Alison and I, along with all the YMCA staff were invited to attend Juno's son's wedding! Juno is the housekeeper at the Y.
So Alison and I went in search of a Sari to wear for the wedding!
We both ended up getting 3 because there was a 40% off sale for the New Year!!
I got a salmon colored sari with gold and white trim that is cotton and I got a silk tourquoise aqua and brown sari that has the technique of betiking... kind of like tye-dye... but they layer the colors with wax and then take the wax off to make patterns and things. The Sari I got to wear for the wedding is silk, the edge is a sky blue and the middle is navy, the whole thing is hand embroydered with pink and green leaves. They are all sooo pretty!
Ms. Gomes and Ms. Purkait helped up to get dressed (it will take me many many days of practice in order to learn how to put on by myself, so I can do it at home) Then I went to the girls and they did my hair and gave me a matching bindi and put lip stick on me and let me borrow their nice sandles and a necklace. It was so touching how everyone was so helpful to us. The girls told me "you are our sister so we want to help you and share our things with you" They are amazing! :-)
We arrived to the wedding (which the bride and groom did a court wedding, so we were just there for the celebration) there were colorful fabrics and an extravagant stage area for the bride and groom. The bride was covered with gold bangles and jewlery, absolutely covered! and the groom was decked out in fancy clothes and garlands of flowers. I think we were towards the end of the guests because when we got there, they looked hot and sweaty and about to be sick. Every guest must feed them sweets (the gooey balls) and milk. They are the sweetest, most rich things in the world, so I can undersdtand if they were feeling sick! They could barely take a bite. When it was my turn I fed them the sweets then I was handed the glass of milk and told "drink milk"... so I start to bring the glass to my mouth and everyone yells NO! oops I was supposed to have the bride and groom drink the milk! Well at least I made the bride and groom laugh a little! haha After that we gave them our gift and then went to eat. There was no silverwear and Alsion and I did awesome!! It was our first time eating rice and saucy things with only our hands! I guess after a few months of observing the balling up the rice and the thumb flick... we were pretty good! The menu was a veggie cutlet dumbling thing, salad, a friend bread with chick pea saucey thing (that was my favorite, besides the sweets haha) white rice and dhal, jackfruit and prawn, fried rice, chicken curry, sweet mango, then the white gooey balls and then my favorite sweet of all time the cylinderish shaped brown gooey sweet, and then ice cream! and we had to eat so fast because people were waiting to sit in out seats! The food was so delicious and I didn't make a mess! The experiance was pretty overwheling, but so neat to see how another culture celebrates a wedding! and we got lots of complements on our saris!
So for the past few weeks the English girls haven't been at school because their books had not come in. But yesterday they came! We spend the evening helping them cover their books so that theywould be ready for class today! It brought back memories of having to cover my books for school (or my mom covering them ;-) ) It was fun! and now they can all go to school and be caught up!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Easter
Yesterday was a lot of fun!
Alison and I had bought almost 400 peices of little candies for the girls. Mango bites, caramel/ choclate chews chews, and a milky hard candy. We called all the girls together, which wasn't hard for once since it was a holiday and they were all watching TV. We told them we had a suprise but we had to set up first, so everyone had to stay in the TV room, and no peeking! We went around and hid the candy in all of their study rooms and outside in bushes and trees and flower pots, any where! When we were done we went back into the room and explained that in the U.S. for Easter we have a tradition of Easter Egg Hunts, so that we hid candy everywhere and they had to go find it... they were pretty excited about that!! They colleced most of the candy, maybe only 20 pieces short or so (some may have been eaten) They brought the candy the found back to us and put in a bag, and then would continue their search. At the end of it we distributed all the candy so they all got the same amount, because of course the older girls where coming back with huge handfulls and the little ones would have 1 or 2 peices they found. The girls had a lot of fun searching around for the candy and of course eating after! Which Alison and I also enjoyed! haha. For Tiffen we all got huge peices of watermelon, yummm! and then the girls got the new Arkshay heart-throb movie "8x10" It was about this man who's father got killed, and he had a special stop watch that e would set for a minute at a time and be able to see through his father's eyes who really killed him. In the end the Man had a twoin brother that killed him... I'm pretty sure thats how the movie goes haha... its hard to pick up on things when its all in Hindi, the girls explained it pretty well to us though!
The girls kept saying what a lucky day it was and giving me hugs! :-) I'm glad we did something exciting and special for them for the holiday! It was a nice day!
Alison and I had bought almost 400 peices of little candies for the girls. Mango bites, caramel/ choclate chews chews, and a milky hard candy. We called all the girls together, which wasn't hard for once since it was a holiday and they were all watching TV. We told them we had a suprise but we had to set up first, so everyone had to stay in the TV room, and no peeking! We went around and hid the candy in all of their study rooms and outside in bushes and trees and flower pots, any where! When we were done we went back into the room and explained that in the U.S. for Easter we have a tradition of Easter Egg Hunts, so that we hid candy everywhere and they had to go find it... they were pretty excited about that!! They colleced most of the candy, maybe only 20 pieces short or so (some may have been eaten) They brought the candy the found back to us and put in a bag, and then would continue their search. At the end of it we distributed all the candy so they all got the same amount, because of course the older girls where coming back with huge handfulls and the little ones would have 1 or 2 peices they found. The girls had a lot of fun searching around for the candy and of course eating after! Which Alison and I also enjoyed! haha. For Tiffen we all got huge peices of watermelon, yummm! and then the girls got the new Arkshay heart-throb movie "8x10" It was about this man who's father got killed, and he had a special stop watch that e would set for a minute at a time and be able to see through his father's eyes who really killed him. In the end the Man had a twoin brother that killed him... I'm pretty sure thats how the movie goes haha... its hard to pick up on things when its all in Hindi, the girls explained it pretty well to us though!
