Days 40-53

Day 40:

Rough classes today. Not a lot of focus. Had a meeting about scheduling for the dance master next year. After dinner, helped tutor at night school. Went to story time and read some Tamil classics and folk tales that teach morals. It is really interesting to see what life lessons are valued in other cultures. It helps me understand the students better. Had a fun talk with Kaylee and Marissa, the short-term volunteer who has extended her stay for two weeks.

Day 41:

Slept in till 7:30 and it was great! Classes went well today! Did some choreographing for a surprise birthday dance for the school director for next month. Read some information about my LifeDance kids when they first got to Rising Star. Fun to see old pictures of them and read some of their life stories! These are amazing kids. Went to UKG playtime–such cuties! So interesting to watch their habits and instincts and how they are similar and different than ours. Behavior was still not great at LifeDance. Took pictures of their piques today to show them what they look like and it actually helped them improve a lot. A success moment that made me happy to find something that worked. Dinner, and Kaylee and I made a silly video for my friend's birthday. Storytime.

Day 42:

Went to colony with Anna, Marissa, and Jamesen. Went to two very small colonies today. First was Gandhi colony. My first time to this colony. Met one of the UKG kids' grandma. Only 3 patients. Kept thinking about how crazy it is that the stigma of leprosy during Jesus' time is still around. No wonder the people thought it was so amazing that Christ would actually come up to them, touch them, and heal them. He truly loves everyone, no exceptions. Next, we went to A.S. Nagar. There was an adorable tiny kitten walking around that I couldn't help but pick up. Did washing at both colonies. Got ice cream at the junction on the way home. Lunch, UKG playtime. Long-term volunteers meeting until LifeDance. LifeDance went better today. It is all about finding a balance of being more enthusiastic and lax while also having control of the class. Volunteers and I watched some episodes of the old TV show “Recess.” Helped Anna make a Valentine's Day video that night.

Day 43:

Happy Valentine's Day! :) They don't celebrate it here but since the kids are around the volunteers so much, they know what it is. Went to Walajabad colony today. Only 3 patients so very short. Played with a little boy there and tried to keep him out of trouble :) He was a bit of a rascal but very cute. I did bandage removal and water changing. Had lunch and then helped with the education rotation. Helped 1^st standard in computers with a math program. Then helped with P.E. with 2^nd standard and learned some Indian games. Played with 5^th standard P.E. next. They were playing a form of volleyball so it was really fun. Anna and I made a 'Happy Valentine's Day' sign for the short-term volunteer that is coming today to put on their door and we had a good discussion. UKG playtime, had LifeDance and just let them make up dances in groups for fun. They had some good choreography :) The short-term family, the Johns, got here today and they were great! The parents are so nice and fun. They have 4 girls: Kristin is 17, Brianna is 16, Elizabeth is 10, and Lydia is 7. They are all very sweet girls! Got to know them at dinner on the Green House roof. Got to FaceTime with mom for a long time and it was great! Hung out with Kaylee that night. We were each other's valentine for the day :) Felt useful all day, it was good!

Day 44:

Left for Pondicherry/Puducherry with everyone, including the Johns family at 8 am. We walked through Auroville again and then went to Pondicherry. The vendors overwhelmed the Johns a bit but we did some shopping, walked through the markets, and had a good time! I helped block some of them off :) Long ride home. Tried to do some lesson planning. Dinner, went to movie night. It was split with younger and older kids so spent some time in both places. The little ones just love snuggling and it just makes everything better :) Talked with Tom and Urvasi that night. They are great!

Day 45:

Left for church at 7 am. The Johns girls and Kaylee and I played church games on Kaylee's iPad on the way up. About halfway there, there was a really loud noise and the back tire popped. Good thing we weren't on a freeway in the US or it could have been disastrous. But being on a highway in India, it wasn't too bad because everyone just goes around :) Our driver, Rogendren, is super awesome and he put on the spare and we were only 15 minutes late for church! Good sacrament meeting, primary was a bit more crazy today. We went to Spencer's mall afterwards. The youngest of the Johns, Lydia, held my hand the whole time. She is adorable and reminds me of myself when I was little. Makes me excited and nervous to be a mom. Helped barter for stuff for the Johns. Stopped at Reliance grocery store and picked up some things. Had dinner and then swung on the swing by the Green House with Lydia and chatted. The students here are very overwhelming when you first get here because they have no personal space bubbles and love physical touch so poor Lydia has been a bit overwhelmed because the kids are so excited to see young volunteers, but she is doing better. Shower, talked with Marissa.

