19th Arsha Vidya Mandir School, the US Consulate, and discussion with Brinda

Hello!
Today was an action packed day with three main points.  In the morning we visited another private school following the CVSC guidelines called the Arsha Vidya Mandir school.  Next we headed to the US consulate of which we were invited to after meeting with the US secretary general of the Consulate for Chennai at Raavena Mat. School nearly 2 weeks ago.  Following this we dropped our blouses off at the tailors and then headed back for to Niketana for some Curry paneer and Aloo curry dinner.
The day began at the school, which first impressions left it to be a very well off school with a steep tuition. This school catered to one class per grade, like the TVS school we visited, from kindergarden to 12th grade.   The school had an auditorium, projectors, white boards instead of chalkboards (the first we've seen yet) and even smart boards in some of the classrooms.  Tuition ranged form 35,000 to 50,000 rp which is about 1,123 US dollars per year.  Therefore many of these kids have traveled and have more luxurious lives that the rest of India.  The principal seemed caring and open to discuss topics, yet was very pleased to show off their technology at the school by emphasizing the school being completely electronic with everything from grades to textbooks on the computer.  The classrooms were great to be in again and the students worked hard in the classes I sat in on.  I watch at physics class, english class, geography class, 2nd grade class, 7th grade lab technology, 7th grade math probability class and finally the kindergardeners.  All the students demonstrated respect for their teachers and in many respects reminded me of my own educational experience in only the best ways.  With enthusiastic teachers and creative topics, the school attempted to harvest creativity as well as structure.  By far this school was the most well off infrastructure and resource wise.  Talking with a few students, I learned of kids that wanted to be environmental engineers, astronauts, Dr.s, robotics, and even a few that had no idea. Although so of the kids had no idea, I was proud of them, because having no idea means that they are thinking for themselves about what they want to do in their future rather than what their parents want or what they see receives the best pay for going beyond their circumstances.  Much of this is because of their circumstances now... they can't reach much higher and better, therefore they have to option to be creative with their ambitions.
After the school we headed to the US Consulate.  After an intense security screening.... ( I hope the woman whom gave the pat downs enjoyed herself)... we all ventured into the consulate to be greeted by an extremely uppity newbie to the consulate whom had just graduated from Columbia.  She proceeded to treat us like we were 5th graders and toured us around until we saw the secretary general in the stairwell, whom said hi and left after inviting us.  Then we met the public affairs department head whom proceeded to describe himself, his opinions and his views on India..... very rarely letting us talk and for the first time in my higher education career, almost made me feel bad about my choice of educational facility.  He stated that he wants to open the Indian children's' eyes to other educational opportunities in the USA other than the IVYs and stated that he was sure PLU gave a good education.  Our whole group was appalled by a lot of what we heard and the disrespect he gave to not only us as students but to our professor and to the Indian culture.  Being in India for only 2 and 1/2 weeks, I feel as if we have been more culturally emerged than he would ever become.  He described how he received his post in the foreign services and how they only remain for 2-3 yrs at the most.  I couldn't believe that this was a field that I wanted to pursue and I was appalled at the attempt for the argument that they make lasting connections to the community.... how can you make lasting connections in 2-3 yrs when there is always new people cycling through?  We attempted to talk about food but he also lacked knowledge on what to eat and where, this guy needed a pocket Vidya like we have, helping him realize all his cultural mistakes and teaching him along the way.  After bolting out of there fairly quickly we dropped our shirts off at the tailor and headed back to Niketana.
At Niketana we met with Vidya's sister Brinda whom described to us the Indian situations of arranged vs love marriages as well as In-law complications and dowery.
 All in all it was an immensely busy and draining day, it was nice to have our very own Kelsey read us a small bedtime story from a book she bought about the mythology of the Hindu religion.

Here are some pics from the school today:

(probability math class)

( Kindergarden class)

(tech and invention lab)

( the few books in social studies,  while the math took 3 book cases)

(career books for reference, most careers listed involve the IT industry, bio industry, agricultural industry or government industry)

(books on poets in their library, a thing many schools don't have)

(5th english)

(5th english)

(5th grade english)

(if you look really hard, the poster on the right is about the story of the man from good ole BOCO who wrote the book between a rock and a hard place and what the film 127hrs was based off of!)

more posts to come!! night!