The girls kept saying what a lucky day it was and giving me hugs! :-) I'm glad we did something exciting and special for them for the holiday! It was a nice day!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Catch Up!
So its been a little while, the internet hasn't been working to well.
First off, there may not be anymore pictures going up since the internet guy taped of the pen drive slot....
But since we've been back from our trip, the weather has been about 100 degrees with 90% humidity!!! Wow! I can't even tell you how hot that is! Especially, having to wear long pants and T-shirts! But we've been getting by... We have been playing card games, hand games, and word games with the girls, whoch has been fun. There are only English girls and half the Hindi girls left. The Bengali girls are on their vacation until the begining of May and the older Hindi girls left for their new school. Its been quite around here! When the Bengali girls come back, the English and Hindi girls will go on their vacation. So our last few days here it will seem very empty!
The little girls all had to shave their heads!!! They look like little tiny Monks! They are too cute!
We have learned a bunch of new dances from the dance teacher, which is a lot of fun. AND... there has been a snake hunt!! Snakes have been seen around our guest house, one even got inside!! But the gardners killed it and they killed another one that was poisonous! They also sickled all the long grass and cleared the brush around our place so the snakes won't come hang out! So we keep our eyes open!!
Thats all for now! I'll put some more up later!
Thanks for reading!
I miss you all!!
First off, there may not be anymore pictures going up since the internet guy taped of the pen drive slot....
But since we've been back from our trip, the weather has been about 100 degrees with 90% humidity!!! Wow! I can't even tell you how hot that is! Especially, having to wear long pants and T-shirts! But we've been getting by... We have been playing card games, hand games, and word games with the girls, whoch has been fun. There are only English girls and half the Hindi girls left. The Bengali girls are on their vacation until the begining of May and the older Hindi girls left for their new school. Its been quite around here! When the Bengali girls come back, the English and Hindi girls will go on their vacation. So our last few days here it will seem very empty!
The little girls all had to shave their heads!!! They look like little tiny Monks! They are too cute!
We have learned a bunch of new dances from the dance teacher, which is a lot of fun. AND... there has been a snake hunt!! Snakes have been seen around our guest house, one even got inside!! But the gardners killed it and they killed another one that was poisonous! They also sickled all the long grass and cleared the brush around our place so the snakes won't come hang out! So we keep our eyes open!!
Thats all for now! I'll put some more up later!
Thanks for reading!
I miss you all!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
2 weeks around India
So in 2 weeks I saw ALOT!!! India is an amazing country with so many beautiful places to see!
I'll try to get it all in! :-)
First we took a 2 night train ride, and from there a 5 hour train ride in a toy train up the mountains to a city called Shimla, it is a city in the mountains that are as high up as Mount Washington! It is beautiful there! The weather was cool, and monkeys were EVERYWHERE!Walking around is a little tiring since you have to walk up like 90 degree hills to get places! We visited a few places around there. Driving was neat, the roads twisted and turned and zig zagged around the mountains! 1. We took a donkey ride up to the Fagu Temple and we could see the mountains of the Himalyas in the distance. 2. We went to a wild life park and saw some deer and bears, unfortunalty the snow leapard was sleeping. 3.We then hiked up a little ways to a forest with super tall pine trees. 4. then we went to the Jaku Temple... it is the temple for the monkey god... and it really is... there were waaaay more monkeys than people, we had to rent sticks to scare the monkeys away because they try and grab onto people and take their things... one monkey alomst got my leg, but thanks to my "cat" like reflexes, he just missed me!
We then went to Manali, where it was much much colder!! There we drive to Rotang Pass and went as far as we could since it is closed in theiwnter season. We pulled over and went to go look at the Himalyan mounatains!!! WOW! They are incredible! We were looking at the straiight on, they were so beautiful! Honey mooners were everywhere playing in the snow, it was really cute!
Around Manali we also saw a natural hot spring where the local people bathe in and went to Hadimba temple. it was a stone and wooden temple surrounded by pine trees. We then went to a local monestary and spun the prayer wheels.
HAPPY HOLI!!
we got to celebrate Holi, which is the coming of spring, it may be my new favorite holiday!
we were heading to a temple that is in the middle of a hot spring. On the way we went to Nagger Castle whoch was so pretty, it was made of wood with intricate carvings. That was where we got our first "happy holi" The men working there had their faces covered in the colorful powder, so we aksed for pictures and they gave us pink dots on our foorheads. From there the drive to the temple was interrupted by grounds of colorful men blocking the roadway, the only was to get past was to pay them, or get colored... so of course we got colored! We went to the temple and bathed in the hot spring. The women and men had different areas... the men had one that was outside, I really wanted togo in that one! The women's was inside. We went into the temple area and tons of peple were celbrating Holi. We got absollutely covered! It was so fun! People were dancing and playing music, everyone was just so happy, and of course they loved getting the forgieners covered in the powder! :-)
Then we went to Amritsar to see the Golden Temple! It was stunning! It is a golden colored temple (the dome is gold, the rest is copper) in the middle of a large pool. It was so pretty!
