Ever tried to chaperone over 200 blind children along an uneven street, overrun with motorbikes, stray dogs and overflowing bins? No mean feat. Just one of the ways I spent a weekend.
The destination of this perilous journey was a College cinema where the kids could "watch a Hindi film with audio descriptions. The treacherous trek and bursting bus ride was worth it for the children to have this cinematic experience. All linked to the Children's Film festival which lasts from the 14th to the 20th of November.
The pupils all enjoyed the film. Afterwards there was discussions, a quiz and of course Anna and I had to make a mini speech! Most of the discussions were in Telugu but from all the raucous yells, I guessed the kids had enjoyed the experience!
The next Day I was again back in the Cinema (minus 200 kids this time). Anna and I finally went to see Ramleela, the Bollywood film we'd seen advertised in Kerala (last time we had a TV). Prasads Cinema was the place to go, got there after a Auto ride which involved two breakdowns, still got ripped off! While waiting for the film we ate our first Subway (potato patty) and went in a mirror maze and an upside down house.. just the usual mall stuff!
Finally the film arrived (we'd seriously been waiting for a month!). the screen was MAHOUSSIVE! Apparently one of the world biggest IMAX screens. So the beautiful settings and costumes, elaborate dances and crazy action were even more jaw-dropping! Enjoyed every moment of the almost 3 hour long film. All in Hindi so the dialogue was lost on us but the film is an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet so we understood the plot anyway.
From the 18th to the 22nd is International Education Week, the aim of which is to promote global understanding and citizenship. Project Trust encourage the volunteers to celebrate Global Citizenship events such as this as they are integral to the aims of the charity. Organizing and running such events are also a criteria of the OCN qualification.
I enthusiastically planned a week of multiple activities to run in my classes and in later study classes. I would say now that I was perhaps slightly over-ambitious but what I managed was, I believe, successful.
The first day we played global games. I attempted to use the children as countries to illustrate countries and continents all over the world. Lead to some confusion, Scotland not being in America for example.
Another day we learned German phrases. I learned German in School for over 9 years, always loved learning the language. The children were surprisingly enthusiastic. Chanting the German numbers with more gusto than they've been chanting the English. I think the pupils enjoyed a change.Some even remembered the phrases "Wie Gehts?" (how are you?) "Gut Danke" the next day! It was interesting to expose them to another European language after they've all been exposing me to various Indian Languages.
The diversity of languages in India is astounding. As I currently only know two, the children who can speak three with ease put me to shame! There's a very different attitude towards learning languages here compared to my experiences in the UK. Languages obviously have a greater relevance in this country whereas back in the UK sometimes people act like everyone should speak English. I plan to broaden my linguistic skills while here.
On Wednesday I took my classes to Bonnie Scotland!
I made a 3D map from cardboard and salt-dough. Painted it and added Braille labels. A kind friend sent me some Scottish music to play for the kids. Some of my pupils are have some sight so I brought some postcards from my extensive collection (my wall is slightly like a tourist info office!).
Aim was to allow the children to use a range of senses to find out about another (very different!) country.
The classes were very interested. I told them all about Scotland and compared it to India. The most bizarre fact being that Scotland has a population of around 5 million, Hyderabad alone is over twice that! Another difficult concept was snow!
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| Inflatable Elephant's Galore |
The pupils all enjoyed the film. Afterwards there was discussions, a quiz and of course Anna and I had to make a mini speech! Most of the discussions were in Telugu but from all the raucous yells, I guessed the kids had enjoyed the experience!
The next Day I was again back in the Cinema (minus 200 kids this time). Anna and I finally went to see Ramleela, the Bollywood film we'd seen advertised in Kerala (last time we had a TV). Prasads Cinema was the place to go, got there after a Auto ride which involved two breakdowns, still got ripped off! While waiting for the film we ate our first Subway (potato patty) and went in a mirror maze and an upside down house.. just the usual mall stuff!
