It has almost been two months since I’ve been here. It feels much longer sometimes. I really didn’t know what I would be doing at Shishya before I got here. I knew I wanted to help in any way possible. They ask to list special skills on the application and I couldn’t pin point anything really. I feel in the last couple years I don’t have a lot of “special skills”. I don’t currently play a musical instrument, and I can’t sing or dance. Frieda just walked in with a flute. I said I used to play but not sure if I remember anything! Getting up in front of a group of people regardless of their age terrifies me. But I’m noticing once I’ve been here my worrisome attitude has subsided and I feel so much more confident about things! I just want to be helpful. A fear I have is leaving here and having not been as helpful as I could have been. For those that know me, I tend to stress myself out so easy sometimes. Nibha asked me what my hobbies are and I spouted off a few things like hiking, taking pictures and of course traveling. I said I want to learn how to play the mandolin and become better at photography. I wouldn’t mind learning more on the piano again! I guess I have a to do list and I should start soon! I told Frieda I can start doing Life Skills assemblies for grades k-3 and 4-8 twice a month when school starts up again in January. I’ll still be working on individual lessons for the Life Skills curriculum, teaching English to 6-8, doing moral science for grade 1 and teaching life skills to grade 8. I’m already out of my comfort zone here but I know I can push myself more. God has given each of us talents and strengths and often times they are unwrapped when we are most challenged and when we reach out to others and trust Him.
So with that in mind, it’s interesting that teaching English has proven to be somewhat of a challenging task for me. I want to use Internet resources here but I can never get my hands on the Internet stick long enough to research anything let alone be able to print. I write emails and blog posts (hence why they can be so long sometimes!) in Word before I get the internet stick so I don’t feel like I’m hogging the internet stick when I get it. Amanda made an interesting comment when I got here that this place is years behind the rest of the world when it comes to technology and how the rest of the world gets resources. It has been frustrating because I’m not used to it! But at the same time it really makes you think about how materialistic a lot of the world is. What on earth would we (I) do without the Internet? I have used it so many times for papers, assignments and keeping in touch with people. In a way I feel like I’ve hit a roadblock without the Internet at my fingertips all the time. Is that healthy? In a way it can be handicapping I think. Not having the internet at my fingertips has allowed me to read more and do other things. It’s refreshing. In the west we have the newest phones with the world literally right at our fingertips. I don’t get on the Internet much here but when I do I skim facebook really quick sometimes only to log off feeling frustrated and irritated with it most times anyways.
I guess what I’m saying is that I knew India was going to be different. (I have a new appreciation for hand washing clothes). I’m taking it in strides and I really like it here. Shishya is in a peaceful area and I’m learning a lot about myself and other people. I often feel like I can be so selfish at times. I feel like building up to my trip there were things in my life that needed change. It’s just allowing that to happen can be challenging because in most cases it’s not as easy or how we pictured it would happen. No better reason for change then to go to India, right? It’s so important to be grateful for the blessings we have. Yes, life isn’t always easy or pleasant. We shouldn’t become resentful when people or events disappoint us. How we deal with disappointments and problems is an indication of our true character.
I feel very inspired here. I’m often up late reading and writing. Being here makes me to want to be a better person and Christian. I feel like I am completely myself here. I pray, reflect on religious text more than I ever have in my life I think. I just feel at peace about a lot of things. This is what I wanted before I came here and it’s exactly what I’m getting. God is filling up my cup!
I was looking around during Sunday dinner the first time I came here and I thought about all of the boys that are here at Shishya: how blessed they are to be given the opportunity to live in such a great place. There is plenty of food and love to go around and I find it hard not to think about the beggars I’ve seen outside of our campus. Some of the boys still have at least one parent alive and to think about the gratitude and re-assurance they must feel to know that their son is well fed, educated, and being raised in love must be overwhelming and very challenging at the same time. Please remember to pray for the parents of the boys. It would be so hard to not be with your child because you are unable to provide for them the way you’d want to as a parent. Some of the boy’s parents have HIV, too. These parents, if the boys have any, loved them enough to know their lives would be better if they could get them to a hostel like Shishya. Frieda and Ken have a permit for this hostel and the boys have to be at least 5 years old to be here. Some of the boys look younger than 5, parents or whoever, lie about their age in order to get them here. I then think of the boys who couldn’t ‘qualify’ to be sponsored and accepted at Shishya, or if any of boys here now have sisters. Where are they? Frieda said that 1 in 4 girls are abused in India. It chokes me up just thinking about all of it. I am so grateful for what Shishya can provide. Ken and Frieda McRae are truly selfless and incredible people. Sharon said before she left to everyone that the work here at Shishya has been incredible. She hit this point home in how this place has raised so many good men. Even with so many boys coming through here, this place--raising them in love--has done a better job raising them, than other families in the world are doing with just a few children of their own. Sharon used herself as an example.
If you have been reading my blog and haven’t left a comment, please do so or send me an email to keljhansen@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you. My blog has been passed around to old teachers, professors, community members, classmates and many others. I’m sure people are reading this I don’t even know (hey you from Singapore looking at this… who are you?!?) I would like to know who looks at my blog! I wasn’t expecting it to reach so many people. Yes, most of the posts will probably be long and ironically grammatically incorrect, but I hope that it allows you to see that there is so much more to this world than our daily comforts. Every night before dinner I hear the boys playing floor hockey on the basketball court with a tin lid and sticks. Never take anything for granted but remember you don’t always need the things you think you need sometimes. I figured tutoring orphans at a small farm and school in India among other things would open my eyes and I hope it opens yours too.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas at Shishya
Merry Christmas!
