Keep These Kids in School

On Thursday this week we didn't have school. I learned that this was because the school is so low on funds they had to pick between buying the kids lunch and having school or paying the teachers half their salary which is already late. If the teachers don't get paid then they don't come to school. If we can't buy the kids lunch, we don't have school. Apparently the school is always like this. The teachers never get paid on time and everyday we have to check if we have enough money for lunch. Also, a lot of kids don't get lunch at all if they don't get fed at the school.
This is really important you guys. Even a donation of $10 would be extremely helpful. We need to keep these kids in school! If you can donate, please go to the schools page http://www.asha-deep.com/how-to-help/
Thank you! 

September

I never thought September would arrive. I thought it would stay July and August for the rest of my life. But here we are. In September. It's been over 2 months since my arrival to this city. As for December, when my momma comes, I know that will never come. I shall be stuck in September limbo for forever, I am sure.
I haven't been able to be as productive as I had been hoping. It's mostly been really hard on my body. I haven't been feeling well at all. I think it's just the new food, new climate, new water and so on. The sucky thing is that I can't be productive at all if I feel bad. I think this will get better with time. I can already tell it's getting better. I'm figuring out what foods I need and stuff. I'm also just getting used to all the new germs.

However, when I do feel well and am able to teach it is amazing. Those couple times when I actually feel like I'm getting through or have a good class. The high is so great. I go home smiling. It helps me to want to actually stick this out :P Joy has also been really amazing. She is continually helpful and encouraging. She says that if I've made it this far I've got nothing to worry about. I don't know if I believe her. But it's nice to have someone say it lol and it's nice to have a friend.

3 American kids just moved into my building. They are here studying Hindi and seem really cool. So I'm excited about that.  I'm working at a coffee shop right now. I love working here because I hear all these different languages while I work. It also seems that country's come at different times.
In August there were a bunch of people who looked like they were from China, or Japan. Now all I am hearing/seeing are people from Israel and France. It's kinda fun. I wonder who will show up next.

The other night I met a guy named Pete who is studying at the University. He is Australian, but he spent a year studying in Champaign!  How small is this world? It continues to amaze me.

Okay, well, I feel like this is a long rambling post. I hope I didn't bore y'all. Here's a picture of a larger than life Beauty and the Beast I found at a Pre-school I visited. lol I thought it was pretty awesome.

Magnetic Letters

I brought these magnetic letters with me from 'merica Thanks to my mom. She is really the mastermind behind everything I've been able to do.
I didn't have any big magnetic board to actually use the letters on, so I figured we could just set them on the tables. Which we did. But before we did that, the kids went around the room trying to find things to stick them to. Here's what happened. oh! and I started working with one of Sarah's students in her 5th class who never really learned the sounds of the letters so he can't read. The first day went good. It's nice to work one on one.

...And the Monkey Saga Continues

I witnessed a monkey attack in school today. Sarah and I were on the 3rd floor teaching art when a monkey came and sat on the ledge of the room. we were in between classes so it was only Sarah and I. We weren't looking at it because that's what you do.

Then, this little boy who is about 5 or 6 runs right up to it! Sarah tells him to be careful (in Hindi) and he says "I wont be attacked!" (in Hindi) and he kinda give the monkey this devious look. Next thing I know the monkey lunges for him, screeching. Then another monkey comes running towards him! The boy runs around the corner to try and get away. Everyone else screams and runs into their classrooms. I turn the corner to make sure the boy got away. As soon as I clear the corner I got a huge rush of adrenaline.

The boy was on the ground in the middle of the hallway with the two monkeys on top of him. He was screaming and thrashing. I start towards him to try and.....save him? fight off the monkeys? I didn't know. Thankfully, before I actually reach them, the monkeys run off. The boy gets up crying and clutching his leg. Images of a huge monkey bite flash through my mind, making me sick. How much of his flesh had been ripped away? I braced myself for the worst.  But I knew that no matter how terrible it was, I needed to get the kid out of the situation and to whatever medical attention he needed.

Thankfully, the worst of the damage was some scratches on his leg. I grabbed his hand, told him everything was going to be okay and lead him down to were the schools first aid kit is kept. On my way down one of the 7th grade boys charged up the stairs with a big stick. I assumed to fight off the monkeys.

