On Monday, January 19th, we wrapped up another program in India. By any way you can measure it, our trip to South India was successful. In the end, we taught our water safety education program to 45 different classes with a combined instruction time of 46 hours and 15 minutes. We taught 2,062 children how to be safe around water, basic rescue skills, and CPR. The schools and orphanages we taught at were very enthusiastic about our program and are looking forward to future visits from Swim India.
Our volunteers also returned with valuable lessons learned. The comment I heard the most towards the end of the trip was that everyone was so amazed at how friendly and hospitable the Indian people are. We were invited into countless homes, given gifts by people less fortunate than us, and treated to several home made Indian dinners. The volunteers learned what bad driving really looks like and how to perform a perfect head bob!
We were also fortunate enough to do two interviews for local newspapers in Kerala. One was for the New Indian Express English daily in Ernakulam/Kochi. You can read the article here. The other was for a Malayalam language daily newspaper called the Malayala Manorama based in Kozhikode.
With the trip behind us, we're already looking ahead to a successful 2010. We're currently working hard on our banquet on March 6th. Also, we are planning two trips abroad- one in August and another next January. We are looking into funding the construction of several swimming pools in some of our program areas in South India so that we'll be able to teach children and train instructors in swimming during future visits.
I want to thank everyone for their support and hard work. Without it, we would not be where we are today.
Namaste, Ben
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Take a look!
Here are the pictures we promised from our earlier blog! They're lots of fun!
~Nicole, Matt, Shawn, Jenna, and Erin
Yoga on the Beach!
~Nicole, Matt, Shawn, Jenna, and Erin
Yoga on the Beach!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Moments
Yesterday after my flight back to Chennai, I met up with Kristyn and Bree’s group. Kristyn, Rick, and I went to the Balagurukulam Orphanage. There the children ranged from 3 months old to 16 years old and we taught the children that were 3 years old to 14 years old. Most of the children there didn’t speak English so we used a translator, but the older ones knew quite a bit and were asking us tons of questions before and after we taught. After the class many of the students started to pick up the few toys they had (like a jump rope) and used them to practice some of the rescues we taught them, it was so cute and they did it perfect every time. Most of the children there are abandoned and many of the older kids have to help feed and care for the younger ones, they’re like one gigantic family. They loved us and when it was time for us to leave the children gave us hugs and kisses; they didn’t want us to go. They were all so sweet!
I miss my group! And it has only been a day. I hope all is well with them and look forward to seeing them in the States and hearing their stories. I leave to start my long flight back to the States at 4 am tomorrow morning and go back to the U of A on Wednesday, so until then we will venture around Chennai. Thanks to everyone who helped me get here; this has been such a rewarding experience! I really had a great time and don’t want to go. I am truly going to miss India and I can’t wait to come back!
~Nicole
I miss my group! And it has only been a day. I hope all is well with them and look forward to seeing them in the States and hearing their stories. I leave to start my long flight back to the States at 4 am tomorrow morning and go back to the U of A on Wednesday, so until then we will venture around Chennai. Thanks to everyone who helped me get here; this has been such a rewarding experience! I really had a great time and don’t want to go. I am truly going to miss India and I can’t wait to come back!
~Nicole
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Goodbye is Hard to Say
Today was a lot of fun. We visited two orphanages, a little over 85 children and none of them knew how to speak English so we used a translator. One was close to the center of the city and the other was in a more rural part. The children loved what we taught and were so excited to talk with us after the class and we even played a little ‘football’ (soccer) and they posed for several pictures. They all asked us to come back next year and seemed very receptive to the information we taught them.
We were then taken to a home near by and shown 6 foot bats. They were a sight to see! Then the Ben, Shawn, and Matt were given Mundu (skirt like bottoms) and then they were able to try homemade pawn. The pictures will be soon to follow once we find a computer that can support it. Then we were taken to a traditional house that has been around since 1885 and been in the same family! The tour was great! Then we were taken up into the near by forest and got to see monkeys. We were even able to feed them right out of our hands. Overall it was a very eventful day and we all had so much fun. Tomorrow Nicole leaves for Chennai too meet up with Bree’s group and will teach in the afternoon, and the rest of us will teach here one last time and then head for Ernakulam. Tonight is our last night together as a group, we are all sad it is coming to an end. We had such a great time on this trip and look forward to working together in the future. Goodbye from Calicut!
