Tuesdays we don't have sewing or jewelry making so everyone went together to a boy's hostel called Spurti. It was about a 40 minute bus ride away. The bus we had to take was so crowded! Now, I know what you are all picturing when I say crowded, and you are wrong. I mean CROWDED - like people hanging out the doors and off the side of the bus - crowded. We had to stand the whole ride, and it was packed. We were shoved so close together and the man who collects payment kept walking up and down the bus to charge people, but it was so crowded he kept having to push his way through and he was by no means gentle about it. He always made me move to the other side of the aisle so he could pass - but there just wasn't room, so I was practically sitting on some poor Indian woman every time. On Indian buses, women always sit in the front and men always sit in the back. It's kind of funny because before I came people always told me how horrible it is here for women and how they receive no respect. In some aspects, I can see how that is true, but I think you will find that anywhere you go - even in America. But it is not as terrible as everyone believes. For example, the buses. Although, when it gets as crowded as it was the other day, it intermingles a little more than normal.
At Spurti, we started out by discussing how they need to respect women like their sisters, their mothers, their teachers, etc. Then we had them draw pictures of their sisters.
If they didn't have a sister, we told them that we are their sisters and so some of them drew pictures of us. Sarah was a popular model because of the way she wears her hair in a tiny ponytail right on top of her head. They also thought she looked Chinese and were excited by the aspect of her knowing karate. Unfortunately, she does not. I was so flattered that a few boys chose to draw me. Here is one such picture:
This is what I actually looked like that day:
It was so cute though, and some of them were pretty good little artists. After that, we helped them to math. Thankfully, it was simple addition and subtraction, so I could easily handle it. The way we taught was to give them a handful of little laminated numbers, they would pick two at a time and add them together, and then subtract the same numbers. I helped one little boy who had a hard time realizing that in order to properly subtract, the biggest number had to go first, but that in addition it could be in any order.
After they had filled their worksheet with the equations, they would all run to show Lauren, who they called "Lion." It was hilarious.
Once Lauren had checked them off, they were allowed to work on a puzzle. They loved the puzzles and once they had finished one, they would take it apart and just do it again. The adorable thing is that it was a challenge each time.
One little boy showed us the temple they have there at the school. It is in a little locker where they can all say their prayers when they put their stuff away in the morning. They made it themselves and inside is a little Mickey Mouse with a bindi.
A bindi is the dot, or jewel, on the forehead that you often see Indians and Hindus wearing. They boys were even sure to give us each one. After we left Spurti, Sarah, Isabelle, and I grabbed a quick lunch of sweet corn samosas at the train station and waited around to catch the train to Secunderbad station. We had to wait for quite a while for our train to come. At one point, we heard the train whistle and got so excited we jumped up and ran to the end of the platform, but it was only two diesel engines with no cars. A couple of Indian boys laughed at us over that one. Finally our train arrived and we were on our way. From Secunderbad station, we took an auto to a nearby market that is akin to the fabric district of L.A. First we had to get some more bobbin cases for our machines, since we had three or four break. Then we went to get some water and ended up buying ice cream bars too. They were so good! Much needed on a hot day. After we finished eating our ice cream we headed off down into the market to look at fabrics.
Our first stop was a sari shop where I picked out fabric for a sari of my own! In the shop we went to, you take your shoes off at the door and then the rest of the floor is covered in cushions. They take you to a corner somewhere and you sit on the cushions and tell them your price range and they just bring out sari after sari for you to look at. The way they come is just in the nine or whatever yards of fabric, but with an extra meter on the end that I will take to a tailor and they will cut it off to make me a custom blouse. I'm so excited! I picked out a beautiful blue and pink fabric with embroidered flowers. I promise to post pictures once the top has been made. The man at the shop gave me a really good deal since he recognized Sarah from when she bought 3 saris from him. He charged me only 450 when it would normally have been 750. And in American dollars, that's seriously like only 10 bucks. Go me! We saw a lot of fabric shops and rug shops.
Isabelle bought some nice fabric pieces and Sarah got a scarf. I found some fabric that I LOVED, but it was upwards to 2,000 rupees a meter, so I couldn't quite bring myself to buy it. Maybe I'll go back towards the end of my trip if I'm still wanting it, and just splurge. The honest and embarrassing truth is that it was white fabric that I would want to use on my wedding dress. Yes, Mom. I know I already have 6 yards of lace that I said I was using for my wedding dress, but that is for the skirt - I would use my India fabric for the bodice. And no, world - I am not even dating right now, so don't get too excited for this wedding dress. Our last stop in the market was to buy straight pins for sewing. The men at the shop were making conversation with us and it was so funny. One guy asked us if we were married and when we said we weren't, his coworker explained that he keeps asking people because he just got married himself a week ago, so marriage is on the brain. We congratulated him and Sarah asked if it was arranged or love and he laughed and said "It was arranged, this is not America." Then we asked if he liked her and he bobbled his head and we asked if she was pretty and he bobbled his head, but his coworker said yes, she is very pretty. It was funny. And it kept us occupied on what was in front of us, which was good because behind us across the street was an open, public urinal, so...yay.