Once we get downstairs I sit the boy down. He is still crying hysterically. I find Dettol and apply it to the scratches and put band aids on them. I also knew that this kid was gonna need a rabies shot, but we don't have anything like that at the school. Once the kid was taken care of I went back upstairs. There was now 3 or 4 boys with big sticks patrolling the area.

While I was bandaging the kid, the monkeys had gotten into my bag, taking out my umbrella and hand sanitizer. I got both of them back. The boy was sent home with a note saying that he needs a rabies shot. I hope his family follows through with it.

We decided it would be safer to pack up our makeshift art class and continue lessons in the classrooms. Once we get down there we realize we are missing all the pens that the kids use to draw! The monkeys had taken them. This was not good because we really don't have access to get any more. Thankfully, Sarah had a small stash hidden away. It wasn't until the end of the next class that we saw the pens on the ground outside the school. We were able to get most of them back.

I feel like I'm still a little in shock from the whole situation. No wonder the locals are scared of the monkeys. I think the little boy also learned a lesson. I doubt he'll be so arrogant around the monkeys again.

Oh India, I wonder what surprises you have for me next.

The villains...

 

Monkeys, Toilets and Country Roads

So here I am, calmly eating lunch with the teachers and kids. I listen to the teachers babble in Hindi, wondering if they ever talk about me while I'm in the same room because they know I don't know what their saying. When all of a sudden the kids scream and run to the corners of the room with their plates full of rice. A monkey had come running into the room! One of the biggest male teachers stands up. He looks like he's going to be the one to take care of the situation if the need arises. However, before any action is taken, the monkey runs across the room and climbs up the gate and out of sight. Everyone laughs nervously and goes back to eating. I could hardly believe what had just happened.
One thing I've learned while being here is that if the locals are afraid of something...it's really worth being afraid of. Like running Water Buffalo and Monkeys.

Toilets. I have a squatting toilet in my apartment...which is fine...it's suppose to be better for your body or some crap like that (crap...tehehe.) But one of my favorite things is to go over to my friend Joys house and take a good old fashioned crap in her western toilet. You have to be thankful for the little things here.

If I didn't live right on the river I don't know what I would do. I miss the country so much it almost hurts. I miss the woods and the cornfields and the space. I also miss the quiet. It's so loud here all the time. But I get a little relief as I bike to school. It takes me right along the river and I get to bath in it's openness and beauty. I think I would be feeling more homesick if I didn't have this little bit of nature to look at.
Anyway, these are my thoughts. I am constantly trying to figure out what I'm going to do next year. I have to keep reminding myself that it is far to early to try and make a decision. My adventures here have only just begun.
Hugs and Kisses to you all.
Meg 

Random Thoughts

A lot has been happening. Something I've been thinking a lot about recently is commitment. As scary as commitment is, I believe it's really the only way to live. I've been realizing more and more what a great idea it was for me to commit to being here for a year. I've been here for about 2 months and I feel like things are only just beginning to start. I am feeling more comfortable, my relationship with the kids is getting better, I am figuring out how to teach and these things are only going to get better. I think I'll actually be able to do some good here. Even if it is only a little. Anyway, my point is that things take time, you have to commit in order to experience and enjoy all that the experience can give you.
Anyway.............
August 15th was India's independence day. The kids put on a program and we didn't have school.

Having a camera always causes chaos.

I've been helping Sarah with her art classes she's doing. It's been really great. It's so encouraging because kids who wont participate in any other class have started to participate in her art class. This is only going to give them more confident in their other classes. I haven't started my music classes yet. I will soon though. I've just been so overwhelmed with everything else I decided to wait till I felt more able to handle it. I feel I am close to this point.

Facebook depresses me. Everyone is moving back to Charleston for school. But I guess I'm not too sad about not going back to Eastern. This year will go by fast. I know it will. 

I Want to Ride My Bicycle...I Want to Ride My Bike

This little contraption has saved my life. It takes no time to get anywhere and I don't feel so assaulted by the mass of people or foul smells lol Horaah for bikes!