Vanakkum Spirit

Vanakkum is the way the people in Tamil Nadu greet you.  They usually put their hands together near their upper chest and say this with a beautiful smile and a slight bow of the head.  It also can mean do you have enough to eat.  I love this word and the love that is behind it.  

Today I went to the Moot Colony.  There are only a few patients there they sure do have the "Vanakkum spirit."  There was one beautiful lady that was on the road saying this to us as our medical vans pulled in.  Her small, leprosy affected hands were held together near her charming face that had a warm smile on it.  She told me her name, which has left my memory, but her face will always be there.

Some of these patients are deeply affected by this disease.  Krishnan is one of them.  He places his body most times on a wheeled cart and moves himself around.  When not on it he is able to navigate on all fours in a crab crawling fashion.  The disease has taken away his hands and his feet. 

 His sweet wife takes care of him.  She is leprosy affected as well.  The disease has taken away her sight completely on the right side.  All four limbs are affected but she is still able to take care of their basic needs.  She is a tiny woman and her caring spirit for her husband is evident.  I have witnessed this time and time again.  Those with less offer so much to others.  The Indian people have a wonderful way of showing affection.  Many times over I have received a kiss from them.  They do this by kissing their fingers and putting it on your face.  I have adopted that sign of affection.  This woman gave me a kiss like that and I received it and returned one to her.

She had her small  foot bandaged and also had an ulcer on the knee.

My job was oiling the feet.  I love doing this as it is such an intimate way to show love for another.  While I was massaging the small feet and rubbing the oil on the patient's affected limb I was internalizing how this small act makes me feel inside.  I felt love not pity for these people.  My goal was to make their feet feel clean, massaged and show that I care.  I know the act is simple but it is looking into their eyes while doing it that is more powerful.  I may not speak the language but my eyes do.

Carl clipped off bandages and washed feet.

Miranda assisted Navumani with bandaging

I didn't get to do many feet today but as I sat there quietly and watched and listened to what others were doing and saying, I was filled with gratitude and love for the people I was serving with and the people we were visiting.  I saw one of our patients, Jayraj, lifting up the spirits of others by sharing his gregarious laughter and love of song.  He entertained us all and does not allow leprosy to bring him down.  The power of a positive attitude was evident in the way he lives life.  I saw Miranda making friends with a small girl.  I saw Berlyn, Callie and Carl making jokes and putting smiles on our faces. I saw Julie quietly taking pictures and socializing with the people.  I saw the nurses looking out for everyone and taking great care that we all were safely administering care and that the patients were getting all they needed.  I saw Anandon and Velu, our drivers, be at the ready for anything that was needed.  The people that surrounded me today are the embodiment of what my Savior and our living prophet have taught us to be like. 

Berlyn took blood pressure today with every patient.

Jayraj made our time there so much fun!

Isn't she lovely?  They all are.

As we backed away from the colony, I sat in the front seat next to our positive, kind driver, Anandon.  I made eye contact with that same lovely woman who greeted us.  She waved goodbye and blew a kiss.  I felt it and I never want to forget that connection.  Once again, the people of India continue to make their way into my heart ever deeper than the day before. Vanakkum spirit.

Life Dance steals the show!

Life Dance troupe waiting at the Elephant House until the bus arrives to take us to the performance.

Lots of after school training is involved.

Life Dance is awesome and Rising Star kids love it!  Promethean Sparks is the company that has established this program on campus.  It reaches out to impoverished communities to touch kid’s hearts through dance and teach life skills and values.  Volunteers with dance skills travel to different parts of the world and teach classes to students.  At Rising Star the volunteer teaches classes within the school and also trains the Life Dance troupe on campus.

This summer Sarah Hersey, a college student, has devoted her summer to making a difference at Rising Star.  The Life Dance group loves her.  That is a pretty big compliment as this is a pretty talented and dedicated dance troupe.  They practice every day after school and perform at various functions.  In between instructors they hold their own practices to keep up their skills when there is a delay in a new dance master making it to India.   I hope this group continues to always be a part of Rising Star.  It promotes students to be good role models, exposes them to dance, increases confidence and it is a program that teaches discipline, dedication and teamwork.  That is qualities that produce good leaders beyond the school years.

