We had a short session here for the next couple of days--it is a five day session and one of the days was orientation so really it is only four working days long. The group was great though, and everyone meshed really well. We have a mother with her three kids, another mother with her daughter and one more single traveling volunteer. Here is a quick rundown of how the session went:
Day 1: Tuesday was our first working day. We started the morning out by completing an on campus service project that entailed picking up leaves and garbage around the maintenance shed. Besides nuts and bolts and broken light covers we also found an array of jungle bugs, 1 big black scorpion and 2 baby snakes. 1 of the baby snakes was another Krait snake. The baby ones tend to look less harmless but are actually more poisonous then the big ones simple because they don't know how to control the amount of poison they pump into whatever it is they bite. On the bright side there is now one less Krait snake on campus. Unfortunately, in other snake news, the cobra still hasn't been caught.
After the service project we freshened up and attended the Perry Matriculation School Science and Mathematics Exposition. Our special guests were Ms. Padma Vankatrpuram and Dr. Mani Balu and his wife. Both Padma and Dr. Balu have been extremely instrumental in the unprecedented esteem and growth Rising Star has seen over it's ten years of operation. I have been wanting to meet these guests for a while now-Padma especially-so I was very happy that they were able to come. They were super hospitable and kind, just like I pictured them to be.
Our special guests (including volunteers) were sprinkled with rose water and had a sandlewood bindi placed on their forehead.
Our special guests (including volunteers) were sprinkled with rose water and had a sandlewood bindi placed on their forehead.
The actual Science and Mathematic Exposition was VERY neat. It was honestly one of my favorite things I've shared with the kids since being in India. They had worked so hard on their projects and you could see how excited and proud they were to show them. Each kid had a speech prepared about their project and they all recited it from memory, no notes were allowed. My camera died pretty early on, but it was probably a good thing because I would have taken hundreds of pictures of this event. For reals though. It was very interactive too-the kids would present their project and then play games with you using their projects. One kid had a fishing game-when I first went by he told me the fish were dead (because he couldn't find his magnets to make the fish move) but then miraculously, he found the magnets and was calling "Aunty Aunty the fish are alive again!". We played fish attack rather then just fishing. The smallest kids-the UKG kids that I am obsessed with- had memorized a bunch of words that they knew the opposites for. Charles, Abi and Sangeetha manned that booth. They would have you chose a card and read the word to them, then they would shout out the opposite word. All three of them were proud of themselves but Charles especially was so so SO proud of his newly perfected ability. His eyes were practically sparkling with joy. Tinkerbell showed us how to combine words to make sentences, one kid had an incense burning volcano, there were displays of the different kinds of habitats, decked out diagrams of cells and different body systems, electricity conduction experiments, brain teasers, math tricks-you name it they had it. My only disappointment were discovering there was an entire room of displays I missed because I didn't know it was there, and not seeing Nandhakumar's (one of the boys I tutor) booth. When we met up for tutoring later on I asked him where he was and he pointed to the field and said "Out there shooting off my rocket." I was SO disappointed that not only did I miss his booth but I missed his awesome rocket!
You can't really see it here but in the lower pic the diagram had actual lights on it that the kid could turn on and off
I've found myself being a little mama bear of the kids lately. Its not a secret how much I love them, and nothing bad has happened to cause me to become more protective, but when other people (new volunteers, visitors, etc.) were going around looking at each booth, the thought that maybe one of them would say something that may hurt their feelings or not act interested when the kids had poured their hearts into their projects made me feel super protective of them. Of course no one would do this on purpose, it was a real concern I had today. If the kids were making fun of another student's project I would get really protective too. I think it is just because I see how hard they work every single day and know that they are away from their families most of the year so I feel a responsibility to give them love, discipline and positive reinforcement. Then again, maybe I have just come to love them a little more then I've realized. That means saying goodbye in April will kill me, but I can't focus on that. I just need to focus on the here and now and living in the moment.
Day 2: My sinus infection kicked my butt this day so I spent almost all of Wednesday sick in bed. I drug myself out to go to playtime though-and as I turned the corner by the hostels little Kavia (UKG Kavia) came running off the play ground yelling ASH-EL-YE!! ASH-EL-YE!! She didn't stop until she reached me and hugged my legs so tight I couldn't move. Words can not express how much it warmed my heart. The volunteers went to a colony this morning followed by the zoo. Everything I heard told me that it went really well, I was just sad that I did get to experience it with them. Somehow I ended up telling my monkey bite story-complete with the Facebook picture album- to most of the volunteers that night. It is funny because even though I know it happened, I still laugh at my luck (or lack there of) when remembering all the details of that incident.