We took an auto home and it was so scary. He drove so fast. This video does not do it justice, but I promise it was frightening.
Of course, once we got home we learned that our ride was nothing compared to the other girls'. Courtney, Christy, and Janie went straight home after Spurti. They tried to catch a bus, but apparently got on the wrong one and the money collector literally shooed them off. So they grabbed and auto, but he would only go as far as ECIL, the local bus station, because Kapra, the area where we live, is too far away from his base. So Janie called Sami and asked him to meet them at ECIL. Then, on their way to ECIL they were in an auto accident! Another auto rear-ended them. Then the auto drivers just yelled at each other in Telagu for like 10 minutes. So finally they got back on the road and to ECIL where Sami came to pick them up. This part is my FAVORITE part of the story. So Sami spent so much time talking that he hardly looked at the road and was driving SO SLOW. He kept adjusting his mirror so he could look back at Janie while he was driving/talking. At one point he asked her if she had any kids and she told him no, not yet. Then he pulled the auto over to show them pictures of his three sons. Then he asked Janie if her husband was still alive. He is, and she told him so. Then Sami told them that Muslims can have more than one wife and it has always been a dream of his to have an American wife - and he asked Janie if she would come meet his family! Janie told him no and he said he was very disappointed in her. Then he kept asking her if he could go back to America with them, or drive her to the airport on Friday. Finally they got home and he told them they did not owe anything for the auto ride. Janie ended up just putting some money on the seat next to him and walking away. Then after they were inside (doors locked) he called and texted. He said he was at the gate and could he please have a photo with Janie? Janie then told him that this was inappropriate and that he should never contact her again. Janie thinks it is the funniest story, but I think it's a little terrifying. I mean, it is also funny - but terrifying. Luckily, everyone is home safe and sound and not the second wife of a Muslim.
That evening we went to the home of some people in the ward for a birthday party. Sarah and Lauren stayed with the Macalas while they were apartment hunting before the rest of us arrived. It was their daughter Monica's birthday on Sunday, and we were celebrating it that evening. It was such an experience! Monica blew out her candles before we sang, and then while we were singing, she cut some small pieces of cake. She then fed a piece to her mother, who in turn fed a piece to her. This was repeated with her father and her cousins. Then we had some good food and taught them to play heads-up. It was so fun!
When we got home, I drew up a sloper for the kurta pattern we were going to be teaching in sewing today. Then I made a little mock-up to show the girls.
This morning I facetimed with Emilee. What a blessing it is that I have internet and do not have to go an entire month without my best friend. It was so fun to be able to see and talk to her. Then I headed off to teach sewing. I have sort of been assigned to the more advanced girls in our classes. Mostly because I am the one who knew how to draft a sleeve pattern, so since that was the project the advanced class was working on, that is how it went. It was a little crazy today because we had some new people show up, and we still have some broken machines. We pre-cut the petticoat mock-ups for the beginner girls so that they could start sewing immediately, and then I took the advanced learners into the back room and helped them cut out the kurta mock-ups. We hoped this would help get everyone at a machine within a reasonable amount of time. It mostly worked. Unfortunately we had a problem today because Sharin showed up and wanted to work with me, but I was working with the advanced girls, and Sharin is actually technically too young to even be in our class. I tried to get her to go sew with Sarah, doing the simple beginners project, but she only wanted to do what I was doing. In the end, Sarah had to declare that younger than 16 was too young and they needed to leave. They of course didn't, but they were a little less in the way. The biggest problem we have is that everyone is so...eager to help? Controlling? I'm not really sure which it is, but they often will take over for each other, so some girls aren't getting the experience they need to learn because others will see them struggling and just take over. Or like with Sharin and her friends, they are not allowed in the class, so they hand around the sewing machines and try to cut the threads for people or throw the wheel, and while they think they're being helpful, they're taking away from the self reliance we are trying to teach. The second class of the day is smaller, but also younger, so it was a little less crazy but had it's own challenges. We have decided that instead of doing two two-hour classes, we will do four one-hour classes instead. Hopefully that will make it less crazy and give everyone more opportunities to be on a machine.