Christmas time at Shishya has been a whirlwind! It doesn’t snow here but in the mornings there is frost on the ground. There isn’t heat in the houses so it can get really cold! The way the houses are built is for keeping them as cool as possible during the summer months. The school had a big Christmas show last weekend (singing, dancing, acting!) but for the last few weeks the boys have also been busy! We have had craft nights making Christmas trees and decorating their house, a going away party for Sharon and Abby with a DANCE PARTY!! We made cookies, had a big campus going away party for an uncle, we had this amazing opportunity to check out a hockey game in Dehra Dun (the boys LOVE the Mighty Ducks movie! The tickets were given to us for free, and the manager even said to come have lessons sometime! Apparently this man takes kids who can’t go to school and teaches them how to rollerblade, then they become teachers to others and he puts them through school! Our boys were SO excited to see and touch ice! A famous skater from India wants to donate skates, too. This bus ride back was fun—the older boys sang songs in the back) the hostel boys had a talent show/ entertainment of sorts on Christmas Eve with singing, dancing, acting, games and of course food. Please check out this adorable video I got of the small boys dancing here. Gautum has awesome moves! We rang in Christmas all together at midnight. We helped wrap the little boys gifts earlier on Christmas Eve and all the gifts were handed out and opened. They scored some serious loot! – crayons, clothes, bouncy balls, games and some got new shoes!! Frieda and Ken gave me the two books she has written, some henna and some really pretty bangles.
On Monday before school got out I taught Moral Science to little Ashish’s class and I TRIED to teach them how to sing Away In The Manger. I sang it to them first. I have never done anything like that before! Makes me smile thinking of myself singing out loud to 36 first graders. Never in a million years would I do that for the 8th graders! I learned this week that lemons work well for dandruff. The boys picked a bunch of lemons and were squeezing the juice on their heads before our big hockey outing! On Christmas day (today) we had a big breakfast together and had church. Then we played games (I was instantly schooled at chess) and played volleyball against the boys. This place is like a big family and I felt very much apart of it on Christmas. I miss my family back home but I feel very loved and appreciated here. All the boys have so much life. Every one of my senses is awakened and working here. I feel VERY alive and am rejoicing in the fact that our Savior was born this day.
Check out the rest of my Christmas pictures here.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Leading up to Christmas
A few days ago my dad sent me a video link and I wanted to share it with you: http://www.wimp.com/wecould/ It’s only a few minutes long but definitely worth watching.
When someone buys a new house here, for a housewarming gift the new house owners give things away to their friends. Can you guess what some of the volunteers got recently? You guessed it…food. We grow many things on the farm and I had my first guava a few days ago. Delicious! My friend Cathy laughs every time I talk about the food here. She says I’m clearly having a love affair with it. It may be true! Where the guava trees grow I see pretty bright green parrot birds flying every once in a while.
I have discovered one thing in India that doesn’t taste good though-- dirt. With all this delicious food intake in high quantity I’ve been trying to run every once in a while. I run on campus between goal posts usually at night and about a week ago I sprained my left foot and literally ate dirt. That’s what I get for trying to run I guess. It hasn’t swelled up like a sprain, though-- just a piercing pain on the bone. I stayed home the next day elevating my foot (I accidently just wrote food instead of foot) with ice. I didn’t need to teach that day and our prop group for the show wasn’t doing too much so it was a good day to get caught up with school stuff and reading. I have always had the weakest ankles! It’s been over a week and it still hurts; but isn’t swollen. I think I did something more than just sprain it, unfortunately. I am going to be doing a lot of walking soon so I hope it feels better. Any suggestions on what I should do? I take ibiprofen, soak it in warm water and elevate.
So the itouch text number I gave people is still okay to text to even if I can’t pick up wifi on my itouch here at Shishya. The text messages still get forwarded to my email so text away please! I’m thinking on my two-week west coast India backpacking adventure that I start on Saturday, I’ll pick up wireless hopefully along the way.
Correction: there are about 550 students at Shishya. I originally said there were about 350, which isn’t right!
Kiran and Ruth, the house parents for the small boys, have been house parents for SIXTEEN years! That is incredible!! They have been such amazing people (parents) for so many boys!
On Sundays we get together for worship and we sing songs with guitars and drums. Then after singing for a while, Ken gets up and says a little something and anyone who has announcements or give thanks, says things and then if anyone wants to pray for anything, ect. Last weekend people prayed out loud what they were thankful for. I cry lots here. But they are good tears. After that the young boys go off for Sunday school and adults get together for some discussion. Some of things that Ken has talked about are pretty thought provoking. I always feel satisfied and have somewhat of a natural high after church here.
A new volunteer showed up last week and he is from England. His name is Lewis and must be in his early 20’s and his dad is a bodyguard for the Queen!! Awesome!
One of the teachers that lives on campus always says, “Hi Alaska” When he sees me. Then he asks, “How is Alaska?” I say every time, “It’s cold.” But he also means, “How is your family?!” with a big grin on his face. Deepak is so funny. I like my nickname though! The boys are starting to call me that too.
Seeing Sharon and Abby leave this week was sad. The boys going away party for them was pretty emotional and I even cried (of course). The boys made cards for them and decorated their house and they said what they were thankful for in regards to each of them. It was SO sincere and so perfect. Wherever there is music here, there is a dance party. Every time. Sharon also danced when others were. Incredible! I hope to be as rockin’ as her when I’m 64.
Shishya had their big Christmas show last weekend. After the show Rohan and I had a little battle with the prop armor. He was giggling so hard. It was the first time I heard him laugh like that. So cute! He seems to look taller every time I see him. We had two days of classes this week! On Christmas night I leave for my 2-week west coast India adventure with Liz!
When someone buys a new house here, for a housewarming gift the new house owners give things away to their friends. Can you guess what some of the volunteers got recently? You guessed it…food. We grow many things on the farm and I had my first guava a few days ago. Delicious! My friend Cathy laughs every time I talk about the food here. She says I’m clearly having a love affair with it. It may be true! Where the guava trees grow I see pretty bright green parrot birds flying every once in a while.
I have discovered one thing in India that doesn’t taste good though-- dirt. With all this delicious food intake in high quantity I’ve been trying to run every once in a while. I run on campus between goal posts usually at night and about a week ago I sprained my left foot and literally ate dirt. That’s what I get for trying to run I guess. It hasn’t swelled up like a sprain, though-- just a piercing pain on the bone. I stayed home the next day elevating my foot (I accidently just wrote food instead of foot) with ice. I didn’t need to teach that day and our prop group for the show wasn’t doing too much so it was a good day to get caught up with school stuff and reading. I have always had the weakest ankles! It’s been over a week and it still hurts; but isn’t swollen. I think I did something more than just sprain it, unfortunately. I am going to be doing a lot of walking soon so I hope it feels better. Any suggestions on what I should do? I take ibiprofen, soak it in warm water and elevate.
