For all of you who wanted to send things for the kids, below is the address where to send things and a list of items the kids need/want at the night shelter where I am working:
Address:
Sharon Vickery c/o Gracie & Victor Fernades House No 677 Pintos Vaddo, opposite Bosio Hospital, Candolim, Bardez, Goa, India
List:
Anything educational but nothing past a 3rd or 4th grade level ability. Learning DVDs- really basic though (for toddlers up to 4/5 years old) for teaching things like numbers, letters/sounds, colors, small words because most don't speak any English or very little; Books for the same ability level; Any type of learning games (Leap Frog, etc); They LOVE to dance so cheesy American dance cds would go a LONG way:) Simple games, jump ropes, legos are popular, balloons, personal size chalkboards, beads and thread etc... email me with any questions and thanks!! You have no idea how far things go here and how much it means to the kids. Btw, here is the web address of the volunteer organization I work for: http://www.childrescue.net/ If you are looking for a really special gift to give this Xmas, look under "our projects" specifically "loan a goat" or "wells for life" or you could always sponsor a child. I can tell you more about any of these things if you have questions too:) Plus, you can read about all the homes and shelters I have been talking about:)
Now for an update on what's been happening over here...
- The performance the children had been practicing daily for with the Italians, finally happened in the beach town of Calangute the other weekend. The turn out was good and hopefully we raised both money and awareness for El Shaddai. Most of all, the kids were so proud of themselves at the end- I felt like a proud mother!
- My job here has completely changed. I no longer work in the school. Instead, I have been assigned to teaching at the night shelter in Panjim (the capital of Goa). When the director, Sharon, heard i was a teacher, she took me out of the school for the children living in the homes and has placed me full-time at Asha Deep night shelter in Panjim. My job here has included organizing all the learning material they had into 4 ability levels, teaching the one 'teacher' they had how to teach between 25-60 children (mission impossible) and develop a teacher's manual for all the night shelters to use. This includes how to teach a lesson, discipline techniques and everything in between. It has been challenging but rewarded as I am doing something that will hopefully last. I absolutely love coming everyday to see the children at Asha Deep. These kids are in such need of affection that all they want to do is hug you and not let go. About 8 of them actually live there and have no families. We teach them English and Math in the mornings. Many children just stop in at 1pm for lunch and then go back out to beg and/or "rag pick" which is when they carry a huge bag around, picking up plastic bottles, cardboard or whatever they can out of trash bins or from the ground to turn in for a few rupees. Many of them also are washed when they come in because they are so filthy. Some of those who live with their families in the slums are school-going children that go to crappy government run schools in the morning till 1pm and then they too come for lunch and stay for the afternoon. Afternoons tend to be a bit crazy as Asha Deep only consists of two tiny rooms and the rooftop. The kids all call me "Di Di" which means "Sister" or "Auntie" depending on your age- it's whichever makes you more comfortable... I prefer to think that they call me "sister":) There are only two real downfalls to working at Asha Deep: First, the children only speak Hindi so it is incredibly hard to teach them, and second is the trip there and back each day. To get to Panjim from where I live takes 2 hours each way. It's a 45 minute walk to the bus station in Mapsa from where I stay in Assagao, then I have to change buses in Panjim and walk to the shelter. The buses are an experience here- you are packed in like sardines to the point where people are literally hanging out the door. I leave the house by 7:30/8am so by the time I get home around 6pm, I am beat. I usually walk to either Shekkinah House (boys 8-10), Kathleen House (the little ones) or Rainbow House (the bigger girls) for dinner and then it's lights out! But honestly it's all worth it in the end because I love being with those kids at Asha Deep and look forward to seeing them each morning.
- Dawali holidays were a little while ago. This is the Hindu New Year. I t is a huge celebration and neighborhoods compete with each other to see h\who make the biggest and best demon made of hay, wood, newspaper and paint. Ten to ring in the New year, they burn the demons to show they don't need the devil. There is a song here that goes like this: Goa, Goa, Goa is on fire! We don't need the devil cause the devil is a liar! I got interviewed/told what to say about our Dawali experience that night by the Goan News channel. All very surreal really!
- I visited a spice plantation with the other volunteers and visited temples that day too at a town called Ponda. On the way back, we stopped in Old Goa and saw the mummified body of St. Frances Xavier which was a little creepy but great.
- The volunteers and I took a boat trip one night along the river that locals frequent and it was a riot. There was a singing DJ on the top deck and a stage where all the local boys danced together. Quite a show! Then of course the "western" girls were invited up to dance. I got up there with a couple others in front of a couple hundred people and danced like a fool. One thing I have learned in India is not to care at all anymore what people think and its because of these types of experiences and other similar ones!