Chennai Museum and dinner at Brinda's house 17th

(The Madras Museum)

On the morning of the 17th, we woke with full blue skies and began with our normal breakfast of papaya and toast and headed to the Madras Museum... or the Chennai Museum funded by the government.  The architecture of the buildings was beautiful, but upkeep was defiantly lacking.  When we got in, we took a look at the archeological findings of statues from all periods as well as bronze statues of the Hindu Gods and Buddhist idols.  The exhibits and galleries lacked basic museum necessities for what would be recognized as such for in the USA.  In the natural history and botany area of the museum, there were still casing of snakes and reptiles in jars of formaldehyde behind glass panels for kids to look at from 1960; the animals in these "preserved" casings had begun to slowly fall apart and no longer look as intended, just as a lot of their stuffed animals looked as well. It seemed like the taxidermy was slightly behind in the proper ways of preservation as well as exhibition and demonstration of the animals.  Animals seemed dusty and not really taken care of, and aside from the bronze statues, the archeological statues were well within the lines of human touch for whom ever visited the museum, unlike anything that would be seen in the US.  Regardless of the lack of funding and condition of the museum, the bronze gallery was my personal favorite.  With Vidya by our sides, she described nearly every statue we brought into question.  Many times it was more of a personal goal to be able to identify whom the idol was.  I learned that many of the Gods have multiple names due to personalities they have taken on while conquering certain demons and completing certain life goals, such as Shiva and his firey dancing steps used to kill a demon.  I have no pictures of the museum due to the 200Rp fee to take a camera in, but here is a picture of Shiva.
.  
















You can see the fire around him and the demon beneath him.  After the museum we were intended on taking our




Sari blouses to the tailor but everything was closed due to the pongal holiday. Monday was traditionally a day at 




the beach for picnics.  We drove by the beach road and the majority of it was blocked off due to the thousands of




people that we on it that day.  So we went back to Niketana for a relaxing afternoon and got ready to head to 




Brinda's ( Vidya's sister's house and also where her mother lives) for dinner and time with her family.




The evening was a hit, meeting 4 of the 5 children that Vidya's mom had as well as dancing Bollywood as a family




and showing other styles of dance.  Vidya's niece is a famous singer throughout southern India and was gracious 




enough to sing for us a piece that her and her maestro had written.   After dinner, we made the trek back to 




Niketana by foot ( the same way we came) and retired for an early night due to a 5:30 a.m  wake up  the next day.






:)

Spice shop, the Fort, the Armenian Church, the Beach, and Church of Saint Thomas. The 16th

Today was filled with an action packed day.  After beginning our day with a trip to the grocery store for Indian spices we headed to Fort St. George, the old British fort on the coast of Chennai.  The fort is enormous and used to engulf the state secretariat until they moved to a new building a few years ago.  Inside the Fort was a museum full o f coins, porcine and pictures from the 17 and 1800's.  The fort demonstrated Britain's business with the real East India Trading Company and the battle of the local people of madras ( as Chennai was formally known) and the British. At the fort museum.

The museum also had enormous pictures of old British war heros, Kings and Queens, as well as the Generals of the fort.  In this grand hall full of painted pictures, Sarah and I discovered only three out of 20 were of Indian men, and one out of those three had a white man in it as well.  We talked about how many of the people living here probably never set foot outside of the fort walls and the most local interaction they would have received was through the merchants whom trade things into the fort.  This discussion led us onto a larger one of how there is still, just as then, so much wealth surrounded by so much poverty.  Its very hard to convey, even in pictures and with words.  Quite literally, the Sari shop we went in yesterday, filled with cloth over $300 US dollars, a styling amount of rupees, with have a slum style house on their side walk.  Sidewalks are not functional, and Vidya told us this the first day, which normally has to do with the congestion of traffic because people walk on the streets.  Shacks will be built on the streets and sidewalks, what were once parks are now slums, and even bridge over passes serve as a proper home, just as it does for some in the US.  Kelsey and I began to discuss how the poverty got so bad and why we don't see it as much in the US.  I believe in 2-3 reasons.  1.  the population is Seattle is about 300,000..... in Chennai, its 300 million, therefore there is less space per person. and 2/3 is the pull out of a developed nation for funding and security such as England leaves harmful expects not anticipated by Indian government.  Thats one thing I learned this year is the devastation colonization can lead to when its given independence.  Hence why many of Africa is in the disarray it is.  India has been doing a phenomenal job, and offers government services, its police force simply doesn't have the respect and repercussions like ours.  

There is no one to say you can place ahouseon the sidewalk, at least no one anyone would listen to.  

Inside the rest of the fort was a small chapel that was the burial place of a man whom Yale University was named after.  This church led into a courtyard full of water damaged buildings and lush vegetation, giving you the feeling of your very own secret garden.

 (the armenian church)

From here we drove to an armenian church.  As we rounded the block, there was street vendors everywhere and no sign of a church. Learning from my lesson yesterday about the sari shop, I knew this church had to be somewhere around here.  Sure enough, under and arch, it opened up to a large bell tower and separate chapel that over looked the town.    The church was gorgeous and white, as most of the chapels here. 

 After climbing the bell tower to get phenomenal views and pictures, I swayed in the sunlight for a while  until everyone else had a chance to climb the tower.  If there is one thing I have  learned from India, its to expect the unexpected and never judge a book by its cover.  Both the sari shop, kurta shop, and church were prime examples of this beauty that lies beyond the appearance of the eye.  

