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Have a just a little bit of free time before lunch, so I'm going to try and type out a blog super fast...
Last week was the hardest week I've had since I've been here. I felt like I was very redundant in school because none of the kids would listen to me or participate in the lessons. One day I actually just gave up trying to get their attention, sat down for the rest of the class, and watched them all run around and punch each other. I think the only thing that kept me sane during those few days was a little boy in my class. He sat in the corner writing his ABC's and singing. The song was slow and sad, but very beautiful. As I focused on his singing the rest of the class's yelling moved to the background.
I think I've finally gotten past the stage where the kids try to take advantage of my lack of Hindi, though. The past few times I've been in class they've been doing a lot better. I'm very encouraged by this. This morning I was even able to do some fun activities without them getting out of control. We all sat in a circle and did a large puzzle on the floor. The puzzle had different animals and numbers on it. I think they enjoyed it, and I did as well. I'm also starting a project of my own. I'm going to make a little book about all the kids in the class. I'm going to have their name, a picture, where they are in their studies, etc. I think this will help the next volunteer get to know all of the kids faster, while also giving information on where each kid stands acedemically. This was something that I had a problem with when I first got here. I had no idea what they had previously been learning, and how much each child knew. So, it was hard to make lesson plans at first. If nothing else, the book will at least help the volunteers learn each kid's name. That in itself was quite a challenge for me haha.
This past weekend I went to a Christian church in Delhi. The people all mingled before church, talking in English (I actually knew what was happening around me for a change). They had a band to sing with, and a lot of the songs were songs that I have sung in my own church. It was very comforting- like a little slice of home.
It rained all day yesterday and all night. It was more rain than I've seen the whole month and a half I've been here! So, the weather has changed again and is much cooler than last week. Hopefully it won't last long. I was really enjoying the sun.
We have this Friday off for yet another holiday (God bless India and all of it's holidays... It takes a whole third off of the years work days haha). So, I'm going to have a long weekend. Jake and I were going to try and go to Varanassi. The train ride is so long that you really need more than just a two day weekend. Unfortunately there weren't any more train tickets available when we looked. I don't know what we're going to do instead. Maybe go to the jungle or Jaipur.