EAT Dosas, PRAY with Uncle Fritz, and LOVE your Cousins!

Oi!

As I write this post, I am starting to pack for the U.S.A! I must admit I am a bit homesick, so the prospect of returning home is quite desirable. Yet, I have thoroughly enjoyed my month long stay in India. The memories made here have made indelible marks in my mind and I will miss all the bustle, silliness, and dancing!

Hanging out with cousins was a blast! Vanessa took me everywhere (thank you, Ness!). She debuted her Les Mills class, Sh'bam, which was a mix of Jazzercise, Zumba, and other dance aerobic classes. I also suffered through her spinning (RPM) class...so hard! On a non-health related note, I had a chance to experience the vibrant nightlife of Bangalore (despite everything closing at 11:30...how Footloose of this city!). I got to see R3hab perform live; he is apparently Afrojack's latest DJ. I had a ton of fun pretending I was into house music and meeting Ness' friends. I was so happy to spend time with Danny boy, my BCF (Best Cousin Forever). We played tons of Ludo and got into plenty of 9-year-old fights--usually revolving around the presence of scary dogs in our great aunts' houses. Leah, my smarty pants, was my shopping companion. I was her project artist and embellished her economics and computer science portfolios with rupees, sunflower oil, and money trees. Lara and Chiara were my confidantes...who didn't always keep things confidential! 

My period of observing a primary girls' school proved to be fruitful. I learned the importance of discipline and attention to detail. I also learned that I prefer a teaching style that encourages, even when children make mistakes. I am not a proponent of embarrassing students in front of their peers or any sort of disparagement. My teaching philosophy is ever-evolving and it is experiences like this that shape my views and mold me.

 The 1st Standard teacher, who has about 30 years of experience, graciously allowed me to teach for a few days. Together with the students, I created human math problems that tested the girls' ability to add and subtract simultaneously. We worked on proper grammar by writing a story--each girl could only say one word though! It ended up being about a teddy bear who went home to dance! I also did mad libs with them after teaching the parts of speech. When the Kanada teacher was out sick, I took the opportunity to teach a little Spanish. I couldn't help but put on some Spanish tunes and teach them salsa as well!  I miss those little girls who welcomed me with their cheerful spirits and innocent humor! They begged me to play doctor with their cute faces, and I had to acquiesce! Of course, I was appointed worried and wacky mother of the patient...

I will never forget time spent at the orphanage. I absolutely relished every moment spent with those little angels. Their loving hugs, mischievous grins, and thick Tamilian accents made my heart melt everyday. I played "Skiddle Diddle, Cornel Pop!" with them in an effort to practice numbers. I would call out a number in English and the round would end when one announced that special number. I also created number books with them. Lastly, I practiced English words that emphasized the alphabet. Getting the orphans to pronounce an "N" was such a challenge! They are used to saying "yen" instead....which was too cute! One of my favorite memories was getting a chance to work with the 17 year olds on Pre-Calculus and Algebra. So much fun! I wish I could see all of them perform to Vengaboys for Children's Day on November 14th!

On the 12th of September, I packed a bag and flew to Bombay (more officially known as Mumbai). Bombay and Bangalore are poles apart in terms of atmosphere, people, and overall culture. Bombay was alive and kickin'--just as I had remembered it! I spent time with my adorable grandma and took every chance to crack a joke; I asked her every so often if she wanted me to get her lace shorts. On her 88th birthday, I suggested we party it up at a club and persuade some young lads to buy her shots! Instead, she opted for some lipstick and whiskey! My Uncle Frank, my dad's younger brother, was so sweet. He covered all the bases, from airport pickups to topping up my phone. I have much gratitude for all he did for me! 

My dad joined me in his hometown, Byculla, a day after I arrived. It was SO great to see him! It made my homesickness much more bearable. Together, we painted the town red! We relished mutton baida (egg) roti, shopped in Colaba, and went to a part of town that sells beautiful leather bags. I also got a chance to spend time with Uncle Frank's daughters, Emerald and Pearl, and his wife (another gem!) Ruby. 

My cousin Jana took me out a few times to see a singer-songwriter gig and experience a Ladies' Night at a local bar. We also trekked to Karjat, which is 2 hours outside Bombay, for a friend's birthday. Karjat was absolutely stunning. I felt like I was in Bali! The lush greenery and rolling hills were breathtaking. This was the first time I experienced a rural setting in India. Back in Bombay, I enjoyed spending time with my Canadian friend Viren! I joyfully ate some TGIF food at Phoenix Mills and shopped at Zara...oh, how I love American cuisine!

Bangalore welcomed us back with a bang! My cousin Divya was getting married to Gui and the hoopla was in full force by the time we arrived. I reunited with her sweet cousin, Andre--who gave me odd looks as a baby but was now a chatterbox of a 3-year-old! Dancing and laughing with so many 2nd cousins was so much fun. We Mascy's know how to have a good time! It was also amusing to hear all the gossip from the generation before us. So many of my aunts and uncles pulled endless pranks and blamed the holy ones (my mom and Aunty Lila) for making them look bad in front of Uncle Fritz!