We returned for a small break back at Niketana and I join Hannah and Sarah on the roof for some sun basking and reading.  

After an hour or so we got ready to head to the beach.  As we pulled up Vidya explained everything that was being projected on the loud speaker; a constant description of what you can and cannot do at the beach along with what you shouldn't do, such as buy from the vendors because their products are probably unclean.  At the beaches here, there is no swimming for women, no bikinis and even wearing a sari or kurta can been seen as scandalous if it gets wet due to it clinging tight to the body.  The beach is one of the largest beach in the world, it feels larger than Miami Beach without a doubt.  Vendors everywhere along the sand set up shop, and like usual we were the main attraction. None of us mind, in fact we joke about not getting the same attention when we get back home that we have so accustomed to here.  People stare, pretend to not take pictures when they really are and simply come up to sk and say hi or even for an autograph. 

  My personal favorite was this couple that had a camera and looked as if the were posed for a picture together across from us.  But as I looked closer, instead of the shutter facing them and the display screen facing us, the screen was facing them and the shutter was pointed directly at us, they were just  faking taking a picture to try and fool our professor Vidya whose a fireball when it comes to people taking pictures of us and beggars not leaving us along.

We just our feet in the ocean, and I was anticipating only getting my calfs wet, but a large wave changed that and I was soaked from the waist down.  We took pictures, laughed and soaked in the beauty of the kids playing, the blue sky, the sun, and the warm company of each other.  As we took jumping pictures in the air, others on the beach took them of us too.  As we were soaking wet, we walked the board walk to see a central statue of Ghandi and the Chennai lighthouse that stood at the other end where the slums are.

The main slums of Chennai are on the opposite side of the beach, shacks all pieced together.  Something we discussed today was that the media only portrays the poverty of India.  So by me telling you only of the slums, it feeds into what is already known.  India has poverty, yes, and lots of it, but the government is doing an incredible job for competing with the USA in many regards, a 200 year old country, while itself only being a 70 year old country.  They have a multitude of programs for single mothers, employment options, promoting the impoverished class to working class and programs for medical help as well.  I can now see outsourcing as something that is helping India that it could have helped the USA.  Its hard to be selfish towards one's own country when coming to a place like this, all I feel is pride towards India and their accomplishments and ability to use trail and error methods of Western traits, culture and custom to help play catch up to the main players of the world.  They pick what worked for them and continues on.  Aside from the appearance of cultural restrictions, India thrives on flexibility.  

This can been see in Hinduism, a religion that has been around for centuries pre-Greco-roman and still seems to be applicable to people today.  Today I learned that Hinduism and Buddhism are one in the same to the people of India.  To them, Buddha was Vishnu, one of Hinduism's trinity, reincarnated, therefore Buddha was a Hindu.  The flexibility and freedom of diversity is what makes this country so united and acceptable in areas.

After our beach visit, we traveled to a large Catholic Church where some of Saint Thomas' remains are buried.  The church happened to just have had a wedding in it, therefore tons of lavishly dressed women and men were standing out front when we walked in.  In an effort to learn about each other, Vidya asked me about the practices between protestant and Catholicism, and I explained about the kneeling, which a sister of the church began to scold Vidya that protestants don't respect God.  There appears to be more controversy and argument between the same religion than amongst different religions.

As we walked outside of this grand church, we had a discussion on how the cathedral looked glorious.  Simple glorious.  At 4:45 in the afternoon, with the warm sun setting and glowing against this white building full of detail, literally made it look glorious.  As we watched the light dance down the cathedral, the bells rang from the towers. The moment couldn't have been any more perfect.  Warm weather, cool breeze, setting sun, rays across the sky, an incredible building and the simple moment of realization that I was in India.  It made my heart pound.

We hopped in the car and ate dinner in Niketana, Sarah and I spliting some Aloo Masala and hot coco to watch a  movie and fall asleep.

