Six men in a hole

Not six men in a metaphorical hole, but six men in a real hole: the Delhi Electricity Board (or was it the Delhi Telephone Company?) fixing a problem. We saw this as we were waiting to go to the Asha HQ from Asha's new offices in Bikaji Cama Place, after having a wonderful birthday lunch with Ayesha Seymour. Fantastic tandoori momos, and a lot more food, as well as a birthday cake! It was a wonder that we could go and then teach all afternoon. It would have been very easy to sit in the new office's comfy chairs and drop off for a few zzzzs, but no - we taught as planned. Thanks again, Ayesha.

However, we were a bit later arriving at Asha HQ for our teaching (I had to dash off to get to the bus - children were all excitedly waiting - its a lovely welcome.)  Ken went to the Ekta Vihar dispensary, where he teaches all week, to find that there was a clinic going on (and the other room was being used for computer lessons): the clinic was to give injections to young babies, who weren't very happy about needles (who is?). So, the class was moved to the corner of the dispensary next to the door to the physio room. Then we had a power cut! But Ken's students took it all in their stride. A memorable day for many reasons!

Heather is very creative, and when she gets an idea into her head she spends lots of time and energy working on the idea - often late into the evening (well, morning, sometimes) - making all sorts of things for the children the next day. The children are very lucky to have her as their teacher! (thanks Ken - I am in my element and just love being able to dream up some fun things for the kids.  They so deserve all we can give them and more!!!  Here's a photo of the shakers we made from recycled water bottles and lots of feathers and bling!) 

Our 'english' learning this week was prepositions so having played a fun game using  these words, they had to make a paper sculpture picture which used, over, under, around, on top etc.  Here are some of the results.  They loved it. 

Last Saturday was a short teaching day for us as most of Ken's college students have exams at the moment, so they couldn't get along to lessons. This Saturday is the same, but that's working out quite well as we're off to Jaipur on Sunday morning to Monday evening, so we need Saturday afternoon to do the preparation we would normally do on Monday (and get an early night too, as we're off Sunday morning at 6 am). We'll tell you about Jaipur next week.



      

Chharth puja

This week India celebrated Chhath puja, a festival dedicated to the Sun god, Surya and Chathi Maiya. It's really for people from Bihar State, but as Biharis seem to have spread all over India, and certainly are in Delhi in abundance, it probably takes place all over India. One of my students told me that he and his family got up at 3 am on Wednesday this week and bathed, before walking to the temple, bearing very large and heavy bowls of fruit and vegetables as offerings. Then they headed to water for sunrise, to worship the Sun. As many celebrants as possible went to the River Yamuna, but I guess that the River is too far for my student's family. In fact there had been celebrations on Tuesday, but by 8 am on Wednesday the festival was over. We actually heard music and singing at about 5 am on Wednesday morning as well as, yes, you're right, fireworks. On Thursday, Heather was given a special Chhath biscuit by one of the children in her 'bus' class (it was yummy when dunked 'English style' in a hot cup of chai - I was also given a banana and stick of sugar cane!!  My lucky day!!)

Looking back though, last Sunday morning we jumped on the Metro and an auto-rickshaw and went to church at Delhi Bible Fellowship. Afterwards we were invited to a birthday celebration with Shamilla (Jyoti Bannerjee's sister) and Randall, her husband, together with Prasoon and his American wife, Julianne (it was her birthday), as well as their two lovely, young children. We had a really enjoyable afternoon together, eating lots of tandoori chicken and other delicious food plus birthday cake (with forever lighting candles, which amazed the children) and sweets, and more sweets. Thanks Shamilla and Randall.

Heather will tell the story of going to a shop with Shamilla to buy (more) shawls before the birthday party. Wow! what a shop!!  3 floors of the most beautiful shawls I have ever seen. Each floor specializes in  a different weight and texture of material.  They definitely know how to DO shawls!!  We only had a few minutes to buy the shawl Shamilla wanted but it was long enough for me to know that this is a place I need to return to when I have a few hours to spare and Ken has a long book with him!! (Thankfully, I spotted a chair where probably other husbands choose to sit and read and wait as their wives 'shop'!) Now I just have to work out how to get there again!

The rest of the week has been pretty routine, although we did have a trip to Asha's new and very smart office for the operational staff in Bhikaji Cama Place. It was lovely to see them all settled and catch up with them again. The offices are not far from Asha's HQ, but it's a little lonely (and much quieter) at HQ now they've gone!

