I love teaching!

So in all my effort to put up photos, it has failed once more. This trip has been wonderful so far and makes me want to be a teacher even more. Well, yesterday was our first day teaching in Madurai and it went very well. The students spoke barely any english, only tamil, so we had to have a translator. They were very quick learners and seemed so excited to meet Americans. They asked our names and everyone watched us very closely. Later that afternoon we were invited to a meet and greet which turned into a ceramony for us. We were honored and given elaborate necklaces and towels. We were even invited dinner at the home of V.J. Kumar (the one who has been showing us around). It was a little weird at first but after we left Ben explained that in India the tradition is to watch the guests eat first then the family sits and eats after we leave. Also as soon as you are done eating you leave. No sitting around and talking, all business is taken care of before dinner. It was very exciting to see the inside of an Indian home. In America the kitchen is part of the house and decorated and shown off, where as here it is a seperate room no one goes in. Many aspects of their culture are very interesting.

As for today...
We taught in a rural school which was i was eager to see. The ride there was very bumpy, and the teacher said there were no phones out there. It was nice to breathe some fresh air. Every school we have taught at brings us snacks and chi. Today we were even given cake with our bananas for snack. In the afternoon, we taught a large group of 80. While they were more rambunctious, they were tons of fun. We are teaching mostly in government schools. They are very different from the school we taught at the first day with Bree's group. While Madurai is not the most beautiful city, I defiantly feel i am in the true Indian culture. This trip is very exciting and i can not wait for the last few days.

~Kristyn
P.S. Pictures will come as soon as i find a computer that will let me put some up.