Sari Shopping :) 15th

These past few days have continued our tourist mode with tons of stops, sights and shops!  On the 15th, we spent most of the day shopping here and there, but the final store was the big one.... SARI SHOPPING!!  We pulled up to this run down street corner, and immediately I was disappointed and thought that this was not the experience I wanted, yet Vidya seemed unfazed, got out of the van and began walking down a back alley.  Giving her the benefit of the doubt, she pulls us into this building that isn't even on the main street, but the second you walk in , your in awe.  15 plus feet ceilings with rich dark wood and bolts and bolts of sari material everywhere you look.  Tables and chairs all the way around with eager sales men waiting to pull out every color you could possibly imagine.  Then we learn that there are two floors, first floor, pure silk saris and second floor are silk cotton blend.  I knew, from the moment I had my plastic american girl, girls of many lands doll from India whom had a pink silk sari, that thats what i needed.  It was an aspiration of mine to always want to look like this doll I had growing up.  As the fabric began to flow out, we all began to feel completely overwhelmed.  Four of us stayed on the ground floor while the rest went upstairs, and what we hoped to be a feeling of simply  knowing that this would be the sari that you buy, we got frustration and indecisiveness.  We all had the hopes of it being like what people say about your wedding dress, you just would know... but that feeling had yet to come.  We pulled out every sari in the pink, orange, purple and blue color  price range the guy could think of, and I felt more like a sari hoard, simply grabbing whatever caught my eye, than finding one that I loved.  It almost had some feelings of competition as we all scurried around the same color palate for the one you wanted.  After looking at the saris upstairs, we came back down to really focus on what we wanted.  As we sat down, I had my eyes set on 2 saris, one was a bright and vibrant turquoise blue and gold, the other a vibrant purple and bright yellow.  As I attempted to choose between the two, that I didn't really love, but felt more in a panic to find one, I was about to simply pick one that looked nice rather than falling in love with it, when a softer, but still vibrant purple and gold sari caught my eye.  Everyone began to partially dismiss it as apposed to the two extremely vibrant saris draped on my shoulder, so I put it down and continued to debate in front of the mirror.  One by one, the girls had found their saris, some debated over the price of the sari they loved, but I sat there with the two in front of me and the gold and purple off on the side.  As I sat there, the light caught the gold and purple sari just right and a turquoise hue began making its a appearance.  As I played around with it in the light, I was asked if I had decided... no matter how much I pushed myself to buy a vibrant blue, I kept coming back to this gold, purple and turquoise.  I made my decision, the sari that had caught my eye and my heart, the gold and purple Sari was my Sari.  After buying it and seeing all the beautiful colors that everyone else had bought, we all had a feeling of pride and exhaustion.  So a quick nap, of laying out of all the objects that I had bought, and a small rest, we headed down stairs for dinner and ended the night hanging out and watching aladdin.

i'll post a picture when its all finished from the tailor!!

Shore temples and the croc Farm!

Friday the 14th was spent taking a tourist day, a different type of day compared to our normal schedule, today was the start of Pongal, the harvest festival, so Happy Pongal everyone!  Our first stop of the day was to a crocodile farm.  We saw hundreds of crocs, some in areas where 348 were all packed in together, as well as seeing feeding time for a group of them.  This was very much like the snake park we went to yesterday.  On our drive in we saw some of the more impoverished people thriving on tourism, such as a man with a monkey chained up and dressed in clothes and two gypsy children asking for us to buy beads. Afterwards we went to a cultural preservation center for architecture and handicrafts.  Think of it as half luau festival and half Disney's Epcot just for India though.  The place had handicraft sellers and dancers all celebrating the Pongal festival, with pongal pots and Kolham placed all throughout the grounds.  After the demonstrations we headed over to the shore temples, three temples that have survived since the 6th century and before.  

 The temples were incredible, some recently being exposed due to the tsunami.  I couldn't believe the lack of strictly enforced laws here, a temple that is 6th century can be explored and crawled through, and thats exactly what we did.  We found incredible and inspiring spot and soaked it in.  One temple was directly on the shore, one a little further away with carved elephants and one on top of a mount over looking the Bay of  Bengal. The temple on the mount was my favorite, simply breathtaking views and scenery as you could see the harmony or attempt of harmony between nature and industry in India.  You could see the raw beauty that has been written about for centuries.  The views were awesome and the company of the girls on top of the mountain as well was wonderful.  The sun had just began to drop lower as  we reached the temple on the hill, making the rocks beam yellow and orange.  After this, we sank back into our seats on our bus, with Albert driving us back to Niketana. Tomorrow we get to do a little bit more retail therapy and buy our Saris!!!!!!

Thursday the 13th, St. Thomas Mount and shopping!

 On the 13th we had an action packed day.  We began with a "hike" as Vidya called it, I would describe it as a footpath with 185 steps, to St. Thomas Mount.  This mount is where doubting Thomas was assasinated while praying over a hand carved rock that is still preserved in the church on top of the mount.  The Mount, as I said earlier, contained 185 steps, realating to the same number of steps that Jesus took when he carried the cross.  Along the path there where hanging signs that described what happened every few steps to Jesus.  This was supposed to help one visualize the journey as they made their way to the church on the top and the amazing gold statue of jesus and the angels over looking Chennai.

 We were joined by about 300 school girls walking up the stairs as well whom where Catholic affiliated and were joining 2 other schools at the top for a motivatinal speech as the schools geared up for the big country wide exams at the 10th grade level.  