On the way home, it started to rain! The thunder was CRAZY. Monsoon season should be here soon, but the rain was not too bad or too hard today. Tonight we are having a lady come over to do henna on our hands! Yay for culture night! And tomorrow I will be going to a girls hostel. To my teacher friends and darling mother - good luck with the last week of school! Enjoy!
At Spurti, we started out by discussing how they need to respect women like their sisters, their mothers, their teachers, etc. Then we had them draw pictures of their sisters.
If they didn't have a sister, we told them that we are their sisters and so some of them drew pictures of us. Sarah was a popular model because of the way she wears her hair in a tiny ponytail right on top of her head. They also thought she looked Chinese and were excited by the aspect of her knowing karate. Unfortunately, she does not. I was so flattered that a few boys chose to draw me. Here is one such picture:
This is what I actually looked like that day:
It was so cute though, and some of them were pretty good little artists. After that, we helped them to math. Thankfully, it was simple addition and subtraction, so I could easily handle it. The way we taught was to give them a handful of little laminated numbers, they would pick two at a time and add them together, and then subtract the same numbers. I helped one little boy who had a hard time realizing that in order to properly subtract, the biggest number had to go first, but that in addition it could be in any order.
Photo courtesy of Janie George, instagram @janie.photo
After they had filled their worksheet with the equations, they would all run to show Lauren, who they called "Lion." It was hilarious.
Once Lauren had checked them off, they were allowed to work on a puzzle. They loved the puzzles and once they had finished one, they would take it apart and just do it again. The adorable thing is that it was a challenge each time.
One little boy showed us the temple they have there at the school. It is in a little locker where they can all say their prayers when they put their stuff away in the morning. They made it themselves and inside is a little Mickey Mouse with a bindi.
Photo courtesy of Janie George, instagram @janie.photo
A bindi is the dot, or jewel, on the forehead that you often see Indians and Hindus wearing. They boys were even sure to give us each one. After we left Spurti, Sarah, Isabelle, and I grabbed a quick lunch of sweet corn samosas at the train station and waited around to catch the train to Secunderbad station. We had to wait for quite a while for our train to come. At one point, we heard the train whistle and got so excited we jumped up and ran to the end of the platform, but it was only two diesel engines with no cars. A couple of Indian boys laughed at us over that one. Finally our train arrived and we were on our way. From Secunderbad station, we took an auto to a nearby market that is akin to the fabric district of L.A. First we had to get some more bobbin cases for our machines, since we had three or four break. Then we went to get some water and ended up buying ice cream bars too. They were so good! Much needed on a hot day. After we finished eating our ice cream we headed off down into the market to look at fabrics.
Our first stop was a sari shop where I picked out fabric for a sari of my own! In the shop we went to, you take your shoes off at the door and then the rest of the floor is covered in cushions. They take you to a corner somewhere and you sit on the cushions and tell them your price range and they just bring out sari after sari for you to look at. The way they come is just in the nine or whatever yards of fabric, but with an extra meter on the end that I will take to a tailor and they will cut it off to make me a custom blouse. I'm so excited! I picked out a beautiful blue and pink fabric with embroidered flowers. I promise to post pictures once the top has been made. The man at the shop gave me a really good deal since he recognized Sarah from when she bought 3 saris from him. He charged me only 450 when it would normally have been 750. And in American dollars, that's seriously like only 10 bucks. Go me! We saw a lot of fabric shops and rug shops.
Isabelle bought some nice fabric pieces and Sarah got a scarf. I found some fabric that I LOVED, but it was upwards to 2,000 rupees a meter, so I couldn't quite bring myself to buy it. Maybe I'll go back towards the end of my trip if I'm still wanting it, and just splurge. The honest and embarrassing truth is that it was white fabric that I would want to use on my wedding dress. Yes, Mom. I know I already have 6 yards of lace that I said I was using for my wedding dress, but that is for the skirt - I would use my India fabric for the bodice. And no, world - I am not even dating right now, so don't get too excited for this wedding dress. Our last stop in the market was to buy straight pins for sewing. The men at the shop were making conversation with us and it was so funny. One guy asked us if we were married and when we said we weren't, his coworker explained that he keeps asking people because he just got married himself a week ago, so marriage is on the brain. We congratulated him and Sarah asked if it was arranged or love and he laughed and said "It was arranged, this is not America." Then we asked if he liked her and he bobbled his head and we asked if she was pretty and he bobbled his head, but his coworker said yes, she is very pretty. It was funny. And it kept us occupied on what was in front of us, which was good because behind us across the street was an open, public urinal, so...yay.