- I have been to the Anjuna Market quite often. It is one of the biggest markets in India where vendors form all over India and the world come to sell their jewelry, clothes, purses, etc. It is held every Wednesday and draws an eclectic crowd consisting of old, burnt out hippies (that you see all over Goa really) to burnt-to-a-crisp Brits that descend on Goa in hoards this time of year. It's a fascinating yet exhausting place to be.
- Health wise, I got pink eye from the kids at Asha Deep that wouldn't go away for about 2 weeks which was pretty miserable and was just diagnosed today by all the children picking through my hair that I have a nice case of head lice. Lovely... but have been doing alright otherwise!
- We have had a couple Child Labor Parades in a couple towns telling people not to give begging children money, but food and water instead and that they shouldn't be out on the streets rag-picking, etc. The kids loved marching in the parades and made banners and posters that were wonderful.
- Last but not least, I have taken a couple weekend trips. One was to Palolem in the southern most part of Goa. It was GREAT. So different from the touristy, dirty, raving norther beaches we all usually go to on weekends. Highly recommend it if you ever come to Goa:)
- This past weekend I took a 13 hour over night (miserable) to a town called Hampi, but I will get into that in the next blog which prob won't be till I am leaving India around the second week of December.
So, if I haven't mentioned before, India is the most (I can't think of a word for it) overwhelming country I have ever visited. Here is a little top ten list of things you need to know about if you ever visit India:
10. The men. They stare at white women like it's their job and try to take your photos on the beach... a lot. If you have your photo taken while on the beach, (you can try to prevent it by yelling at them, but it inevitably happens when you're no looking) you automatically become a porn star in central India, where they sell your photograph as porn. Who knew? Come to India, go to the beach, become a porn star... who would've thunk it? The men here are also very affectionate to each other in public, holding hands and walking with their hands on the shoulders' of their friends. Its not unusual to see a line four men deep walking down the street, each with their hands on each other's shoulders. Pretty comical at times.
9. The smells. The smell of raw sewage is pretty overwhelming at times due to streams of it running along sidewalks or anywhere else it can go. Fumes from the scooters and buses are killer on your eyes and throat. The fumes from burning trash aren't nice either. Cow poop is everywhere, which makes sense since so are the cows (they are the main case of traffic jams here) so always look where you step. Also, watch out for packs of wild dogs. They are not nice so always carry a stick or rocks with you if you are walking in rural areas- oh, and watch for that poop too.
8. The food. It is always either too spicy or too sweet. No happy medium and don't bother coming here if you don't like rice and curry! But if you do, learn how to eat it with your hands because that's how it is done here. It's quite an art form and I have gotten pretty good at it!
7. The poverty. Well, it's everywhere and supposedly Goa is nothing compared to the north. I will see for myself in less than two weeks. Never give money to the begging street kids. It just goes back to the alcoholic mothers and fathers. The mothers give their infants liquor to knock them out everyday so as to keep them quite. It's awful. be prepared to be hassled constantly, esp on the beach by hawkers and beggars as they see you as ATM machines.
6. The weather. It's hot as hell here.
5. The bargaining/shopping. You have to half the price of everything. If someone will take you in the taxi for 200 rupees, you always have to say 'no, 100' and if they don't give in, start walking away till they call you back.
4. The time. GMT= Goa Maybe Time. They do everything at their own pace and it can be frustrating at times to say the least! An hour and a half for dinner isn't unusual at all. Oh, and the infamous head wobble... It means yes, it means no, it means maybe so and it's contagious. After a month here, you start noticing yourself doing it all the time. It's perfect for the Indian culture really, because nothing seems to be urgent or make a whole lot of sense!
3. The driving. Just don't do it. They are crazy drivers and it is scary enough riding on a scooter, on a bus or in a taxi. Just walking down the street is dangerous. I have learned the types of honks. One high pitched one is a scooter. More than one is its right behind you and a low beep is a bus and you better just move out of the way, esp if there is more than one honk.
2. The wondering. Questioning why things are done a certain way here in India is a waste of time, because if it doesn't make sense to you, then makes perfect sense here:) It is remarkable how many times we have all said, "Wait... What?" And then we just laugh and say "That's India!" AND NUMBER ONE (Drum roll please.............................................)
1. Be flexible and be able to laugh about anything and everything that happens, otherwise, you will be missing out on a great experience. This blog might sound a little negative, but really India is an awesome country. It is just so completely different and like I said, it can be overwhelming. So my #1 piece of advice, just take a deep breath, keep your eyes and ears open (you can plug your nose if you want), just go with it and enjoy!!!