~Nicole, Shawn, Jenna, Erin, Matt, and Ben
We were then taken to a home near by and shown 6 foot bats. They were a sight to see! Then the Ben, Shawn, and Matt were given Mundu (skirt like bottoms) and then they were able to try homemade pawn. The pictures will be soon to follow once we find a computer that can support it. Then we were taken to a traditional house that has been around since 1885 and been in the same family! The tour was great! Then we were taken up into the near by forest and got to see monkeys. We were even able to feed them right out of our hands. Overall it was a very eventful day and we all had so much fun. Tomorrow Nicole leaves for Chennai too meet up with Bree’s group and will teach in the afternoon, and the rest of us will teach here one last time and then head for Ernakulam. Tonight is our last night together as a group, we are all sad it is coming to an end. We had such a great time on this trip and look forward to working together in the future. Goodbye from Calicut!
~Nicole, Shawn, Jenna, Erin, Matt, and Ben
Friday, January 9, 2009
Lessons learned in India won't soon be forgotten
Well this is my first time blogging since being here and I'll try not to bore you for too long. I got to India excited for the unknown. We arrived here and I was ready to go. Unfortunately my luggage was lost (for the next 6 days) but the Indian way of life must have already rubbed off on me, so I just went with it. Thankfully the people in this amazing group were kind enough to share with me the things I needed.
The days of teaching we have had have been wonderful. All of the students are able to retain the information we have taught them in a short period of time (I'm not sure I would be able to do that). They are all very polite and stand every time you enter a room. This city, Calicut, does not see as many tourists as where we where so the students today were very enthusiastic when they saw us. Everyone wanted to shake our hands and get our autographs. I guess the girls had never seen, or at least not that many, women wearing “American” clothing and were fascinated by myself, Jenna and Nicole. I even got asked if I was married a few times! (Probably because of my age…)
There are many culture shocks being in a country like this (like the one above) and I guess the biggest one has been just how hospitable everyone has been. When you read about people "back in the day" giving guests everything they had you don't realize that some people still live this way. We have been given so many great experiences from people that we didn't know; people that decided they liked what our organization was doing and then went above and beyond what any of us had expected them to do. The people from the schools haven’t just taken us to where we were teaching, but have opened themselves, and their home (India, not house) up to us. They have shown us the true experience of being in India. We have been given countless tours of amazing places and this morning we were even able to take a yoga class from a master yogi, all because of the men Ben had emailed. This has definitely been a memorable experience. The kindness of people in this country has been astounding and I am very thankful to be here.
--Erin
Moving On
Tuesday was our last day teaching in Ernakulam. The students were great and we miss our new friends. Wednesday we went to Vypeen Island and went to the beach, and ended the day on Fort Cochin. Thursday Ben met us at 5am after an all night train and then we immediately caught the bus from Ernakiulam to Calicut. After the 5 hour bumpy ride we met our guides and they took us to our hotel and they gave us a short tour of the city.
Today we woke up at 530am and we given a beginners yoga class by a yogi master who teaches other yoga teachers around the world. We had this yoga class on the beach and were able to watch the sunrise. We all really enjoyed it! Then we got ready and taught at two schools today;Vedavyasa Vidyalayam Secondary School and G.V.H.SS For Girls Nadakkavu, and we taught...drum role please...8 classes and over 350 students. The students we so excited and they were great learners. The students would come up to us before and after our classes to shake our hands and ask our names, they all we fascinated by us! Tomorrow we teach at two orphanages. Until then...
~Nicole, Erin, Jenna, Matt, Shawn, and Ben
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
My Day Broken Down
Today..