Divya's roce and wedding were simply amazing. I must say that you can't beat the colors of India. Divya's house (which originally belonged to my great-grandparents and was a summer vacation spot for my mom and her cousins) was adorned in beautiful marigold flowers and lit with bronze candles. The floor was a rich red and took quite the beating from our dancing feet! I busted out whatever capoeira and samba moves I could muster! I just returned from the wedding an hour back and it was incredible! Divya looked stunning in a lace dress. And Gui...what a charming, sweet Gui, I mean guy! 

Speaking of Gui, his family, relatives, and friends were SO lovely. I feel that the amalgamation of the Indians and Brazilians resulted in a fun-loving, warm bunch that did not stop partying until the Windsor Manor Hotel kicked us out! I can't wait to visit them in Brazil and the newly weds in Melbourne!

So, as I close this post, I feel bittersweet. Stoked to go home, but sad to leave such a beautiful country with the most loving people behind. I offer my deepest appreciation to my amazing Nana and Papa for all the attention they gave me! I am blessed to have them in my life. I thank Amudah and Kavitha, the greatest servants anyone could ask for, for making me coffee and dosas each morning and folding my clothes. I thank my grandma for having me in her home and for smiling that precious smile! I thank the wonderful children who made my teaching and observing experiences so valuable. And lastly, I thank my parents for allowing me to come to India in the first place! 

Like I said in Brazil, all good things must come to an end...

Dr. Radhakrishnan is the Man!

Greetings from my Nana and Papa's home in Bangalore, India! I have been here since the 24th of August and have really enjoyed my time thus far. While I have been to India many times, this visit marks the first time that I am without my family. In addition, I am not only here to spend time with relatives, but to observe primary school pedagogy and teach orphans basic English and Algebra. 

I am having an amazing experience! However, I do really miss my family; whenever we visit Bangalore and Bombay (usually around Christmas), we have great fun with our inside jokes! Besides this one element, I am happily embracing the new activities I am involved in and the quality time spent with cousins, aunts, and uncles. The fact that it is not Christmas time also strips Richmond Town of the hectic chaos...it is certainly more of a low-key atmosphere (I do miss those star lanterns and the Indian version of Away in a Manger though!). 

Along with more frequent and intense exercise and a better diet, one of my small goals is to learn some Indian choreography that I could integrate into my Zumba routines. To my pleasant surprise, I unintentionally grasped some moves while watching young schoolgirls perform for their assembly on Indian Teacher's Day!

Speaking of teachers, the national holiday honoring teachers celebrates the life of Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, whose birthday is on the same day. The holiday came about when his students requested permission to honor him on his special day. He selflessly replied, "Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if 5 September would be observed as Teachers' Day." Along with one of the most famous scholars in history, he was also a brilliant philosopher. To top that, he was the first Vice President and the second President of India. What a resume!

The 2nd Standard students also led a prayer service for the student body. This reminded me of my childhood! In grammar school, each grade was assigned a certain time of year to plan a prayer service, giving each child a special role. Similar to my class's experience, all members of the 2nd Standard sang, recited prayers, or presented a poem. Among the qualities that represented a teacher, were impartiality, patience, and love. These are certainly characteristics that I hope to embody in my classroom!

The teaching style in India is quite different. My mother used to help me with my homework when I was little, so the techniques used to teach simple math and English were vaguely familiar to me. Teachers focus on being practical in their instruction. They are very particular and detailed about diction and penmanship. Print is only covered in preschool. Once 1st standard starts, children are expected to write in cursive, with every curve and loop in the right place. 

One stark difference in the school day, compared to the American system, is that Indian teachers teach to the entire class the whole time. There is no opportunity for small group work or more importantly, differentiation. I worry that this will gradually create a mini achievement gap among classmates and if it goes unnoticed, will hinder the intellectual growth of lower-ability students. I must say, though, that my teacher does an excellent job of keeping 60 small 6-year-olds under control. 

Control is a key component of a teacher's strategy. Students must stand when they talk to their elder. They must respond with three statements, "Good morning, teacher," "Thank you, teacher," and "I'm sorry, teacher," when called for. This sort of formality makes the school day efficient and encourages utmost respect. 

I was really impressed with the vocabulary introduced through the literature workbooks. Each story is read through choral read-alouds. Students use their fingers to follow along. Student are not allowed to drag any words...every nuance must be accented! Words such as suspicious are part of their spelling lists. I feel that this is advanced compared to American standards. The teachers take full advantage of scaffolding, especially in the department of comprehension. In the arena of math, students are exposed to numbers up to the 500's. If I recall correctly, I don't remember learning such high quantities when I was a little nugget! 

Anyways, I must bring this post to a close, as I am off to the orphanage. I cherish my time there--the kids are too cute and equally as naughty! For my next post, I will discuss some of the activities I am doing with both the school children and orphans (many of which are ideas and lessons from college and my own early school experiences). Also, I will talk about what I have been doing outside of hanging out with the kids!

Peace out (Gandhi style!),

Arlene Aka