Slum School days 4-5

Day 4 - Arrived at the slum school for 10am and met with supervisor Anita. We had a prayer reading and the ladies sung a psalm. A weird experience as this was all done in Hindi. So off we went to class, Alison taking the lead. We have 3 classes a day 10am to 12 the older boys, 2-3 the older girls and 3-4 the younger boys and girls. Each can range from 10 - 17 children. We are in a very small room and the children sit on the floor, we have two plastic patio chairs. The children's spoken english ranges from nil to not bad. Written english needs a lot more work.
Basically we have a lesson plan and then do it 3 times through the day getting simpler as the day goes on. The girl's english is not as good as the boys. We started with songs and are teaching the Mr Wiggle and Mr Waggle song. (SPT do not worry I am going to teach you on my return). We have tried out numerous other songs 'wheels on the bus' etc. I don't really know any of them so I am blagging it.
We read the class a story about a fish called Titch and then had a discussion about the story and the values contained in it. We then did cutting out and coloring on a fish. We then did sticking onto it. They seemed to enjoy it but all wanted sharpen pencils and continually shouting 'mam' or 'Sir'. I definitely could not be a primary school teacher.
Following on from the boys we have a two hour break where we have been talking with the college and university students to give them our thoughts and opinions and allowing them to practice english. Sunil is one of those students who we have become very friendly with, he wants to study Psychology at UCL.
Take two was with the girls but a simpler version.
Take three was with younglings - They were a hard bunch very little language skills and all squabbled over the pencils, glue and sticking. Continually shouting.....arrragh.
During the day we had a visitor to the slum from America. That all went on outside whilst we were teaching. We did meet her afterwards she was delivering medicine and called by the slum to see the good work of ASHA.
We took an auto home costing about 200 rupees £2. I spent the evening working on the motorbike trying to get it running...hurrah the bike is running a quick clean out of the carb did the trick.. Tea was an omelette and we planned for the next day 'the water cycle'

Oh and by the way today is EID.

Day 5 - I taught the water cycle followed by the children drawing it and naming the parts. I was very impressed with the standard. Loads of songs and a very sweaty version of duck duck goose in the yard. Its too hot to be running around.
Take two was with the girls again a simpler version
Take three with the younglings which was coloring in in paper plate umbrellas.

After school had her hands painted with henna and we jumped onto the Metro and went into the city. We ended up in Karol Bagh where we stayed last year. We bought motorcycle helmets (mine is a open union jack helmet, Alison has a pink open face with visor Total cost with gloves £30. We also bought a lock. We had dinner in a veg restaurant where mistakenly ordered a sharing meal twice. Oh what a lot of food. But they were good enough to package the spare food for to take home. A long trip back to south Delhi on the Metro and a 20 minute auto ride. By the time we have planned for the following day and watch Alex and Polly finish off our sharing meal it was late and close to midnight by the time went to bed.

                                            Making Fish
                                         

                                             Jeevan Nagar Slum Centre

                                             Some of the younglings

                                             Teaching the water cycle

                                                         The results of the lesson

                                             Henna hands

                                             New motorcycle helmets

Slum school - Delhi day 3

Early morning excitement and apprehension of the day ahead. We were collected at 0915 and taken to the charity headquarters where we were given an orientation. We met the slum centre representative 'Kulvinder' and then we were off to the slum. Our appointed slum centre is in South East Delhi on the main Mahatma Gandi Ring Road. (Named Jeevan Nagar)

When we arrived we were greeted by a crowd of young children and a couple of adults and as we walked into the school we were showered with rose petals......everybody wanted to shake hands. OMG

So we entered the school or slum centre as it is known. Its a place where the doctor sees patients, the community use the computers and a small room about the size of average kitchen which is the classroom. In the morning the boys attend between 10-12 and the girls between 2-3. They age from about 7 to 14 years.

We had two chairs at the front of the class and the children sat in rows facing us. It was at this point it dawned on me (and Alison) we were now in the hot seats. I was just about the most scared I have ever been facing these children all with the look of 'teach me something now'. So we went with the introductions by us all then some questions and answers. We were making it up as we went along, we weren't told that this afternoon was our big debut and no planning was done of resources. So in stepped Mrs G with the primary sing along me blagging I knew the words to 'wheels on the bus' or '5 little monkeys jumping on the bed'.

Give me a pub fight or other grieve rather than this, please. We invented the write on the board game and draw smiley faces game and Alison then came in with the Mr Wiggle and Mr Waggle song (with Actions) I stood at the back blagging it again.

At 1200 the class up and left....just like that all off to primary school across the road. We had lunch (a banana). A long chat with a number of older college and university students about their education and life in India. They were very interested in life in England.