  After taking pictures of the gorgeous views of Chennai on a clear blue sky day, I was struck by a feeling of awe and humbleness.  Amongst the extreme poverty and wealthy living side by side, I have been able to view the raw beauty the Chennai and Southern India has.  The beauty comes from the people, the culture, the acceptance, and the simplicity the city seems to move at.  Even with the chaos of the city, things move slower at a second glance.  Proceeding the views we learned of St. Thomas and his sculpture, as well as a multitude of other relics.  After viewing the Hindu temple and the Mount, Vidya discussed how the Hindi people believe that everyone has their own way of worship, but believe that everyone prays to the same one God.  I felt a strong agreement to this, being of someone who studies culture and being a Christian, I tend to rationalize that everyone needs a religion or belief system, its in our nature, a religion should simply be something that is most relatable and culturally in tune with your history and surroundings.  To me, they all pray to the same God.  The feeling on the Mount was incredible.  Next we took a different take on Indian culture and headed to the Snake park.  We viewed all types of snakes local to the Indian area and around the world, as well as alligators and crocodiles.  The cultural preservation can be seen within the preservation of local animals.  We saw a few monkeys on the walls running around, but all too quick.  Therefore, we walked into the zoo to see the monkeys in the park.  In the park we met a group of school children and took a few pictures with them upon their request.  The attention has yet to feel overwhelming and Vidya and Miles are very in-tune with the surroundings they put us in and are always being the parents and blocking us from the following of men that normally happens when we go into public places.  After the outings we ended our day with a little shopping and a amazing meal a walk away from our hotel.  Our hotel is in an area comparable to Cherry Creek in Denver, or Bellevue in Seattle.  Very nice, a magistrate that lives a few houses down was setting up for a large Pongal function the next day, so it was exciting to watch them set up and see the final product the next day.  

a little note while I neb

Hey there,
Its 7 am on the 12th and I thought that I could attempt to pick up where I left off while I use my nebulizer.  ( lets just say this sickness hasn't gone away very easily or quickly)  Yesterday we went to a montissori school where the kids were broken up into primary and elementary sections and then continued with 7th grade and up in a normal setting.  We walked into the principals office and right away I got a bad taste for the school, the principal seem fairly frazzled as she didn't realize we were to be there for two days and immediately told us that when we go to a classroom, we find a mat and sit in a corner, no interaction with the kids because it would hinder their growth.  We separated into classes and I went with  Kelsey to a elementary montessori section, ages 6 to 12 in one room.  It was complete chaos, no structure no discipline and honestly one of the most US-like schools we have seen here.  The montessori style of giving the children time to learn as they wish had backfired.  At the age of 6, clicks had been formed and outcasted could be singled out.  We saw a lot more international and rich children at this school, costing nearly 45,000 rupees ( 1,000 US $) a year, this drew in a certain crowd.  The TVS academy, which cost 500 US $ was ten times the education as this, there, the campus was sprawling, children interacted with us on a whole new level, they were in love with their education, called their teachers sister and loved everything and everyone in their class.  The montessori school was horrible.  As we attempted to interact with children in 8th grade, normal class setting, they could not communicate with us.  The were shy, and mean when a few of the kids did answer our questions.  They had no careers in mind and no aspirations.  They stood up during class and would walk around the room to see friends or completely disregard the teacher.  There was a continuation of a lack for regarding time and concepts due to not having a baseline lesson taught to build concepts off of.   When Vidya asked for a syllabus for grading observation criteria, the teachers shifted and said they'd get back to us.  We are to go back today to view their pongal festival, the festival of the harvest that we have been watching all over southern India.  After we view this, Miles and Vidya are to take us to the express mall to watch a bollywood movie.  I hope everything goes to plan!

Long time, no post... sorry

Hello!
I apologise for not writing in 4 days. A lot has happened.  We have spent two days at a Muslim school and two days at a very nice private academy in Housr, seen a dance performance, visited Bangalore and visited two Hindi temples.  I'll try to catch back up all that has been done.  The experience has been life changing more than I can express.  India has a warm place in my heart now, and I can honestly say that I can see  myself coming back here to continue to grow and learn more.  Right now, our whole group is struggling with methods of paying our lessons that we have gathered forward.  Along with these deep reflections and appreciations for the education we were granted, half of our group has fallen ill, myself included.  The nebulizer has been brought out and all is well.  Vidya and the local teachers give us home-remedy teas to drink or try if the opportunity presents itself.  We have a free afternoon tomorrow, so I will try and catch back up then! Sorry again!!