It's now Friday at 21.29 and there's been a sudden outburst of fireworks. Not sure why. Maybe the last of the stock from the last few weeks? ( I really doubt its the last, next Thursday is Constitution Day so definitely an opportunity for more fireworks.)

I have booked an appointment for a hair cut this weekend - a bit of an adventure going somewhere completely new but going to give it a try - I might be avoiding photos for a while depending on the outcome!  There again, perhaps a new shawl will make everything alright?!  Hmm. I will need a cut soon and I know where I will be going. Sadab, are you ready?

Our flat seems to be a very attractive place to have babies - well, for pigeons - Heather has found more eggs and some more baby pigeons on two of our balconies. Where will it all end?

And it is definitely getting cooler. I say cooler, because to us it's noticeably cooler, but at 28 degrees during the day it's not cold, but our students feel it's cold.  Lots of my young ones are wearing fleeces and woolly jumpers but the little ones we pass in the slum have barely nothing on - I am wondering how they survive the winter and cold evenings? 
Today as we finished our teaching, outside our building two women were sitting with their great grand child - a beautiful site of caring, adoring love.  They were so pleased I took a photo of them and loved seeing it too.  

Walking back after our lessons this afternoon.

   

Diwali Party time

On Saturday we had a party with the bal mandel groups and some of our other,older, students in the Asha centre in Ekta Vihar to celebrate Diwali, which actually took place on the Wednesday 11th November. Heather's students had made lanterns and Happy Diwali cards, which had been put up in the main room of the centre as decorations. Everyone was impressed! The children love to dance and so everyone was entertained with music, singing and dance.   Both of us joined in the dancing with the older students - much to the amusement of the children who laughed and clapped.  Heather and her students sang songs, some of which weren't in English or Hindi (or any known language - great for anyone to join in with). Gifts were given and the children took home boxes of hot samosas and sweets for their lunch. It was really happy time.     

Ken has been missing green grass, green trees and tranquility, so on Sunday we headed off to Lodi Gardens, which was great. And it was quiet, despite the numbers of Indian families there.The day was lovely and we felt very refreshed afterwards.

After our walk in the gardens we went looking for somewhere for a coffee and ended up finding the India Habitat Centre. We realised we'd been there before, last October for an Asha celebration and on a separate occasion for a meal in the All American Diner. Ah, we thought, coffee, and a meal, while we're out. The coffee was good, but Ken's Classic Double Cheese Burger was a disappointment: it took 30 minutes to come, cold, and then another 10 minutes or so for a hot one to arrive.  And it wasn't that great. Only meal Ken's been disappointed with.

On Chotti Diwali (Diwali eve) we went shopping in Vasant Square Mall and enjoyed a meal in a restaurant which was also frantically selling hundreds of boxes of sweets for Diwali. Our meal was delicious, Choley Bhatura and Mutter Kulcha, inexpensive and good. The moral of this story is when in Delhi eat Indian (well, KFC is ok too).After eating we popped across the road to the outdoor market. We were met with the most amazing displays of lights and decorations. Beautiful. Diwali is celebrated in a similar way to Christmas, with houses lit with lights, friends and family visiting each other and sharing gifts, new clothes worn and lots of music.  It also comes with the most enormous fireworks being let off continually through the night.  We were warned, but didn't imagine quite how loud they would be (and all night meant all night).  

For Heather, the week carried on with another party with the 'bus' kids.  Before we went to the venue (a nearby field) Soni took me and a few children into the slum where the children live, to give gifts to an elderly couple, decorate their home with marigold garlands and light a candle in diyas the children had painted for them.  We also visited a home of a young mother who had a few days before accidentally poured boiling water onto her leg and hand.  She had two young children so we gave them sweets and good wishes for their diwali celebrations.

It was a very special visit for me, as I was able to enter in a tiny way, into the world that the children I am teaching on the bus each week, live. Those memories will remain with me and they make me even more glad to be here doing what we are doing!

For the party, we took 40 or so children to a nearby field (occupied by goats, but they didn't seem to mind, and nor did we) and again we enjoyed lots of dancing, singing and retelling of the Rama and Sita story.  It was great fun and all the children so well behaved!  The children had all brought fireworks with them - stuffed in their pockets, matches too - and then at a certain moment, they all let them off!!  (Health and safety would have had a heart attack and I was a little concerned.) They all seemed to know what to do and even kindly offered me firecrackers, and what looked like home made sparklers etc.  We all enjoyed a picnic together and then back on the bus and back home again for the children - happy and tired (well I was anyway).

