After 9 weeks of talking about how much we wanted to go
swimming, we finally got to go yesterday! And in a waterfall no less! We had a
campus wide outing with many of the teachers and the kitchen staff and their
families to a fort and a large temple about an hour or so away from Banaras. It
was so much fun to spend some time out with these people that we see everyday
but never really have time to get to know. It was a very hot day so we got
tired out at the fort and the temple pretty quickly. Especially because the
hour plus ride in an overstuffed car was very rough and there are much more
interesting temples and forts about 5 minutes from Nirman! But the scenery was
beautiful and it was nice to get out.
We had a
nice picnic at the temple but everyone was still somewhat disappointed by the
outing. We had passed some pretty rivers and streams on the way so we convinced
the driver to stop on the way home. Instead of just stopping at the place we
had seen on the side of the road they took us to an amazing area where the
river was much wider and rolling down the boulders. There were lots of people
bathing in the falls and cooking and eating on the banks. While we thought we
would have to sneak off to get in the water, instead everybody ended up getting
in the water with us! We had so much fun splashing around and climbing on the
rocks. It was definitely in my top favorite moments on study abroad thus far!
I am
completely over my illness now and so happy about it! Even though I was feeling
better last week and able to go out and everything I still didn’t have much of
an appetite, and since the food in the canteen isn’t always particularly
appetizing to begin with, I was having some trouble making myself eat. So
instead, one of the nights we decided to check out McDonalds! It was a happenin
place! They don’t serve beef, of
course, so no hamburgers but they have chicken sandwiches, vegetarian burgers,
and lots of egg sandwiches! I’ll have to try one of those sometime when I’m
feeling more adventurous. We were all just excited about their ice cream
selection!
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| Waterfalls!! |
For my research project that I will complete while I am here, I am
studying the treatment and education of disabled students in Banaras. The other
day I went to visit Kiran, “a center for the education, training, and
rehabilitation of children with different abilities” which is very close to
Nirman’s village campus. My professor had called the director to inform them
that I would be coming sometime but she didn’t set up a specific time so I just
kind of showed up. I was amazed by how friendly and accommodating they were
anyway! They set up a full tour for me with a student in class 11. Most of the
students at Kiran are physically disabled and I didn’t realize how hard it
would be to go to school in the city on crutches or in a wheel chair until
seeing this place! They also have several deaf classrooms, a “special
education” class, and classes for families from the close-by villages on how to
best help their child with special needs. They have a shop where they make leg
braces for the students and people in the villages, a farm where they grow most
of the food for the canteen, dorms for the students, a swimming pool, a wood
shop, art facilities – I was endlessly impressed! I am hoping to go back and
observe in some classrooms at Kiran and also spend some time at other schools
around Banaras. After observing in other schools I am supposed to work with
some disabled students here at Nirman. I am so excited to be doing this
project!
Wednesday is the last day of my first
quarter of classes here. I can’t believe I am almost halfway done with the
program! We have a two week break before the next quarter starts so we are
going on a big trip to Mumbai and Jaipur (the city where The Magnificent
Marigold Hotel movie was filmed). It should be an amazing trip but I am a
little worried about the 27 hour train ride from here to Mumbai! We have some
cool things planned for both cities including visiting old Buddhist caves in
Mumbai and riding elephants in Jaipur! But I think I am most excited just to
experience such different parts of the country.
Tonight to celebrate the end of our
quarter Nirman is throwing us a dinner party with some of the staff and our
friends. It should be fun but I am mainly excited because we are going to try
out the new saris that we bought last week! I’ll talk let’s of pictures!
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| My sari wearing debut! |
