Another rule...

This one is right, too. CCS told us to not bring any supplies from the US - no markers or books or anything - but to use only what was supplied by CCS.

"What is supplied" is of the most minimal kind - a few markers, lots of broken crayons, construction paper and purple and green and the rattiest of books. It was frustrating the first couple of day to work out how to tech with these materials but while you can buy Lays potato chips ever 1K or so children's scissors are impossible to come by. So make do we did. I have cut all kinds of shapes and used a smudge of glue for each child rather than his/her own stick, been concrete and creative with what there is. Even that is so much more than the day care kids have at the school.


Today we cut out letters and stuck them on paper, let the kids color, stapled the pages together and made an alphabet book for the class. We are a long way from Power Point Hey Diddle Diddle!

Anyway the teacher told me they were enjoying the lesson and added, "I could do that." Ah-ha! If I brought bells and whistles from the US there would be no hope of her trying to replicate.

The temptation is HUGE to bundle up a box of $1 store supplies and ship it back after I go home. Don't even get me started on books!

For some reason that passes my understanding we are having Mexican food tonight.

Where have all the hippies gone?

Found them! Huddled around the Dala Lama in Exile in McLeod just north of here. North meaning 2000 M up. The first time the roads have been traveled enough to put up signs about curves - in case you can't see the cars directly above you going the other way. As you travel up the road the shop faces change from Indian to Tibetan and the shoppers are European, American, Asian seeking enlightenment. And shirts that say "Free Tibet." Needless to say the beggars are more active - although they still do not rival parts of Rome.

The teacher I work with was talking about beggars today. She does not like the one who come around the local market because "they are from a different state." They travel to Dharamsala knowing the generous foreigners are there, they beg a bunch of money, wire it home and come back for more, after keeping a portion to eat and drink well. She helps out in her father's restaurant and sees them come in!

She is a widow but since her in laws were not living she was allowed to return home to her family to live with her tow children. At first she said people said mean thgins about a "woman alone" but she worked to complete her MA in history. I asked when she will do when her parents die - if she can continue to live with her brothers family. She said, "Oh by then my son will be grown and I will live with him." Women - even educated ones - still are dependant in this part of the country on the men they are related to.

We were watching an Indian Soap today - someone asked what was going on. I said, "That is the evil women(note the arched eyebrows) and that is the good woman (pure, wide eyes) and Evil is battling Good over - imagine this - a man!" One of the Indian staffers said, "Yes! How do you know that?" Same same in South Africa and China. We all Search for Tomorrow!

The rules and why they are hard to keep

Since the first booklet from CSS there has been a page in every communication with lots of large type instructing us not to give any thing to or buy anything for the day care or the kids in the day care. I thought I knew that from traveling in South Africa and understanding (a bit) the concept of partnering rather than donation. There are lots of good reasons (spelled out in detail, signed off and reinforced verbally): it is unfair to other children so breeds jealously, the parents/day care center will take whatever it is and sell it to use the money for themselves, once the volunteers leaves the supply is cut off and they look for other ways to get it. Yep - I agree. It all makes sense.

Until this week. There are 8 little duckling in my day care, and each brings a backpack with his/her food dish (which are filled once to eat there and filled again to eat or share at home) and whatever else children have in backpacks. (In this case, not much, although one kid does have a plastic pencil sharpener.) I KNOW at Walmart I can get 8 brand new backpacks = probably featuring that great literary character Sponge Bob Square Pants - and ship them here for so little! So little for me - one new special thing for them! I know they would smile. And heck isn't a New Backpack a rite of passage for every kid every fall?

And the rules? - oh hang the rules I think! But to think that the joy of a new backpack for a child would fade if family or teacher takes it. They would almost certainly get it stolen by another older kid. And when it wore out who would buy the next one? My heart aches at that reality, even as I realize it is my feeling of generosity that would benefit rather than their situations.

So I'll leave what I brought: time, energy, English, the Hokey Pokey, my presence and attention, and it will have to be enough.

Weekend 1 = sort of

Well, actually we all worked today because we were traveling on Monday. Next weekend we get S/S off and can go on an expedition. So I was back in the classroom with scissors, paper and clay teaching shapes.

A couple of the mothers stayed to "talk" today = I showed them the picture book of family photos. The women were our daughters' ages so they could relate to everything but the blond hair and blue eyes. On the way out, one tried her first words in English: thank you. She did fine, but it brought on a fit of hysterical giggles!

