Another day rushed by at an immense pace at the school with a slight twist in comparison to the somewhat regular greeting in the morning. The difference was due to a birthday in our group, Angel Huang, who was party to the altered happy birthday tune sung by the members of the school.
The final day of teaching for the week illustrated our courage to continue with the tasks at hand despite our tiredness and fought to the final whistle, until after the last lesson, when we were finally allowed to: sit back, relax and enjoy the 2 hour scenic journey to Kanyakumari. However, only 20km out of our final destination, one bus thought that a rather distasteful chicken shop was the entrance to the hotel ... and to their relief, they were wrong.The entrance to the Sparse hotel truly lived up to expectations being offered: mango and grape juice along with a beaded shell necklace placed over our necks, an occasion fit for post-teaching. The drop in temperature and relaxing by the poolside allowed us all to disconnect from the difficult, yet thrilling, moments of teaching for a much needed weekend away. This blog cannot be written without mentioning the mouth-watering a la carte meal at the hotel where meat was the hero of our lives, acting as a beacon of happiness and content. Chicken, meat and fish were amongst those that provided us with the energy we needed to fuel our souls and continue the passion of exploring a different culture. They will truly be missed once we return for our final week at the Sri Jayendra school! Jonathan Becker
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It's Friday and the last day of the working week. It's another hot one and everyone mustered the energy to finish off their last few lessons before we head to the coast for a welcome break. Not that it will be much of a rest with everything we have planned...special sunset, beach, pool, temple, more shopping, buffet meals with the little monks and a trip to the Royal Palace thrown in for good measure on the way home. It's Angel's birthday tomorrow but as we won't be here she was asked to go on stage this morning (whole school assembly of 3000), with the other birthday children, to have everyone sing happy birthday to her!!! Very sweet and certainly an experience she won't forget! Cake and candles ordered for her for later on so we will celebrate English style before we leave for Kanukumari (otherwise the cake won't survive the journey in the heat!) More news and photos to later......
So today started as it always does, with a whole school assembly- for 3000. Mrs S was asked to present the successful 1st XV cricketers with their certificates and trophies and there was an opportunity to bring Charlie Plummer ( also 1st XI) and Michael Tuft ( who has just found his vocation) up onto the stage to bee celebrated as Mill Hill's finest cricketers, although they are still not sure what they had done to deserve it!
It was then back to the grindstone with another full day of English conversation classes. With the temperatures soaring to 38C and the sun blazing down from above it was tiring work but the pupils persevered and they put in a good shift! In between morning and afternoon classes we were whisked away to a local village to see a traditional cart festival. Despite being a health and safety nightmare for any trip organiser it was certainly worthwhile and we escaped unscathed. As the novelty feature of the festival, we also found ourselves being interviewed for the local TV station(s)..... several times! The second time in a week! Is there no end to this celebrity status the pupils are enjoying! Back at school Miss Randall is working on a mural and has gathered a trusty team of helpers to work on the project- which is both exciting and ambitious. She found time to join us in our afternoon singing practice in readiness for our big debut next week ( one time only) rendition of Dont Look Back in Anger, and an Indian song we will be showcasing. We are certainly very grateful to Mr Kyle for all those hymn practices in Chapel as it has given us the confidence to go for it without feeling embarrassed! Shopping proved to be the highlight of the evening with everyone buying presents for friends and family in the local town. As I write this blog the atrium ( one for Mr Plummer) is buzzing with people planning lessons, chatting and playing games. It's safe to say that the mobile phone policy is being upheld and we are all the more sociable for it!! It's brilliant! The lads entered the sari shop with stern faces and an initial indifference to the range of clothes that were on offer. But as soon as the gleaming sparkles and silky embroidery was presented to us, we succumbed to our inner desires of materialism and looking'pretty' on the night of the festival. In fact we took just as long as the girls, who we initially brushed off as suckers for clothes; we were the same. The group then returned to the hotel, where most of us planned the following days sessions and some went off to play basketball with the kids. I was regretfully part of the latter and ended the night with no plans for the iminent lessons and a grazed leg; India lesson one don't play basketball in the dark. The next day we woke up, ate breakfast and lead our morning sessions. In between our sesions the group was once again propelled to celebrity status as we were somethered by relentless Indian children, each with the unwavering desire to obtain our signatures. Suffice to say I'm not excited to return to my now seemingly drab lifestyle back in blighty. We then sat down to chapati and vegetables and afterwards finished the remainder of our sessions. Our post activity programme then began with a Don't Look Back in Anger sing along and ended with a journey to the Leopard temple where the whole group seemed keen to immerse themselves in the local culture. Altogether it has been another succesful day and a half. Louis Zenios.
so this afternoon we went into town to the local department store to buy saris and kurtas. First the saris...........
So what an amazing day we've had! We were welcomed to Sri Jayendra by the Headmistress, Usha Rahman, in front of he whole school- some 2000+ pupils!! Speeches, garlands, flowers and chocolates were the order of the day and we feel very much a part of the SJ family!! Teaching began at 1015- a baptism of fire in every sense. 4 lessons for each Mill Hillian across the age range. Pupils did really well, learnt loads in the process and were mobbed for autographs and stickers! In true Millhilliam style they loved the autograph bit! Off to buy saris and kurtas this evening- tailor made for the final thanksgiving ceremony. Lesson planning on the menu after supper. Despite travelling 8000 km we haven't escaped the rain and outdoor learning is proving a challenge, which they've embraced wholeheartedly. All good!
Day 2 started with a ceremony in the School temple. What an experience. A mix of religious ceremony, thanksgiving and tradition with the Sri Jayendra community coming together as one- a bit like Foundation Day! Celebrations over we had lunch and headed for the falls- a 2hr bus ride away. Spent an amazing few hours in the national park, taking the waters and soaking up the atmosphere. Dinner time was adventurous and we arrived back at Sri Jayendra at 11pm- happy, tired yet excited for the first day of teaching. This place is truly amazing! Pupils are all getting on ( a bonus) and there's a real sense of wanting to make the most of every opportunity!
After a 24 hour long journey we arrived safe and sound to a warm welcome in Sri Jayendra School. Eaten our first curry, taken a tour of the school, challenged the pupils to a cricket match and managed to find enough wifi to contact home! Off to town this evening.
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