So the itouch text number I gave people is still okay to text to even if I can’t pick up wifi on my itouch here at Shishya. The text messages still get forwarded to my email so text away please! I’m thinking on my two-week west coast India backpacking adventure that I start on Saturday, I’ll pick up wireless hopefully along the way.
Correction: there are about 550 students at Shishya. I originally said there were about 350, which isn’t right!
Kiran and Ruth, the house parents for the small boys, have been house parents for SIXTEEN years! That is incredible!! They have been such amazing people (parents) for so many boys!
On Sundays we get together for worship and we sing songs with guitars and drums. Then after singing for a while, Ken gets up and says a little something and anyone who has announcements or give thanks, says things and then if anyone wants to pray for anything, ect. Last weekend people prayed out loud what they were thankful for. I cry lots here. But they are good tears. After that the young boys go off for Sunday school and adults get together for some discussion. Some of things that Ken has talked about are pretty thought provoking. I always feel satisfied and have somewhat of a natural high after church here.
A new volunteer showed up last week and he is from England. His name is Lewis and must be in his early 20’s and his dad is a bodyguard for the Queen!! Awesome!
One of the teachers that lives on campus always says, “Hi Alaska” When he sees me. Then he asks, “How is Alaska?” I say every time, “It’s cold.” But he also means, “How is your family?!” with a big grin on his face. Deepak is so funny. I like my nickname though! The boys are starting to call me that too.
Seeing Sharon and Abby leave this week was sad. The boys going away party for them was pretty emotional and I even cried (of course). The boys made cards for them and decorated their house and they said what they were thankful for in regards to each of them. It was SO sincere and so perfect. Wherever there is music here, there is a dance party. Every time. Sharon also danced when others were. Incredible! I hope to be as rockin’ as her when I’m 64.
Shishya had their big Christmas show last weekend. After the show Rohan and I had a little battle with the prop armor. He was giggling so hard. It was the first time I heard him laugh like that. So cute! He seems to look taller every time I see him. We had two days of classes this week! On Christmas night I leave for my 2-week west coast India adventure with Liz!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Visiting a Leper Colony
Today Sharon, Liz, Amanda and I went to the leper colony in Dehra Dun with Frieda. Today (Friday), is a Muslim holiday and there was no school. Some of the boys that live in the home are from this leper colony and when we arrived we were greeted with smiles and some of the family members of the boys.
Today was probably one of the most unique and moving days of my life.
We got to socialize and see where the people live there make yarn for the fabric they use to make beautiful things. Two mothers of the boys laughed and talked with us with their husbands (with translation) and at one point one of the mothers looked me in the eyes, stood right in front of me, touched and squeezed my arm along with the other mother as well and they told me how grateful they were. Immediately tears were flowing down my face, but I was smiling too. I was just journaling about parents of the boys a few days ago. Even though I couldn’t understand the words they were saying without Frieda telling me, the expression on their faces and their body language said it all. It was so moving. They said they are sad they couldn’t be with their children but they were honored and happy I (we) were helping raise them and teach them. I wasn’t sure what to say in reply but I think the expression on my face said it all. It’s hard to describe how intense this interaction was. I am tearing up just thinking about it as I write this. The father of one of the boys insisted on giving all of us really pretty bags he personally made himself.
The colony was pleasant and in a really nice area. There is a stigma coming from a leper colony and children who come from them are shunned and often times denied education and things. We got to meet some of the other siblings of the boys who were all so sweet and precious. The boys at the home look a lot like their parents and siblings. Their demeanors and overall personalities really were a lot a like in many ways. It was so neat. The things they make and sell in their store were incredible. More pictures are on the link here for you to see from the colony.
I have been in India one month today. I think today was a very appropriate way to mark my one-month time being here. Seeing the families of some of the boys really put things into perspective even more. Today was a very good day. I will NEVER forget it or the people that I met and the feelings I took away from it.
Also, if you have time, please look at Amanda's blog about one of the boys that left for Christmas. It's a great post. You can click here to read it.
Today was probably one of the most unique and moving days of my life.
We got to socialize and see where the people live there make yarn for the fabric they use to make beautiful things. Two mothers of the boys laughed and talked with us with their husbands (with translation) and at one point one of the mothers looked me in the eyes, stood right in front of me, touched and squeezed my arm along with the other mother as well and they told me how grateful they were. Immediately tears were flowing down my face, but I was smiling too. I was just journaling about parents of the boys a few days ago. Even though I couldn’t understand the words they were saying without Frieda telling me, the expression on their faces and their body language said it all. It was so moving. They said they are sad they couldn’t be with their children but they were honored and happy I (we) were helping raise them and teach them. I wasn’t sure what to say in reply but I think the expression on my face said it all. It’s hard to describe how intense this interaction was. I am tearing up just thinking about it as I write this. The father of one of the boys insisted on giving all of us really pretty bags he personally made himself.
The colony was pleasant and in a really nice area. There is a stigma coming from a leper colony and children who come from them are shunned and often times denied education and things. We got to meet some of the other siblings of the boys who were all so sweet and precious. The boys at the home look a lot like their parents and siblings. Their demeanors and overall personalities really were a lot a like in many ways. It was so neat. The things they make and sell in their store were incredible. More pictures are on the link here for you to see from the colony.
I have been in India one month today. I think today was a very appropriate way to mark my one-month time being here. Seeing the families of some of the boys really put things into perspective even more. Today was a very good day. I will NEVER forget it or the people that I met and the feelings I took away from it.
Also, if you have time, please look at Amanda's blog about one of the boys that left for Christmas. It's a great post. You can click here to read it.