In Amritsar we also went to Jallianiwala Bagh Memorial.
Then we went to Agra!
We went to Agra Fort which was HUGE and so pretty! We explored the whole place. Then we went to the back side of the Taj Mahal and went into the garden and say there staring at it until sunset, we then walked on to the beach that is behind the Taj and got some pictures.
The nect dy we went to Chini-Ka-Rauza which is the tomb of Afazal Khan. It was pretty, we didn't staythere long, it was a small building. I got tricked into wearing botties and had to pay for them, when I could have just gone in bare foot! Then we went to Itimud-Ud-Daulah a.k.a the Baby Taj. This building was stunning it was made of marble and covered with enlayed stone work!
Then we went to the TAJ!! for like 5 hours! It was unreal to be there, you hear so much about it, it felt like a dream. We walked around and saw every inch of it, then we went inside and saw the tomb area, we werent allowed to take picures but the tomb is surrounded by cared marble and enlayed stone work, it was really pretty. We then found a nice shaded spot to sit and stared at it until sunset. I took a million pictures!! It lives up to its expectations.
The next day we went to Fatehpursikir which is an old palace compund. The first part we were hasseled by merchants, but once we got in it was really neat, we explored that for awhile,. it was huuuge! We then went on a nature ride on a rickshaw in a national park and saw lots of birds.
The trip was fabulous! I am so happy I got to see so many amazing places!!
I will have pictures up soon of my trip, its just not working right now!
I'll try to get it all in! :-)
First we took a 2 night train ride, and from there a 5 hour train ride in a toy train up the mountains to a city called Shimla, it is a city in the mountains that are as high up as Mount Washington! It is beautiful there! The weather was cool, and monkeys were EVERYWHERE!Walking around is a little tiring since you have to walk up like 90 degree hills to get places! We visited a few places around there. Driving was neat, the roads twisted and turned and zig zagged around the mountains! 1. We took a donkey ride up to the Fagu Temple and we could see the mountains of the Himalyas in the distance. 2. We went to a wild life park and saw some deer and bears, unfortunalty the snow leapard was sleeping. 3.We then hiked up a little ways to a forest with super tall pine trees. 4. then we went to the Jaku Temple... it is the temple for the monkey god... and it really is... there were waaaay more monkeys than people, we had to rent sticks to scare the monkeys away because they try and grab onto people and take their things... one monkey alomst got my leg, but thanks to my "cat" like reflexes, he just missed me!
We then went to Manali, where it was much much colder!! There we drive to Rotang Pass and went as far as we could since it is closed in theiwnter season. We pulled over and went to go look at the Himalyan mounatains!!! WOW! They are incredible! We were looking at the straiight on, they were so beautiful! Honey mooners were everywhere playing in the snow, it was really cute!
Around Manali we also saw a natural hot spring where the local people bathe in and went to Hadimba temple. it was a stone and wooden temple surrounded by pine trees. We then went to a local monestary and spun the prayer wheels.
HAPPY HOLI!!
we got to celebrate Holi, which is the coming of spring, it may be my new favorite holiday!
we were heading to a temple that is in the middle of a hot spring. On the way we went to Nagger Castle whoch was so pretty, it was made of wood with intricate carvings. That was where we got our first "happy holi" The men working there had their faces covered in the colorful powder, so we aksed for pictures and they gave us pink dots on our foorheads. From there the drive to the temple was interrupted by grounds of colorful men blocking the roadway, the only was to get past was to pay them, or get colored... so of course we got colored! We went to the temple and bathed in the hot spring. The women and men had different areas... the men had one that was outside, I really wanted togo in that one! The women's was inside. We went into the temple area and tons of peple were celbrating Holi. We got absollutely covered! It was so fun! People were dancing and playing music, everyone was just so happy, and of course they loved getting the forgieners covered in the powder! :-)
Then we went to Amritsar to see the Golden Temple! It was stunning! It is a golden colored temple (the dome is gold, the rest is copper) in the middle of a large pool. It was so pretty!
In Amritsar we also went to Jallianiwala Bagh Memorial.
Then we went to Agra!
We went to Agra Fort which was HUGE and so pretty! We explored the whole place. Then we went to the back side of the Taj Mahal and went into the garden and say there staring at it until sunset, we then walked on to the beach that is behind the Taj and got some pictures.
The nect dy we went to Chini-Ka-Rauza which is the tomb of Afazal Khan. It was pretty, we didn't staythere long, it was a small building. I got tricked into wearing botties and had to pay for them, when I could have just gone in bare foot! Then we went to Itimud-Ud-Daulah a.k.a the Baby Taj. This building was stunning it was made of marble and covered with enlayed stone work!
Then we went to the TAJ!! for like 5 hours! It was unreal to be there, you hear so much about it, it felt like a dream. We walked around and saw every inch of it, then we went inside and saw the tomb area, we werent allowed to take picures but the tomb is surrounded by cared marble and enlayed stone work, it was really pretty. We then found a nice shaded spot to sit and stared at it until sunset. I took a million pictures!! It lives up to its expectations.
The next day we went to Fatehpursikir which is an old palace compund. The first part we were hasseled by merchants, but once we got in it was really neat, we explored that for awhile,. it was huuuge! We then went on a nature ride on a rickshaw in a national park and saw lots of birds.
