Ridiculous Blessings

The green house dressed up for sports

Me and my new friends Sangeetha,Navia, Sinu, Aparna and Priya

Silly Kisses!

         I received my teaching time table on Monday which includes 4 periods of teaching each day and a few periods of rest in between.  I approached my first class with tons of excitement. Grades are called “standards” in the school system here. My first class was Standard 5 class B. I began my lesson with gusto and introduced myself quickly. The children returned my energy, but most of the students in standard 5 are in their first year of English. Clueless looks were given to me, and when they replied in fast Malayalam, I returned with equal cluelessness.  My lesson was over halfway through.  It seemed like I had been in the class forever. I wrote this feeling off as my western sense of time, so I continued the lesson by writing incorrect sentences on the board. We corrected as a class, but the time really started to weigh upon me. With every cry of “Miss, MISS, MIIIIIISSSS” I wished more and more that I had brought a watch to class. I emerged after winging it and playing hangman with the class feeling a little battered. I had no idea that a 45 minute class period would be so difficult! I retreated to the staff room and talked to the teachers. After looking at my phone clock I realized something….an hour and a half had passed. I politely asked Jaimol Kochamma what period she was about to go to. She said fourth.  Sure enough, I had taught a class for two full periods. The only response I could muster was laughter. I think it was the first time I have truly laughed at myself in India. It was refreshing. I sat in the staff room for most of the day soaking up little details and learning new things. I had a short Malayalam lesson and had a lesson in stitching with Graceamma  Teacher. So far I have learned the chain stitch and the fishbone stich! It is such a gift to learn new skills that require focus and patience.

 Another wonderful gift that God gave me this week is a new friend. On Monday a 6^th standard girl introduced herself to me. Her name is Aparna. I told her that I already have a friend named Aparna (my best friend Sunaina’s younger sister). She was so pleased with the idea that there was an American/ Indian Aparna out there somewhere.  At the end of the day my new friend gave me a sweet kiss on the cheek. It almost brought tears to my eyes how easily and freely her love was displayed. Tuesday morning Aparna’s smiling face found me in the crowd. Tuesday and Wednesday the school hosted a sports meet for the students and somehow in the rush, she took the time to seek me out. She introduced me to many of her friends and we went around practicing names, sharing about favorite things, and teaching each other games. I was literally dragged around the whole campus with at least 3 pairs of hands holding each of my arms, and voices yelling “Ba, ba, ba” and “Pokam,” both Malayalam terms for “let’s go.” It was pretty uncomfortable at first, but by the end of the walk I realized that wherever I was going, I was willing to put my faith in these overly enthusiastic strangers. They leapt into friendship with me. It was my duty to leap back. They loved my camera so we took many pictures. I was showered with long kisses for each photo. By the end of the day I had actually learned every name!  If you are bored by this tale of success, have no fear, Tuesday brought another ridiculous moment.  I was pooped on while walking to the staff room by a phantom bird. After laughing a lot again and cleaning myself off, I found that another of my teacher friends Manju also experienced a sneak attack by a “kaka” (the Malayalam word for crow). I am clearly still stumbling and looking ridiculous on a daily basis, but God is blessing me with such abundance here at Buchanan. I am “stumbling on grace” and I am leaping into friendship with everything I have.

“When we become aware that our stuttering, failing, vulnerable selves are loved even when we hardly progress, we can let go of our compulsion to prove ourselves and be free to live with others in a fellowship of the weak. That is true healing.” -Henri J.M. Nowen

A note for all you YAVs: This quote is actually from Ellie Roscher’s book How Coffee Saved My Life: And Other Stories of Stumbling on Grace. I am cheating and reading it now (sorry Shannon and Essie).  The term “stumbling on grace” is a direct steal from her book, so I put it in quotes to do her justice.  I am finding a special kinship with so many of her words. They are powerful and vulnerable all at the same time. I admire more than just her ability to write. I admire her courage and her humility. It may sound creepy, but I feel like she is a dear friend.

Embracing Diversity

Outside the mess hall where I eat everyday!

This blog is also coming to you all a little late. Connection at Buchanan has been in and out this week. 

