BLOG 11

January 22nd

Arrived early at playcentre to find good play already going on in several different areas of the room e.g home corner, a shop selling vegetables, a doctor treating someone with snake bite, water play, puzzles, construction and cars. Gave some input re using a game of opposites and the teacher then took over from me and seemed to be asking good questions of the children. Free play lasted till 10.15, then they went into involving the children in tidying up.

At 10.30 there was register and prayer as usual, followed by milk,which the children really enjoy. I think the ayah puts sugar in it as it is boiled. From 11 to 11.25 we had vigorous play, using their larger muscles, indoors as it would be too hot outdoors even with the shade of the coconut trees. Some children danced, some played with balls, and with skittles. They were very noisy and lively but it was good to see them really moving freely.

Small group time was then from 11.25 till 11.45 and the teachers each used games with the children, one of which was to teach about matching and the other about opposites. It was then nearly time for lunch so we had one round of Hokey Cokey, which they now really love and which they have learned from me very quickly.

Balaji called by then to get me a coconut down from the tree with a long pole and hook. It had what they call tender coconut in it, ie liquid, which is really nice. Andy had arrived by now so Balaji got one for him too. We then had some difficulty in explaining to Balaji what 'tender' means. He is so keen to learn English.

Pam and Brian then arrived, fresh from a very helpful and cheering session with an official at the bank, who had declared himself delighted to meet Pam, who does quite a lot of business through the bank, because of the One Candle fund burseries which go to individual children as cheques. We set off to lunch with Bavana and family, who are weavers from Kamanchemanpet. Politically speaking it was no bad thing for us to lunch with a family from this village, given the tensions between the two villages from which playcentre children come, and our close relationships with the other village, Seetaramanpet. One could get quite tired trying to sort out the intrigues, jealousies and rivalries in the small villages, but perhaps that is true of all village life (though I have to say not terribly evident to me in rural France!)

After a lovely lunch at which not too much was forced upon us ( one of our main criteria for judging a meal to be good!) we cycled to see our good friend Mr Immanuel, at RUHSA. We haven't seen anything like so much of him as usual of course, not living on the campus, so we wanted to go and have a chat. As ever he cheered us up and made us feel things would be possible. There is a rumour that the gate may be almost ready for the school!!! Not holding breath of course- that would be foolish, but watch this space....Also managed to see Dr Rita and to get ourselves invited for lunch tomorrow with her.