A loud knock on our door at 2am signaled the safe arrival of Marty and Jane. After quick welcomes and updates we all drifted off to sleep. Morning came quickly with a walk through the now familiar "hood" t breakfast with the team. A complex schedule lead us to a variety of destinations. Marty and Kathy scrubbed at washed walls at the SEAM home. Jane and Jane (yes, two team members with the same name.) headed off to Christ School.
Phil and I, with Linda and Fred, headed for the PRS School. After a very brief orientation by the principal, we plunged right in. We taught 5 classes, kindergarten through 4th grade in rapid succession. The teachers were welcoming and the excited. Well behaved, in school uniforms, their enthusiasm surpassed their comfort and knowledge of English conversation. On the other hand they were attentive and eager , some with good vocabulary and lovely handwriting. Phil and I pretty much did improv all day: working our way through the ABCs, numbers, reading and of course the hokey pokey! Phil used his lunch break to play a quick game of volleyball with the older boys. Exhausted after the 4th grade clas we is our goodbyes till tomorrow. We are looking forward to working with these same kids for two weeks and really getting to know them.
After a peaceful afternoon siesta for rest and preparation for tomorrow aI headed back to SEAM to work individually with several boys. After a warm greeting we got right down to work: flash cards and matching games revealed a fund of English vocabulary but poor reading and comprehension skills. Lots to keep working on this week.
A delicious dinner with lively review of the day's events wrapped up a whirlwind of a day. We have grown fond of our team and neighborhood and the kids have already stolen our hearts.
Love to all of you from Chennai
Barbara
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