Day 46:

Went running in the rain with Kaylee. First time it has rained since I have been here and it was so fun! Super humid and rainy all day. Gave out the dance award for the most focused class at morning assembly. I love watching them recite their school songs and India anthems and stuff. Internet down today so didn't get to talk to the family. The Johns came and helped with UKG dance class today and it was great! Ate lunch with the kids. During teaching 5^th standard, I had a coughing fit. Been starting to get a cough. Came back and took a nap before LifeDance. Dinner, helped with night school, story time.

Day 47:

Good classes today! Went to story time and the girls braided my hair like how all of the school girls here do. It was pretty funny! Good times :) Goofed off with volunteers and then got to Google+ with Kami for a long time and it was great!

Day 48:

Skyped with Shaun Parry about how classes are going. Got to Skype with the parents for an hour and it was really nice. The Johns family came to 4^th standard dance class and it was good. Got to help serve rice to the girls at lunch because a lot of the house mothers were gone at medical–it was fun :) Helped with P.E. class but it was raining so we went in and played chess and a cool Indian board game similar to pool/billiards. It is so funny that when it started raining, all of the American volunteers ran outside to play in it and all of the Indians ran inside to get covered. They all worry about getting sick and stuff. I tried to do some choreographing during my break but got easily distracted :) I use PhotoBooth sometimes to record my choreography so I remember it. I was watching it when the cleaning ladies of the Elephant House saw it and came in. I showed them how you can take pictures with it and they were so surprised,intrigued, and thought it was amazing! We had fun taking pictures :) LifeDance was rough. Met with Dr. Vigi after about the secret dance for Dr. Susan. Dinner and then we found “Frozen” on YouTube and watched it with the Johns girls. Helped Urvasi get the ants out of her bed that had decided to take over. Pretty good day.

Day 49:

The sun was huge, bright red, and beautiful while I ran this morning and it helped me keep going. Went to medical today with the Johns family to Bhatalapuram. This was my 2^nd time at this colony and I love it! It is a bigger colony and they just have the sweetest people! Did some washing and oiling and got to have good conversation with the parents of the Johns family, Charity and Brian. Marissa asked to have her blood sugar taken just to see, so Jamesen took it and she passed out. She hasn't been feeling well and was dehydrated. A bit startling but she is doing fine now. Did lots of dancing at the end. It was mostly the ladies just watching Kaylee and I. I also brought my drum and many of them loved using it. I just love the people here! They have so much love. Before we left, we went on a mini micro-grant tour that Anna took us on. We stopped at the Community Hall and saw the 'Pearls for a Purpose' organization that teaches women how to bead and then sell the jewelry to help support their families. We also stopped at the Bindi Art School where a couple from Europe live and teach the patients how to paint. Even if they don't have many fingers, they find a way–even if it means using their toes. They have been doing it for a few years now and the patients have become quite incredible! Both the organizations are really cool and doing a lot of good. Amazing how they are helping people pull themselves out of poverty. Lunch, UKG playtime, took silly pictures with Elizabeth and Lydia Johns. LifeDance went a bit better, had dinner, exchanged emails and such with the Johns as it was their last night. Sad to see them go! They are such a great family and are going to do such great things! So glad I got to meet them! Kaylee and I had a sleepover tonight because my roommate Urvasi, left for the weekend for a meeting with the organization she is here with: World Teach. Kaylee and I had some great, deep conversations and then went to bed late.

Day 50:

Anna, Jamesen, Kaylee, and I got up at 2:30 to say goodbye to the Johns. But when we got up, they hadn't woken up yet! So we had to wake them up and we helped get them on their way. Went back to bed and got up at 7:30 and Anna and I made a nice breakfast for Jamesen for his birthday. We all ate together. Went to medical alone today as the only volunteer. Just me and the medical team. The other volunteers have to work on manuals for the next set of volunteers that are coming after they leave. I went to Mogalvadi colony, one of my favorites. I got to take blood pressure today so that was cool. I danced at least 5 songs after with our dear Jayraj. Lunch, answered emails, UKG playtime. Today for LifeDance, it was the Friday once a month where they teach a class. Two LifeDance girls, Tamilselvi and Savita, taught a girls class in the dining hall and two LifeDance boys, Mohanraj and M. Vignesh, taught the boys class on some cement outside the medical station. They both taught during playtime and I walked back and forth between the two to monitor. The girls had tons of attendees! The boys had a harder time convincing other boys to give up their playtime. It was a bit chaotic but both boys and girls did a good job and it is so good for them to have to teach! That night, gave Jamesen his birthday present. Took Urvasi's night school class since she is gone. Since it was Friday, after they finished their homework, we let them watch a movie. Kaylee and I made a bunch of microwaveable cakes that the women from the 'Women to Women' conference left for Jamesen's birthday dessert. It was quite hilarious but tasted good! The volunteers and I played card games for a while and then went to bed.

Day 51:

No Saturday day trip today because all of the other long-term volunteers have to write manuals for the volunteers coming after them. But Anna, Jamesen, Marissa, and I all rode to the junction on bikes. It was a fun ride except for the fact that I got stung by a hornet twice on the way and got pretty sunburned because I completely spaced putting on sunscreen. We walked around the little shops for a while. On our ride back, we did a little off roading and went on the trails on the side of the road into the fields with the cows and had some adventures roaming around :) Worked on choreography and lesson plans. Kaylee and I jumped rope with the cleaning ladies of the Elephant House for a while :) Feeling a bit low that night but then went to the movie night with the kids. They are like medicine when they snuggle up with you, it's impossible to be sad. Love 'em!

Day 52:

Church was good. I was asked to lead music but there was no pianist so that was interesting... I just sang loud and tried to follow their pace :) After, we stayed for the baptism of one of Kaylee and I's primary students–it was great! On the way into the baptism, I saw two men signing. I watched for a while, expecting it to be Tamil Sign Language, but was surprised when I was understanding it! They were signing American Sign Language! I went up to them and introduced myself and started signing with them. They are both deaf. One of the sister missionaries in that branch is teaching them ASL. So great to sign again! Gosh I miss it! Made me so happy! I have been trying to learn the letters of Tamil Sign Language, but it's hard! Stopped at grocery store on the way back. Played soccer with the older girls. It was really fun! Really enjoyed just being with them–it was a good time where I was completely in the moment. I love those times. Did some Zumba and 'Just Dance' with Kaylee and Anna, Jamesen joined us. So fun! Dinner and we all played card games and Skyped with Shynee (the girl who taught with me for the first month) and got to chat with her.

Day 53:

Teaching music, rhythm, and time this week. Went well! Gave out the dance award for this week at morning assembly. Internet down again so didn't get to talk to family. Did some choreography and chatted with volunteers. More classes. They all went well today! Had lunch and it was raining really hard so danced in the rain with Kaylee and Anna till we were all basically soaked and it was great :) Went to UKG playtime. Tried to teach the kids how to say, “Brown chicken, brown cow!” and it was hilarious hearing them try to say it :) LifeDance went better today. Taught them a combo across the floor. Dinner and helped tutor at night school. These kids need so much help. They are so used to just being fed answers and copying that they have a hard time thinking on their own. Tried my best to explain the concepts to them. Went to story time at the girls' hostel and they just asked me questions about dance. Talked with Kaylee till bed.

Days 26-39

Day 26:

Classes went well. LifeDance even came 20 minutes early so Shynee and I stretched with them before class because they all want to be more flexible. They were a bit crazy so did a relaxation thing with them at the end and it worked! They were all very quiet. Dinner, small presentation of pictures from the photographer who is here right now, story time.

Day 27:

Got up and almost fell over because my calves and ankles so sore! Shaun had warned me about this. I am jumping up and down so much on a cement floor that I am not used to dancing on. I spent any downtime rubbing out my legs on a tennis ball. Had a reluctant 9^th standard class. Then was able to relax and read a book about Indian culture which was really nice. Don't get to do that very often! The ladies came and helped with 4^th standard. Went with the ladies to present a shawl to Dr. Susan and all the faculty and staff for their hard work while the “Women to Women” session was here. The faculty and staff also passed around treats and flowers to all of the women as well. It was really nice. Did lots of stretching in LifeDance. Had dinner. Each of the women stood and told what they had learned from their session. Went to story time. Hung out with long-term volunteers as well as the younger volunteers that are here.