Monday, December 13, 2010
a weekend of flat tires and more delicious food I never knew could ever exist
Woo. What a weekend. At Sunday night dinner I forgot my spoon and I ate rice with lintels with chickpeas in it with my fingers for the first time. ( I’ve eaten the bread roti we have for dinner often with my fingers dipping it in the food but not this way with rice before!) When I said this at dinner Frieda gasped and said “Kelly!!!” I figured it was about time! I ate waaaayyy waaaayyyy too much Sunday for dinner. I think this weekend will be marked as one of the best weekends of food consumed in my life. I can’t even begin to describe how good the food is here. You just need to come here! If I lived here I’d be a vegetarian. Hands down no doubt about it. A vegetarian who eats eggs :) The spicy food doesn’t get to me as bad as some other people. I don’t eat chilies straight like some people but the spicy food doesn’t really faze me most times. I love it! Break time at school is called Tiffin time. I think that is what the little box is called that they keep their food in. I am afraid to get one because I would just carry it around in my purse everywhere I go eating out of it. The kids at school are always sharing what’s in their Tiffin’s with teachers. You cannot say no. And of course I don’t. Why/how could I?
This weekend was nice and relaxing. We had Saturday school and we practiced for the Christmas show next Saturday. It is going to be quite the ordeal. All sorts of dancing, acting and singing. Of course I will take lots of pictures and some video too! No doubt there. I guess Friday is a Hindu holiday and there isn’t school. We will be practicing a lot this week for the show and I won’t be teaching too much for the upper classes. Moral Science this week with my first graders we are coloring everyone that was present at Jesus’ birth for the board!
After Saturday school this weekend we went to Dehra Dun for some shopping and some errands. We went to the post office. Which from the outside isn’t labeled and when we went inside it looked nothing like a post office! But they sold me some stamps that are each the size of Texas that I will need to put 5 per letter to the US. They took Lisa and Sharon’s mail so that’s a good sign. They just threw the mail on a stack of books on the table. Somehow it makes it out! When crossing the road to the ATM Lindsey saw me look to the left instead of the right at first and she almost had a heart attack because I didn’t look the right way of traffic. Like I said before traffic is insane here. Last weekend I saw my life flash before me crossing in the village. This motorcycle with two young guys on it had to stop short and fast. But I swear they weren’t there when I decided to dash across the street! That same day I was waiting in front of the shop at the village near Shishya and saw a big military truck almost run over an older couple on a motorbike. I’m pretty sure I yelled out loud in fear before it happened because I saw it all going down right in front of me. Anyways. No close counters this time in Dehra Dun. Liz was able to get her ice cream from McDonalds, which had so many people in it. It was for sure the local hang out. We parked our car to go into a music store only to come out and discover we had a flat tire. We walked across the street… which is always exciting… and we found someone to change the tire while we shopped… and the repaired for about $1.50. Anyways, we went to this little grocery store that had so much food. I stocked up on peanut butter and bread and tea and….. oatmeal cookies. And chocolate. They even had Natural Valley Almond bars. While we waited outside two kids came up to us begging and I couldn’t resist but give them a Natural bar. I was hoping they would open it, and share but no; the other boy wanted his own. So I opened a bar and he tried to take the whole thing but I just gave him one part of it. I think they were brothers because they ran off to the same woman that looked like their mother and I watched her wave them back to us to beg more. Sad.
We went to the Dehra Dun bazaar because Sharon is leaving soon and wanted to get some scarves and they were less than a dollar so I stocked up. Got some really pretty colors. We left the bazaar but not after I got some almonds. This younger girl whose family I think owned the store talked to me and asked where I was from. She asked what I was doing in India and I told her I was teaching English. She wanted my phone number to teach her brother and her English. I said I didn’t have a phone number (which I didn’t) but she was really sweet. For dinner I ate myself giddy on garlic nan, this cheesy spinach sauce, bean dal and this other veggie dish (picture on bottom of this post). For dessert ice cream with hot chocolate sauce. Yes, please. More. Thank you.
Before we got to the Bazaar Lindsey had to make a U turn merging into busy oncoming traffic and this little rickshaw cut us off and Sharon took a picture right when he looked out and made a funny face outside of the rickshaw. This is important because it will come up later. After dinner we made our way back to Shishya and Sharon bought some really neat drums for her son back home. About halfway back to Shishya we got ANOTHER flat tire on the left side this time. We passed a Hindu wedding on the side of the road (pictures and video under Shishya/Dehra Dun picture album) and pulled into a gas station to get our tire fixed. Took about 5 people and 15 minutes to get the jack out from under the seat. Liz said that she heard somewhere that for every one job in the US… about 4 people in India have that same, individual job. While they were changing the tire the wedding passed us by on their way to the reception. Fireworks were going off… loud music and dancing made for an interesting ordeal! It was really neat. While we were waiting this guy walked right up to Sharon and smiled really big and with broken English says “Remember me? I cut you off and smiled to your camera” It was the rickshaw driver that cut us off and smiled for Sharon. He didn’t follow us because he showed up way after we got to the station. It was SO funny! Dehra Dun is a big area and it is so random he came to the same place to fuel up. He insisted on taking a picture of us girls with his cell phone camera. Another friend of Lindsey’s just happened to show up too to help with the search of the jack and putting the van back together. Small town? No. Lindsey’s husband was a little concerned 5 white women were out a little late and getting flat tires but it was good it happened when it did and we were in a busy spot with people to help us! So we made it back to Dehra Dun in Lindsey’s mini bus. I sat in the back with the drums on my lap. Going over the speed bumps and potholes made the ride really interesting for me to say the least. The night was a blast and I had a fun girls night out. Shopping, great food and many laughs is something all women long for and it was just what I needed. I am SO happy here. I get that companionship in plenty here.
I feel like I am starting to get a little bit sick. My throat hurts and I sneeze a lot. Which I already thought was because of allergies but I feel like now it might be sickness! Please no!
Left to right: Lisa, Liz, Lindsey, Sharon and me at Kumar’s restaurant in Dehra Dun.
This weekend was nice and relaxing. We had Saturday school and we practiced for the Christmas show next Saturday. It is going to be quite the ordeal. All sorts of dancing, acting and singing. Of course I will take lots of pictures and some video too! No doubt there. I guess Friday is a Hindu holiday and there isn’t school. We will be practicing a lot this week for the show and I won’t be teaching too much for the upper classes. Moral Science this week with my first graders we are coloring everyone that was present at Jesus’ birth for the board!