Till next time... much love,
Chrissy
Address:
Sharon Vickery c/o Gracie & Victor Fernades House No 677 Pintos Vaddo, opposite Bosio Hospital, Candolim, Bardez, Goa, India
List:
Anything educational but nothing past a 3rd or 4th grade level ability. Learning DVDs- really basic though (for toddlers up to 4/5 years old) for teaching things like numbers, letters/sounds, colors, small words because most don't speak any English or very little; Books for the same ability level; Any type of learning games (Leap Frog, etc); They LOVE to dance so cheesy American dance cds would go a LONG way:) Simple games, jump ropes, legos are popular, balloons, personal size chalkboards, beads and thread etc... email me with any questions and thanks!! You have no idea how far things go here and how much it means to the kids. Btw, here is the web address of the volunteer organization I work for: http://www.childrescue.net/ If you are looking for a really special gift to give this Xmas, look under "our projects" specifically "loan a goat" or "wells for life" or you could always sponsor a child. I can tell you more about any of these things if you have questions too:) Plus, you can read about all the homes and shelters I have been talking about:)
Now for an update on what's been happening over here...
- The performance the children had been practicing daily for with the Italians, finally happened in the beach town of Calangute the other weekend. The turn out was good and hopefully we raised both money and awareness for El Shaddai. Most of all, the kids were so proud of themselves at the end- I felt like a proud mother!
- My job here has completely changed. I no longer work in the school. Instead, I have been assigned to teaching at the night shelter in Panjim (the capital of Goa). When the director, Sharon, heard i was a teacher, she took me out of the school for the children living in the homes and has placed me full-time at Asha Deep night shelter in Panjim. My job here has included organizing all the learning material they had into 4 ability levels, teaching the one 'teacher' they had how to teach between 25-60 children (mission impossible) and develop a teacher's manual for all the night shelters to use. This includes how to teach a lesson, discipline techniques and everything in between. It has been challenging but rewarded as I am doing something that will hopefully last. I absolutely love coming everyday to see the children at Asha Deep. These kids are in such need of affection that all they want to do is hug you and not let go. About 8 of them actually live there and have no families. We teach them English and Math in the mornings. Many children just stop in at 1pm for lunch and then go back out to beg and/or "rag pick" which is when they carry a huge bag around, picking up plastic bottles, cardboard or whatever they can out of trash bins or from the ground to turn in for a few rupees. Many of them also are washed when they come in because they are so filthy. Some of those who live with their families in the slums are school-going children that go to crappy government run schools in the morning till 1pm and then they too come for lunch and stay for the afternoon. Afternoons tend to be a bit crazy as Asha Deep only consists of two tiny rooms and the rooftop. The kids all call me "Di Di" which means "Sister" or "Auntie" depending on your age- it's whichever makes you more comfortable... I prefer to think that they call me "sister":) There are only two real downfalls to working at Asha Deep: First, the children only speak Hindi so it is incredibly hard to teach them, and second is the trip there and back each day. To get to Panjim from where I live takes 2 hours each way. It's a 45 minute walk to the bus station in Mapsa from where I stay in Assagao, then I have to change buses in Panjim and walk to the shelter. The buses are an experience here- you are packed in like sardines to the point where people are literally hanging out the door. I leave the house by 7:30/8am so by the time I get home around 6pm, I am beat. I usually walk to either Shekkinah House (boys 8-10), Kathleen House (the little ones) or Rainbow House (the bigger girls) for dinner and then it's lights out! But honestly it's all worth it in the end because I love being with those kids at Asha Deep and look forward to seeing them each morning.
- Dawali holidays were a little while ago. This is the Hindu New Year. I t is a huge celebration and neighborhoods compete with each other to see h\who make the biggest and best demon made of hay, wood, newspaper and paint. Ten to ring in the New year, they burn the demons to show they don't need the devil. There is a song here that goes like this: Goa, Goa, Goa is on fire! We don't need the devil cause the devil is a liar! I got interviewed/told what to say about our Dawali experience that night by the Goan News channel. All very surreal really!
- I visited a spice plantation with the other volunteers and visited temples that day too at a town called Ponda. On the way back, we stopped in Old Goa and saw the mummified body of St. Frances Xavier which was a little creepy but great.
- The volunteers and I took a boat trip one night along the river that locals frequent and it was a riot. There was a singing DJ on the top deck and a stage where all the local boys danced together. Quite a show! Then of course the "western" girls were invited up to dance. I got up there with a couple others in front of a couple hundred people and danced like a fool. One thing I have learned in India is not to care at all anymore what people think and its because of these types of experiences and other similar ones!