India is full of special days to celebrate something - lots of reasons to party!!

We joined in with decorating our balcony for Diwali with lights and a Mandala pattern.

It ain't as 'ot as it used to be mum!

On waking on Tuesday morning we found that the morning was cold and overcast, and then in mid-morning it rained!

We took it easy over the weekend as we were very tired and Ken was feeling a bit under the weather (a cold or similar, nothing terrible and life threatening - and not tummy trouble). A lot of the students have been getting "fever", although we think from what they say it is a cold type thing (for some 'though, it's definitely more). They blame it on the change in the weather - and it has certainly changed! Ken wore his coat on Tuesday to go to the shops for milk. Quite refreshing really.

We have been talking about Diwali, which is coming next week - it seems it's a festival that goes on for a while, starting with Dusserha about 10 days ago. We're having a little party in Ekta Vihar with the bal mandel (the children's group) and some of our students this Saturday morning, before Ken teaches in the afternoon. We're also looking around for what to do on Diwali itself (next Wednesday, 11th November - another public holiday). Whatever happens it going to be noisy - we've read you should wear earplugs on Diwali! We shall see (and hear). Ken told his students about Guy Fawkes Night yesterday. Hope everyone has a good Guy Fawkes Night back home (probably this Saturday, rather than last night - there's a fireworks display in Morden Park tomorrow!).

Oh a further tip if you're thinking of coming to India - do not bring Travellers Cheques!

We brought them for a specific purpose, which is fine. However, on one occasion something didn't go according to plan so we had to find somewhere to cash some of them. It seems that most Indian banks do not cash TCs, except for their account holders. You really have to find a Thomas Cook, which is fine in central Delhi, but elsewhere... well, I guess that would be much more difficult (much more). So don't bring them. They're old hat now anyway. Many banks in the UK don't do them anymore.   


Hi. Ken has filled you in (above) on some of our week.  It's such a joy to feel a bit cooler!!

We have told you in previous blogs about where we have been and somethings about our teaching - it's not easy to put into words the rawness of life that is all around - it makes no sense but imprints itself on our hearts!
I thought I would share with you some thoughts.

They are expressed in my more 'poetic style' - not sure how else to express them!

Three moments yesterday when travelling to and from Ekta Vihar /working in the slum and on the mobile bus.

1.

I saw you:

A boy being forced to wash - roughly treated - behind a wash area, out of view from most, with his father, but I saw you and will always remember you.  A passing moment caught in my gaze and given to me:

No one can see the life I live - the future that seems to have no sense
but I was caught in your gaze  on your way home and you saw me -
But when I close my eyes, I sleep and then I am free in a land that only I can see - my world becomes a place I want to be and I can be all things - I can be free - I can reach the heights that you and I believe.

Alone - where am I going? - born into a land, a world where hope and light is taken from my view
Born into a land, my eyes are clouded - I am roughly held

But only when I sleep....  and soon I must awake again to face another day

(No one sees the life I live - the future that seems to have no sense
but when I was caught in your gaze, you saw me, a moment you won't ever forget).

A new day dawns and dreams must cease - I step away into the day - a bright new sky now dawns -
What will there be?
Who can I trust?
I have no say - one day I must... find a voice to take me from this - find a hope that brings my dreams to life.
Does everyone dream?
Have I a right to dream?
Dare I dream?
You saw me.


2.
I saw a mother -
very squalid conditions,
on the side of the noisy, dusty street,
sitting - alone - until
she drew her tiny child to her and kissed him tenderly

3.
I saw a father,
next to the stalls at the Mohan Singh Market
we pass every day - beside the slum.
He turned to his son,
Embraced him
Picked him up,
A kiss, a word shared.


There is injustice, poverty, roughness, and many dreams -
There is also love, tenderness, care and belonging.


Why am I so moved by the acts of kindness, love and caring I see in these situations?  They are so much the basics of humanity and even when all else is taken away and so difficult, love remains and can be expressed so gently.

It reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13 v 13. 'And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love'.

Sometimes it's hard to know what to do with all that we see.......

Let's not forget to show love to everyone we meet.

With love,
Ken and Heather x