7:00am-Just a "friendly" wake up to Bree knocking on the door yelling "BOYS!!it's 7 o'clock." Drew respectfully says "Thank you Bree."
wait...
2:40am-wake up before Rick for the first time to stomach pains and hit the little boys room. Take an Immodium and a Tylenol thinking it could be food poisoning. Fall back asleep.
7:03-8:30am-Fall back asleep after Bree experience having dreams of dinosaurs coming out of rocks on the beach and feeding on trash washing up from the sea. Don't ask me why?
8:30am-Feel better thnking god that I don't have food poisoning. Immediately head out the door down stairs to order a double espresso shot, cheese omlette and plain toast completely knowing that it probably wont arrive until five minutes before we have to leave. Oh yea..Rick is still sleeping.
9:15am-Reading the Chennai Post in English hovering over a section about two girls who drowned on Monday after falling into a lake trying to wash their clothes. Recieve my food and am pleased with it, begin to devour.
9:23am-Try and use a 500 rupee bill to pay my 105 rupee tab but am told to come back later.
9:24am-Walk back towards the room, pass Bree sitting on the hammock who asks me if I picked up any candy for the kids and tells me that I only have a few minutes before we leave. I tell her no, I don't have any candy and that I will try to hurry.
9:30am-Get into the car and head toward Infanty Jesus Matriculam(?) School with the most awesome group there is.
10:00-10:15am-Sit in the principals office with the group having a completely familiar awkward time waiting for the word to head to the classroom. I laugh because this happens everyday.
10:16am-Get the word and head to the class, follow the principal there and teach teach teach!
11:10am-Finish the first class and we have a "casual" argument led by Bree about what could have happened better. We orally make corrections then head back to the principals office where the smells are familiar and the chai is served.
11:30am-Escorted back to another class and teach our hearts out. We all make little corrections improving our teaching efficiency even more. Who could have guessed?
...Oh and it has also been raining since 10:30am or so.
12:40pm-Head back to the principals office once again and am excited to see Bree's attempts to try and pawn her coconut milk off to us!! haha
1:07pm-Realize the milks not coming today and we are escorted to eat lunch on the 3rd floor again.
1:10pm-Food is served! I am excited to see Bree's face when the hard boiled eggs are divied out. We are told that the rice dish is made from the crop behind the school. Bree screams out as the kitten brushes against her foot. She makes no face about the hard boiled egg:( I eat till I can't eat anymore and have to once again turn down the banana that I am offered because of my allergy problem. I wonder what it would feel like to sink my teeth into one again someday.
1:35pm-Head to teach 6th graders and conduct the best class yet. I love this translator today!
2:30pm-Have a moment with the group bonding over how well the class went. Go outside to find that our taxi driver is not there and his car is.
3:00pm-Taxi driver shows up walking down the road. We ask no questions and are on our way home...Still raining.
3:20pm-Rick walks to the post office after being dropped off on the way home. I am hoping that he will be able to get there on time with no problems unlike the last 3 days.
3:23pm-Get home, no rain in Malapalipuram! Bond with Lea and Bree in their room waiting for Rick to return with the keys.
3:50pm-Rick gets back..GOOD NEWS!! postcards are sent. Head up to the room to figure out the plan for today.
4:03pm-Decide to rent bicycles and find them for 10 rupees a piece for two hours. Head out on our magical journey!
4:20pm-Find a hidden tree farm next to the beach where we feel as if we are the only ones there. Go to the beach where we find that it is more like a sand cliff where lots of fishermen hang. The sand is black and I can smell the scent of pine trees as the rain begins to fall.
4:32pm- run up back to the forest looking for shelter. Two indians invite us in a tree fort where we hang with them and escape the rain..and learn of their dark secrets.
5:40-6:00pm- ride back in the rain soaked to the bone, camera in my underwear trying to navigate the indian traffic safetly.
6:00pm-now-bond with the group although they don't think our journey was anything special, hang out in the rain, go out to eat, write this blog, get kicked off the comp. It was a lovely day!