- I have been to the Anjuna Market quite often. It is one of the biggest markets in India where vendors form all over India and the world come to sell their jewelry, clothes, purses, etc. It is held every Wednesday and draws an eclectic crowd consisting of old, burnt out hippies (that you see all over Goa really) to burnt-to-a-crisp Brits that descend on Goa in hoards this time of year. It's a fascinating yet exhausting place to be.
- Health wise, I got pink eye from the kids at Asha Deep that wouldn't go away for about 2 weeks which was pretty miserable and was just diagnosed today by all the children picking through my hair that I have a nice case of head lice. Lovely... but have been doing alright otherwise!
- We have had a couple Child Labor Parades in a couple towns telling people not to give begging children money, but food and water instead and that they shouldn't be out on the streets rag-picking, etc. The kids loved marching in the parades and made banners and posters that were wonderful.
- Last but not least, I have taken a couple weekend trips. One was to Palolem in the southern most part of Goa. It was GREAT. So different from the touristy, dirty, raving norther beaches we all usually go to on weekends. Highly recommend it if you ever come to Goa:)
- This past weekend I took a 13 hour over night (miserable) to a town called Hampi, but I will get into that in the next blog which prob won't be till I am leaving India around the second week of December.
So, if I haven't mentioned before, India is the most (I can't think of a word for it) overwhelming country I have ever visited. Here is a little top ten list of things you need to know about if you ever visit India:
10. The men. They stare at white women like it's their job and try to take your photos on the beach... a lot. If you have your photo taken while on the beach, (you can try to prevent it by yelling at them, but it inevitably happens when you're no looking) you automatically become a porn star in central India, where they sell your photograph as porn. Who knew? Come to India, go to the beach, become a porn star... who would've thunk it? The men here are also very affectionate to each other in public, holding hands and walking with their hands on the shoulders' of their friends. Its not unusual to see a line four men deep walking down the street, each with their hands on each other's shoulders. Pretty comical at times.
9. The smells. The smell of raw sewage is pretty overwhelming at times due to streams of it running along sidewalks or anywhere else it can go. Fumes from the scooters and buses are killer on your eyes and throat. The fumes from burning trash aren't nice either. Cow poop is everywhere, which makes sense since so are the cows (they are the main case of traffic jams here) so always look where you step. Also, watch out for packs of wild dogs. They are not nice so always carry a stick or rocks with you if you are walking in rural areas- oh, and watch for that poop too.
8. The food. It is always either too spicy or too sweet. No happy medium and don't bother coming here if you don't like rice and curry! But if you do, learn how to eat it with your hands because that's how it is done here. It's quite an art form and I have gotten pretty good at it!
7. The poverty. Well, it's everywhere and supposedly Goa is nothing compared to the north. I will see for myself in less than two weeks. Never give money to the begging street kids. It just goes back to the alcoholic mothers and fathers. The mothers give their infants liquor to knock them out everyday so as to keep them quite. It's awful. be prepared to be hassled constantly, esp on the beach by hawkers and beggars as they see you as ATM machines.
6. The weather. It's hot as hell here.
5. The bargaining/shopping. You have to half the price of everything. If someone will take you in the taxi for 200 rupees, you always have to say 'no, 100' and if they don't give in, start walking away till they call you back.
4. The time. GMT= Goa Maybe Time. They do everything at their own pace and it can be frustrating at times to say the least! An hour and a half for dinner isn't unusual at all. Oh, and the infamous head wobble... It means yes, it means no, it means maybe so and it's contagious. After a month here, you start noticing yourself doing it all the time. It's perfect for the Indian culture really, because nothing seems to be urgent or make a whole lot of sense!
3. The driving. Just don't do it. They are crazy drivers and it is scary enough riding on a scooter, on a bus or in a taxi. Just walking down the street is dangerous. I have learned the types of honks. One high pitched one is a scooter. More than one is its right behind you and a low beep is a bus and you better just move out of the way, esp if there is more than one honk.
2. The wondering. Questioning why things are done a certain way here in India is a waste of time, because if it doesn't make sense to you, then makes perfect sense here:) It is remarkable how many times we have all said, "Wait... What?" And then we just laugh and say "That's India!" AND NUMBER ONE (Drum roll please.............................................)
1. Be flexible and be able to laugh about anything and everything that happens, otherwise, you will be missing out on a great experience. This blog might sound a little negative, but really India is an awesome country. It is just so completely different and like I said, it can be overwhelming. So my #1 piece of advice, just take a deep breath, keep your eyes and ears open (you can plug your nose if you want), just go with it and enjoy!!!
Till next time... much love,
Chrissy
