A new week has begun. A new energy and light.
Classes are almost over for the students, so my enthusiasm in class was returned and the students and I shared a bond of energy none can explain. Either that, or they are just glad to be finished with their English classes.
I have been using television scripts the help them work on their pronunciation and intonation, but this week we worked completely on improv. Having to speak in the moment. Dun dun dun. I planned a class where the students had to assume certain characters and gave them a story to act out. For example, a man who's wife was having a baby, and he needed to get a taxi to the hospital. One student would be the taxi driver, or the father, or a mad car driver who creates an accident on the way.
Oh Lord! The characters that came out inside the classroom were hilarious! Some of the most quiet students were so funny! I was rolling on the ground with laughter. The way they used the English language was incredibly intelligent and witty, I felt as if they were entertaining me the whole class. The next day I had them answer the question: What's the hardest thing you've ever done in your life? Each student shared their hard struggle, and moral they learned, which was incredibly simple yet powerful. The whole day I felt empowered with wisdom hearing what some of the students had gone through and yet had overcome in power and learned something.
Thursday was a good day for classes, and I started the morning with my Kava tea and felt very enlightened through meditation, and songs. After teaching classes, the wind started to blow and the sky went completely black and it started raining and thundering really hard. I woke up from a nap and walked to the classroom, picked up the guitar and started writing music, and singing my heart out. A healing, needed time to connect to my emotions and do something I love.
Yesterday we didn't have classes, and early in the morning, the students and I went out for an official ESL outing to Delhi. So we didn't have to pay for it! The first shop was Himalaya shop for their hair loss vitamins, lotions, and special creams. I got some Brohmi herbs and Neem for about 1.50 dollars. So cheep compared to the US!
We then met Ajay, one of the Hindi teachers who is really cool, at this shopping plaza and went to a fresh vegetarian restaurant for some south Indian food, and strawberry shakes. The boys paid for everything! I was so blessed, they are so sweet! We spit up because they wanted to go shopping for clothes, but I wanted to check out the book store and needed to go to the computer. I went down a couple ways and just stopped in some stores enjoying some air, and time by myself. I saw this guy in a yellow t-shirt and asked if he knew where an Internet cafe was. We were standing outside in the hot sun on the sidewalk as he was directing me. Suddenly this beggar with deformed legs, who couldn't stand up and walk correctly, crawled over to where we were with a rock in his hand and motioned to through it at the man who was talking to me. But before he could, the man kicked the beggar. The beggar flashed his dark strong eyes at me, and I thought he was going to through the stone at me next. I quietly excused myself as someone walked between us. Uhh... ya, now would be a good time before I get pounced on by a mangy beggar who is a little insane. I didn't feel like getting stoned to death by a cripple.
I walked into a book store with English book! Thank God. I didn't know what I was looking for, but somehow the relaxing environment was like unspoken comfort to my soul. I just walked down the halls and climbed a little wooden latter, marveling at how many books could fit on such a tall wall. I would pick one up and read the cover, brush my hand over the smooth pages and read a few lines then put it back. It was relaxing. I enjoyed looking at the travel picture books, and reading quotes from Buddha and Austen until one of the staff said to stop copying down the books. Haha.
I left one book store without buying anything and went to this corner looking for Internet cafe. However the cafe was closed, and there was a bunch of people in a long line shouting and holding 20rupies high in their hand. Some people ran out of the crowd cheering for they held in their hand big glass milk bottles with straws and thick cold milk shakes. Once someone went out of the shop, the cloud surged in further to hopefully place an order. I ran over and pulled out 20rupies and by the grace of a nice woman got a thick icy Pineapple shake in a big glass milk jar. It was so refreshing. She said this was the most famous local place for a shake. I looked for a sign on the outside, but she said it was just owned by a guy and his brothers. So cool!
It had been a while since I left the group, and I walked back finding another bookstore and made some special purchases on the mountains. This guy saw me looking and he pulled a book of the shelf and told me to read it. He said I would greatly enjoy it, and read me a page in the book. It was witty, and funny, and I thanked him and bought the book. I met the group outside FabIndia
Last night we arrived, and I showered then we went straight to the women's fellowship. I was exhausted from the day. From the week actually. It's a rare moment I get to rest, and since it is so hot, I feel drained of all energy by 1:30pm. I wanted to nap, but we had 10 minutes before the fellowship, so I showered then we left. It was really sad actually. So many women in the group are having miscarriages and bodily problems so we laid our hands on them and prayed. Honestly it took everything within me to keep my eyes open. I didn't feel very Godly haha. A girl turned to me and said, "sometimes I wish your mom was here to help these women." I nodded, for I was thinking the same thing.
