A day in the life of .... CRECHE, Nov. 6, 2007

Just one note today, on the kids and life at the creche:

one of the kids had to go to the bathroom. He'd been crying/wimpering from the beginning, and kept wanting his amma (mami). He was really quite pitiful. But what are you going to do? You can't shower him with all the attention while the others probably equally miss their amma right? Well, but he wouldn't stop, and he wasn't doing it for show either, so ..... I DID pay him attention.

He raises his little pinky finger and indicates "I gotta pee". Oh, ok, well, then, "Go! .... HOGI!" I say. He stays in front of me, continues to plead with me in his eyes. He really gotta go pee. I'm thinking, this kid is about 4yrs. old, for sure he'll know how to go pee on his own. I don't really wanna leave my group of kids..... But he ain't movin'. Ok, he's getting desperate. I'll take him. I take his hand (he takes it, surprisingly), we walk to the bathroom.

He stands there, doin' nothing at all. I'm confused. I thought he had to go desperately. Then I notice, ...... OH!!!! There's a darn SAFETY PIN instead of a button. NO WONDER HE CAN'T GO TO THE BATHROOM BY HIMSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh man, oh man, the poor bugger.

But you know what? If this hadn't happened, I wouldn't know the Indian universal sign for "I gotta pee". And that sure is useful something, no?

A day in the life of ...... Tues. Oct. 30 -- Creche for slum kids

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!