Day 28:

Got up at 3:30 am and said goodbye to some of the ladies as they all left. Sad to say goodbye to the few that I got to know well. Got to go to medical today. Went to the A.S. Nagar colony. On the way up we stopped at a nursery. It was wonderful! At first the kids were very reluctant and just stared at us. We weren't sure what we were going to do with them for a half an hour. Then they started to warm up to us after about 15 minutes and then they were climbing all over us! We danced, they played my drum I brought, took pictures, played with a ball, and slid down their slide. It was a blast! Such darling kids that need so much love! It was a little bit of heaven to forget about everything else except for these children for a little bit. Sad to leave. Went to colony. I asked to do washings. I really enjoyed this station. Got to work directly with the ulcers and the patients were so sweet! It's amazing how much these people have been through and yet so many can keep smiles on their faces. When I got home, Shynee and I met with Dr. Vigi about choreographing a small dance for a secret birthday celebration for Dr. Susan so I am excited about getting to do this! Got to take a nap for the first time since I have been here and it was pretty great :) Supposed to have a LifeDance presidency meeting but there was miscommunication so just had LifeDance rehearsal like normal. Went back to basics with teaching technique. It was hard for me to go back 10-11 years and remember how I was taught the basics of technique. After dinner, watched “Gravity” with the long-term volunteers. What a great movie! It feels very empty in the Elephant House now with all of the women gone. Story time, FaceTime with the parents and a friend. Had a sleepover with Kaylee tonight :)

Day 29:

Went with the medical team again today. I asked to do the oiling station today since I haven't done that one yet. It was the same colony as I went to two weeks ago since they are on a two week rotation. I think oiling is my favorite. You really get to know the patients with this station. Shynee and I did inventory of the Promethean Spark costumes when we got back. Shynee had decided she wanted to teach a dance class to the faculty and staff so we did that class today. Went pretty well. We warmed up, taught an easy dance, and I did some relaxation stuff with them after. Some were pretty tentative, some gave up, but some did a good job! It was fun! Not sure if they liked it enough to do it again, but I guess we will see :) LifeDance went pretty well after. It was Shynee's last day so they paid attention more. I had all of the LifeDance kids sign a card for her so we presented that to her. We had a dance jam after for Shynee's last day. Afterwards, Kaylee, Jamesen, and I tried to teach Shynee how to ride a bike. She did pretty well for her first try! Dinner, watched a movie with volunteers, story time.

Day 30:

Went to see a golden Hindu temple today. Took us about 3 hours to get there. Lesson planning, sleeping, talking on the way. When we got to the temple, we had to follow what the natives around us did because none of us knew how this place worked. It was an adventure and I couldn't help but smile at how much we looked like tourists other than our skin color :) Left our shoes and bags in the van and walked down a long path to the temple. It is completely made of gold and it was beautiful! We threw coins in the fountain, stayed for a small procession, and looked around. It was cool! We weren't allowed to take pictures. After, we went to ruins of another old temple. Went through one of them and they give you water that you drink and throw over your head, they touch a silver cap to your head, and then they put a dot of white chalk on your forehead. It was a really cool cultural experience! Walked around some vendors, got a bracelet for free. Went and got our shoes back (though I loved not wearing shoes all afternoon!) Went and saw ruins of an old fort. Jamesen and Anna had their fortunes told by a man who has a bird who chooses taro cards. Lots of stares–we were the next attraction to see after the temple :) That night watched the live-action “The Jungle Book” with volunteers (Jamesen, Kaylee, Anna, Urvasi, and Tom) while writing a blog post for work.

Day 31:

Left for church at 7 am. Went over my primary lesson on the way. Church was good and got to stay for a baptism of a man in the branch, which was really cool! Shynee asked us all kinds of church questions on the way home and enjoyed answering and explaining them. At 4, had a LifeDance presidency meeting that went pretty well. Right after, Shynee and I taught a dance class to the house mothers. They are the women who are with the children all day, everyday and are pretty darn incredible! Almost all of them are my age. The few hours they are not in charge of the students (when the students are at school) they go with the medical team to the colonies. So we wanted them to have a break. We did the same class and afterwards, they just kept wanting to dance so we did! Many of them are great dancers! Watched “Aladdin” with Jamesen and Anna while I finished up lesson plans.