 The short term volunteers get to see them dance on the last evening of their session.  Usually there is not a dry eye in the group by the time they are done.  The group brings awareness to the leprosy affected when performing outside of Rising Star through one of their dances.  They also do traditional dances and modern dances.  They do their dances to Michael Jackson, the Bee Gees, David Archaleta and others. 

Waiting at the performance for our their turn to take charge of the stage.
 Sarah, the redhead, is telling them some last minute reminders.

Recently I got to chaperone them on one of their excursions to Chennai.  It was a benefit put on by a large business group to encourage people to volunteer time to help children in need in India.  It was performed in an open air theatre in the middle of the city and hundreds attended.  Our students did a bang up job.  They performed with confidence, skill and had fun.  It showed.  I was so proud of them.  Sarah, so young, was so professional as their dance master.  She said a few words about why they dance and the hard work that the kids put in to the audience.  The group handled themselves so well and proudly represented Rising Star.  They were the best performance there.  The crowd went wild with clapping and gave them their first standing ovation.  They deserved it and felt like superstars.

The Superstars

 

The group that promoted this also welcomed us in and gave everyone the superstar treatment.  They sent school supplies home with everyone, dinners to eat on the bus home.  They also had provided the bus to transport us there and back.  We listened to all kinds of different music….mostly modern hip hop Tamil music.  The beat was good.  I always think the singing is a little screechy though.

Ambiga and Savitha

Vimil-taken before we left.

I got to know many of the kids better.  On the way there Ambiga and Savitha filled me in on questions I had about villages we were driving through.  They pointed out things I may not know about and shared their cookies with me.  On the way home I sat by Vimil and realized how much I like this young man.  If I were to have a son it would be this young man.  He told me about his life, family and other random things. 

It was a great evening and one I will never forget.  Thank you, Life Dance.   

So India

I look forward to going to the leprosy colonies on my days off.  When I say a day off, it is due to a Hindu holiday usually. On this particular day I went to one of my favorite colonies and got to see beautiful Maria and her son.  Last year I wrote about her.  She is the grandmother of Bujji, my sponsor daughter.  Her father remembered me and was so welcoming.  She said she recognized my voice.  I was so happy to see them.  Bujji’s dad came by while we were working to show me pictures of his family. I took pictures of them so I could show Bujji later.  I was so happy that they remembered me.  Maria calls me family because I am so good to her granddaughter.  I love this little lady.  Her condition has worsened.  Her feet have become smaller and today was very painful.  She had a huge ulcer on the bottom of her foot that was painful.

 She tried to get out of getting it taken care of but with the coaxing of me and Poongadi, the nurse she agreed to do it.  I sat by her through most of the process.  There were many tears shed as the process was painful.  She also had an ulcer on her paw.  She has no hands anymore.  My heart went out to her.  After I helped her put her little shoes on, I walked her back to her humble, little home.  She has become so unsteady on her little feet.  I am so grateful I got to connect with her and her son again.  I enjoy helping these people.  This little colony is full of poverty but the strength of these patients is amazing.   They have so many challenges but continue to stay faithful. The gratitude on their part is abundant.  The gratitude I feel for them is the same.  Although life is difficult they get on with life.  So India.

After we were done at the colony, we went out for pizza.  I am not usually a pizza eater, but in India I jumped at the chance.  Sarah and I shared one together and also forced Anandan to accept a piece.  I love to share with him.  He does so much for others.  He is a fine example of the Indian spirit as he shows kindness and shares what little he has with others.  People in India greet you with the word Vanakkum.  It means hello but also have you had enough to eat.  So India.

After this Anandon took us to a Hindu temple.  It was a great opportunity to do this on a Hindu holiday too.  This was so cool.  Some random children joined us as we walked up a huge concrete staircase to eventually reach the destination.  The view was so impressive.  What I noticed was how peaceful it felt.  I could have sat up there for hours taking in the tranquility.  The people in India are very faithful.  They also are very accepting of other people’s faiths.  There are many religions practiced in this country and the people respect that. Although, in regards to marriage, they prefer people to be of the same faith.  I like the deep faith people show here.  There isn’t a lot of tearing down of other religions visible here.  America could learn from that.  When we got to the temple a priest let us in and put a marking on our forehead and blessed us.  He was an old, beardy, pot bellied guy who humored us by letting us take lots of corny pictures with him.  He finger kissed me on the cheek afterwards.  It was cute.  On the property we did a few yoga poses.  I avoided tipping over and killing myself.  You can’t go to a temple without performing yoga.  So India.