The trip was fabulous! I am so happy I got to see so many amazing places!!
I will have pictures up soon of my trip, its just not working right now!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Ranchi
From the 22nd- the 26th of Feb. we went to go visit the YMCA in Ranchi to see all the work that they do.
We had to travel over night on a train to get there... that was an experience! The seats fold down into bunks, the ride was cold and bumpy and loud! But we made it, exhausted, but there! The Y had us staying a convent, that also rents rooms out for people to stay in or for groups to stay. We had our breakfast there and then got right into the visit! We met all of the secretaries of the Ranchi Y, They were all so friendly and fun. Mr. Sangar is the head. The first day we went to the slums all day, we saw 2 schools the Y has set up for the children. The families only have to play a very small fee so that their children can go and get an education. The Y also provides the students with lunch. We saw a health clinic that Y has set up for this particular area. The students at the Y school get free check ups and medicine. Everyone else in the community only has to pay very small amounts for treatment. The most eye opening place we went to was a school that is literally set up outside, under a bridge. Cars are passing by overhead and right next to the school. This is school is for the children of the leporse from a colony the Y set up. We visited this colony also. The Y provides them with clean water and medicine so that they are not contagious and get take care of themselves. There were only a few people in the colony because when we went to visit everyone was out begging. The Y helps about 77 people with Leprosy and their families. Later we went to a vocational training school. This school taught girls and women embroidery and clothes making. Everything is done by hand! Their work was so beautiful! The girls were a lot of fun to talk to, they asked us questions about the US and we asked them about India. They told us attendance was low today because there is a festival for women. The women must fast all day and make an offering at the temple, the purpose is that if they do this, they will get a good husband. We went to the local temple to see all the women. We even made it on the news! Alison gave a short interview! That night the secretaries took us out to dinner at a hotel restaurant and had some amazing Indian food! The best was the Saffron and Pistachio ice cream.
The next day we visited 2 more vocational schools the Y set up. The first offered sewing and stitching and clothes making. The women here made beautiful rugs made form old Sarees. Typing, computer, and exam help classes where also offered. Attached was a small elementary school. The Y also offers karate, badminton and volleyball for its members. Then we went to a vocational school, it was mainly a school from KG- class 7. They are working on becoming credited and offering all the way to class 10. The children in the classes all sang us songs! This school also offers typing and stitching classes for adults. That evening the girls that had all passed their sewing classes were receiving their certificates, so they had the credentials to then go get jobs. We were the quests of honor and handed the girls the certificates. There were many girls there from our first visit. The girls were all very happy to have gotten these certificates because now they are able to go get jobs and not have to depend on anyone else. Uni-Y was also there to watch. Uni-Y is a group of YMCA college students that come together and volunteer for their local Y's.
Our last day in Ranchi we were taken to the country side to visit a tribal village that the Y is helping. We were greeted by the Y youth group. we were given Leis and their were drums ad dancing and singing. We got to learn some of the dancing! We were taken around all day and we say a small school the Y has set up for the village children. The teacher must got to the children's houses every day to bring them to school because their parents are to busy working. We sang "baby shark" to the children! We also saw a bee farm where the Y teaches the people from the village how to make honey, we got to try some, it was delicious and we got to take some home with us! We also so a women's group the Y set up. We also got to enjoy and wonderful Indian tribal lunch!
The trip to Ranchi was so amazing! The YMCAs in India have really impressed me. They are reaching out to all the different kinds if communities, the slums, the villages, students, families, and so many more people. I think it is really neat the YMCA has been able to set up school for children that would otherwise not be getting any form of education. They are really giving the people a chance to succeed. It was a short trip with so much to take in. It is incredible how so many people here are really living with absolutely nothing. I am glad there is an organizationlike the Y that is helping to make such a huge difference.
We had to travel over night on a train to get there... that was an experience! The seats fold down into bunks, the ride was cold and bumpy and loud! But we made it, exhausted, but there! The Y had us staying a convent, that also rents rooms out for people to stay in or for groups to stay. We had our breakfast there and then got right into the visit! We met all of the secretaries of the Ranchi Y, They were all so friendly and fun. Mr. Sangar is the head. The first day we went to the slums all day, we saw 2 schools the Y has set up for the children. The families only have to play a very small fee so that their children can go and get an education. The Y also provides the students with lunch. We saw a health clinic that Y has set up for this particular area. The students at the Y school get free check ups and medicine. Everyone else in the community only has to pay very small amounts for treatment. The most eye opening place we went to was a school that is literally set up outside, under a bridge. Cars are passing by overhead and right next to the school. This is school is for the children of the leporse from a colony the Y set up. We visited this colony also. The Y provides them with clean water and medicine so that they are not contagious and get take care of themselves. There were only a few people in the colony because when we went to visit everyone was out begging. The Y helps about 77 people with Leprosy and their families. Later we went to a vocational training school. This school taught girls and women embroidery and clothes making. Everything is done by hand! Their work was so beautiful! The girls were a lot of fun to talk to, they asked us questions about the US and we asked them about India. They told us attendance was low today because there is a festival for women. The women must fast all day and make an offering at the temple, the purpose is that if they do this, they will get a good husband. We went to the local temple to see all the women. We even made it on the news! Alison gave a short interview! That night the secretaries took us out to dinner at a hotel restaurant and had some amazing Indian food! The best was the Saffron and Pistachio ice cream.
