Feb 17
Feb. 17
I was a little surprised the fireworks didn’t keep me up last night seeing that there was some 30,000 people getting married in Delhi alone. It was wedding season and yesterday was the wedding day. One my way to meet with Daniel to discuss our latest project I came across the now familiar marching bands and fireworks. Today was not the usual day that we met, but luckily I was greeted at by our usual waitress, a cute young girl with a very infectious smile. My first encounter with this lady was when my mouth and stomach decided to display too of its most intriguing skills; the ability to eat a lot and the ability to eat very fast. She looked on laughing as I wolfed down a chocolate, caramel pie, and a chocolate milkshake. I didn’t really notice how un-Indian I was being until my plate was completely clean. Needless to say I was extremely embarrassed by that event, but the waitress has seemed to forgive me with her smile and just the fact that she always asks if I want the chocolate, caramel pie again.
As I sat down with Daniel after ordering we begun to discuss our weekend project, our as we have come to know it as “the big surprise.” After going into the dismal women’s class everyday with the worn paint and the tacky desk we finally decided enough was enough. So Friday and Saturday we are putting on our grubby clothes and picking up the paintbrushes. The best part is, the girls have no idea. They will arrive Monday to a new colorful room with shades made from a beautiful sari. We are rearranging the room to create space and have even hired a carpenter to cut down some of the tables. This certainly is a huge project to add onto my pile, but it is also one that will definitely liven up the class.
Daniel went to take measurements today while I taught. “hmmmmmmm” all the children buzzed as class started. I bet you all didn’t know I was a yoga master as well! Yes, that’s right, we started class today with a bit of yoga, something the children really seem to enjoy. Then to start our unit on Europe I placed the map on the ground and ask them to draw Europe. As always the children amazed me. I expected them to just outline it and then we’d move on, but no. They mark each country with it appropriate boundary, paying close attention to each minute bend. Some of the students even marked their maps with the lines of longitude and latitude. They then proceeded to color the maps exactly as it was on the big map, asking for colors I knew we didn’t have. When everybody’s map was turned in we had a small wrestling match before it was time for lunch.
The boys finished their lunch and ran off to play. It was 11:40 and I had to run as well. The girl’s mothers were in the class today and I had to catch the tale end of the discussion. I entered a room of ten smiling people as they discussed dreams. We told them how our love for the people of Pappan Kalan brings us back everyday and that love makes us really want the best for these women. We discussed the benefits of education and the parents really seemed to be getting on board. They discussed their dreams for the children and expressed how their children was all they had. This, they said, is why they want them near and want what they do. As we talked about this they really started to come around. The whole discussion ended on a positive note as the women agreed to think over this for a month. After a month they will return and bring more mothers from the community in order to further discuss the subject of dreams and their daughter’s lives.
I fell asleep on the ride home and I knew I would need a long nap today. I longed for sleep, but I dreaded the work that must be done before such a thing could be possible. I knew that getting four colors of paint and paint supplies in a Hindi speaking area was going to be near impossible. Along with this I had to plan for class tomorrow, work on editing the children’s photos, and plan more for the painting. Fortunately, my spirits were quickly lifted and I was given the energy to complete the day when Heather approached me. She smiled at me and said, “All the kids where asking where you were today!”
I had been thinking about those kids since I left, I can’t tell you how touched I was to here that they were thinking of me as well. So after I finished my errands and took a short nap, I opened my planner and searched for an free day, I had to go back to Munirkia.