Education is Freedom, Siragu School

Jet lag has 100 % kicked in by this point.  Sarah and I woke up by at least by 3 and were up and running by 4 am.  We began the day slowly as we apmted ourselves up to what the first school visit was to be, with our newly acquired Indian clothes (kurtas and salwares), we headed down for a group breakfast by 6:30.  On the bus by 7, we learning the meaning of a morning stroll... tons of people our in their traditional garb and tennis shoes walking the streets.  In a small park, a circle track contained nearly 30 people walking around in circles on it.  The commotion was less this morning, and Vydia’s explanation of the trash and filth of the city finally came to understanding.  Garbage is everywhere in India; part of that is due to the not very timely pick up by the collectors and another large part is that of the raiders.  Impoverished people raid the trash for plastics to sell back and make an earning for.  Therefore, they dump out nearly every dumpster and rip open the trash bags in search of their treasure.  The collectors are then, ideally, supposed to pick up all the garbage and take it to their landfills which are fully functional.  Two problems coincide with this, one being the not often enough receptacle pick up and the other being the the accessibility of the garbage trucks to the sites of needed pick up; roads are narrow and dirt throughout the back ways around the city, leaving no place for a garbage truck.

 We continued our drive with nearly 5-6 full-on life-flash-before-your-eyes moments. Not only was I in fear of my own we being, but the crazy moped and motorcycle drives that feel as if there is ample room to fit them, their wife, and two children in a maybe 3 foot gap between large busses.  Many cars have no mirrors, of if they do, they are folded in or focused upon the driver for a self esteem boost; regardless, lets just say you could feel the manuel transmission that our driver was working with.  Soon the city traffic buzzed into rural traffic, but never was there break.  Our six lane road went to one lane on a dirt road, where we faced a bus twice our size headed straight for us.  The cows were also out on the street today, at least 30 were out on our drive; joining them was the usual dogs, beggars, school children, workers, mopeds, rigshaws, and buses of all sorts.  People continued to stare and instead of looking away, we tested a new theory or maintaining eye contact and smiling with a big wave.  This new technique was a hit! Men drinking their coffee, women walking with groceries and the family of four on the motorcycle all smiled back with bright wide smiles and sweeping waves.  Eventually we got to the school, in the country side we entered Siragu School, a school made specifically for beggars.  These children were taken from their home in the city where they begged and brought to the rural area and live at the school. The classrooms all hold 10 children and 1 adult per 10 children.  The kids eat and sleep in the same classroom that they study in.  Their grades range form pre kinder garden to 10th grade.  the pre K.G class was enormous, nearly 20 children; while 10th grade held 3.  the drop out rate can be easily noticed as the grades increased; without the children at home helping with an income, it puts more of a stain back on the parents to receive food and make a living. 

    The second we jumped out of the car we were swarmed by kids laughing, smiling, shaking hands, wanting to take pictures introducing themselves and also too shy to actually talk.  One small pre kindergarden girl climbed into my arms within minutes of stepping of the bus.  It seemed once this boundary was broken, physical boundaries were non existent.  The kids brought us chairs to sit on and we sat, swarmed and overwhelmed.  I felt like I just stepped into an National Geographic expose.  The school was all in a desert area, all dry clay and sand, terra-cotta walls, limited electricity, vault toilets if that, no running water but they had a pump and they did have electricity in one building.  The kids began their morning prayers in column by grade in English, Tamil and Hindi.  We sang happy Birthday and all received hand drawn  gifts from the kids.  Then the meditations time began.  All grades, all 400 children sat against walls and meditated to the sound track played over the loud speakers.  Even the Pre K. children followed the lessons with their backs straight, in half lotus, hands in OM and eyes closed.  The children we slowly gathered into a circle as we presented our gift to them, a fundraiser check a woman had given to us for about 1,700 US dollars.  We dispersed ourselves throughout and I had the pleasure of standing next to Priya, one of the 10th graders.  As our rockstar prof Vydia stole the show with her ability to demand attention and speak in every language to translate possibly, the girls ask curiously of my name and the name of others.  The school found it comical that there are two sara(h)’s in our group.  Once Vydia announced the check, Priya looked at her friend in sheer amazement.. never had she even been able to fathom that amount in US dollars, she looked at me and questions in shock, “ Dollars, Ms.??? Oh thank you, thank you Ms.!! U.S Dollars, praise god.” 

We broke into small groups where I was with Megan when we walked in.  Sitting with a group, they brought out the atlas and began to show me India and all the states within it. I showed them the U.S and told them of my family in Colorado where the mountains are and they began to tell me of their mountains in Nepal.  We discussed their gifts they were given for new years and it was like I was taken and shown a small piece of their most prized possession.  The children were lucky if they had a back pack, so when they pulled out fresh notebooks and a small packet of watercolor paint, I shivered.  Things I would buy without a second thought or half use then buy a new one they treasured with all their all their might.  Priyanka, my small fourth grader whom translated for me and spoke the best english showed me hard work and 3 journals full of hand writing in English, Tamil, and Hindi, then proceeded to write my name in Hindi.  I learn of their families, or lack there of, many hand no other home to go home to.  So in an effort to lighten the mood I said, “ so this is your family!” pointing to the school, Priyanka nodded and said, “ yes, it is, and I love them.”  After this, the comments I have been waiting for began.  It started with “ my eyes, they are brown, but yours Ms., they are blue!” I laughed and leaned in so they could see, then came, “ and your skin... its white!” i laughed again, “ yes, yes it is... in fact I think I need sunblock!” they giggled and said the most precious thing I have ever been told.  “ And your hair Ms., its golden.” With that simple phrase my heart melted and I dove into how absolutely gorgeous they all are and how many of us here envy them and strive to be tanner and how we love a more ethnic look than our own, they couldn’t understand this.  They told Kelsey we are like movie stars from Hollywood. ( Priyanka is below)

