Millinium Development Goals Achieved by this team from January 19 - January29
140 Hours of class room instruction in conversational English and computer skills by 5 volunteers and 130 Hours of preparation time
60 Hours of Childcare by 2 volunteer. over 35 students impacted
50 Hours of labor projects in painting a mural at the hospital's children;s wing by 1 volunteer
2 Children's Homes, 1 School and over 140 students impacted
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It was then off to our farewell dinner, a melancholy time for some of us as it means that our time in India is rapidly coming to an end. Leaving the place one has grown to love, and going back to my California home of 40+ years, is always bittersweet for me.I will leave with my memories and a camera full of photos, but nothing can replace the real cultural experience nor communicate it to others who have not had such a rich experience. I will remember the good things, and put the not-so-good things away in the back closets of my mind.
I came to India with my own expectations. and leave with more than I dreamed-the beautiful children, the graciousness of Stephen and Sheeba, the cooking of Rani, the laundry service of Barnabas, and the driving of Stephen. Who can forget little Roshan, who is the center of attention wherever he is.
May God bless Stephen and Sheeba as they continue their services with Global Volunteers. I pray that Stephen's cataract surgery is successful and that he will have even a brighter vision for the orphan children of Chennai. God bless little Roshan, who already has the makings of a talented and compassionate leader in his own time.
Thank you, Stephen and Sheeba, for the multitude of little things you did to make my time with you comfortable and happy. Tonight, Sheeba shared with me this quote from Mother Teresa.
"The less we have, the more we give. Seems absurd, but it's the logic of love." To that, I say, "Amen".
Carol
A pessimist they say, sees a glass as half empty, an optimist sees the same glass as half full. But a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty" ~Donald Gale
Well, I did it. With driver Stephen's help, we finished all the murals today. I feel so accomplished and so sad at the same time. Each one of those paintings has a special part of me in it. I can only hope that those who see them will appreciate the work as much as I had the pleasure of doing the work. I didn't leave my signature, but snuck in my peace sign on one of the murals letting the world know that I was there! Cleaning up, one final time, I felt the weight of the world on me. I've 2 days left and I feel I've only touched on a small part of all that needs to be done. I have to remind myself that I will be back. I won't say good-bye. With that said, I must remember to live in the moment and to enjoy what time I have left. I can say with much enthusiasm that I don't have to wear those jeans anymore. I will take them home as they represent all the many missions I've done with spatters of paint on them from every project. At least I won't look like some street bum!!! Ironically, in America people would probably pay a good penny for jeans like them!! Lunch was shared with Moses and Stephen. Interesting. Moses just rattled on. Stephen told me he talks mostly about Jesus. Thank goodness i didn't frown or give dirty looks as he was probably exalting God to me in Tamil!! Stephen tried coaxing me to relax a bit after lunch, but as is my nature, not to mention 2 Red Bulls, I couldn't sit still. There was work to be done and I was determined to finish!On the way home, I found myself looking for puppy reminding myself that she is in a safe environment and I don't have to worry anymore. On a side note: The vet bill cost me 200 rupees....an equivalent to $5.00. I've decided to fly my dogs over here for treatment from now on. I feel I will still save money in the long run as the American vets are astronomically expensive!! Shelly and Carol had a relaxing day, as it was a, GUESS WHAT!! HOLIDAY! It seems that there is a holiday everyday in India. Carol puttered around the guest house, enjoying some much needed down time. Shelly visited SEAMS and hung out with the kids there. Waiting to go to SEAMS, Stephen showed Barnabas and I some magic tricks. He showed them to me and then taught them to me. Then Stephen Raja came out and showed me one that had me totally confused. When showing me the slight of hand (literally) way that he did it, I worked on doing it for some time. Stephen also downloaded a CD for me of his favorite Indian music. Cannot wait to get back to the States and pop that puppy in for my husband and son to hear. They may just look at me as if I left my brain somewhere over the Atlantic.Shelly and I POWER WALKED to SEAMS. Her every step is 3 steps to me. She shared with me the "pass and grab" story which had me both shocked and in stitches.Again, as it was a holiday, there was a free for all going on. Kids were jump roping, kicking and throwing balls, and mostly just having fun. There was enough energy generated to light half of NYC. Unfortunately, the older boys were busy doing chores. Heavy chores as they were removing bricks from one area to another.Because I teach computers, I was engaged for 2 solid hours surfing the net and face booking. I am going to miss these kids, but now know they are just a click away and can communicate with them when back home. All is well. Happy Whatever-holiday-it-is Day! Until next time....Peace!