The next day we visited 2 more vocational schools the Y set up. The first offered sewing and stitching and clothes making. The women here made beautiful rugs made form old Sarees. Typing, computer, and exam help classes where also offered. Attached was a small elementary school. The Y also offers karate, badminton and volleyball for its members. Then we went to a vocational school, it was mainly a school from KG- class 7. They are working on becoming credited and offering all the way to class 10. The children in the classes all sang us songs! This school also offers typing and stitching classes for adults. That evening the girls that had all passed their sewing classes were receiving their certificates, so they had the credentials to then go get jobs. We were the quests of honor and handed the girls the certificates. There were many girls there from our first visit. The girls were all very happy to have gotten these certificates because now they are able to go get jobs and not have to depend on anyone else. Uni-Y was also there to watch. Uni-Y is a group of YMCA college students that come together and volunteer for their local Y's.
Our last day in Ranchi we were taken to the country side to visit a tribal village that the Y is helping. We were greeted by the Y youth group. we were given Leis and their were drums ad dancing and singing. We got to learn some of the dancing! We were taken around all day and we say a small school the Y has set up for the village children. The teacher must got to the children's houses every day to bring them to school because their parents are to busy working. We sang "baby shark" to the children! We also saw a bee farm where the Y teaches the people from the village how to make honey, we got to try some, it was delicious and we got to take some home with us! We also so a women's group the Y set up. We also got to enjoy and wonderful Indian tribal lunch!
The trip to Ranchi was so amazing! The YMCAs in India have really impressed me. They are reaching out to all the different kinds if communities, the slums, the villages, students, families, and so many more people. I think it is really neat the YMCA has been able to set up school for children that would otherwise not be getting any form of education. They are really giving the people a chance to succeed. It was a short trip with so much to take in. It is incredible how so many people here are really living with absolutely nothing. I am glad there is an organizationlike the Y that is helping to make such a huge difference.
Sports Fest
Feb. 18th was sports fest!
It was kind of like a "field day" for the girls. All their parents came to watch, whichwas really exciting for them. They got to play games and visit their families and have great food all day.
The girls were split up into 4 teams, the red, yellow, green, and blue teams. All the girls participated. They had running races too see who was fastest. They had one race where the girl had to balance clay pots on their heads and make it to the finish line, there were a few broken pots. :-) There was a beauty race... the girls had to run to a table with make up and jewelry set up, race to put everything on correctly and then race to the finish line, that was was entertaining, they had make up everywhere! The little girls had to see who could find the most sequins in a bowl of rice, there was a contest to see who could get the most water transferred from bucket to bucket in a set time. Many many games! It last all afternoon. The girls had so much fun! It was great!... Especially to have this right before their final exams. Exams start next week for the girls, they are tested on information from he whole year, they must pass to move on to the next grade, so we have really been helping the girls study a lot. For sports fest, extra cooks were hired and we all had a feast! The girls got to eat with their families which they were very excited about. Sports day was a lot of fun for everyone, its great that the girls were able to have this day.
It was kind of like a "field day" for the girls. All their parents came to watch, whichwas really exciting for them. They got to play games and visit their families and have great food all day.
The girls were split up into 4 teams, the red, yellow, green, and blue teams. All the girls participated. They had running races too see who was fastest. They had one race where the girl had to balance clay pots on their heads and make it to the finish line, there were a few broken pots. :-) There was a beauty race... the girls had to run to a table with make up and jewelry set up, race to put everything on correctly and then race to the finish line, that was was entertaining, they had make up everywhere! The little girls had to see who could find the most sequins in a bowl of rice, there was a contest to see who could get the most water transferred from bucket to bucket in a set time. Many many games! It last all afternoon. The girls had so much fun! It was great!... Especially to have this right before their final exams. Exams start next week for the girls, they are tested on information from he whole year, they must pass to move on to the next grade, so we have really been helping the girls study a lot. For sports fest, extra cooks were hired and we all had a feast! The girls got to eat with their families which they were very excited about. Sports day was a lot of fun for everyone, its great that the girls were able to have this day.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Shadow
The past few days have been very busy and interesting.
Tuesday we went to visit a village that was established by the YMCA. It is a women's co-op village. The YMCA has sponsored 14 of them. These villages were each given something to help them start a business that they could make a living on and become self sustaining. All the villages are now self sustaining but the YMCA still oversees everything and makes sure the money is being used equally and paid back when loans are take out. There are about 12- 20 women involved in each village, but their fa miles are there also. We saw to villages, one harvested rice and one raised chickens. Families have used the success to start other businesses within the village. We had tea with a family that started their own tailoring business. Everyone was so friendly the whole village came out and walked around with us on our tour. We had tea and LOTs of sweets at the Woman's house that is head of the villages near where we were. While Mr. Sampon oversees everything, she is there all the time to make sure everything is running smoothly. It was a really great day. I enjoyed seeing what the YMCA has done for people. The Y is very active here in helping to create better lives for people. These women now have a way to provide for their families, and the girls we work with have been given the chance for a better education. The Y is so great!