    We broke into small groups where I was with Megan when we walked in.  Sitting with a group, they brought out the atlas and began to show me India and all the states within it. I showed them the U.S and told them of my family in Colorado where the mountains are and they began to tell me of their mountains in Nepal.  We discussed their gifts they were given for new years and it was like I was taken and shown a small piece of their most prized possession.  The children were lucky if they had a back pack, so when they pulled out fresh notebooks and a small packet of watercolor paint, I shivered.  Things I would buy without a second thought or half use then buy a new one they treasured with all their all their might.  Priyanka, my small fourth grader whom translated for me and spoke the best english showed me hard work and 3 journals full of hand writing in English, Tamil, and Hindi, then proceeded to write my name in Hindi.  I learn of their families, or lack there of, many hand no other home to go home to.  So in an effort to lighten the mood I said, “ so this is your family!” pointing to the school, Priyanka nodded and said, “ yes, it is, and I love them.”  After this, the comments I have been waiting for began.  It started with “ my eyes, they are brown, but yours Ms., they are blue!” I laughed and leaned in so they could see, then came, “ and your skin... its white!” i laughed again, “ yes, yes it is... in fact I think I need sunblock!” they giggled and said the most precious thing I have ever been told.  “ And your hair Ms., its golden.” With that simple phrase my heart melted and I dove into how absolutely gorgeous they all are and how many of us here envy them and strive to be tanner and how we love a more ethnic look than our own, they couldn’t understand this.  They told Kelsey we are like movie stars from Hollywood.
   

 Later we planted plants for the children and had more of a one on one with the older kids, we talked about what college is like and how to get there.  We gave encouraging words and advice.  Vydia said one thing so powerful to them that I had never thought about, she told them that to be like us, they had to work hard.  Harder than they had ever before; she said everything that I know we do, and all the time we spend with our studies, yet I had never had it put like that.  I know I work hard, but for them, we are role models and a real image to relate to.

    As we left, the raw emotions that the visit cause were present throughout the bus ride back.  We talked of traveling Asia and how to do so, yet sitting there I couldn’t think but how blessed we are to even have the opportunity to talk as if that is a real possibility, when many of these kids will never make it out of Chennai.  It is hard to stay happy and understand how we have so much when they have obstacle after obstacle ahead of them.  Things so easy for us are extremely hard for them, such as trying to take the SAT to attempt to get into a US school.  The kids were so happy and full of life with so little, it really showed that happiness is only on the inside and from the people around you, not material things.  Two points that were hardest for me to grasp when reflecting with the group was the little food they were given at the school and lack of understanding or knowledge of humanities or social sciences from the children.  When we arrived, the children were eating breakfast, yet I hadn’t noticed until reflecting with the group and seeing the most loving and strong woman here, our Professor Vidya, break down and display her raw emotions and sorrow for the only object for the children to eat, rice.  No vegetables, no protein, simply rice with dirty water.  The malnutrition ran throughout the school. Sores and skin irritations as well as malnutrition bodies are visible and a spark for the most hopeless feeling a person can have. 



( I do apologize for how long it is... I'm not keeping a journal, so this is where I'm writing everything so I don't forget!)

Day 1- Dress for success

 

Reflection pool at the hotel

Material at the clothing shop

the two boys, just out of school

After a long 20 hours of flying, we landed in Chennai at around 12:40 in the morning on Tuesday the 4th.  We started from Seattle then flew to Frankfurt then directly form Frankfurt to Chennai.  As we stepped off the plane there was an instant humidity change.  It feels like it could be compared to a Florida or Georgia humidity.  Cold inside from the AC but hot enough outside to drip sweat.  We flew through customs and immigration thanks to Miles, Vydia's husband, and soon saw our first glimpse of the people.  Pushing past the customs booth a mass of people behind glass and a guard rail stood with sings and frantically waving.  You could see the smog of the city through the pink hue the nights sky had with the street lights.  Miles soon directed our attention to a flash, then another flash... there was Vydia in a beautiful Sari and jasmine strands in her hair smiling and waving.   We all meet beyond the glass and Vydia and her sister Brinda welcomed us with our own garlands of jasmine.  As we walked out of the airport, it was like walking down a catwalk, with everyone staring at you.  Locals on either side without shame or care following our group with their eyes.  We soon hopped in our cab and took off on an adventure of the streets.  Rules are guidelines and when it comes to night driving, changes are high.  A flicker of the headlights and sound of the horn are the signals for the right of way.  Its like a composition of music specific to the city, a rhythm and sound of its own combination of horns and motors.  We arrived into our hotel and attempted to fall asleep for at least a few hours before waking up to begin our day of shopping.