At 1400, enter the girls class, we were feeling very confident now and went through the introductions and a few songs. At 1430 we were taken back to the charity and big high fives with all the students. Everybody was out saying goodbye.

In summary I am now scared shitless. Tomorrow we have planned a fishy story and arts and crafts around the story and Mrs G has been inventing fishy songs. I have been cutting up paper fish. I am sure by the end of this experience I will have calmed down a bit.

On another note I have a India SIM card and I now able to text and phone and extremely cheap rates. If you want the number let me know.

I had another look at the bike tonight but still cant get it running so spoke to Paul at the charity who is going to help with a mechanic. Went searching with Polly tonight and in a couple of shack shops close to the apartment we found a phone charger for Polly's phone, found a stitching shop to mend my torn trousers, had Chai and bought eggs,veg, bread and Maggi noodles (all those Global Enduro friends will appreciate this). Fried egg sandwich for tea and stir fry noodle and veg. Less than 50p each.

2230 and catching up on the blog whilst is still planning, just like being at home except warmer. Oh and the monsoons arrived today but hasn't made much of an impact on the heat.

Goodnight all sleep tight, the mosquitoes are biting, bloody things.

Delhi day 2

Its still hot so got up early and went out to try and get the Honda Hero Impulse started, well that ended up in failure and it took a while to dig it out of the garage. See below
For some reason it has new fuel and a spark at the plug but won't fire up. Gonna have to get a Indian Mechanic.

Anyway showered again (as it takes five minutes to be soaked in sweat) we jumped in an auto (Tuk Tuk) and went to the Metro station. Then took the train into the center of the city. Got talking to a student engineer on the train who was on his way to take his Delhi Metro entrance test to become an engineer on the metro system. WE wished him luck as he got off at Kashmere Gate.
We ended up at Connaught Place a large circular shopping complex with a large park. A mecca for tourists, beggars and cheats. We were constantly badgered for this bazaar and that bazaar and was a bit rude to a couple of people. Then a shoe cleaner came up to me "shoes sir" "no" I said and naturally looked down and low and behold was what appeared to be a large dollop of bird shit on my open toed shoe. Strange as there are no birds and certainly none that could shit that big. (Would have made a seagull look like a sparrow) but he immediately jumped to the ground cleaning my shoe. (suspicious already) so he cleaned it up and then asked for 15000 rupees (£15) and then another man came up saying I know this man how much is he charging don't pay over 600 rupees. Meet the accomplice in this little charade. I saw red cussing and swearing threw 100 rupees (£1) at the man and stormed off. I was livid........

We went for a walk across the road flagged down and auto and asked him for an hours tour of the city centre - with no bazaars or shops. So for an hour we saw the sights of the Parliament district, India Gate, Presidents house, Main Hindu Temple, Gudwara and many other sights and no bazaars. extra tip for that. Went for a walk in the park and then into Mcdonalds. Its a tradition that we always go into one when we travel, I had a McVeggie, Alison had a McTikka. Back onto the Metro another 19 pence ride back to south Delhi and the auto back to the apartment.

We spend the rest of the day sorting stuff out and went out for dinner to the 'Monkey Bar' a glass pyramid with some excellent food and my first beer. Not cheap but worth it. When we came out the place was packed and what I thought was a patch of unused ground was in fact the valet parking. India what a place.

Bed and ready for the first day in the slums.

2014 the adventure with a difference

Well the 2014 adventure has come around so quick this year. For those who don't know Me and Mrs G have flown to Delhi arriving today. We have volunteered to spend a couple of weeks volunteering in a school in the Delhi slums. Mrs G likes to do this kind of work I have accompanied her for two reasons 1. I love India and 2. all the recent sex attacks on foreign tourists.
The third week of the trip will be to spend some time in Amritsar at the Golden Temple and relax at the guesthouse we found last year.

Arrived all in good time in Delhi on a Virgin flight, M25 to Heathrow was a nightmare 2.5 hours , but were surprised when my oldest and best friend turned up at the airport with the family to see us off. (Thanks Mate)

Following the arrival we got a taxi to the charity and met up with Freddy a co-founder and he sorted out a few things including keys to a motorbike (cant not ride for three weeks). A while later we went to the apartment we are staying in and met up with another volunteer Polly. There is another volunteer here to but he is at Agra this weekend.

Following a sleep we went out for dinner and a bit of shopping to the local Mall. Mrs G bought some Indian clothes. Early night tonight and a trip to old Delhi tomorrow, tomorrow afternoon will try to get the bike started.

Monday morning is the start of the volunteering.

Update and pics will hopefully follow on a daily basis.

Geoff