Day 32:

Got up at 3:30 am and said goodbye to Shynee. I will miss her! I did a shape lesson this week. It really is much easier to have another person to help in a dance class. But classes went okay. Went to part of UKG playtime. Played volleyball with 10^th standard for a little bit. Had LifeDance. Talkative but okay. Ran around the track for a bit. A new volunteer came today. Her name is Marissa. She is the only short-term volunteer here. She is 17 and very nice! Got to FaceTime with a friend and went to part of story time. A kitten ran into the Mango Room (common room of the Elephant House) so the volunteers and I tried to coax it out for a while but didn't work so had to scare it out.

Day 33:

A great conversation with Celsea after a run. Taught 6^th standard and had a meeting with Dr. Susan after with exciting possibilities for some of the LifeDance students in the future :) Had a lot of dance classes today. Some better than others. Story time that night. Went to the girls' hostel and started reading a book to them.

Day 34:

Did some organizing and cleaning in the morning. Classes went well today. Ate lunch with the kids and went to UKG playtime with Jamesen and Kaylee. So fun to play with the little ones! It is just so hot outside!! Skyped with Shaun Parry for a little bit to discuss concerns. LifeDance was a bit crazy. Wish they would respect me more. I try all kinds of methods and nothing works great. Sat on the roof of the Elephant House after and just pondered on ideas on how to help them while I watched the sunset. Did a yoga session with Anna, Marissa, and Jamesen. After dinner I worked on finding more English music for my classes. I was told I am not allowed to use Tamil music anymore since I don't know what it is saying. I'm not too happy about that but that's the way it goes.

Day 35:

Went to a big colony with the medical team today. There is over 300 people and over 100 with leprosy. Had about 25 people come through our line. The people here are so sweet! Some of the sweetest I have ever met! Especially the older ladies are just the cutest! They are like the ideal grandma. They pinch your cheeks and just love that you are willing to help them. Indians use a lot of physical contact in friendships, so to be banished like that and have people scared to touch you is so hard on them. They are just so grateful for us to be there and not be scared to hold their hands and pat them on the back. Though most have no fingers, no toes, or are blind, I still got a few of the sweet ladies to dance. There were lots of smiles and laughs. It was wonderful :) You smile and say hello to them and they just light up. Had a long-term volunteer meeting and then a frustrating LifeDance class. Skyped with friends and story time at the boys' hostel. Read some “Hardy Boys” to them. Good day today.

Day 36:

Went to Mogalvadi colony again today. That was the colony I went to the very first time I went to medical. It is the colony with our dear Jayraj who is such a character! He has so much life and light in him and loves to dance! Small colony so only helped about 3 patients and then had lots of dancing! They made me improv for them :) Got some of the nurses to dance as well. Nice discussion with the main nurse on the way back. Had a long Skype session with Shaun Parry that was really good. Made me feel better with what I am doing here in India. Another frustrating LifeDance class. Helped out at night school tonight. Mostly tutoring kind of stuff. I like doing it! Story time that night.

Day 37:

Today was Parents Day! They bus in the parents and families of the students from the leprosy colonies and villages. I went to the school with my camera and just took pictures of the kids with their families. It was so cute and so great to see them so excited and happy to be with their families! Left for a day trip to Mamallapuram. Did lots of shopping and lunch. Found some good stuff! Dinner and played games with volunteers. Lots of fun, India moments today. I love experiencing other cultures! Google + with friends before bed.

Day 38:

Church at 9 am. Taught the primary lesson alone today because Kaylee was asked to help clean the font. Went fine. Stopped at grocery store on the way home. Told bad date stories on the way home :) Lunch, emailed missionary friends, planned lessons for this next week, went to playtime and played soccer with some of the older girls for a little bit. Watched “The Croods” that night while eating dinner and doing last minute lesson planning. Got ready for bed and then watched the first hour of “Slumdog Millionaire” with Kaylee. I have never seen it before and it's really interesting to watch while I am in India! Such an incredible movie!

Day 39:

Classes very up and down today. Went back and forth from a good class to bad class. Google + with the whole family was really great! Went to UKG playtime. Those kids crack me up! LifeDance went better today. Dinner, watched some episodes of the old TV show “Recess.” Really brought me back to childhood! Watched “Thor 2” with volunteers while writing this blog :) Good day.