After sleeping in until about 7 am, we took our time getting up and exploring what Niketana had to offer.  The lush gardens that sound as if your in the jungle to the warm welcome pond at the center filled with fresh marigolds and lotus flowers, the kind staff never ceased to show us around even on to the roof top to gat a more panoramic view of were we were.  Soon the gang had met up and joined Vydia for breakfast.  Breakfast was both new and old foods; the best was the tangy orange juice that looks as if it is half lime and half lemon on the outside but orange on the inside. We soon dressed and headed to see Vydia's mom  and her sister Brinda.  Both women welcomed us into their home with open arms and smiles.  After bypassing the usual chatter, we learned that Vydia's mother is 85, a mother of 5 and loves to hit up the town for musical events.  She gave us motherly advice about shopping and how to be aware of your surroundings as well as teaching us a little bit more about the Sari tradition here in India, as well as Tamil Nadu.
We were off and headed to our first shop made of strictly organic materials and were in complete awe of the colors, openness and willingness to help and never give up on finding us clothes.  We soon got a tour of the handicraft area where things from hand carved patterns for cloth to metal statues of Gods.  The best part though was when we entered the Sari shop.  Beautiful silk sari's glowed with color and life where draped across the room.  Bolts and bolts of material and cloth 6 yards long stretched across the room.  After inquiring about how one is worn and folded, a shop assistant picked our a yellow sari and asked if I wanted to be draped in it.  The girls whipped out their cameras as I stood there in awe of how fast this woman was at draping a sari on me with no hesitation.  She began wrapping around and around and around, throwing cloth over my shoulder then creating her own pleats in the front of the sari.  I questioned more about what is worn underneath and how they are ordered as she unwrapped me, and the girls and I looked at each other with a promise to return and purchase our own sari's before the trip is over.
We next went to lunch at a restaurant inside of a hotel, after being dropped off in the chaos of the street traffic, we doged our way inside when we were greeted with stares and strange looks.  Lunch was full of a tortilla based bread made of rice and deep fired as well as rice and a vegetable curry dish.  The main 7 members of our group sat at one large table together, while megan and I sat at a table with two lovely gentlemen, one dressed in full purple head to toe with a skirt.  They showed their enjoyment for their own meal with loud burps and eating with their fingers.  Watching the acceptability of eating at the same table although not being of the same party was humorous at best. I felt as if I was the own who could not stop staring.  Eventually our silence with our table-mates was broken as we told them of our trip here for school; meanwhile, Vydia spoke to them in Hindi of how fascinated we were at their ways of agreeing and saying yes to questions and comments. A simple head bobble, literally, a bobble head.  The men laughed as megan and I attempted to imitate, no doubt we need more work as to when it is appropriate and how much bobble to add.
Next stop was the city center mall for more clothes, this involved even more questionable looks from locals as the 8 American girls walked by, myself being both the tallest and one of two blondes of the trip found this most amusing.  Inside the mall was like something from back home, we went into a department store full of cosmetics and perfume and soon made our way up to the clothes.  From here we bought a few things but headed to a store across the street.  Yes, across the street meaning we had to walk across a 6 lane chaos zone with no rules followed.  After safely making it across we were greeted by a young Indian boy who shot his head out of the window saying " Welcome to India!! Enjoy!"  and another group of school boys whom licked their teeth as we walked by.  This next store was full of helpful men whom helped us till the end to find the perfect outfits, as Vydia relaxed in a chair glowing with excitement when we walked out to show her.  As we left the shop, two school boys had just popped out of a rigshaw and I couldn't help myself, reaching for my camera, the one boy spun the other around and the two hit a synchronized pose instantly before my lens cap was even off.  They laughed and smiled and we were on our way. The streets were packed with people, from cleaning clothes, to fixing shoes, drinking coffee to using the restroom.  Even the cows and goats on the street seemed to be enjoying themselves. As crazy and chaotic as the traffic seems, its totally functional; yet another rhythm to sync into.  Our driver took us through the city and to the beach where we were able to see our first glimpse of the slums.  Poverty is everywhere in India, yet the people are so rich in community. Everyone seems to get along, from the rigshaw driver to the bus driver, the Muslim man to the Christian woman; regardless of differences of frustrations coincide with such harmony.  Each person has a task to do, no matter how big or small, from the cobbler fixing shoes to the man sharpening knives.
We came back after the drive to a warm environment at our hotel for dinner and early bed, we begin at 6:30 am to head to the school for begging or impoverished children tomorrow.
Namaste!