A week prior Anandan had shared some coconut cookies with some volunteers.  They loved them and wanted to buy some more.  He promised to get some but the store he bought them from was out of them.  He was determined to get them for us.  He was going to deliver on this promise.  With his connections, he took us to the actual place they make them.  It was in the back of a small hut in a large shack.  We walked back there and some men and their kids had the racks out full of cookies in the making.  It was pretty rough, flies all around, guys looking sweaty in their lunges (a wrap skirt for a man).  The kids were fascinated by us.  They took pictures with us.  My camera was in the van.  Darn.  In America this place would never make the health code.  In India it just doesn’t matter.  They offered us a sample.  The cookies were delicious.  The experience was raw and memorable.  A family making a living.  I bought a bag of them.  I ate every one and was perfectly fine.  Things I would be picky about just don’t really bother me here.  It is about the experience.  So India.

I came home to Rising Star feeling happy and blessed to experience this trip across the world.  I may miss my family but I am happy I have one to return to.  I am so blessed to meet wonderful people along the way.  I am so blessed to have my faith in God and know that through him he will bless these people I am serving and serve me daily.  I felt peace and tranquility.  So India.

Experiencing Rising Star in a Different Way

Travel blogging.  This year it has taking me longer to get started.  I don't know why.  Maybe it is because I don't have Quincy with me and I don't feel the urgency to write everything down for both of us or it might be that I am a little lazy....probably both.  I have decided to start.  Most of the subjects will be random and many of the pictures inserted will have already been posted on facebook.  I have been pretty good at posting photos from my day so my family and friends know what I have been up to.  What is missing is the stories and some of my thoughts.  This is what my blog is for. 

India has been different for me this time.  It hasn't been about playing with little kids all of the time or bonding with a volunteer group.  It hasn't been about feeling like I have to experience every moment doing the same things I did as a short term volunteer last year.  Don't get me wrong, if we have an odd day off at the school I have jumped at the chance to go with the medical team.  I do love spending time with the leprosy affected patient. 

This time I have focused on other things.   It has been more about the big kids and spending time with the Indian teachers and educational staff.  How will I meet their needs educationally to push them a tiny bit forward before I leave?  I have been teaching the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th graders English.  They are some pretty amazing students.  Each school day is packed well into the evening.  They have different activities in the afternoon that they are involved in and homework time at night.  I have witnessed some dedication to studies that put some of our U.S. students to shame. These students do it without parents making them.  They know that life will look different for them in their futures by studying hard and getting good marks. By acquiring fluent English it opens up opportunities for future jobs that they wouldn't get otherwise.  This skill will move them up the caste system that the Indian government claims doesn't exist anymore.  We all know it does and all of the kids have felt it being part of of leprosy affected families or low income villages.   Many of them have big dreams of helping others with the skills they acquire.  This generation will help to change the world.

As a short term teacher, what can I bring?  I struggled with this for the first two weeks I was here.  I experimented with each class and tried to evaluate the level they were at in their reading and writing.  What I realized is that the range within the classes was from a second to fourth grade reading level.  Many of these kids have been in Rising Star for less than three or four years so they didn't have the opportunity to be around many English speaking people prior to arriving here.  Rising Star is unusual for an Indian school.  We get this huge influx of American volunteers that the kids get to interact with unlike outlying villages.  They experience native English speaking people on a regular basis.  This makes all the difference in their language acquisition journey.  In outlying village schools, exposure to this is rare.  Resources for learning is limited and a positive learning environment is unusual.  Rising Star  is an oasis for these kids.  There are many ways to improve it but they are on an upwards path.  At the heart of it is people that care.  I am one of them and working at trying to find where I fit into this complicated puzzle.