After Saturday school this weekend we went to Dehra Dun for some shopping and some errands. We went to the post office. Which from the outside isn’t labeled and when we went inside it looked nothing like a post office! But they sold me some stamps that are each the size of Texas that I will need to put 5 per letter to the US. They took Lisa and Sharon’s mail so that’s a good sign. They just threw the mail on a stack of books on the table. Somehow it makes it out! When crossing the road to the ATM Lindsey saw me look to the left instead of the right at first and she almost had a heart attack because I didn’t look the right way of traffic. Like I said before traffic is insane here. Last weekend I saw my life flash before me crossing in the village. This motorcycle with two young guys on it had to stop short and fast. But I swear they weren’t there when I decided to dash across the street! That same day I was waiting in front of the shop at the village near Shishya and saw a big military truck almost run over an older couple on a motorbike. I’m pretty sure I yelled out loud in fear before it happened because I saw it all going down right in front of me. Anyways. No close counters this time in Dehra Dun. Liz was able to get her ice cream from McDonalds, which had so many people in it. It was for sure the local hang out. We parked our car to go into a music store only to come out and discover we had a flat tire. We walked across the street… which is always exciting… and we found someone to change the tire while we shopped… and the repaired for about $1.50. Anyways, we went to this little grocery store that had so much food. I stocked up on peanut butter and bread and tea and….. oatmeal cookies. And chocolate. They even had Natural Valley Almond bars. While we waited outside two kids came up to us begging and I couldn’t resist but give them a Natural bar. I was hoping they would open it, and share but no; the other boy wanted his own. So I opened a bar and he tried to take the whole thing but I just gave him one part of it. I think they were brothers because they ran off to the same woman that looked like their mother and I watched her wave them back to us to beg more. Sad.
We went to the Dehra Dun bazaar because Sharon is leaving soon and wanted to get some scarves and they were less than a dollar so I stocked up. Got some really pretty colors. We left the bazaar but not after I got some almonds. This younger girl whose family I think owned the store talked to me and asked where I was from. She asked what I was doing in India and I told her I was teaching English. She wanted my phone number to teach her brother and her English. I said I didn’t have a phone number (which I didn’t) but she was really sweet. For dinner I ate myself giddy on garlic nan, this cheesy spinach sauce, bean dal and this other veggie dish (picture on bottom of this post). For dessert ice cream with hot chocolate sauce. Yes, please. More. Thank you.
Before we got to the Bazaar Lindsey had to make a U turn merging into busy oncoming traffic and this little rickshaw cut us off and Sharon took a picture right when he looked out and made a funny face outside of the rickshaw. This is important because it will come up later. After dinner we made our way back to Shishya and Sharon bought some really neat drums for her son back home. About halfway back to Shishya we got ANOTHER flat tire on the left side this time. We passed a Hindu wedding on the side of the road (pictures and video under Shishya/Dehra Dun picture album) and pulled into a gas station to get our tire fixed. Took about 5 people and 15 minutes to get the jack out from under the seat. Liz said that she heard somewhere that for every one job in the US… about 4 people in India have that same, individual job. While they were changing the tire the wedding passed us by on their way to the reception. Fireworks were going off… loud music and dancing made for an interesting ordeal! It was really neat. While we were waiting this guy walked right up to Sharon and smiled really big and with broken English says “Remember me? I cut you off and smiled to your camera” It was the rickshaw driver that cut us off and smiled for Sharon. He didn’t follow us because he showed up way after we got to the station. It was SO funny! Dehra Dun is a big area and it is so random he came to the same place to fuel up. He insisted on taking a picture of us girls with his cell phone camera. Another friend of Lindsey’s just happened to show up too to help with the search of the jack and putting the van back together. Small town? No. Lindsey’s husband was a little concerned 5 white women were out a little late and getting flat tires but it was good it happened when it did and we were in a busy spot with people to help us! So we made it back to Dehra Dun in Lindsey’s mini bus. I sat in the back with the drums on my lap. Going over the speed bumps and potholes made the ride really interesting for me to say the least. The night was a blast and I had a fun girls night out. Shopping, great food and many laughs is something all women long for and it was just what I needed. I am SO happy here. I get that companionship in plenty here.
I feel like I am starting to get a little bit sick. My throat hurts and I sneeze a lot. Which I already thought was because of allergies but I feel like now it might be sickness! Please no!
Left to right: Lisa, Liz, Lindsey, Sharon and me at Kumar’s restaurant in Dehra Dun.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Tuesday Market
Chai is called tea when it’s served cold. A couple of girls at school told me this the other day. Just from talking with them for about a half an hour, I sealed this bond with them I think. Every time I see one in particular, she puts her hand out for me to touch it and insists on holding and squeezing mine. Makes me smile every time. Both of the girls are Hindu and are in 5/6 grade. Students at school ask me if I know Hindi. I don’t, but I am tempted to sit in on a Hindi lesson in one of the younger grades though. It took some getting used to the fact that grading is called checking here and notebooks are called copies. Rohan has been exceptionally chipper during homework time. He has been singing and smiling and we have been getting a lot done! He was coloring something last night and singing and got so carried away he looked up to smile at me and just decided to mark my forehead with the crayon he was using. Silly boy.
Have any of you ladies had ‘threading’ done? It’s a method for shaping your eyebrows and I guess you can get it done in the states but I never heard of it until I came here. A person uses string to ‘pluck’ your eyebrow hairs really fast. I got it done (big whoopin 25cents). But I’m not going to lie… it hurt a little! I was grinding my teeth! The walk to Seleque takes about 45 minutes from Shishya. On Tuesdays there is a market with fresh fruit and spices as well as other food and random things.
So apparently on Wednesday night the chickens at the chicken farm near by were either having a dance party, or someone was holding a wedding there because music played until at least midnight. (The flies from the chicken farm are starting to drive me a little batty. Some days they just seem to be EVERYWHERE and on EVERYTHING). Also two monkeys ran through campus and on our roof that Sharon described as being comparable in size to a boy over at the home. You never know what you’ll get around here.
