Last night as I was walking in my neighborhood, running some errands, I got to experience a truly beautiful celebration. The power had just gone out and it was getting dark. Houses and shops had very beautiful rangoli made with colorful powder and not just white powder. Around the rangoli and all around the outside of their houses and shops were little pottery vessels with oil in them and a burning flame. The sight was quite beautiful. I asked a few people what was going on and they told me it was a time to pray to their family God. The moon was also full and every once in a while a big beautiful firework would go off overhead.
Today I arrived at school all excited for my lesson plan. Luckily my lesson plan involved my camera because upon arriving at school I encountered a beautiful scene. The fourth standard boys came running to meet me as I arrived at school. The kept saying things in Tamil, all excitedly forgetting that I only speak English. I followed them to the lot behind the school to the empty field. There they showed me that they had just finished burying a crow. The older girls told me it was found dead in the school this morning so the boys buried it. They made a cross out of sticks, the girls went and got some flowers, they dug a hole and then placed rocks on top of the mound. It was a rather beautiful thing to witness. I am not sure if birds or crows in particular have some special meaning but they did make it apparent that even a crow deserves a proper burial.
My lesson plan was fun. I took a picture of each student which I will print very soon. Then each student will make a poster with their picture and some information about themselves written in English. I did an example one of myself on the blackboard and they all became super excited. It seems like a good culminating activity since break will be beginning very soon. They all appreciated standing by themselves in front of the camera. One thing to note is that Indians do not smile in front of a camera. In fact the exact opposite seems to happen - their faces just automatically go to a serious face - you have to make them smile!
http://s1150.beta.photobucket.com/user/kyliejedwards/library/Children%20portraits
Today I arrived at school all excited for my lesson plan. Luckily my lesson plan involved my camera because upon arriving at school I encountered a beautiful scene. The fourth standard boys came running to meet me as I arrived at school. The kept saying things in Tamil, all excitedly forgetting that I only speak English. I followed them to the lot behind the school to the empty field. There they showed me that they had just finished burying a crow. The older girls told me it was found dead in the school this morning so the boys buried it. They made a cross out of sticks, the girls went and got some flowers, they dug a hole and then placed rocks on top of the mound. It was a rather beautiful thing to witness. I am not sure if birds or crows in particular have some special meaning but they did make it apparent that even a crow deserves a proper burial.
My lesson plan was fun. I took a picture of each student which I will print very soon. Then each student will make a poster with their picture and some information about themselves written in English. I did an example one of myself on the blackboard and they all became super excited. It seems like a good culminating activity since break will be beginning very soon. They all appreciated standing by themselves in front of the camera. One thing to note is that Indians do not smile in front of a camera. In fact the exact opposite seems to happen - their faces just automatically go to a serious face - you have to make them smile!
http://s1150.beta.photobucket.com/user/kyliejedwards/library/Children%20portraits
Oh..crow and not cow. Initially I was reading cow and was wondering how they buried it. How long is the break?
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