How about the word Narrow?

Hey Everyone!

So there are a few things happening around here. First of all, Shanti-Bhavan was featured in The Times of India. Mrs. Lalita Law, the principle, was interviewed about the school and its current financial crisis. It highlighted the wonderful things this school is doing for these children but also points out that the financial situation is a dire one and proposes possible ways of aiding the organization. Currently the administration is not yet apt to adequately deal with the marketing processes being implemented, since they had never dealt with lack of funds before. But we all trust that the transition from an NGO funded by a single individual to one that will sustain itself through fundraising and sponsorships, will come to pass successfully.

Aside from the daily power cuts, everything is going well at the school. I look forward to waking up each morning to be with my 4th graders. I love something about every single child in that classroom and although they have their flaws and some of them are obnoxiously loud or hyperactive, I feel like I can relate to that side of them ;). Everyone in the school has become a familiar face and I have never felt more appreciated or more welcomed by such a large group of people before; the beauty of it is that, that is simply the nature of this place and everyone here; they embrace anyone who steps into their haven.

Among the volunteers, we are establishing really awesome friendships. Our afternoons, after we all drag ourselves to our building in complete exhaustion, involve sitting in our back porch for hours. As we sit surrounded by large papaya and coconut trees, looking out into the deep green fields of rural India, we sip on black Indian coffee and converse about our day, or the children or life. It's much needed and very pleasurable down time.

A few days ago I substituted for a 9th grade creative writing class while the 4th graders had Hindi. One girl came up to me and asked if she could use the word "anorexic" instead of the word skinny in reference to A ROAD! "Hmmmm, using that word in that context would be incorrect, you see: anorexia is a human disease referred to as an eating disorder in which A PERSON becomes very skinny and unhealthy. Why don't you use the word, narrow instead? ", I answered. "Thanks Blue Jay", she replied and with a pleased smile, she sat back down. WOAH!!! I was so surprised. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that she was clueless about the meaning and weight of the word. The truth is that at some point before these kids go out into the real world, out of this healthy and righteous little bubble, they must be prepared to know these kinds of things. Suparna and I have decided to organize seminars on some important issues: Maintaining Healthy Relationships; Life Outside of Shanti-Bhavan and a third that will be held just for girls, Our Bodies: Self- Consciousness and Self-Confidence. We will present them to Mrs. Law in the next few days, who I'm sure will be all for it, and hopefully hold them in the coming weeks. I'll let you know how they go.

Guess what??? Next week we get two days off. Why? Because it's GANDHI'S BIRTHDAY! Yep, a national holiday here in India. We are thrilled! Recommended by my high school English teacher, Mr. Barber, who lived in India for a couple years, five of us volunteers will be taking an overnight train to Hampi. He mentioned that it was one of the most beautiful places in India and according to my Lonely Planet it is indeed a major pit stop on the traveler circuit. Hampi is an abandoned 15th century city north east of Bangalore that is set in a landscape of giant granite boulders, lush paddies and banana plantations. We have planned the entire 4 day trip and in the agenda are: rock climbing, which is something the city is known for, biking through the ruins in the "royal centre" of the city, sleeping in bungalows, taking walks through banana plantations to explore the waterfalls and rock pools that surround parts of the city and off course visiting the famous Virupaksha temple and its pet elephant Lakshmi...I hope the experience is just as great as it sounds. I'll tell you all about it when I get back.