Clearly the Foreigner

This week was my first week teaching by myself in the classroom.  As of right now I am teaching art classes to all of the grades.  I am trying to be creative, since I have no teaching experience, and so far it has worked out.  My lesson usually includes reading a story out loud and then conducting some sort of art project.  The children usually get bored with the story, but when I bring out crayons they start cheering.  Every little line or addition to their drawing they run up to me yelling “Miss, Miss look”; I smile and celebrate their efforts.  I am finding it is not about the skill and technique in my “art classes” but about building self-confidence—the skill will come in time.  By stepping in, it gives the teacher a 40 minute break which I know is so needed.  I am still in the beginning stages of organizing projects and lessons and will soon teach about two classes every day (so if you have any art project ideas please, please, please let me know!)

This past week I have been also working with the Sparrows of Splendor (widow’s sewing ministry).  The main tailor and I work together to come up with new bag patterns and designs.  I am so excited because next week I will be going to fabric stores around Chennai to find fabric for the totes—the fabric here is beautiful!  For my Project Funway readers… the tailor was interested in the flower pins we made for our beach tote we made this summer.  It was so much fun because I was able to show him how to scallop the fabric, baste, gather, and secure a button.  He was quite excited about them!  The main tailor is very talented; he designs a lot of the patterns then teaches the widows how to make the totes.  They all do a beautiful job with the bags!

So the embarrassing story of the week…  The Commonwealth Games (which for people like me who don’t know what they are) are a miniature version of the Olympics for the Commonwealth countries (those which were once under British rule).  They occur every four years, and this year they are in Delhi.  Long story short, Delhi is not ready to host all of the players from around the world so they are organizing home-stays for all of the athletes.  Rumors are going around that the conditions in these home-stays are horrible (like cockroaches in beds etc.).  Many countries are refusing to attend.   So in a quick attempt to save India’s reputation, they wanted to film a public advertisement to show the hospitable nature of the Indian people.  I was asked by a friend of a friend to act in this commercial.  They needed foreigners to act as the athletes—which is funny because how athletically challenged I am.  But I agreed because they were desperate.  The shoot took about 12 hours!!  I was in a few different scenes where I was supposed to be one of the Ping-Pong competitors (yes, Ping-Pong is an Olympic-like sport). There were also scenes of a family welcoming me into their home and some ladies putting henna on my hand.  I felt like a complete fool, but I just smiled and went along with it.  Little did I know this ad is going to be on national television all over India.  Who knew that I could be the next Bollywood star J

I was able to explore Mahabalipuram the other day.  It is known as the Temple Bay; there are many temples from the ­­­­­­­­­­­­7^th century!  We went around the town and saw the gorgeous Hindu temples; the carvings are beautiful and so well preserved.  While we were visiting one temple, I was taking pictures I noticed this group of 15 people start walking towards me.  One lady asked if I would take a picture with their group; I could not believe that this was happening. My friends said that this group was probably from Northern India and more than likely had never seen a Westerner in real life.  They took like ten pictures, rotating people in and out and putting their hand on my shoulder. I do not understand why they would want to take a picture with me, but I guess it was flattering.

 

Yesterday we went into one of the nearby fishing villages.  This village was also destructed by the tsunami, but has slowly been built back up over these past five years.  We went to a fish auction, which was pretty interesting.  The fishermen bring in their fish, they have an auctioneer auction it off, and then ladies from the village buy it and sell in in the city—everyone benefits.  Rain was pouring down, but people just conducted life as normal.  John helped this village out a lot after the tsunami so that is why we were able to visit it.  Normally you do not go into villages where you do not know anyone.  We were welcomed us into their homes, which consist of four mud walls and a piece of tin for the roof.  They have nothing, yet went to the store to buy Pepsi for us and offered to make us breakfast, even if they would not eat themselves.  These people are the most joyful people I have ever met in my life, despite the fact that they have nothing.  It has been so refreshing to be around this joy and see that happiness does not come from the things of this world but from our relationships and faith.

PS- here is the link to the Commonwealth Ad if you are brave enought to check it out!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZKP2IJjPqQ