Shelly T
Today began slowly as we were all still in weekend mode. Of course, Shelley T was up first. By the time I got up and ready to pour a cup of her coffee, it was lukewarm. With just 3 remaining volunteers, the room was quiet as we received our morning assignments; Shelley A to Assisi, Shelley T off to the hospital and mural project, and I to my 3 kindergartens at St. Joseph's. Teaching alone was a challenge timewise, as the rooms have not clocks and I forgot my watch. The 3 year old kinders were behaving their age, when the sweet and very pregnant teacher was abruptly replaced by another teacher who seemed it her job to "straighten them out." It was painful to see her roam the classroom slapping children right and left. No attention was paid to me and their eyes were filled with fear that they might be next. If it happens again, I'm just going to sit down, or maybe even leave the room, because their productive learning time is simply gone. Fortunately, the next kinders have a sweet and kind sister as their teacher. The children are responsive, even though one little girl usually falls asleep. She promptly jumps up when the bell for the morning "Hail Mary" rings. The children look cute and serious as they shout out the prayer.
We returned to the guest house for lunch for a fresh fish lunch, all except Shelley T, who hastily eats a lunch packed by Rani before resuming her mural project. Today she was putting the finishing touches to her elephant, making it fit for a Rajah to ride. Ihad time for a 40 minute power nap before leaving for Grace School. Shelley A stayed at the Guest House and a cooking lesson with Sheeba, who was preparing fish curry for dinner. Shelley even gutted her first fish, a fresh eel purchased at the fish market on Sunday. I left for my 2 afternoon classes at Grace School, both of which I like very much. I'm always escorted in, today be the female "custodian" who seems to have adopted me. She always pops into my first class to give me two sticks of gum. After exchanging afternoon pleasantries with the ten 4th graders, they sit with their eyes glued on me for my lesson of the day. Today had dictated words and had them place them in two column according to whether they began with a vowel or a consonant. The only word they had trouble with was island. They are a fun, serious class with remarkable spelling skills in a second language. If only my next class of five 5th graders had the same interest in learning. The most serious of them, a girl, was absent today, and
the four boys can't stop talking long enough to focus. The whirlwind among them, Ashley, came in late and was slightly more subdued after my
discipline of him on Friday. The could not complete the same spelling dictation task with the same competance asthe 4th graders, We had no time left over to begin a word search, a favorite reward for good work. I wish I had more time with them.
Our planned afternoon shopping excursion was abruptly ended because of the traffic. I was to buy Indian leggings for one of my new chudodars and also for my 6 year old granddaughter. I also was to buy her a fancy chudodar as she is quite a fashionista.
Our evening stint at SEAMS began as usual. As we waited to the children to finish their chores and get organized, one of the girls stood close, hugging me with all her might. The power of human touch cannot be underestimated. Even though the boys hands are like sandpaper, grimy with the dirt of their playyard, they eagerly wait for an honest handshake and a friendly pat on the shoulder. I'm amazed at how seriously they take their chores at the children's home. My first group of four beginners competently identified pictures on flashcards. The rest of the week I'll have them identify and correctly pronounce letters and numbers. English enunciation is more difficult for some of them. Their reward was a coloring activity. From the colors one of the boys used, I wonder whether he is "color blind". In the meantime, Agith had finished his sweeping chores, cleaned up, and arrived eager to begin his lessons. For an eleven year old, he barely reads at a 1st grade level. His main problem is auditory as he doesn't seem to understand phonic relationships or sounding out words. He is definitely a visual learner.
After a delicious fish curry for supper, we retired to our rooms and evening tasks. I tried on my newly tailor-made clothes and decided they were wearable. Shelley A tried to solve her banking problem and Shelley T rested her sore belly and dreamed of the elegant peacock she planned to begin tomorrow. Stephen and Sheeba retired, excited about Roshan's first day of school. I then wrote the daily journal ready to type in the morning.
In closing, I ask these questions. Why are we here in India? Why do we preserver in spite of obstacles? What difference can we really expect to make in such a short time? I say we do it out of love and compassion for others. We are givers, not takers. As Ralph Waldo
Trice said, "Love is everything. It is the key to life, and its influences are those that move the world." Even one bit at a time.
Carole.
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