I think word got out about the clothes I had been wearing, and I didn't mind picking up things off the street. A girl Sangita called me in the other room and blessed me with some Indian clothes, for she knew I needed some. They are the most beautiful things I have ever seen. One is the color of blue corn silk the color of my eyes. I wore it today to music practice. And ya, music practice today, with Daniel, Mazi, Guini, Sam and Adiline. Daniel let me know that I wouldn't be able to play the piano since I would only be here for such a short time. I understand adding a new member to the music band is always hard, but honestly I don't think I am getting to play because when I was leading back home I was selfish and rude with letting my little brother play, or other members who showed interest and had the heart to serve. So I felt like I was getting the "do unto others" life lesson today. I'm sorry David, that doesn't feel very good to have someone reject you. :( Never the less, today I felt as if I were in a magnum opus of angelic voices and acoustic guitars. Everyone harmonizing each other, and the beautiful picking was like pulling the heart strings of my soul back to life. Again, this was like God saying- "see what I can do if you trust me? I didn't bring you here to just be an old English teacher, but I bless you with talented musicians, music, people who give you clothes, free food, a bed and room to sleep in, a pool to swim in, a gym, a running friend, several friendly people to encourage you with smiles everyday. See what I am doing now in your life. Won't you trust me with your future?"
Sometimes I spend so much time in my own head, and think so deeply. For what? I have everything I need, and could ever want, and I know this life is just a fleeting breath. I am only nineteen and in freaking beautiful India!I have chosen a life of adventure. Sometimes it's a roller coaster and I'm strapped in. This week I've learned to put my hands up and enjoy the ride.
Having Peanuts an Channa beans listning to Shane and Shane- and yes, I'm going to take a rest.
By the way, I didn't realize how much I have been saying- "holy cow!" That is until people turn around and give me the evil eye. I didn't understand at first, but then realized that the cows are truly "holy" to them. So it's like saying a bad word or cursing their mom or dead relative. Ha! I had a good laugh to myself and have tried to be more sensitive since with what I say.
Classes are almost over for the students, so my enthusiasm in class was returned and the students and I shared a bond of energy none can explain. Either that, or they are just glad to be finished with their English classes.
I have been using television scripts the help them work on their pronunciation and intonation, but this week we worked completely on improv. Having to speak in the moment. Dun dun dun. I planned a class where the students had to assume certain characters and gave them a story to act out. For example, a man who's wife was having a baby, and he needed to get a taxi to the hospital. One student would be the taxi driver, or the father, or a mad car driver who creates an accident on the way.
Oh Lord! The characters that came out inside the classroom were hilarious! Some of the most quiet students were so funny! I was rolling on the ground with laughter. The way they used the English language was incredibly intelligent and witty, I felt as if they were entertaining me the whole class. The next day I had them answer the question: What's the hardest thing you've ever done in your life? Each student shared their hard struggle, and moral they learned, which was incredibly simple yet powerful. The whole day I felt empowered with wisdom hearing what some of the students had gone through and yet had overcome in power and learned something.
Thursday was a good day for classes, and I started the morning with my Kava tea and felt very enlightened through meditation, and songs. After teaching classes, the wind started to blow and the sky went completely black and it started raining and thundering really hard. I woke up from a nap and walked to the classroom, picked up the guitar and started writing music, and singing my heart out. A healing, needed time to connect to my emotions and do something I love.
Yesterday we didn't have classes, and early in the morning, the students and I went out for an official ESL outing to Delhi. So we didn't have to pay for it! The first shop was Himalaya shop for their hair loss vitamins, lotions, and special creams. I got some Brohmi herbs and Neem for about 1.50 dollars. So cheep compared to the US!
We then met Ajay, one of the Hindi teachers who is really cool, at this shopping plaza and went to a fresh vegetarian restaurant for some south Indian food, and strawberry shakes. The boys paid for everything! I was so blessed, they are so sweet! We spit up because they wanted to go shopping for clothes, but I wanted to check out the book store and needed to go to the computer. I went down a couple ways and just stopped in some stores enjoying some air, and time by myself. I saw this guy in a yellow t-shirt and asked if he knew where an Internet cafe was. We were standing outside in the hot sun on the sidewalk as he was directing me. Suddenly this beggar with deformed legs, who couldn't stand up and walk correctly, crawled over to where we were with a rock in his hand and motioned to through it at the man who was talking to me. But before he could, the man kicked the beggar. The beggar flashed his dark strong eyes at me, and I thought he was going to through the stone at me next. I quietly excused myself as someone walked between us. Uhh... ya, now would be a good time before I get pounced on by a mangy beggar who is a little insane. I didn't feel like getting stoned to death by a cripple.