Tuesday night we were awoken in the wee hours (10:30pm haha) Mr. Sampson and Swarnali were yelling to us from below out balcony. Mr. Sircar came and wanted us to leave with him at 5am because 114 years ago the Lord came, and he wanted us to go to the gathering. We found out the whole story when we woke up nice and early. 114 years ago there were farmers in a drought and they had been praying for rain. All of a sudden water came gushing from the ground and falling from the sky and the farmers all started speaking in different languages. So every year there is a few day, over night gathering where people go to a Church service and what ever you pray for will be answered there. It was a really neat experience to go to this gathering that is so important here and to see thousands of people at it. It was in a large tent like building. In the US they have those huge white tents for weddings and stuff, well in India they have something like that, expect its made out of bamboo and cloth, and the ground was covered with hay. We met the priests giving the sermon because they are good friends of Mr. Sircar. On the way back to Ranaghat we stopped at a place to eat. We had these friend dough bread things (but not sweet) with a curry and vegetable sauce to dip it in, it was amazing! Mr. Sircar is great, he really likes us to try the Indian food, and wants us to experience India, like going on the train and things like that. He is also great at explaining things to us and as we pass places he tells us all about them.
Yesterday when we were going to play games with the girls, there was tiniest little puppy! Tumpa had rescued him, he was outside our our gate. So small and skinny. The girls wanted to keep him as a pet, but Ramon and him did not get along. So we took him. Currently he is living on our porch, we have a cardboard box for him and he have given him water and biscuits. We are hoping that Mr. and Ms. Gomes fall in love with him, so when we leave he does not go back on the streets. Today we plan on giving him a bath, and there is a vet near by where we can get medicine for him. He is so so sweet and he loves the three of us so much! and I think Ms. Gomes like shim a lot too. He decided to name him shadow. He is black with a white belly. He loves to follow us around. Tim made a collar for him and a leash, so we can take him for walks. Hopefully we can get him healthy, he bones are sticking out everywhere. I'll put up a picture of him!
Tuesday we went to visit a village that was established by the YMCA. It is a women's co-op village. The YMCA has sponsored 14 of them. These villages were each given something to help them start a business that they could make a living on and become self sustaining. All the villages are now self sustaining but the YMCA still oversees everything and makes sure the money is being used equally and paid back when loans are take out. There are about 12- 20 women involved in each village, but their fa miles are there also. We saw to villages, one harvested rice and one raised chickens. Families have used the success to start other businesses within the village. We had tea with a family that started their own tailoring business. Everyone was so friendly the whole village came out and walked around with us on our tour. We had tea and LOTs of sweets at the Woman's house that is head of the villages near where we were. While Mr. Sampon oversees everything, she is there all the time to make sure everything is running smoothly. It was a really great day. I enjoyed seeing what the YMCA has done for people. The Y is very active here in helping to create better lives for people. These women now have a way to provide for their families, and the girls we work with have been given the chance for a better education. The Y is so great!
Tuesday night we were awoken in the wee hours (10:30pm haha) Mr. Sampson and Swarnali were yelling to us from below out balcony. Mr. Sircar came and wanted us to leave with him at 5am because 114 years ago the Lord came, and he wanted us to go to the gathering. We found out the whole story when we woke up nice and early. 114 years ago there were farmers in a drought and they had been praying for rain. All of a sudden water came gushing from the ground and falling from the sky and the farmers all started speaking in different languages. So every year there is a few day, over night gathering where people go to a Church service and what ever you pray for will be answered there. It was a really neat experience to go to this gathering that is so important here and to see thousands of people at it. It was in a large tent like building. In the US they have those huge white tents for weddings and stuff, well in India they have something like that, expect its made out of bamboo and cloth, and the ground was covered with hay. We met the priests giving the sermon because they are good friends of Mr. Sircar. On the way back to Ranaghat we stopped at a place to eat. We had these friend dough bread things (but not sweet) with a curry and vegetable sauce to dip it in, it was amazing! Mr. Sircar is great, he really likes us to try the Indian food, and wants us to experience India, like going on the train and things like that. He is also great at explaining things to us and as we pass places he tells us all about them.
Yesterday when we were going to play games with the girls, there was tiniest little puppy! Tumpa had rescued him, he was outside our our gate. So small and skinny. The girls wanted to keep him as a pet, but Ramon and him did not get along. So we took him. Currently he is living on our porch, we have a cardboard box for him and he have given him water and biscuits. We are hoping that Mr. and Ms. Gomes fall in love with him, so when we leave he does not go back on the streets. Today we plan on giving him a bath, and there is a vet near by where we can get medicine for him. He is so so sweet and he loves the three of us so much! and I think Ms. Gomes like shim a lot too. He decided to name him shadow. He is black with a white belly. He loves to follow us around. Tim made a collar for him and a leash, so we can take him for walks. Hopefully we can get him healthy, he bones are sticking out everywhere. I'll put up a picture of him!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Blanket
Tim, Alison and I noticed that when the girls get TV time they sit on this old, ripped, dirty blanket, or they take the blankets from their bed and lay then on the dusty, dirty floor. So the three of us decided that we wanted to get them a nice, big, comfortable blanket for them. A few days ago in the market we found the perfect one! (its shown below) We wanted to suprise them so we planned on laying it out infront of the TV so when they came in it would just be there. Well, there are a few girls that will skip dinner or have their dinner brought to them so they can sneak in a few extra minutes of TV. Kicking them out was difficult! We finally got them out and shut the door. Then the power went out! (which it does about twice a day here for a couple hours at a time) So we didn't know if you should wait since the girls couldn't watch TV anyway, we got lanterns and decided we should still give it to them since they were all outside the doors trying ot get in wondering what we were doing. We layed the blanket out and then let them in. They were so suprised! It was so cute! They all squeezed onto the blanket, they were so excited! We were happy knowing that we got them something useful and that they really enjoy. We also told them thay this blanket can't go outside, and that Ramon the dog is not allowed to nap on it!
