First Site Visit

Yesterday, Wednesday, we traveled down to MG road again after breakfast. Holly and Muriel (the other two volunteers) hadn't been down there yet so the other two girls and I showed them around. We first went to a vegetable/fruit market. There was also a meat market to which I was not brave enough to go into. We headed down the main street to shop of course. This time I headed for the gold/silver shops. They had beautiful bangles and things, and Holly and Muriel got material for their punjabi suits. After shopping a bit, we went to the tailors. There we got measured for our suits. It's amazing to me that the "cheaper" outfits are those which you choose the material and get fitted by a tailor. Wealthier people are those who buy clothes pre-made and sized. It's totally the opposite from home! Anyway, this woman took our measurements and we left our clothes there to be picked up in a few days. They charge about 150 rs a piece ($6) for full tailoring!
When we came back to the center we ate lunch and then headed by car to each of our three sites. We first went to Holly's which is only a few minutes from Sangam. It was indescribable what we saw. As the car pulled up, it was recognizable that we were at a construction site. We got out and walked to the "school building". As we walked there, people are doing construction with heavy materials right above you, and this is where the children walk to get to this school. Anyway, we got the school and it is a cement one roomed building with 60-70 kids that isn't any bigger than my downstairs of my house. If anyone doesn't know, I'll give you a brief overview of the group I am working for...
Whenever there is construction going on, normally the children of the workers run around the site and don't go to any type of school. At the sites we are working at, there are temporary schools built so that the children have somewhere safe to go and learn at the same time. They go from 9-5:30 and learn everything from science, math, geography, and also have time for crafts and games and storytime. We will help the teachers with whatever they need and actually teach a lesson time to time, even if it's just a craft or game or whatever. None of the children nor teachers speak English, so it should be an interesting experience.
The toughest part of visiting the sites was that we passed the 'homes' in which the children live before getting to the school. These homes are basically tin lean-to's and are all squished together. They are definitely unsanitary and have no windows. Lots of the small children (4-5 years old) have little keys around their necks to open the padlocks on their doors. This is because they will get home before their parents and will clean and sometimes get whatever food they have ready. 4 years old...
When we got to each school though the children were so well behaved. They loved seeing "white people" and had a fun time playing hand games with us and trying to speak to us in Hindi. I'm not as worried as I was, but I know that it will still be a difficult experience. The woman who accompanied us told us that these children just appreciate you being with them, so if that's all I am everyday, I can do that!
After our site visits we had a quiet night back here at the center.

Today, Thursday, was our day off. We had nothing planned, but to my excitement Fr. Borges (from my College) was in India these past two weeks, and finally back here in Pune where his family lives. He and his brother picked me up around 11 and took me back to their house. It was wonderful to see a traditional Indian home, and I was fed very well. I ate chappati with chicken and potato curry gravy and rice as well. His family was so nice to me, and even went out to get me an icecream cone! It felt very homey, and we had a good time just talking and catching up. When his brother brought me back to the center I hung out with Holly for a bit. We went up to the water tower here at Sangam (it's huge!) and we climbed to the top to get a full view of Sangam. After we came down and got ready for dinner at our Indian homes. (Each person staying at Sangam at this time was given an invitation to have dinner in an Indian home.) I went with an older woman who is from Wales. The children from the homes we were going picked us up and walked us across the street to their houses. Again the front stoop was decorated with the special powder in beautiful designs. The girl spoke some English, but her Aunt with whom she was staying spoke English very well. We sat around in their home and shared picture albums, the Aunt told us all about Hindi festivals, celebrations, and traditions. I learned that only married women wear toe rings on their second toe. Also they wear a string of black beads when they are married as well as green bangles. We talked about the education systems in our countries, as well as different crops that grow, and the weather that exists. After talking for quite a bit, we were led into a small room before the kitchen where a special prayer ceremony was held for the god of their household. After we went into the kitchen. We were invited to eat a tradition meal, which meant I sat crosslegged on the floor (the older woman opted for a chair). We were served rice, potatoes, chippati, and a delicious milk/puffed rice dessert. We ate mostly everything with our bare hands. I asked if it was ok that I ate with my left hand and they said that was definitely fine, I was actually more interesting for eating with my right hand. I ate everything quite quickly and was immediately served more! Luckily they had toned down the spices for us, so everything was perfect for me. We talked more as we ate and enjoyed learning different traditions. After dinner we were presented with a gift from the house; a coconut and piece of fabric (that makes a sari blouse) were given which represent the good fortune being passed onto us as we leave the house. The whole night was absolutely fabulous, I just had the most amazing time. Walking home I was thinking to myself about what a mind-blowing experience this is; how many people can say they ate a traditional Indian dinner, in an Indian home, in India?! Not many...and it was the most experience I've had in my life.