Post # 6: PATHWAY!

In a word, the Internet access here is almost nonexistent. The school is lucky enough as it is to have about 10 computers (Dell laptops) that are used for English and math projects, but only one of these is able to connect to the Internet. It’s nice to not have to check my email or facebook every day. I now have an excuse to stay offline. I will try to put pictures up here as well as write a few words, but I will tell you that its definitely not going to happen every day. Sorry to the few who actually do read this through all the way. 

I arrived at Pathway on Wednesday with my mother. We were immediately greeted by the principal, and were sent on a tour with the geography teacher. He introduced me to all of the children at the orphanage (there are about 150 of them or so, grades kindergarten to 10th). They are the most beautiful people I have ever seen, I swear. All of them were smiling and all of them wanted to shake our hands. I loved it. Since the whole school is Mormon (save the few Hindi teachers), I am always referred to as sister, and constantly get the question “are you LDS??” I have to say no every time, but they keep asking, hoping that my answer has changed. I think some of them are convinced that I will be converted by the end of my time here. Later that day I met Dr. Prasad and Chandra who were lovely and welcoming, just like all of their kids. We discussed my idea of art classes, and decided that I would teach the 7th and 8th grade classes from 4 to 5:30 every day, and on Saturdays I will teach anyone who wants to come learn a little bit. Sundays are to be kept free, as they are church days.

Mother left Thursday afternoon, and immediately afterwards I had my first class. None of the kids here have ever actually had an art class before. They didn’t know what the word “art” meant… I’m not kidding. They just drew things for classes occasionally. I therefore had to start with the basics, starting with color. I taught them all the color wheel, how colors mix, ext. It’s nice that I get to work with the older group, as they all can speak English. Later in the class we made name tag type things that will hang under there work when it is displayed. They had to use a certain color scheme for each nametag. This was a very confusing concept to explain. I have no idea how to explain the word scheme, and they had never heard it before. We eventually got it, but I saw then that every class was definitely going to be an adventure.

There is a large American group here that are staying until Thursday, and yesterday (Sunday) I was lucky enough to tag along with them to go sightseeing all around Chennai after church had finished. We saw all of the cities monuments, a crocodile farm, a few temples (which were beautiful- I didn’t want to leave) and we even went to the beach. It was a great day. Of course we were covered in a thick layer of salt water and sweat once we got back to Pathway at 10 at night after the 3-hour bus ride, but it was worth it. We had a lot of fun and it was nice to finally get to see Chennai.