Day 3: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! The day stared out as normal with morning conclave at 8:00. Not to long after we started we were surprised by a special visitor-our turkey. We have been planning on making a Thanksgiving dinner and Dr. Susan offered to get us a turkey from the Marriott in Chennai. We got a turkey alright. We got all of it in fact. Frozen solid.
Luckily, I was feeling much better this morning so I went out with the volunteers to Bharathapuram Colony. I was thinking about it-how some people go serve food at soup kitchens on Thanksgiving but because of where we are and our circumstances we went and served at a leprosy colony. I always feel more grateful in general after being there, but it seemed extra special special to be serving there today with it being Thanksgiving and all. The colony there is actually at an old folks home. There was a group of them that were really happy to be in pictures today. There are two ladies there are are SO tiny. Like they are grown women but are around 4-4.5 feet. One of them had wrapped herself in a blanket because she was so cold so I went and hugged her while rubbing her arms. She was so happy about that. I know because she had the biggest toothless smile on her face.
There is one man at this colony that has really bad ulcers on both sides of his ankles on both feet. We have been working on them ever since I got here, and they are looking better believe it or not. I feel so bad whenever he comes. Obviously I am happy to see him and happy to know he is continuing on with his treatments, but it makes me so sad because his case seems kind of hopeless. I know it really isn't hopeless but I can't help but feel that way seeing how long it is taking him to heal. He has a great attitude about it though which reminds me not to feel to hopeless. It doesn't seem right that the patients should be the ones helping me with hope sometimes-shouldn't I be helping them? We take turns I guess.
After the colony we went to the art school and made a quick stop for portha. Then we were off to help with the final preparations for our Thanksgiving feast. Rebecca had been working on it through out the day-but once we were home it was pretty much all systems go-minus a meeting some of us had with Dr. Susan. Everyone who didn't attend the meeting help set up the tables and chairs, Camry, Libby, Avery and Cohen were in charge of the table decorations, name tags and the seating arrangements. Lon made mash potatoes, I made green beans with sautéed onions, Anne brought stuffing from the states (I could of kissed her I was so happy about having stuffing), Brooklyn made deviled eggs, we had rolls, turkey, this stuff called Turkey ham which really just tasted like regular ham so that was a bonus for sure, hummus, vegetables, gravy and corn from the campus kitchen. Oh and Rebecca made us each individual apple pies. And yes, I did just list all the food we had because it was so amazing! We don't normally get to eat anything like this so it deserves to be recorded in great detail.
**We do have a picture of all the group at the dinner table but it was not on my camera so I am still waiting to get a copy of that one. You can check back if you really care to see it.**
We invited Dr. Susan to our dinner, so we had a pretty authentic dinner going on with a real Indian in our midst (and yes I know that the pilgrims didn't meet these kinds of Indians--laughs..hahah). When the meal was done we went around he table and all said what we were thankful for. I had been pondering this question for a few weeks now, and I concluded that I am thankful that my life fell apart because if it hadn't-I don't know that I ever would of been led to India. I never would have experienced the unique things I am blessed to experience every single day. I would of missed out on a lot of personal healing and growth, great friendships, life lessons and crazy adventures. I would of missed out on the opportunity to fall in love with 240-ish kids, all the patients in the colonies and the rest of the RSOI staff. Before this experience, I don't know that I have ever felt so immediately blessed after going through a rough patch. I don't know why I was given this opportunity but I am so grateful I was. I want to continue to make the most of my time here in order to show my thankfulness to my Heavenly Father for blessing me in this way.
Day 4: Our last day---I was going to go to education with the group but plans changed when Dr. Susan said we needed to take Berlyn to the hospital. Her gut has been having a hard time as of lately. She even has what we call her bacterial baby because her stomach is so distended. We don't laugh to much because it is sad, but on the bright side we know she will look cute preggers one day. Before we left we took a quick group picture since we didn't know if we would be back before the volunteers left. We look happy but it really was sad. We were happy sad.
