with questions relating to their recent course of study. The Latin Kings were very excited when they defeated Team Tiger. The first standard was “komali” as usual. They practiced writing their names and we finished with some songs.
During our afternoon break, I printed the card Rajesh had made for Roshan on the computer. Lisa and I also made a trip to the Fancy Store to buy some henna and bindis for our friends. Then we headed back to Assisi Illam with Stephan’s family for a birthday mass with Sister Rose and the gang. After a lovely ceremony, cake, and lots of pictures we were off to SEAM for the evening and dinner. Another ceremony commenced and then dinner of chicken briyani, followed by many more pictures and presents. we continued to have lots of fun playing with the children. And so, thus ends Roshan’s first birthday! A day filled with lots of love, laughter, and happiness. Lisa and I both felt privileged to be a part of it.
Thought for the day: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!”
Thursday, July 16, 2009:
We began our day with dosai and strawberry jam, one of our favorites! Then it was off to our work cites. Lisa spent the morning with the fifth, fourth, and second standard at the Grace School. They had made here cards and notes telling her how much she would be missed. I spent the morning with the children of Assisi Illam. Sister Rose commented that I looked tired and brought me some fresh guava with salt and pepper. Father Cristo stopped by to show me some video footage of traditional Indian dance, and some of the seminars he has attended recently. It was very interesting and we decided that we should all go see a performance together sometime.
After lunch at the guest house we went back to the Grace School for our last afternoon together teaching the third and first standard. They were filled with energy as usual but enjoyed a little bit of fun on Lisa’s last day. We played games, sang songs and colored. After a very tearful goodbye with some more notes of thanks we went back to the guest house. Lisa and I practiced our artistic skills with some henna and ended up washing it off too early. It turned out a bit orange but luckily we have more henna to work with. Then we were off to SEAM for another tearful goodbye. I worked hard to choke back tears as we walked through the gates. Lisa and I were given the royal treatment as each child thanked us personally and then sang us a lovely song. We both were in tears by the end. The children we have worked with over the past 3 weeks are wonderful and we love each and every one of them. It was has truly been a gift to work with them.
We then rushed back to the guest house to send Lisa on her way to the airport, while Sheeba and I had a relaxing night at home. We are all sad to see Lisa go, she has been an asset to our team and I can’t imagine doing this without her. But we are also looking ahead to the new team that will be arriving in the next couple of days.
Thought for the Day: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
No comments:
Post a Comment