010 So This is What Love Feels Like

Today was without a doubt, a highlight of our trip! We had the chance to visit a village school that is associated with an incredible orphanage, Sumangali Seva Ashrama. When we arrived, we were treated to an adorable marching band performance by the school’s students.

In. Love.

They had clearly prepared it just for us, and it was such a wonderful experience. All the kids were super excited to see us, and would run around us, quite literally, and try to shake our hands to wish us a Happy New Year. Too cute! We went into the teacher’s room for a brief introduction of all the teachers as well as our group, and it was so heartwarming to see the level of dedication the teachers had for their school.

Some of the school's incredible teachers.

After introductions, we had the chance to tour the school and see the kids in their classrooms. They all were so excited to read passages and sing songs for us that they had learned in class and eager to impress us with everything they had learned!

Cutest troublemakers ever!

When we could, we would sneak pictures with them, and right after they picture was taken, they’d rush forward to see it in the LCD screen. I suppose they haven’t had much exposure to digital cameras, because they absolutely adored them! And I know they absolutely loved being at the center of attention.

:D

We left the children after completing their tour so that they could finish the rest of their lessons and prepare for the activities that were set for the remainder of the afternoon. The village was old, and not overly developed, but there was a kind of peace and calm that was refreshing.

The people were shy, but friendly, warm and inviting, and many allowed us into their homes to see how they live.

Absolutely beautiful.

Being in the village made me wonder just where the 8% annual GDP growth India witnesses is coming from, and more importantly where it’s going to. Many of the villagers still don’t have running water or electricity, and yet, they find a way to live and be content with what they have. They live simpler lives and aren’t distracted by nonsense like reality TV or Twitter, so who’s to say that their lives are any less full than ours?

 

In any case, the village was beautiful in its own quaint way and the people were wonderful to talk to and so hospitable.

All in all, it was a truly wonderful experience.

Once the tour was complete, we headed back to the school to participate in some activities with the kids! The teachers had us sit on the stage with them and while we waited for the kids to set up, we were of course again treated with incredible hospitality. Each of us was given fresh coconut juice still in the coconut, which was delicious.

First, we had the opportunity to watch the kids take part in some sports activities, like races and musical chairs.

Coordinating the kids!

Musical chairs.

Naturally, we wanted to play as well and so before we knew it the girls and the guys were taking part in rounds of musical chairs. It turned out to be a whole lot of fun, and it didn’t hurt that I won second place!

Boys' turn to play!

After games, the kids performed an adorable song for us with an accompanying dance, followed by a slew of other performances including traditional songs and dances which were wonderful.

First song with the most repetitive, unchanging drum line. Ever.

Traditional dance.

While getting the kids to line up later, one the students started acting out and got a swift slap from one of the teachers, who I assume was the disciplinarian. A lot of the Walton students were surprised and put off by what appeared to be harsh punishment, but it didn’t really surprise me, as that kind of discipline was certainly employed in the schools where I grew up. One thing that I’ve learned that differentiates the Asian school of thought and the American school of thought when it comes to education and discipline is that Asian families tend to break you down in order to “build you up”, where as American families tend to encourage their children to achieve the same result. I turned out alright, having experienced both, so again, who’s to say which method is better?

Prize giving for the races and games was held after all the performances were finished and we left soon after.

Top 3 for girls' musical chairs. Yeah. We're awesome.

Winner of the race!

The hope and potential we saw in these kids were inspiring and I’m so excited for them!

In love.

My heart is absolutely bursting!

It is this generation that will be driven enough to continue India’s growth in the international arena! I loved that we had the chance to meet them, and hopefully inspire them a little to see that they can do whatever it is they set their minds to.

After we left the orphanage we had lunch on the bus and headed back to our apartments. We had a little bit of rest time, and before we knew it, we were off yet again, this time to MG Street.

Kaleah and I being hood during down time.

We went into a government-run souvenir store to do some investigating, and it definitely was not my cup of tea. I love bargaining and looking for great deals when I’m out of the United States, so being in a store where all the prices were set and non-negotiable was not fun!

Cool stuff though.

Pretty legit carving of Ganesha.

Soon we split and went our separate ways, and I went to a clothes store nearby and picked up some traditional Indian wear for my family and my boyfriend’s family. I also managed to pick up some sari material, which I’m super excited about! Hopefully we’ll have time to get it tailored before we get back to the States! I’m not sure tailors back home in Fayetteville, Arkansas would know what to do with it…they’d probably think I was giving them tablecloths....potential problem. We eventually wandered over to Commercial Street and it was so much fun to walk down! There were plenty of pretty lights and fun stores to explore.

We eventually made it back to the apartment complex by auto rickshaw, which was definitely an experience. Every rickshaw driver we tried to hire would try to cheat us and that was definitely frustrating. We finally found a police…booth with a policeman who issued an auto rickshaw ticket for us with a set price to our destination. Boss.

The ride was absolutely ridiculous. AND AWESOME. Traffic in India is a lot scarier when you’re not sitting pretty from the safety of a bus. Once we got back, Kaleah, Jarred, Afshar and I went for dinner at the Royal Orchid Hotel which is right next to our apartment complex. Dinner was good, and company was incredible, so we had a whole lot of fun. Jarred and Afshar were a seamless tag team, with Afshar explaining to us the finer points of being a G, and Jarred being the not so kind dissenter. It was hilarious. Kaleah and I literally couldn't breathe from laughing.

Yay friends! :)

Yay beautiful restaurant.

Yay badass hotel!