I haven’t registered with the Embassy yet and am planning on doing it before Liz and I leave for our two-week break and vacation. A couple of days ago there was a bomb that went off in Uttar Pradesh (which is a state that boarders ours to the southeast that the Taj Mahal is in) at a world famous Hindi temple in the southeast part of the state. You can read the BBC article here. (I had no plans to visit that area at all while I was here). I guess Goa, where we will be spending New Years, pools a lot of people together from all over the world and I guess it isn’t uncommon to have threats there too at New Years. Even though I seem to have a hint of worry, I know it shouldn’t prevent us from alternating our travel plans. It’s India. I knew these sorts of things happen here.
I would love to see the youth center that Ken is running in Dehra Dun. It sort of seems right up my alley but unfortunately foreign volunteers don't work there. Right now Ken is working on a sex education program and message around the high schools and colleges in the areas. I guess Liz heard him say that it’s normal for parents of a teenage pregnant daughter to encourage her to kill herself f she got pregnant out of wed lock (the woman who said this and believed this was right was a professor at a university.) Sex education seems so important and Ken is taking on a challenging task! I would love to get in on that education he is doing; and learning what his message is exactly. It sounds so incredible and so important! Hopefully I can at least make it into the youth center to check it out sometime.
Have any of you ladies had ‘threading’ done? It’s a method for shaping your eyebrows and I guess you can get it done in the states but I never heard of it until I came here. A person uses string to ‘pluck’ your eyebrow hairs really fast. I got it done (big whoopin 25cents). But I’m not going to lie… it hurt a little! I was grinding my teeth! The walk to Seleque takes about 45 minutes from Shishya. On Tuesdays there is a market with fresh fruit and spices as well as other food and random things.
So apparently on Wednesday night the chickens at the chicken farm near by were either having a dance party, or someone was holding a wedding there because music played until at least midnight. (The flies from the chicken farm are starting to drive me a little batty. Some days they just seem to be EVERYWHERE and on EVERYTHING). Also two monkeys ran through campus and on our roof that Sharon described as being comparable in size to a boy over at the home. You never know what you’ll get around here.
I haven’t registered with the Embassy yet and am planning on doing it before Liz and I leave for our two-week break and vacation. A couple of days ago there was a bomb that went off in Uttar Pradesh (which is a state that boarders ours to the southeast that the Taj Mahal is in) at a world famous Hindi temple in the southeast part of the state. You can read the BBC article here. (I had no plans to visit that area at all while I was here). I guess Goa, where we will be spending New Years, pools a lot of people together from all over the world and I guess it isn’t uncommon to have threats there too at New Years. Even though I seem to have a hint of worry, I know it shouldn’t prevent us from alternating our travel plans. It’s India. I knew these sorts of things happen here.
I would love to see the youth center that Ken is running in Dehra Dun. It sort of seems right up my alley but unfortunately foreign volunteers don't work there. Right now Ken is working on a sex education program and message around the high schools and colleges in the areas. I guess Liz heard him say that it’s normal for parents of a teenage pregnant daughter to encourage her to kill herself f she got pregnant out of wed lock (the woman who said this and believed this was right was a professor at a university.) Sex education seems so important and Ken is taking on a challenging task! I would love to get in on that education he is doing; and learning what his message is exactly. It sounds so incredible and so important! Hopefully I can at least make it into the youth center to check it out sometime.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
some thoughts and ideas
The transition to Shishya was a smooth one for me. Maybe it was showing up at the same time as another volunteer but this was largely due to the fact that the volunteers that were already here were so warm and welcoming. I wasn’t sure what to expect but everyone here just seems so real to me. They come from lots of different backgrounds but it’s so easy to become close with them and trust them. Abby and Sharon are headed back home on December 20th and Amanda leaves the first week in January. New volunteers will be showing up shortly after Amanda leaves. I only hope I can show the same hospitality and warm welcome I got when I arrived.
The house family for the older boys escaped religious persecution in southern India and when they arrived here, they had nothing. Could you imagine fleeing and leaving everything you have because of your religious affiliation? Absolutely incredible. The family that lives in the small boys home have two children of their own and the big boy family has four children of their own.
Every Sunday night everyone that lives on campus has dinner together outside near the big boys house. (Where the serve the BIGGEST cauldron of rice I've ever seen) I’m so glad I like spicy food. I get it a lot here and it’s DELICOUS. There are about 50 people together for dinner on Sunday. The little boys pile SO much rice on their plate when they eat I wonder where it all goes!!
When students cross their arms in class while they are listening to you, it’s a sign of respect to the teachers. When you ask someone from India a question here and the answer is yes, they nod their head from side to side at a slant and sometimes it looks like they’re saying no!
I know why I really did want to get a black laptop and was disappointed Apple didn’t make them anymore; my white Macbook is starting to look a little dirty! I made a note not to pack white things for India…. and of course the most expensive thing will be an off white when I get back!
Looking ahead, I think I may give up meat for Lent while I’m here. But I don’t think that will be that hard to do since I don’ t think I’ve had meat yet since I’ve been here. I’m a little more reluctant to eat it anyways!
Older men are called Uncle here at Shishya and women, Auntie. Hey Mom and Dad, this place would be a good fit for you guys. Come as volunteers for about 6 months (or less. Some people do it); Mom you work in the school as a teacher and Dad you can help with admin stuff or work around the farm and help with religious education on Sunday. Perfect. I’ll tell them you’re coming and to expect you within the next two years. Or you can come while I’m here: that works too. Whole families have come as volunteers!! You two would work well here. I’m serious!
The house family for the older boys escaped religious persecution in southern India and when they arrived here, they had nothing. Could you imagine fleeing and leaving everything you have because of your religious affiliation? Absolutely incredible. The family that lives in the small boys home have two children of their own and the big boy family has four children of their own.
Every Sunday night everyone that lives on campus has dinner together outside near the big boys house. (Where the serve the BIGGEST cauldron of rice I've ever seen) I’m so glad I like spicy food. I get it a lot here and it’s DELICOUS. There are about 50 people together for dinner on Sunday. The little boys pile SO much rice on their plate when they eat I wonder where it all goes!!
When students cross their arms in class while they are listening to you, it’s a sign of respect to the teachers. When you ask someone from India a question here and the answer is yes, they nod their head from side to side at a slant and sometimes it looks like they’re saying no!