We have recently seen some neat animals around! Yesterday during lunch monkeys came!! They were huge!! They were in the neighbors hard looking for food. Of course my battery was charging, so I didn't get pictures, but I think they'll be back! A bat also flew onto our porch and fell asleep in between two chairs!
The Hindi girls also had a party at school, they got all dressed up and looked absolutely beautiful! We do not see them in their nice clothes very often, or ever! So it was great to see them excited about the party and looking so stunning!
Mine and Alison's new clothes came back from the tailor! The outfits are called "Salwars" The top shirt, pants, and scarf. We each got an outfit with the tight pants and one with the baggy pants. The pants have been a little hard to get used to, very different from jeans!
The girls were VERY excited to see us in our Salwars, they said we could now be half Indian! :-)
We have recently seen some neat animals around! Yesterday during lunch monkeys came!! They were huge!! They were in the neighbors hard looking for food. Of course my battery was charging, so I didn't get pictures, but I think they'll be back! A bat also flew onto our porch and fell asleep in between two chairs!
The Hindi girls also had a party at school, they got all dressed up and looked absolutely beautiful! We do not see them in their nice clothes very often, or ever! So it was great to see them excited about the party and looking so stunning!
Mine and Alison's new clothes came back from the tailor! The outfits are called "Salwars" The top shirt, pants, and scarf. We each got an outfit with the tight pants and one with the baggy pants. The pants have been a little hard to get used to, very different from jeans!
The girls were VERY excited to see us in our Salwars, they said we could now be half Indian! :-)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Some background
I just thought I would explain a little about the Ranaghat YMCA.
World Vision started a program to sponsor girls that live on the streets of Calcutta. They bring them to the YMCA where they will have a safe place to live, food to eat and a good education. Visiting Calcutta allows us to see how theses girls lives were before they came to the Y. Children and families are literally living on the streets, sleeping, bathing, and cooking. Some may have a small form of shelter. I have had a young girl hanging off my arm begging me for money, it is really sad to see and hard because we can not do something for all of them. But at the same time I am so happy that the girls at the Y got the opportunity for a better life. Hopefully more programs will turn up, to help even more children.
One thing we are all having a hard time getting used to is the trash system! There really isn't one. Trash here is just thrown into a pile and maybe once a week it them gets burned. I have had a hard time just throwing trash on the ground. In the market if you get a sweet or a candy, the wrapper just goes right on the ground. There are no trash cans to be seen! We have a few buckets at the Y but the trash then gets dumped into a pile and then burned.
The girls have not seen too much gymnastics so sometimes I will show them some moves. They love it! I have taught some of them cartwheels and bridges, and a few can even do back bends now!
World Vision started a program to sponsor girls that live on the streets of Calcutta. They bring them to the YMCA where they will have a safe place to live, food to eat and a good education. Visiting Calcutta allows us to see how theses girls lives were before they came to the Y. Children and families are literally living on the streets, sleeping, bathing, and cooking. Some may have a small form of shelter. I have had a young girl hanging off my arm begging me for money, it is really sad to see and hard because we can not do something for all of them. But at the same time I am so happy that the girls at the Y got the opportunity for a better life. Hopefully more programs will turn up, to help even more children.
One thing we are all having a hard time getting used to is the trash system! There really isn't one. Trash here is just thrown into a pile and maybe once a week it them gets burned. I have had a hard time just throwing trash on the ground. In the market if you get a sweet or a candy, the wrapper just goes right on the ground. There are no trash cans to be seen! We have a few buckets at the Y but the trash then gets dumped into a pile and then burned.
The girls have not seen too much gymnastics so sometimes I will show them some moves. They love it! I have taught some of them cartwheels and bridges, and a few can even do back bends now!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Slip!
Yesterday was an exciting day around here.
It was Suman's birthday so Alison made her a necklace and I made her a card, She was very happy, and we all sang to her!
It was Republic Day so they did not have school. I brought out the nail polish and nail gems I brought with me for them. We had a nail session all afternoon, they were thrilled!
Tim Alison and I also started out work-out plan yesterday.
I came up with the idea to jog a lap to the stairs that lead to the pond, then run up and down twice run back to our guest house, do push ups and abs and do that whole thing 5 times. Were on the first lap, going down the stairs, they had me leading, I stepped on the last step, which was the most slippery surface I have every stepped on! Its like muck and clay and wet, so my foot slipped, into the pond it goes, I think I'm going to save myself when the other foot slips and like slow motion my whole body goes in the green, murky, snake infested pond!!! (thankfully my head didn't go under!) It was so funny! Tim and Alison helped me out! So then I rinsed off and we tried again! This time I didn't go down to the last step!
We played a huge game of capture the flag in the evening, the girls LOVE that game.
Alison, Tim and I have been helping out in the kitchen, we have been sitting on this huge blade that we cut the vegetables with, it is hard to get used to, but I think we'll be pros by the end! It is neat learning how the women cook and prepare the food here!
