Thursday, July 17, 2014
Today again was a very busy day but we felt a bit
more productive. Our morning was mostly
spent sanding down the wood so the kids do not get splinters. This can be a cause for concern but on the
flip side, the playground area, which is small, contains rocks and pebbles, and
the odd glass chard.
This took 4 of us the better part of the morning. After lunch, which was chickpeas and beaten rice, we started with priming the wood. It is interesting as the kids are curious but we believe they have no idea what we are doing. We have not seen a swing or slide anywhere in our travels.
Ashan asked if we were building a house. Once the structure is up it will support swings, climbing ropes, musical toys, abacus, slides and sand pit. We have been given carte blanche to add our own ideas and the cost for these will come out of the program fee.
This took 4 of us the better part of the morning. After lunch, which was chickpeas and beaten rice, we started with priming the wood. It is interesting as the kids are curious but we believe they have no idea what we are doing. We have not seen a swing or slide anywhere in our travels.
Ashan asked if we were building a house. Once the structure is up it will support swings, climbing ropes, musical toys, abacus, slides and sand pit. We have been given carte blanche to add our own ideas and the cost for these will come out of the program fee.
We have done some research to make sure we can use
this apparatus to include all abilities as well as strengthen weaknesses and
improve abilities such as co-ordination, focus, agility, spatial awareness,
sound and play.
We were pleasantly surprised that Bunty's young son Abel wished to help. He was the devil child we referred to in an earlier post. The problem is Bunty's son has no discipline. He runs amok at the Center and there are no consequences. Bunty will not send him to a different school as his behaviour would result in being beaten. On his own he is actually good. The culture here is different so if a child does not listen they are slapped, not hard but the action is still unsettling. It is not even that the kids are misbehaving. Cannot imagine how they would find our 3-6 year olds in Canada.
Today Abel helped us sand down the wood. He did this for 45 minutes without a break or misbehaving.
After lunch, Rhonda went over some math with Nikitta while the rest of us painted. Today it was sunny and hot. At one point we looked down and there was water on the ground. It took a while for us to realize it was coming from us; gross, sweaty and dirty but we all did feel a sense of accomplishment.
Roshan, who is the boy who licks everything, was given an amber teething necklace today. For those not familiar it is a piece of amber the size of two toonies and is worn as a necklace. It is somewhat pliable so can be chewed upon.
We were pleasantly surprised that Bunty's young son Abel wished to help. He was the devil child we referred to in an earlier post. The problem is Bunty's son has no discipline. He runs amok at the Center and there are no consequences. Bunty will not send him to a different school as his behaviour would result in being beaten. On his own he is actually good. The culture here is different so if a child does not listen they are slapped, not hard but the action is still unsettling. It is not even that the kids are misbehaving. Cannot imagine how they would find our 3-6 year olds in Canada.
Today Abel helped us sand down the wood. He did this for 45 minutes without a break or misbehaving.
After lunch, Rhonda went over some math with Nikitta while the rest of us painted. Today it was sunny and hot. At one point we looked down and there was water on the ground. It took a while for us to realize it was coming from us; gross, sweaty and dirty but we all did feel a sense of accomplishment.
Roshan, who is the boy who licks everything, was given an amber teething necklace today. For those not familiar it is a piece of amber the size of two toonies and is worn as a necklace. It is somewhat pliable so can be chewed upon.
Mothers with infants who are teething will place
these necklaces around the necks of their babies. If you are wondering, this item came from
Dunnville where it is sold at “Boost your health” and not from Nepal. At first Roshan cried and was upset as he did
not know what this was. Once the iPad
was introduced with an animated Dr. Seuss book, he settled down and started to
put the amber into his mouth instead of licking. Problem solved, we hope. Roshan will use this necklace at the school. If he was sent home with it chances are it
would not come back.
The iPad has been a hit with the children who settle down immediately. As the school gets familiar with some of the programs it can then be used to assist each child with development. The GVI staff will oversee the use of these as well as the programs and the credit at the iTunes Store.
Tomorrow we will deliver other items we have brought from Canada that will benefit the school. We have not done any shopping as of yet. Even in India we did not have a chance. I think we hear the sound of relief from family members. We have next week to do this after work, our last few days we will be taking the bus to Kathmandu which is a 9 hour bus ride.
Saturday is Rhonda's birthday. We were told today of a custom here. When it is someone’s birthday and you invite them out for, say a drink or dinner, it is expected that the birthday person pays the tab.
We had a wonderful productive hot day. It is all about appreciation … appreciating where we are, where we live, our families and friends and the opportunities that come for learning and growing without critiquing or analyzing.
The iPad has been a hit with the children who settle down immediately. As the school gets familiar with some of the programs it can then be used to assist each child with development. The GVI staff will oversee the use of these as well as the programs and the credit at the iTunes Store.
Tomorrow we will deliver other items we have brought from Canada that will benefit the school. We have not done any shopping as of yet. Even in India we did not have a chance. I think we hear the sound of relief from family members. We have next week to do this after work, our last few days we will be taking the bus to Kathmandu which is a 9 hour bus ride.
Saturday is Rhonda's birthday. We were told today of a custom here. When it is someone’s birthday and you invite them out for, say a drink or dinner, it is expected that the birthday person pays the tab.
We had a wonderful productive hot day. It is all about appreciation … appreciating where we are, where we live, our families and friends and the opportunities that come for learning and growing without critiquing or analyzing.
Shauna painting Henna