Anyway, off to Sri Ramachandra Hospital we went-Berlyn, Summer, Dasha, Williams and I. We got to the hospital where I found out I was continuing on to Chennai to run some errands for Dr. Susan. So off went Williams and I do to that. Williams is really good at hand motions when trying to talk to the volunteers so needless to say, it was kind of like I was playing charades most of the day with Williams. Except for that one time that he got lost for what I swear was a couple of hours, and then left me in the running car parked in the middle of an entrance/exit of a small road while he walked down the street to ask directions. Of course as soon as he left a bus pulls up behind and a red car pulled in front of me. They both kept inching closer and honking their horns louder and louder but there really wasn't anything I could do about it. I had a few hand motions I wanted to give to Williams when he came running (laughing mind you) back to the car, but I was good and refrained and just frantically waved come. VERY frantically waved come. We stopped by the airport to pick up some lost luggage for one of the volunteers and I discovered that there are some seriously creepy looking/feeling places in the Chennai Airport. Luckily, I made it out with the package, both kidney's and my life. Then on our way back from the airport, some drunk guy was walking into traffic, waving his hands and swaying like crazy. Not knowing if we were going to have to stay the night or not, I stopped to buy some food for us-KFC baby!! I got the food to go but when I came out of the KFC, Williams was gone again. I found out later that he went to get another kind of food down the street, but I didn't know where he was or when he would be back so I just sat down on the curb to wait. The security guard insisted that I take his seat-and I was getting shaky so I had to eat something, but I felt really dumb sitting on a chair, facing the road where everyone could see me, eating KFC. I am sure I looked like some selfish American tourist. Little did the passerby's know I live here and was just as grateful for the opportunity to eat KFC as they are.
Back at the hospital, Berlyn had had a lot of tests, and we were just waiting to talk to the doctor about the results-which just like in America, we had to wait a long time for. I was getting nervous when they redirected us to the room that said Gastrointestinal Surgery Consultation-but luckily we didn't have to go there. They gave her more meds and are just going to watch things for now so that good right? It was a better outcome then we expected, however it was frustrating for Berlyn to be so sick, have her belly super distended and be told that everything was normal when clearly it is not.
The good thing about her tests coming back normal was that we were able to make it back to campus in time to eat dinner with the group. I know it sounds stupid because we only knew them for five days, but I am sad to see them go. They really were a great group. I learned a lot from each and everyone of them. Gerry and her three kids Sacha, Thalie and Luke are doing exactly what I hope to do one day-traveling the world as a family. They brought over donations of Legos for the kids-I will never forget how sweet that was. Mary and Ann were some of the nicest people I had ever met. They were so real and down to earth they were kind of like a fresh breath of air. And Mark-or Mark Groban as I came to call him-is an extremely talented at everything person, with a heart of gold. The combination makes him pretty unstoppable.
Saying goodbye is never fun but hopefully it is only goodbye until I get back to Utah. Then the reunions can begin!
Day 3: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! The day stared out as normal with morning conclave at 8:00. Not to long after we started we were surprised by a special visitor-our turkey. We have been planning on making a Thanksgiving dinner and Dr. Susan offered to get us a turkey from the Marriott in Chennai. We got a turkey alright. We got all of it in fact. Frozen solid.
Luckily, I was feeling much better this morning so I went out with the volunteers to Bharathapuram Colony. I was thinking about it-how some people go serve food at soup kitchens on Thanksgiving but because of where we are and our circumstances we went and served at a leprosy colony. I always feel more grateful in general after being there, but it seemed extra special special to be serving there today with it being Thanksgiving and all. The colony there is actually at an old folks home. There was a group of them that were really happy to be in pictures today. There are two ladies there are are SO tiny. Like they are grown women but are around 4-4.5 feet. One of them had wrapped herself in a blanket because she was so cold so I went and hugged her while rubbing her arms. She was so happy about that. I know because she had the biggest toothless smile on her face.
There is one man at this colony that has really bad ulcers on both sides of his ankles on both feet. We have been working on them ever since I got here, and they are looking better believe it or not. I feel so bad whenever he comes. Obviously I am happy to see him and happy to know he is continuing on with his treatments, but it makes me so sad because his case seems kind of hopeless. I know it really isn't hopeless but I can't help but feel that way seeing how long it is taking him to heal. He has a great attitude about it though which reminds me not to feel to hopeless. It doesn't seem right that the patients should be the ones helping me with hope sometimes-shouldn't I be helping them? We take turns I guess.
After the colony we went to the art school and made a quick stop for portha. Then we were off to help with the final preparations for our Thanksgiving feast. Rebecca had been working on it through out the day-but once we were home it was pretty much all systems go-minus a meeting some of us had with Dr. Susan. Everyone who didn't attend the meeting help set up the tables and chairs, Camry, Libby, Avery and Cohen were in charge of the table decorations, name tags and the seating arrangements. Lon made mash potatoes, I made green beans with sautéed onions, Anne brought stuffing from the states (I could of kissed her I was so happy about having stuffing), Brooklyn made deviled eggs, we had rolls, turkey, this stuff called Turkey ham which really just tasted like regular ham so that was a bonus for sure, hummus, vegetables, gravy and corn from the campus kitchen. Oh and Rebecca made us each individual apple pies. And yes, I did just list all the food we had because it was so amazing! We don't normally get to eat anything like this so it deserves to be recorded in great detail.