News from home: If the CUBBIES are winning I'll never know. We get BBC which may or may not be in English = what is a "boot" on a car? hehehehe Then we get National Geographic in Hindi, but snakes swallowing rodents twice their size translates well. We get the Indian papers in English but it is all about the news of the Indian states and politics and economics. We did get a picture of the Obamas when their Protocol chief slipped in her dinner gown. I thought she landed quite gracefully and did not deserve international coverage. We also heard about redefining "nude" = alert the Crayola people that "flesh" is out, too.


But a new generation of Indian children have now been introduced to "Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?" so all is right in the world.

Where we are NOT

We are not in the bad storms on the coast or where the Naxals are blowing up things or where 2 people were trampled when a train changed boarding platforms. (Well we were in Delhi that day but went by air.) Up here it is just another sunny day at the foot of the Himalayas.

At school the classroom teacher had a meeting today so I was flying solo again. (There is an aid.) We are singing every song I know without a CD player! How is that possible? Today I actually risked the glue sticks and most of them knew not to lick it...

I walked home alone from daycare today = about 1km = but hardly a straight path. There are no straight paths. The hairpin turns are tight and right in the center of town. I only made two wrong turns. Anyway the teacher aid could not believe that I had access to a ride and choose to walk. When I thought about that, it made a great deal of sense she was amazed. For women, walking is the only option unless you unless you are going far enough to go on the bus or have a male who will drive you. When I see couples on motorcycles he has a large protective helmet and she has a veil. On the tip of my tongue was "It is good exercise," but I realized how even more amazing the concept of "needing to exercise" would sound.


I have seen lots of cows - one in the epicenter of a massive traffic jam - plus chickens, horses and dogs. Not a single cat. (Or a married cat for that matter - heheheh) There are supposedly 56 birds that are only found in India. I probably saw at least one.

I am not even remotely afraid here - I wasn't in China either, but in South Africa I never went out at night and did not even walk 1/2 block between houses on the advice of the locals. Here everyone is enormously respectful. The children love to try out a little English by yelling "hello." People always respond to my "namaste ji" with the same words and a smile.

Drop off

Yesterday our cultural excursion was being dropped off in a nearby town and having 1 hour to find the post office or a bank or some other assigned spot and make a transaction. So we are set for shopping now!

In teaching, colors today was stickers and markers. Two new students. Apparently when word gets around that an American is here teaching English, even 2/3 year old registration and attendance increases quite a bit. I'm not sure where we'd put more than 10, but it is good for the teacher. Who in fact took the day off so I was alone with my stickers and markers. When I think that at home my 2/3s have power point, CD player, puppets, brand new books...But it turns out Ring around the Rosy is universal! Why is a song remembering the effects of the Black Death international?? So far I have not heard any Wiggles or Barney.

Bathing - a bucket shower. OK - shower is in name only. There is a raised spigot but it has been disconnected. So there are two taps with a drain below, a large basin, a cup, and a bucket. Fill the bucket with water, wash hair first and rinse into basin. Then get into basin and wash self by pouring water from cup. After the bucket is empty and the basin is full, you are clean so dump basin down drain. The entire bathroom is now awash so grab the industrial sized squeegee and clean the floor. Rinse out everything. (I am actually afraid when Bob realizes how much water this saves it will be instituted at home!)

It is very nice being with a group of volunteers doing different jobs. Good interaction and always something going on. The food is absolutely fantastic!

Stretching percieved limits

So yesterday I had a choice of a nap or keeping my body in tune with today's young people and scaling the local mountain to see a temple. I set off with 4 college kids and slowly slowly - with a fair amount of heavy breathing on my part - we made it to the top! One guy has a fancy watch with all kinds of dials and measures but claimed it was calibrated to his home in Alaska. So maybe it was 200 feet up via mostly rocks and either "a few" or "6K" stairs. Down was easy! And at the top we found a cafe...with cars in the parking lot from driving up the other side! But where's the fun?

We work all morning and have classes in Hindi, discussions and Cultural Experiences in the afternoon plus a fair amount of reports to fill out since we are all working with NGOs and that means paperwork. Dinner is at 7 - today is Tandoori Wednesday and we are all excited to get meat! Well chicken.

Today the little girls in class wanted to wear scarves because I was. Their teachers wear them all the time but so easily they are not noticeable. I was noticeable since I kept adjusting. But when I put it over my head they did too and we all laughed.

My #7 child said BLUE today - that is the first word she has said ever in the school.