I know why I really did want to get a black laptop and was disappointed Apple didn’t make them anymore; my white Macbook is starting to look a little dirty! I made a note not to pack white things for India…. and of course the most expensive thing will be an off white when I get back!
Looking ahead, I think I may give up meat for Lent while I’m here. But I don’t think that will be that hard to do since I don’ t think I’ve had meat yet since I’ve been here. I’m a little more reluctant to eat it anyways!
Older men are called Uncle here at Shishya and women, Auntie. Hey Mom and Dad, this place would be a good fit for you guys. Come as volunteers for about 6 months (or less. Some people do it); Mom you work in the school as a teacher and Dad you can help with admin stuff or work around the farm and help with religious education on Sunday. Perfect. I’ll tell them you’re coming and to expect you within the next two years. Or you can come while I’m here: that works too. Whole families have come as volunteers!! You two would work well here. I’m serious!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
I bought a loaf of bread, coffee for about a week, some cookies and sugar for about a dollar a couple of days ago. (On the walk back to Shishya we passed a brushy part of area and there were so many monkeys right next to the road in the bushes! The babies were so cute!) I never really drank coffee religiously but since I’ve been here I crave it in the morning. It’s so delicious and always hits the spot! Abby, my roommate, is quite the little cook and she made pumpkin pancakes a couple mornings ago. SO GOOD!! You can get so many fresh fruits here. Papayas, dates and tangerines are all around. This blog should just be about all the food I consume here. Which thankfully, I haven’t gotten sick from yet. I need to keep it up! I’m not going to lie, I am a little anxious about traveling around India for a few weeks!
I read in the newspaper a few days ago that had an announcement about weddings. Whenever we are out driving we usually pass a wedding or two. People are dressed in flashy costumes and fancy clothing. There is music blasting and people are dancing and cheering. This is all happening RIGHT on the side of the road. The announcement in the newspaper was advising wedding parties to please not block roadways. I thought it was such a unique newspaper posting and request!
Another common thing on the side of the road and on the road are COWS. They are everywhere here and their poop too. Most of the time they serve no real purpose. People don’t use the cows for anything. The cows are a sacred animal to most people in the area. Our cows on the farm work though. They are actually used for something!
Apparently the propane people in India have been on strike, and if we run out we’re out for a while? No warm showers or stoves for cooking!
Rohan and I are still working hard during homework time. He needs help on his vowels. Thanks to Mom and Barb Pardee for sending me work sheets. If you have anything more that could help that would be great!
So Lisa, the new volunteer from Germany, is 20 and was working at a school in Nepal for three months before she took a train and bus to Shishya. She is being sent through a program to all these places. It’s pretty incredible. What an experience. She plays the violin and tonight she was playing it. It was so nice. Abby sings songs form fiddler on the roof sometimes and Lisa just happened to play a song from that movie tonight!
Abby said the other day she has to keep reminding herself that I’m 24. She says I seem so much younger. I used to think seeming younger was a good thing but trying to teach English to 8th graders and having them think I’m just a few years older than them makes things a little challenging. One kid thought I was 17 on my first day.
We are watching the boys this weekend. We go to their home in the morning and care for them for about twelve hours. We do this so their house family has the opportunity to take some time off. The families that live in the homes sacrifice so much. I admire them! There are enough volunteers right now that the shifts are short. For those of you that know me I LOVE playing board games and card games and stuff. It just so happened I got the shift on Saturday and Sunday for GAME TIME!!! Twister and UNO here I come! For those of you that went to the Southeast Alaska State Fair last summer there was a ninja acrobatic group there called Nanda. There is a boy in the home whose last name is Nanda and he goes by that name. I'm going to show the boys a youtube clip of them. Pretty cool! The boys were so whirled up during game time today that they managed to catch grass on fire? Wooooweeee so many hyper boys!
I read in the newspaper a few days ago that had an announcement about weddings. Whenever we are out driving we usually pass a wedding or two. People are dressed in flashy costumes and fancy clothing. There is music blasting and people are dancing and cheering. This is all happening RIGHT on the side of the road. The announcement in the newspaper was advising wedding parties to please not block roadways. I thought it was such a unique newspaper posting and request!
Another common thing on the side of the road and on the road are COWS. They are everywhere here and their poop too. Most of the time they serve no real purpose. People don’t use the cows for anything. The cows are a sacred animal to most people in the area. Our cows on the farm work though. They are actually used for something!
Apparently the propane people in India have been on strike, and if we run out we’re out for a while? No warm showers or stoves for cooking!
Rohan and I are still working hard during homework time. He needs help on his vowels. Thanks to Mom and Barb Pardee for sending me work sheets. If you have anything more that could help that would be great!
So Lisa, the new volunteer from Germany, is 20 and was working at a school in Nepal for three months before she took a train and bus to Shishya. She is being sent through a program to all these places. It’s pretty incredible. What an experience. She plays the violin and tonight she was playing it. It was so nice. Abby sings songs form fiddler on the roof sometimes and Lisa just happened to play a song from that movie tonight!
Abby said the other day she has to keep reminding herself that I’m 24. She says I seem so much younger. I used to think seeming younger was a good thing but trying to teach English to 8th graders and having them think I’m just a few years older than them makes things a little challenging. One kid thought I was 17 on my first day.
We are watching the boys this weekend. We go to their home in the morning and care for them for about twelve hours. We do this so their house family has the opportunity to take some time off. The families that live in the homes sacrifice so much. I admire them! There are enough volunteers right now that the shifts are short. For those of you that know me I LOVE playing board games and card games and stuff. It just so happened I got the shift on Saturday and Sunday for GAME TIME!!! Twister and UNO here I come! For those of you that went to the Southeast Alaska State Fair last summer there was a ninja acrobatic group there called Nanda. There is a boy in the home whose last name is Nanda and he goes by that name. I'm going to show the boys a youtube clip of them. Pretty cool! The boys were so whirled up during game time today that they managed to catch grass on fire? Wooooweeee so many hyper boys!
Friday, December 3, 2010
What I Forgot!