It was Suman's birthday so Alison made her a necklace and I made her a card, She was very happy, and we all sang to her!
It was Republic Day so they did not have school. I brought out the nail polish and nail gems I brought with me for them. We had a nail session all afternoon, they were thrilled!
Tim Alison and I also started out work-out plan yesterday.
I came up with the idea to jog a lap to the stairs that lead to the pond, then run up and down twice run back to our guest house, do push ups and abs and do that whole thing 5 times. Were on the first lap, going down the stairs, they had me leading, I stepped on the last step, which was the most slippery surface I have every stepped on! Its like muck and clay and wet, so my foot slipped, into the pond it goes, I think I'm going to save myself when the other foot slips and like slow motion my whole body goes in the green, murky, snake infested pond!!! (thankfully my head didn't go under!) It was so funny! Tim and Alison helped me out! So then I rinsed off and we tried again! This time I didn't go down to the last step!
We played a huge game of capture the flag in the evening, the girls LOVE that game.
Alison, Tim and I have been helping out in the kitchen, we have been sitting on this huge blade that we cut the vegetables with, it is hard to get used to, but I think we'll be pros by the end! It is neat learning how the women cook and prepare the food here!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Games
The girls have been teaching us some of their favorite games that are a lot of fun. A few running games, some hand games, and game with balancing and catching stones (which is very hard). I plan on brining them back to Silver Bay! I taught the girls the song "A boom chicka boom" and they love it!
Alison, Tim and I have been taking a large role in their study time, now that there are three of us we each take a room every night and help the girls with math and english. The girls got to pick what to study so there is a Hindi room, a Benal room, and an English room. The girls also have teachers come to the home. They have a dance teacher, a sewing teacher, a table tennis teacher, and a marching teacher.
Everything around here is done by hand and squatting. To mow the lawn, the garderns squat down and cut the brass with a sickle. To rake, leaves are picked up by hand. Cooking and building, and making things are also down without benches. It is so interesting to see. Also the nights are very loud! There is always music blasting, and since we live on a national highway, we constantly hear horns blowing and traffic going by. But our room is cozy and we fall asleep quickly, Boston will sound like Silver Bay to me when I return!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
First Week
I finally have my blog set up!
Arriving in India was like nothing else I've ever experienced. Alison and I were met by Tim and Mr. Sampson (The secretary for the girls school) at the airport. We got in a van right away and travelled the crazy streets of Calcutta. It seemed that there were no rules on the road, just get to your dstination however you can. We arrived at the YMCA and were greeted by Mr. Sircar. Everyone has been so friendly to us and they have been making sure we are comfortable.
The next day we travelled to Renaghat where the air is a lot more fresh than Calcutta and there is lots of green. We were greeted by the girls and given leis! The girls are so wonderful! Alison and I have bee working hard at memorizing their names, we still have to get a few more!
Our day typical day: Breakfast at 8am egg, thick toast, and the most delicious tea! Then we read the newspaper and say good-bye to the girls as they leave for school. Then we have teh afternoon to use the internet or go to the market, or relax. We have lunch at noon, rice with some vetables in it, and omlette, thick french fries, dhal, and we usually try a little of the Indian spicey vegatable dish the girls are eating. We play games and sing songs with the girls at 4. Tiffen (tea time) is at 5:30, then the girls pray. After prayer we help them stuf from 6- 7:30. We eat dinner which is usually the same as lunch (the cooking is great!) Then sometimes we watch TV with the girls, and we are in bed by 9:30. On holidays we usually spend the afternoon playing with the girls also. I love dancning with them! Their music is so fun and they teach us their moves! We have recently travelled to Calcutta to sit in on a swim team meeting, and also speak to the swimmers. I am enjoying my time here, it is so different, there is so much to see and learn.
Arriving in India was like nothing else I've ever experienced. Alison and I were met by Tim and Mr. Sampson (The secretary for the girls school) at the airport. We got in a van right away and travelled the crazy streets of Calcutta. It seemed that there were no rules on the road, just get to your dstination however you can. We arrived at the YMCA and were greeted by Mr. Sircar. Everyone has been so friendly to us and they have been making sure we are comfortable.
The next day we travelled to Renaghat where the air is a lot more fresh than Calcutta and there is lots of green. We were greeted by the girls and given leis! The girls are so wonderful! Alison and I have bee working hard at memorizing their names, we still have to get a few more!
Our day typical day: Breakfast at 8am egg, thick toast, and the most delicious tea! Then we read the newspaper and say good-bye to the girls as they leave for school. Then we have teh afternoon to use the internet or go to the market, or relax. We have lunch at noon, rice with some vetables in it, and omlette, thick french fries, dhal, and we usually try a little of the Indian spicey vegatable dish the girls are eating. We play games and sing songs with the girls at 4. Tiffen (tea time) is at 5:30, then the girls pray. After prayer we help them stuf from 6- 7:30. We eat dinner which is usually the same as lunch (the cooking is great!) Then sometimes we watch TV with the girls, and we are in bed by 9:30. On holidays we usually spend the afternoon playing with the girls also. I love dancning with them! Their music is so fun and they teach us their moves! We have recently travelled to Calcutta to sit in on a swim team meeting, and also speak to the swimmers. I am enjoying my time here, it is so different, there is so much to see and learn.
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