**We do have a picture of all the group at the dinner table but it was not on my camera so I am still waiting to get a copy of that one. You can check back if you really care to see it.**
We invited Dr. Susan to our dinner, so we had a pretty authentic dinner going on with a real Indian in our midst (and yes I know that the pilgrims didn't meet these kinds of Indians--laughs..hahah). When the meal was done we went around he table and all said what we were thankful for. I had been pondering this question for a few weeks now, and I concluded that I am thankful that my life fell apart because if it hadn't-I don't know that I ever would of been led to India. I never would have experienced the unique things I am blessed to experience every single day. I would of missed out on a lot of personal healing and growth, great friendships, life lessons and crazy adventures. I would of missed out on the opportunity to fall in love with 240-ish kids, all the patients in the colonies and the rest of the RSOI staff. Before this experience, I don't know that I have ever felt so immediately blessed after going through a rough patch. I don't know why I was given this opportunity but I am so grateful I was. I want to continue to make the most of my time here in order to show my thankfulness to my Heavenly Father for blessing me in this way.
Day 4: Our last day---I was going to go to education with the group but plans changed when Dr. Susan said we needed to take Berlyn to the hospital. Her gut has been having a hard time as of lately. She even has what we call her bacterial baby because her stomach is so distended. We don't laugh to much because it is sad, but on the bright side we know she will look cute preggers one day. Before we left we took a quick group picture since we didn't know if we would be back before the volunteers left. We look happy but it really was sad. We were happy sad.
Anyway, off to Sri Ramachandra Hospital we went-Berlyn, Summer, Dasha, Williams and I. We got to the hospital where I found out I was continuing on to Chennai to run some errands for Dr. Susan. So off went Williams and I do to that. Williams is really good at hand motions when trying to talk to the volunteers so needless to say, it was kind of like I was playing charades most of the day with Williams. Except for that one time that he got lost for what I swear was a couple of hours, and then left me in the running car parked in the middle of an entrance/exit of a small road while he walked down the street to ask directions. Of course as soon as he left a bus pulls up behind and a red car pulled in front of me. They both kept inching closer and honking their horns louder and louder but there really wasn't anything I could do about it. I had a few hand motions I wanted to give to Williams when he came running (laughing mind you) back to the car, but I was good and refrained and just frantically waved come. VERY frantically waved come. We stopped by the airport to pick up some lost luggage for one of the volunteers and I discovered that there are some seriously creepy looking/feeling places in the Chennai Airport. Luckily, I made it out with the package, both kidney's and my life. Then on our way back from the airport, some drunk guy was walking into traffic, waving his hands and swaying like crazy. Not knowing if we were going to have to stay the night or not, I stopped to buy some food for us-KFC baby!! I got the food to go but when I came out of the KFC, Williams was gone again. I found out later that he went to get another kind of food down the street, but I didn't know where he was or when he would be back so I just sat down on the curb to wait. The security guard insisted that I take his seat-and I was getting shaky so I had to eat something, but I felt really dumb sitting on a chair, facing the road where everyone could see me, eating KFC. I am sure I looked like some selfish American tourist. Little did the passerby's know I live here and was just as grateful for the opportunity to eat KFC as they are.
Back at the hospital, Berlyn had had a lot of tests, and we were just waiting to talk to the doctor about the results-which just like in America, we had to wait a long time for. I was getting nervous when they redirected us to the room that said Gastrointestinal Surgery Consultation-but luckily we didn't have to go there. They gave her more meds and are just going to watch things for now so that good right? It was a better outcome then we expected, however it was frustrating for Berlyn to be so sick, have her belly super distended and be told that everything was normal when clearly it is not.
The good thing about her tests coming back normal was that we were able to make it back to campus in time to eat dinner with the group. I know it sounds stupid because we only knew them for five days, but I am sad to see them go. They really were a great group. I learned a lot from each and everyone of them. Gerry and her three kids Sacha, Thalie and Luke are doing exactly what I hope to do one day-traveling the world as a family. They brought over donations of Legos for the kids-I will never forget how sweet that was. Mary and Ann were some of the nicest people I had ever met. They were so real and down to earth they were kind of like a fresh breath of air. And Mark-or Mark Groban as I came to call him-is an extremely talented at everything person, with a heart of gold. The combination makes him pretty unstoppable.
Saying goodbye is never fun but hopefully it is only goodbye until I get back to Utah. Then the reunions can begin!