Finally the film arrived (we'd seriously been waiting for a month!). the screen was MAHOUSSIVE! Apparently one of the world biggest IMAX screens. So the beautiful settings and costumes, elaborate dances and crazy action were even more jaw-dropping! Enjoyed every moment of the almost 3 hour long film. All in Hindi so the dialogue was lost on us but the film is an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet so we understood the plot anyway.
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| Not the worst motorbike driving I've seen while here! |
International Education Week
From the 18th to the 22nd is International Education Week, the aim of which is to promote global understanding and citizenship. Project Trust encourage the volunteers to celebrate Global Citizenship events such as this as they are integral to the aims of the charity. Organizing and running such events are also a criteria of the OCN qualification. I enthusiastically planned a week of multiple activities to run in my classes and in later study classes. I would say now that I was perhaps slightly over-ambitious but what I managed was, I believe, successful.
The first day we played global games. I attempted to use the children as countries to illustrate countries and continents all over the world. Lead to some confusion, Scotland not being in America for example.
Another day we learned German phrases. I learned German in School for over 9 years, always loved learning the language. The children were surprisingly enthusiastic. Chanting the German numbers with more gusto than they've been chanting the English. I think the pupils enjoyed a change.Some even remembered the phrases "Wie Gehts?" (how are you?) "Gut Danke" the next day! It was interesting to expose them to another European language after they've all been exposing me to various Indian Languages.
The diversity of languages in India is astounding. As I currently only know two, the children who can speak three with ease put me to shame! There's a very different attitude towards learning languages here compared to my experiences in the UK. Languages obviously have a greater relevance in this country whereas back in the UK sometimes people act like everyone should speak English. I plan to broaden my linguistic skills while here.
On Wednesday I took my classes to Bonnie Scotland!
I made a 3D map from cardboard and salt-dough. Painted it and added Braille labels. A kind friend sent me some Scottish music to play for the kids. Some of my pupils are have some sight so I brought some postcards from my extensive collection (my wall is slightly like a tourist info office!).
Aim was to allow the children to use a range of senses to find out about another (very different!) country.
The classes were very interested. I told them all about Scotland and compared it to India. The most bizarre fact being that Scotland has a population of around 5 million, Hyderabad alone is over twice that! Another difficult concept was snow!
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| 3D map, music, tartan, a sheep and postcards... all that's missing is the Haggis! |
1st Class
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| Nagesh and Prakash are sighted and enjoyed seeing the country! |
Lower Kindergarden
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4th Class
I really enjoyed sharing my home country with my classes.
Ceilidh Club!
Also shared Scotland's dancing culture with some of the girls. Over three days Anna and I taught them Military Two Step. Teaching the blind children the moves was tricky. Especially when trying to get them all to move together in a circle. But moving their legs to show them how to move etc. The girl's enthusiasm and energy was amazing. I had my doubts about trying to teach them but I'm so glad I did. It's something really special to share the dancing which has been a part of my life an culture with others. Everyone always has fun at a Ceilidh!
John Fraser's visit
Thursday brought visitors from Project Trust. John Fraser works for Project Trust on Coll and was visiting Asia and managed to drop in and visit us. Our Indian Representative Bharavi came too. It was really good to catch up.
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| shoe shining |
Doing our bit for Democracy
Recently been very involved with democracy. Devnar is contracted to print Braille numbers to be used in Polls all over India in the upcoming Elections. This gives the blind a chance to vote and participate in democracy. As the Indian government doesn't have the technology to print the numbers but Devnar does so the school gets paid 7 rupees per slip. So as there's orders for over 30 000 the school makes a great deal of money which goes towards the running of the school.
I've been helping by cutting up the printed sheets into strips. Counting the strips and today I used the braille printer to make new slips. Everyone's been getting involved. Amazing to be involved in helping blind people vote in the world's largest democracy.
It's been an interesting week. Everyday brings something new and exciting. Experienced so much I'd never have been able to otherwise. So grateful to be here!
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