Only highlight today: reading/playing/teaching children at the creche for slum kids.
I'm really trying to remember everyone's names, but with 50+ children, it's difficult! Today I noticed one little kid, Arun, who was sitting quietly in the corner. He's a little mentally retarded, obviously, and didn't understand what I was saying. But I got a huge, sweet smile from him at least once when he really looked into my eyes. I'd say that made my day.
Some kids are amazing. Santosh, who reaches to my knees, is witty and has bright white teeth. Lakshmi is sure of herself. Angel is shy but getting better. Nazia is really smart (note: what do I know, I've only observed her a few times). Nagaraj is lazy but smart too. Mahalakshmi likes to pocket things -- I THINK. Meena was quiet but finally approached me. Rose is forward. Munil knows what's going on but hides it! They are all cheeky little buggers.
Hope I can wrote more about other kids next week.
CURRENTLY, my kids are playing outside with Sahu, our nighttime security guard. I can hear their tummy-laughs. I don't know what they're doing, but they're happy. So am I!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
A day in the life of ..... Sun. Oct. 28 -- L O V E
Funny day today: took an auto to Forum Mall (that's about 20mins. from our house) with the kids and Phil to buy some bean bags --- ended up with an iPod and HiFi system instead! Cool, right?
Auto on the way back has this sign:
L = Losse of mani
O = Out of mind
V = Vest of time
E = End of life
I'm lovin' it here!!!!!!!!!!
This afternoon I showed the kids and Phil my Kannada language school (classroom). Phil couldn't quite believe it -- very, very decrepit building with old, decrepit, dirty walls and benches from the 50s. No blackboard, only two big black sheets hung up on the wall. View of a mini-slum. Hardly any electricity, of course. I'm thinking: who cares? No one else seems to mind, so why should I? Phil just shakes his head.
Our way home, via side streets: immediately next to my school building, a 3 storey house whose ground floor is occupied by 5 cows. One was being milked. Some slummy housing, mini corner-stores, about 5 temples, a chicken centre (live chickens in cages, of course), the recycling distribution centre, etc. etc. Cow shit everywhere, goats hanging out on one plot. 5minutes later, we're at our house. Pretty amazing, ey?
I'm lovin' it here!!!!!
Dinner was delivered: thin-crust pizza, fresh salad, and homemade pasta with spinach sauce. The pizza is on par with "Facia Luna" in Old Town.
I'm lovin' it here!!!!!
Auto on the way back has this sign:
L = Losse of mani
O = Out of mind
V = Vest of time
E = End of life
I'm lovin' it here!!!!!!!!!!
This afternoon I showed the kids and Phil my Kannada language school (classroom). Phil couldn't quite believe it -- very, very decrepit building with old, decrepit, dirty walls and benches from the 50s. No blackboard, only two big black sheets hung up on the wall. View of a mini-slum. Hardly any electricity, of course. I'm thinking: who cares? No one else seems to mind, so why should I? Phil just shakes his head.
Our way home, via side streets: immediately next to my school building, a 3 storey house whose ground floor is occupied by 5 cows. One was being milked. Some slummy housing, mini corner-stores, about 5 temples, a chicken centre (live chickens in cages, of course), the recycling distribution centre, etc. etc. Cow shit everywhere, goats hanging out on one plot. 5minutes later, we're at our house. Pretty amazing, ey?
I'm lovin' it here!!!!!
Dinner was delivered: thin-crust pizza, fresh salad, and homemade pasta with spinach sauce. The pizza is on par with "Facia Luna" in Old Town.
I'm lovin' it here!!!!!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
A day in the life of .... Wed., 24 Oct. -- Forum Mall
Today:
went to a MALL with the kids, dropped them off at an indoor play area (with Devi). While they played, I got to do a phone interview (that's an "aside" story), got money from my American debit card at a state-of-the-art ATM (HSBC, in case you were wondering), took a look at all the latest mobile phones, and did my grocery shopping at a supermarket. Pretty good and normal, right?
But THIS, below, is really India.
At the phone shop: no stock of Nokia flip-phones. This is THE phone shop in one of the biggest malls in Bangalore. Hmmmm. Nevermind, Srini said that I could get anything for half-price at Bjkfsdkhfskjhfsdkj Market anyway. Just that they are smuggled, so there won't be any warranty. Not that that would be needed. :) :) :) . I'm looking forward to that Blksdfdjlkjksdf Market trip!
At the supermarket: was given a nice welcome by the mini-flies surrounding the onions ... on a pleasant note, was promptly informed of lack of Quaker Oats. My turn at check-out took 10 minutes for 10 items, plus 5 minutes to get my change.
At the indoor play-area: the price was REDUCED, and the staff were all playing with Tina and Lucy. THIS I love.
Got home, had lunch, blah, blah, blah. Only one power outage.
4.30 PM: went to my Kannada class (that's the state language here), and basically understood nothing, but then again, neither did any of the other students (all Indian nationals from other parts of India). Walked home, feeling ok.
7 PM: walked around the block with the kids in their PJs. Halfway home, was accompanied by our ironing-man, drunk unfortunately but not surprisingly. He wanted money, of course. I told him to ask Phil since I ALWAYS say no, but "sir" sometimes says yes. He was nice though, and we all happily said good-bye at our gate. Good, right?
That's about it for tonight!
went to a MALL with the kids, dropped them off at an indoor play area (with Devi). While they played, I got to do a phone interview (that's an "aside" story), got money from my American debit card at a state-of-the-art ATM (HSBC, in case you were wondering), took a look at all the latest mobile phones, and did my grocery shopping at a supermarket. Pretty good and normal, right?
But THIS, below, is really India.
At the phone shop: no stock of Nokia flip-phones. This is THE phone shop in one of the biggest malls in Bangalore. Hmmmm. Nevermind, Srini said that I could get anything for half-price at Bjkfsdkhfskjhfsdkj Market anyway. Just that they are smuggled, so there won't be any warranty. Not that that would be needed. :) :) :) . I'm looking forward to that Blksdfdjlkjksdf Market trip!
At the supermarket: was given a nice welcome by the mini-flies surrounding the onions ... on a pleasant note, was promptly informed of lack of Quaker Oats. My turn at check-out took 10 minutes for 10 items, plus 5 minutes to get my change.
At the indoor play-area: the price was REDUCED, and the staff were all playing with Tina and Lucy. THIS I love.
Got home, had lunch, blah, blah, blah. Only one power outage.
4.30 PM: went to my Kannada class (that's the state language here), and basically understood nothing, but then again, neither did any of the other students (all Indian nationals from other parts of India). Walked home, feeling ok.
7 PM: walked around the block with the kids in their PJs. Halfway home, was accompanied by our ironing-man, drunk unfortunately but not surprisingly. He wanted money, of course. I told him to ask Phil since I ALWAYS say no, but "sir" sometimes says yes. He was nice though, and we all happily said good-bye at our gate. Good, right?
That's about it for tonight!
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