School Run
The days starts early at Udayan. Some of the team were up early to join the girls and then the boys with their prayers and then help them with their morning chores. It’s at times like these when you realise that Udayan isn’t just a centre for children to attend – it’s a real home where everyone has a role to play.
After breakfast we got to go on the school run with the pupils. This was so much fun but also sad to think that some of these children have never been take to school by their parents. The girls were so excited to be waved off at the school gates with hugs and kisses from their English sisters.
Back at Udayan we continued with our service projects, finishing the painting and sorting that we began yesterday. The library is now much more useful with less books, but more accessible for the pupils. Meanwhile more pictures were painted on the walls, this time around the sports centre on the way to the girls’ block.
After lunch we visited a couple of local secondary schools, accidentally bringing them to a stand-still as the Udayan children showed off their English sisters to their friends and teachers. The schools are quite simple. Both had building s around a courtyard. None of the rooms had glass in their windows so the pupils must be really quiet in their lessons. Despite the chaos and disorder, we caused the teachers seemed quite pleased for the cultural exchange that occurred. For us we felt like celebrities with pupils chanting our names!
We then visited Ghandi Ghat, a riverside café on the banks of the river Hooghly where the Ghandi’s ashes were scattered. There is a monument to this historical figure, but we mostly appreciated the opportunity to grab a cheeky coca cola and a samosa/pakora. We also saw some monkeys!
Back at Udayan we got henna’d by the Udayan girls which turned into another impromptu dance party chaos. Dcn Liam really is the heart and soul of the party in India. He should move here and become the icon he was destined to be!
Tomorrow is a special puja (feast) celebrating the god, Shiva. It is marked by fasting and meditation and we look forward having all the children at home with us as it is a public holiday. Yay!
There’s also the small matter of our epic dance routine as part of the gala night, so we’d better get some sleep!