We took an auto home and it was so scary. He drove so fast. This video does not do it justice, but I promise it was frightening.
Of course, once we got home we learned that our ride was nothing compared to the other girls'. Courtney, Christy, and Janie went straight home after Spurti. They tried to catch a bus, but apparently got on the wrong one and the money collector literally shooed them off. So they grabbed and auto, but he would only go as far as ECIL, the local bus station, because Kapra, the area where we live, is too far away from his base. So Janie called Sami and asked him to meet them at ECIL. Then, on their way to ECIL they were in an auto accident! Another auto rear-ended them. Then the auto drivers just yelled at each other in Telagu for like 10 minutes. So finally they got back on the road and to ECIL where Sami came to pick them up. This part is my FAVORITE part of the story. So Sami spent so much time talking that he hardly looked at the road and was driving SO SLOW. He kept adjusting his mirror so he could look back at Janie while he was driving/talking. At one point he asked her if she had any kids and she told him no, not yet. Then he pulled the auto over to show them pictures of his three sons. Then he asked Janie if her husband was still alive. He is, and she told him so. Then Sami told them that Muslims can have more than one wife and it has always been a dream of his to have an American wife - and he asked Janie if she would come meet his family! Janie told him no and he said he was very disappointed in her. Then he kept asking her if he could go back to America with them, or drive her to the airport on Friday. Finally they got home and he told them they did not owe anything for the auto ride. Janie ended up just putting some money on the seat next to him and walking away. Then after they were inside (doors locked) he called and texted. He said he was at the gate and could he please have a photo with Janie? Janie then told him that this was inappropriate and that he should never contact her again. Janie thinks it is the funniest story, but I think it's a little terrifying. I mean, it is also funny - but terrifying. Luckily, everyone is home safe and sound and not the second wife of a Muslim.
That evening we went to the home of some people in the ward for a birthday party. Sarah and Lauren stayed with the Macalas while they were apartment hunting before the rest of us arrived. It was their daughter Monica's birthday on Sunday, and we were celebrating it that evening. It was such an experience! Monica blew out her candles before we sang, and then while we were singing, she cut some small pieces of cake. She then fed a piece to her mother, who in turn fed a piece to her. This was repeated with her father and her cousins. Then we had some good food and taught them to play heads-up. It was so fun!
When we got home, I drew up a sloper for the kurta pattern we were going to be teaching in sewing today. Then I made a little mock-up to show the girls.
This morning I facetimed with Emilee. What a blessing it is that I have internet and do not have to go an entire month without my best friend. It was so fun to be able to see and talk to her. Then I headed off to teach sewing. I have sort of been assigned to the more advanced girls in our classes. Mostly because I am the one who knew how to draft a sleeve pattern, so since that was the project the advanced class was working on, that is how it went. It was a little crazy today because we had some new people show up, and we still have some broken machines. We pre-cut the petticoat mock-ups for the beginner girls so that they could start sewing immediately, and then I took the advanced learners into the back room and helped them cut out the kurta mock-ups. We hoped this would help get everyone at a machine within a reasonable amount of time. It mostly worked. Unfortunately we had a problem today because Sharin showed up and wanted to work with me, but I was working with the advanced girls, and Sharin is actually technically too young to even be in our class. I tried to get her to go sew with Sarah, doing the simple beginners project, but she only wanted to do what I was doing. In the end, Sarah had to declare that younger than 16 was too young and they needed to leave. They of course didn't, but they were a little less in the way. The biggest problem we have is that everyone is so...eager to help? Controlling? I'm not really sure which it is, but they often will take over for each other, so some girls aren't getting the experience they need to learn because others will see them struggling and just take over. Or like with Sharin and her friends, they are not allowed in the class, so they hand around the sewing machines and try to cut the threads for people or throw the wheel, and while they think they're being helpful, they're taking away from the self reliance we are trying to teach. The second class of the day is smaller, but also younger, so it was a little less crazy but had it's own challenges. We have decided that instead of doing two two-hour classes, we will do four one-hour classes instead. Hopefully that will make it less crazy and give everyone more opportunities to be on a machine.
On the way home, it started to rain! The thunder was CRAZY. Monsoon season should be here soon, but the rain was not too bad or too hard today. Tonight we are having a lady come over to do henna on our hands! Yay for culture night! And tomorrow I will be going to a girls hostel. To my teacher friends and darling mother - good luck with the last week of school! Enjoy!
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