Weekend Trip to Delhi and Agra

Saturday morning we left RSO at 2am to drive to Chennai and catch a plane to Delhi.  We then toured a bit of Delhi, including riding in a rickshaw - which is truly a unique experience.  Then we drove about 6 hours to a very nice hotel in Agra.  It was a very long day.  So the next day, we arose early to get in line to see the Taj Mahal a little after 6am.  The Taj was fabulous, but of course it was another hot day in India.  We also visited a nearby fort and went shopping.  Monday we drove back to Delhi and did some more shopping.  We ate at some very nice restaurants.  I flew home Tuesday (Business Class-which was soooo very nice.)  Glad to be home, but hope I don't forget all the sites, sounds, smells and people of India.

 

Friday. Last Day with RSO

Had a pretty great day today.  Went out to a smaller colony with some fairly colorful people.  One funny man was very outgoing and was dancing to some music someone brought.  His wife was patient and reserved.  Other cute older couples lived there.  Looked like there were about 10 couples/individuals that live at this colony.  Kept nice, I noticed that they raked the sand in the yard to be nice an tidy.  One lady showed us how you use what I think was a rice grinder? 

Had the van let us out a bit before the RSO campus so I could walk through the little village that is by the school's campus and take some pictures.  A few (30) of the children at the school live in this village and are not from the colonies; so they go home each night. 

Played with the children in the afternoon and said goodbye tonight.  I'll miss them.

Wrapping the man that was dancing later.  He was pretty funny.

Nice and tidy yard area.

 

 Monkey and baby on way home.

Wife of funny man demonstrating the grinders.

Baby cow in village on walk home.

Two boys in village on walk home.

Cow in village on walk home.

Village homes.

Darling child we saw in the village.

Hindu temple, I think. These are everywhere.

Kids at school, play time.

 

Thursday

Today we went to the colonly RSO has helped out with a bit more and there are some write-ups about it on their web site I think.  It has an art school where the artists can sell their paintings.  That was very cool.  Also met the barber.  This is also where the jewelry making business is located.  Saw the cutest baby - I think was grandson of one of the patients.  A few of the patients could speak some english, so that was fun.  Two men were just really fun and wanted us to send them printouts of the pictures we took with them.  One ended up being one of the artists and I bought one of his paintings.  Enjoyed kids as usual.  Back at school, choir did a little mini concert for the volunteers which was very cute.

 

Wednesday Week 2

Had a great day today.  I'm kind of sad that this will be coming to an end in a few days.  I'm finally starting to feel like I'm getting the hang of things.  We helped the kids write letters to their sponsors and also some reading tutoring.  When writing to their sponsors they are not allowed to ask for anything other than a letter or a picture.  So, here is what one of the kids I was helping wrote (not exactly, as I forget, but some thing similar):  I like to play with remote control cars and something else - I forget.  My birthday is November 27.  (I'm told he probably didn't realize what he was inferring, they like to tell pepole when their birthdays is...)  Another good writer wrote the following when I suggested he write something about his family:  I have 1 brother and I have 2 best friends.  I thought that was cute.

I ate on the floor with the kids today.  This cute little girl, Kavya... (I am so bad with their names) wanted me to eat lunch with her.  Then she didn't want me to use my fork - they don't use utinsels.  I spilled on the floor.  She gave me back my fork.  She asked why I didn't take off my shoes - I forgot, they take off their shoes.  So I got up (off the floor) and took off my shoes.  This is why they live less longer - you can't live until 90 and be sitting on the floor without shoes or utinsels for every meal!!  It will wear you out:)

At play time, I played referee for a new game another volunteer and I bought for the kids, similar to tether ball.  I had to time them and have them wait in a line.  They are not good at doing that by themselves yet.  Then I noticed my camara was missing.  I asked around and found a boy taking pictures on the playground.  My referee duties didn't allow me to go retrieve my camera, but I finally did and reminded the culprit that he needed to ask next time before he took something like that.  He did take a picture I like.

I also had fun with my "family" group of boys tonight.  Played chess with a few of them.  Some of them are quite good.  They also enjoy playing with the Jenga blocks and coloring with markers.  Tomorrow we go to the colony that RSO has done more work with.  Has an art school that sells paintings and a jewelry making business and a barber shop.  Maybe I'll come back with a new do!  Pictures for today are mostly from other days, and most are from another volunteer - Nusly - thanks!

 

 

 

Week 2. Tuesday

We went out to another colony this morning.  I oiled feet this time.  Started out slow - people didn't have sores on their feet, but towards the end there were a few pretty bad ones.  Sweet people again.  Gave 3 of Amy's rattles to three adorable kids - but their mother didn't want me to take their picture.  That's OK.  I kind of feel funny taking pictures anyway. 

On the way back, our driver stopped had us all  hike up to a Hindu Temple.  It was interesting... 

Another cool blog (of one of the long term volunteers) to check out:  www.whenrudymetcallie.blogspot.in

Also, posted some more pictures JJ took from last week.

Later at play time today, had fun with the kids.  We bought a new game for them - kind of like tether ball, but with a racket.  They enjoyed having a new game to play with.  Thought I'd paint some of the girls' nails, but ended up being mostly boys that wanted theirs painted.  One cute girl, Pria, did my hair and even put flowers in it.  Was fun playing today. 

Our "chef" made salmon cakes to go with our regular fair of rice and curry.  Was delicious!

 

Monday, Week 2

We visited another colony today.  The drive out was nice.  Saw the nicest living conditions on the drive out - would be similar to some very small apartment complexes.  The homes here are very small.  Some are made just of grass.  Others are cement.  The "lots" I saw for sale were 800 - 1800 square feet - that is for the plot of land on which you then build your house - grass type hut or cement home.

The colony was nice considering the living conditions of the people here.  There was one very, very sweet and friendly lady named Maria.  She had long graying hair and a big smile.  She had no fingers.  We passed by her house when we were walking out and she insisted on some of us picking some flowers off her bush and putting them in our hair.  Also, one of the kids grandmother's was at this colony.  I gave 2 of the rattles Amy gave me to bring to some of the adorable kids at the colony

One of the volunteers, "Birdy", did a cooking class for some of the kids today.  They had fun making pizzas and no-bake cookies.

The smiling man with the "balloon" is Annan, our driver.  We saw the motorcycle with the cute kids on the way back and took a picture from the van.  (thanks to Becky for some of the pictures, as I didn't realize my battery was gone until just as we got to the colony.)