I walked into a book store with English book! Thank God. I didn't know what I was looking for, but somehow the relaxing environment was like unspoken comfort to my soul. I just walked down the halls and climbed a little wooden latter, marveling at how many books could fit on such a tall wall. I would pick one up and read the cover, brush my hand over the smooth pages and read a few lines then put it back. It was relaxing. I enjoyed looking at the travel picture books, and reading quotes from Buddha and Austen until one of the staff said to stop copying down the books. Haha.
I left one book store without buying anything and went to this corner looking for Internet cafe. However the cafe was closed, and there was a bunch of people in a long line shouting and holding 20rupies high in their hand. Some people ran out of the crowd cheering for they held in their hand big glass milk bottles with straws and thick cold milk shakes. Once someone went out of the shop, the cloud surged in further to hopefully place an order. I ran over and pulled out 20rupies and by the grace of a nice woman got a thick icy Pineapple shake in a big glass milk jar. It was so refreshing. She said this was the most famous local place for a shake. I looked for a sign on the outside, but she said it was just owned by a guy and his brothers. So cool!
It had been a while since I left the group, and I walked back finding another bookstore and made some special purchases on the mountains. This guy saw me looking and he pulled a book of the shelf and told me to read it. He said I would greatly enjoy it, and read me a page in the book. It was witty, and funny, and I thanked him and bought the book. I met the group outside FabIndia
Last night we arrived, and I showered then we went straight to the women's fellowship. I was exhausted from the day. From the week actually. It's a rare moment I get to rest, and since it is so hot, I feel drained of all energy by 1:30pm. I wanted to nap, but we had 10 minutes before the fellowship, so I showered then we left. It was really sad actually. So many women in the group are having miscarriages and bodily problems so we laid our hands on them and prayed. Honestly it took everything within me to keep my eyes open. I didn't feel very Godly haha. A girl turned to me and said, "sometimes I wish your mom was here to help these women." I nodded, for I was thinking the same thing.
I think word got out about the clothes I had been wearing, and I didn't mind picking up things off the street. A girl Sangita called me in the other room and blessed me with some Indian clothes, for she knew I needed some. They are the most beautiful things I have ever seen. One is the color of blue corn silk the color of my eyes. I wore it today to music practice. And ya, music practice today, with Daniel, Mazi, Guini, Sam and Adiline. Daniel let me know that I wouldn't be able to play the piano since I would only be here for such a short time. I understand adding a new member to the music band is always hard, but honestly I don't think I am getting to play because when I was leading back home I was selfish and rude with letting my little brother play, or other members who showed interest and had the heart to serve. So I felt like I was getting the "do unto others" life lesson today. I'm sorry David, that doesn't feel very good to have someone reject you. :( Never the less, today I felt as if I were in a magnum opus of angelic voices and acoustic guitars. Everyone harmonizing each other, and the beautiful picking was like pulling the heart strings of my soul back to life. Again, this was like God saying- "see what I can do if you trust me? I didn't bring you here to just be an old English teacher, but I bless you with talented musicians, music, people who give you clothes, free food, a bed and room to sleep in, a pool to swim in, a gym, a running friend, several friendly people to encourage you with smiles everyday. See what I am doing now in your life. Won't you trust me with your future?"
Sometimes I spend so much time in my own head, and think so deeply. For what? I have everything I need, and could ever want, and I know this life is just a fleeting breath. I am only nineteen and in freaking beautiful India!I have chosen a life of adventure. Sometimes it's a roller coaster and I'm strapped in. This week I've learned to put my hands up and enjoy the ride.
Having Peanuts an Channa beans listning to Shane and Shane- and yes, I'm going to take a rest.
By the way, I didn't realize how much I have been saying- "holy cow!" That is until people turn around and give me the evil eye. I didn't understand at first, but then realized that the cows are truly "holy" to them. So it's like saying a bad word or cursing their mom or dead relative. Ha! I had a good laugh to myself and have tried to be more sensitive since with what I say.
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