Since I’ve been here I’ve realized things I should have brought with me that I didn’t (no, this isn’t a wish list. Sending things to India is expensive and often gets lost I hear…):
*A sweatshirt. What was I thinking? I wear sweatshirts all the time at home. I miss my Haines High Lady Bears basketball one!
*A sheet. We have a sheet over the mattress then just a comforter for on top. Something in between would have been nice.
*A shoe style between my flimsy Old Navy flats (which are about to give out already) and my tennis shoes. You can buy shoes here but it’s just finding a place and having time is challenging.
*A planner. Hopefully I can get one here. I feel so disorganized without one.
*Batteries. My AA rechargeable batteries got fried here I think and don’t work anymore. Amanda gave me some of hers!
*Bobby pins. I only brought three?
*My sweatpants/pj pants!
*I should have kept that big pile of Crystal Light packets in my bag. They add some flavor to all the water I drink here. I think I’ll run out quick with what I have!
*A metal lice comb. I have plastic. Hopefully it will work if I ever need it.
*Anti-malaria pills. (This was an important one! The area Shishya is in hasn’t had a case in years. But I’m a little anxious about traveling around!)
*Macaroni and Cheese. Yumm I have a craving! Same with Goldfish Crackers. Sharon leaves in a few weeks to go home and I think she’ll leave some tuna. Which I love!
*Alaska children books.
*Construction paper for the kids. I guess it’s hard to get here.
*Gum
*Mouthwash
*Airline compression socks. I couldn’t find them before I left and my legs swelled so badly from flying so long! I had some really nice cankles for a few days after landing.
*Pictures. I didn’t have enough time before I left to get some printed. I have some on my computer but it would have been nice to put some on my board in my room…
Thank you, Karen Boyce for the use of your handy sized sleeping bag. It has been keeping me warm at night and I sleep a lot better with it! It's a comfort from home :) It will come in handy for the trip I’ll take during the break.
*A sweatshirt. What was I thinking? I wear sweatshirts all the time at home. I miss my Haines High Lady Bears basketball one!
*A sheet. We have a sheet over the mattress then just a comforter for on top. Something in between would have been nice.
*A shoe style between my flimsy Old Navy flats (which are about to give out already) and my tennis shoes. You can buy shoes here but it’s just finding a place and having time is challenging.
*A planner. Hopefully I can get one here. I feel so disorganized without one.
*Batteries. My AA rechargeable batteries got fried here I think and don’t work anymore. Amanda gave me some of hers!
*Bobby pins. I only brought three?
*My sweatpants/pj pants!
*I should have kept that big pile of Crystal Light packets in my bag. They add some flavor to all the water I drink here. I think I’ll run out quick with what I have!
*A metal lice comb. I have plastic. Hopefully it will work if I ever need it.
*Anti-malaria pills. (This was an important one! The area Shishya is in hasn’t had a case in years. But I’m a little anxious about traveling around!)
*Macaroni and Cheese. Yumm I have a craving! Same with Goldfish Crackers. Sharon leaves in a few weeks to go home and I think she’ll leave some tuna. Which I love!
*Alaska children books.
*Construction paper for the kids. I guess it’s hard to get here.
*Gum
*Mouthwash
*Airline compression socks. I couldn’t find them before I left and my legs swelled so badly from flying so long! I had some really nice cankles for a few days after landing.
*Pictures. I didn’t have enough time before I left to get some printed. I have some on my computer but it would have been nice to put some on my board in my room…
Thank you, Karen Boyce for the use of your handy sized sleeping bag. It has been keeping me warm at night and I sleep a lot better with it! It's a comfort from home :) It will come in handy for the trip I’ll take during the break.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Snake encounter?
On my way back from the small boys house in the dark last night something skinny and long wrapped around my ankle and up my shin. I kicked whatever it was and screamed at the same time. I can’t think too much about what it was. It’s colder here now. In the mornings and at night you can see your breath… so shouldn’t snakes be hibernating? Yikes! It’s so funny because just about an hour earlier I was reading a book to Barrat about the different kinds of snakes and I was getting a little freaked out! I even read the chapter in Eat Pray Love that day about when the lady dreams of snakes in her room. It was defiantly something alive so it wasn’t just a stick! I hear the boys on campus chase down big snakes with sticks and a shovels. They have no fear!
So on the way to Dehra Dun there is this place where a lot of trees are and apparently a few years ago a tiger was found in a hole? I guess a small girl was killed by one too years ago near Shishya. I guess a bunch of people in the village banned together and killed it. I guess it’s rare for tigers to be in the fields but it has happened.
On a sweeter note, there are about 350 kids at Shishya. It’s tradition that on a student’s birthday they walk around with a friend and hand out candies to teachers. There sure are some delicious candies here and they come around frequently! I feel like I eat so much here... but I feel hungry too so I guess that's okay :)
I skyped with my first UAF counseling professor I ever had yesterday morning with her Foundations of Counseling Class. It was great to see some familiar faces! I spoke with my dad on the phone too. It put me in a good mood for the rest of the day. Teaching moral science to grade 1 was fun. I enjoy little kids. They’re so sweet.
A new volunteer arrived today. Her name is Lisa and she is from Germany. I was just thinking today how many volunteers the boys have seen since they’ve been here and how many more they will see. I think the exposure is a good thing!
So on the way to Dehra Dun there is this place where a lot of trees are and apparently a few years ago a tiger was found in a hole? I guess a small girl was killed by one too years ago near Shishya. I guess a bunch of people in the village banned together and killed it. I guess it’s rare for tigers to be in the fields but it has happened.
On a sweeter note, there are about 350 kids at Shishya. It’s tradition that on a student’s birthday they walk around with a friend and hand out candies to teachers. There sure are some delicious candies here and they come around frequently! I feel like I eat so much here... but I feel hungry too so I guess that's okay :)
I skyped with my first UAF counseling professor I ever had yesterday morning with her Foundations of Counseling Class. It was great to see some familiar faces! I spoke with my dad on the phone too. It put me in a good mood for the rest of the day. Teaching moral science to grade 1 was fun. I enjoy little kids. They’re so sweet.
A new volunteer arrived today. Her name is Lisa and she is from Germany. I was just thinking today how many volunteers the boys have seen since they’ve been here and how many more they will see. I think the exposure is a good thing!
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