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Published: October 4th 2010
Mother and Daughter Leaving
The main path leading out of the homeThe silence of Kismapur village is eerie at night. Sometimes I hear crickets but often nothing. Every so often a pack of stray dogs wanders through and I can hear the howling. Its amazing how accustomed to noise we are. During the day it is different. Although there are simple cattle paths to the Child Haven orphanage, the path becomes quite busy during the day. People use the paths as shortcuts to get to work and home. There is a bustling little village that sits along side the highway nearby that is accessed via the paths. I see the same man herding his goats in the pasture adjacent to the home every other day. A herd of buffalo hang out and a family of pigs - I could do without the latter for fear of disease. Most people don’t eat pigs in India so they live a pretty “safe” life here, right along side the holy cow.
I have settled into a routine that starts at 5:15am with morning mantra and exercise (amazing watching the sunrise to yoga) and ends at 9pm with the children going to bed. In the evening after dinner, I study with a couple of the
Work Never Stops at Child Haven
Aunties cleaning cooking utensils. older boys who are not that strong in English but want to practice and read. There are about 15 students here that are still studying at a Telegu school, the balance have been in local English schools for approximately 10 years and speak English quite well - of course the older children who have been in school longer speak better - the little ones who were raised their first years at home in Telegu, struggle a bit with English but will pick it up really quick in school. I have two rules for the kids who come to read, colour and draw in my room - English only and no fighting. I have zero tolerance for fighting and the children are starting to respect it quite well.
The annual Ganesh Festival ended and now we have another Festival approaching. It’s so true, India is a country of celebration and reverence. The children are off school for 10 days starting October 7th and most are going home to their families (some who are full orphans will stay here and others who are too poor for the family to handle feeding them for the entire time will stay.) Child Haven International
Hard at Work
Fixing a screen with simple needle and thread. Amazing how much improvising goes on here! admits children with 3 basic criteria: full orphan, semi orphan (one parent has died) and poor and destitute. Most of the children are not eligible for adoption either because the parents do not want to give them up but want them to have a better life then they can provided or they do not have the proper paperwork in which to process an in country adoption. The family would have to consent and some don’t even know a single member of their family.
I am planning to take 14 of the older boys to an IMAX film this Saturday as it is a holiday to celebrate Gandhi’s birthday, normally the children have school 6 days per week. It will be quite painful for me as the film they want to see is Hindu. Anyone that knows me well knows that I can not even watch a full English movie without sleeping, but I look forward to the experience. A couple weeks back I took the older girls shopping and out for a really nice lunch at a fancy dancy spot with white linen. It was so nice to see them in this environment which was obviously a first. The lunch
Chilis at the Market
The local veg market....so much fun. for 5 people cost $10 - unbelievable how inexpensive India is if you stay away from the tourist spots. The college age girls and boys are more accustomed to outings as many volunteers take the older children to the city for a special treat. When I asked the boys if they wanted to go the big museum here they groaned - they have been so many times - either with local donors or volunteers - so IMAX it is.
I have been venturing out quite a bit and on my own. I like the time out to get lost in streets and crowds. I keep my sunglasses on so that I don’t have to make eye contact with everyone staring at me….they are not used to seeing white girls in the two suburban towns that I go to…I am sure in the heart of Hyderabad it is more common. I personally have not seen another Caucasian person, in fact the only foreigner that I have seen is an Arab man who was at the Foreign Registration Office the same time I was. He is here to study computer engineering - him and about a million Indians!! This country is
Ganesh Festival
The statue of Ganesh that stayed at our home for 10 days during the annual festival. poised to become an even greater world resource when it comes to software and IT, so much brain power here in math, sciences and computer studies.
Signing out....
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Suzanne
non-member comment
Always knew you were an amazing person. It must be so fulfilling to be over there. Stay happy and healthy.