Two Busy Days - No Internet

Day 1 Medical

Two interesting and amazing days, even though we rotate through the same schedule every day is different. You never have the same experience twice this is the spirit of India. Yesterday I headed to Bharathapuram for the fourth time and again it was a different experience. There wasn’t enough room on the medical van so I was sent on the bus with the construction workers. We arrived early so I spent the morning wandering through town with Katie Winder waiting for the medical van. We somehow wandered into the front yard of two young girls about our age. Katie and I then spend the next hour with them while they gave us a makeover of henna and nail painting.

The van still hadn’t arrived so we thought we had been stranded – but when we walked back to the old folks home the medical team was already in place. Apparently the van had broken down and the bus had to go pick them up. I spent the rest of the day helping the nurses Pushpaw and Navimani distribute medicine. This is one of my favorite stations in medical because I get to talk with the nurses and the patients besides it is more relaxed. Playtime yesterday was epic! While during the volunteer talents classes I enjoyed a variation of American Football and Rubgy against the Indian Boys. Sadly the three American’s lost at our own game to five Indian boys. After the game all of the American’s had a fun game of soccer – again the boys beat the girls.

Day 2 Tutoring

Spent the morning in the library with two students tutoring is challenging but I enjoy the one-on-one time with the kids. English is a big problem especially pronunciation and sounding out words. The children just memorize the assignment and never really learn the material so when you watch a child actually learn and understand it is very rewarding. It is hard though because the teachers hardly know more than the students. Celina Charles has come to India to spend the next year training the teachers and making the school really function and work. Already Celina has made a big difference in the two weeks I have been here. She created the most beautiful library and even organized it. She has incorporated library time weekly into each grade and this last Wednesday the children had their first recess. Selina seems discouraged but she has so much to change and she has only been here a week – it will just take time but what she is doing is amazing. During tutoring we spent a lot of time working on pronunciation – especially with the younger children. Their pronunciation is so funny but it gets annoying when you know it is wrong. A becomes YAY, N becomes YEN, M becomes YEM, Children is Childrens, L becomes Yell. I don’t know why they do this but they must enjoy the Y sound. Today while we were teaching I was trying to get the little boy to finish the word “Ham” but instead of telling him it was an “M” I definitely said “Yem.” I guess they really are rubbing off on me. Later in the day I taught a First Standard (First Grade) class with a few other volunteers. Then after lunch on campus I helped the sweetest girl write letters to her sponsors. All in all two great days under the Indian Sun.