-Drew
7:00am-Just a "friendly" wake up to Bree knocking on the door yelling "BOYS!!it's 7 o'clock." Drew respectfully says "Thank you Bree."
wait...
2:40am-wake up before Rick for the first time to stomach pains and hit the little boys room. Take an Immodium and a Tylenol thinking it could be food poisoning. Fall back asleep.
7:03-8:30am-Fall back asleep after Bree experience having dreams of dinosaurs coming out of rocks on the beach and feeding on trash washing up from the sea. Don't ask me why?
8:30am-Feel better thnking god that I don't have food poisoning. Immediately head out the door down stairs to order a double espresso shot, cheese omlette and plain toast completely knowing that it probably wont arrive until five minutes before we have to leave. Oh yea..Rick is still sleeping.
9:15am-Reading the Chennai Post in English hovering over a section about two girls who drowned on Monday after falling into a lake trying to wash their clothes. Recieve my food and am pleased with it, begin to devour.
9:23am-Try and use a 500 rupee bill to pay my 105 rupee tab but am told to come back later.
9:24am-Walk back towards the room, pass Bree sitting on the hammock who asks me if I picked up any candy for the kids and tells me that I only have a few minutes before we leave. I tell her no, I don't have any candy and that I will try to hurry.
9:30am-Get into the car and head toward Infanty Jesus Matriculam(?) School with the most awesome group there is.
10:00-10:15am-Sit in the principals office with the group having a completely familiar awkward time waiting for the word to head to the classroom. I laugh because this happens everyday.
10:16am-Get the word and head to the class, follow the principal there and teach teach teach!
11:10am-Finish the first class and we have a "casual" argument led by Bree about what could have happened better. We orally make corrections then head back to the principals office where the smells are familiar and the chai is served.
11:30am-Escorted back to another class and teach our hearts out. We all make little corrections improving our teaching efficiency even more. Who could have guessed?
...Oh and it has also been raining since 10:30am or so.
12:40pm-Head back to the principals office once again and am excited to see Bree's attempts to try and pawn her coconut milk off to us!! haha
1:07pm-Realize the milks not coming today and we are escorted to eat lunch on the 3rd floor again.
1:10pm-Food is served! I am excited to see Bree's face when the hard boiled eggs are divied out. We are told that the rice dish is made from the crop behind the school. Bree screams out as the kitten brushes against her foot. She makes no face about the hard boiled egg:( I eat till I can't eat anymore and have to once again turn down the banana that I am offered because of my allergy problem. I wonder what it would feel like to sink my teeth into one again someday.
1:35pm-Head to teach 6th graders and conduct the best class yet. I love this translator today!
2:30pm-Have a moment with the group bonding over how well the class went. Go outside to find that our taxi driver is not there and his car is.
3:00pm-Taxi driver shows up walking down the road. We ask no questions and are on our way home...Still raining.
3:20pm-Rick walks to the post office after being dropped off on the way home. I am hoping that he will be able to get there on time with no problems unlike the last 3 days.
3:23pm-Get home, no rain in Malapalipuram! Bond with Lea and Bree in their room waiting for Rick to return with the keys.
3:50pm-Rick gets back..GOOD NEWS!! postcards are sent. Head up to the room to figure out the plan for today.
4:03pm-Decide to rent bicycles and find them for 10 rupees a piece for two hours. Head out on our magical journey!
4:20pm-Find a hidden tree farm next to the beach where we feel as if we are the only ones there. Go to the beach where we find that it is more like a sand cliff where lots of fishermen hang. The sand is black and I can smell the scent of pine trees as the rain begins to fall.
4:32pm- run up back to the forest looking for shelter. Two indians invite us in a tree fort where we hang with them and escape the rain..and learn of their dark secrets.
5:40-6:00pm- ride back in the rain soaked to the bone, camera in my underwear trying to navigate the indian traffic safetly.
6:00pm-now-bond with the group although they don't think our journey was anything special, hang out in the rain, go out to eat, write this blog, get kicked off the comp. It was a lovely day!
-Drew
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)