Two holidays in one week! Wednesday was probably the first time my brain has stopped going enough for me to be dead tired. I will speak a lot about learning Malayalam on here because communication is a daily obstacle. I have many willing teachers here, but the intricacies of the language are so great that learning the alphabet alone is a struggle.  I found myself getting very frustrated as I studied yesterday. I even became frustrated at the language that I so dearly love, English. My ability to speak only one language puts many limitations on my learning.  I knew I needed a break from studying so I started talking with Joshmi and Lindu, two of the lovely second year TTC students in the hostel. We shared a lot about our personal views, the differences and similarities in our cultures, and about the state of the world. It was a very memorable conversation.  At the end of our talk they shared with me that they both really like to work on their English. It helped me regain a little of the pride I had lost during my studies. It was also nice to hear that these girls who have a language with such ancient roots and such a rich history can also appreciate other modes of communication. It will be important for me to remain appreciative of Malayalam and still respect the integrity of my own tongue. After all, I am called here to serve as both an English teacher and a Malayalam student this year. Yesterday I also finished reading the book of Genesis. I couldn’t help but to be reminded of the Tower of Babel as I wrestled with language. Genesis 11: 6-7 reads, “And the the Lord said, ‘Look, they are one people, and they all have one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language there so that they do not understand one another’s speech.’”  Many have read this passage and concluded that God created barriers so that we can overcome them. That is a nice message, but for me it misses the mark.  While reading this passage I was reminded that diversity in language, culture, and worldview is a gift from God. The tower of Babel was also good to read because it always makes me think of Pentacost, a day when God mends linguistic confusion through the spirit and builds the community of the church. This fills me with hope for my year of service. What I lack in understanding, Buchanan fills with an overwhelming sense of community. This week I am also seeing into the life of Nicole's community at Mandiram. I arrived last night and felt instantly welcomed. I even made an instant friendship with a crazy cool 5 year old named Saira. Today we are shopping and getting used to traveling by bus in India! It is awesome to be in Nicole's company today! 

a photo of my visit to Mandiram! Nicole and I with her warden Susan Thomas.

Grace and Peace, 

Rachel

“The God who authored diversity loves it, embraces those who display it and honors those who celebrate it.” –Duane Elmer

My Heart Will Go On

September 19, 2011

Okay so i technically have two blogs to post…here they are.

My first weekend at Buchanan has been full of little joys. On Saturday I had a really nice phone call with my fellow volunteer Claudia. She inspired me to get out of my room and go outside. Nature is one of my greatest comforts, so I decided to go on a walk. Two girls from the hostel next door joined me. We stopped our walk at the swings in front of the Bishop Speechly School. I was surprised that the girls immediately gestured for me to get on the swing. For me, this gesture was extremely symbolic. Let’s rewind to March of this year at the YAV Placement event in Louisville, KY. Before I turned in the form that established I wanted to go to India, I needed some time to clear my head.  I found some swings between the apartments on the Louisville Seminary campus. That swinging session is one of the little God connections that brought me to India. Swinging not only brings out the kid in me, but it makes me feel…free, liberated and yet ultimately dependent; dependent upon the pendulum of the swing to keep me safe, and dependent upon God to guide me. I gave part of this speech to my church at First Presbyterian of Grapevine to express my mission in India. When Deepa grabbed my hand and said “Swing?” I felt this ultimate sense of purpose and a complete peace that this is exactly where I need to be. I’d like to say we spent the afternoon walking around and teaching each other words….but really the girls were my teachers.  They taught me tons of Malayalam words, of which I remember about 5.  They also showed me this amazing little plant that looks like a regular fern, but then you touch it and its leaves collapse. It is called Tarundari. The man who was out watching the rubber trees called them “sensitive plants.” I was overly excited about it. It was definitely a day full of childhood wonder. In the evening I made a few goals for myself. I decided that I will try to read the Bible in 90 days…which boils down to about 12 pages a day. I am embarrassed to say that I haven’t read it all the way through before.  I think I will do much better here if I set some goals for myself.  Sunday was full of confusion for me. Since the girls don’t ring any bells after the rising bell on Sunday morning, I was lost. After I got my bearings we spent almost all day sitting through Malayalam services. The church service at the Church of South India Pallom was a short walk away and was very nice. We also went to Kottayam for a meeting of the India Bible Society. I am hoping to spend a little more time this week working on my Malayalam because my ability right now is that of a 2 year old. Haha. The girls think how awful I am at pronouncing things is pretty funny.  My first time at teaching will be today!  Prayers are welcome.

“Life is a promise, fulfill it.” – Mother Theresa

So as many of you know, today is the 21st of September, not the 19th. I haven't had internet access till today, but all is SO GOOD. Monday was full of wonderful surprises. I woke up thinking I would teach, got all dressed up and ready an headed to the mess hall, and strangely there were no children in uniforms standing around to greet me. The Hostel girls looked very confused as to why i was dressed so nicely. School was cancelled Monday because of a Kerala- wide strike about the rise in oil prices. No drivers, no school. So it was instead we had tons of free time. It was truly a community building day. The first year girls taught me how to wash all of my clothes by hand on a stone. I had an audience giggling at me as I pounded my clothing onto the stone like a complete amateur. After they were hung out to dry, they asked me to sing Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On" for them and also wanted me to dance. My impromptu performance was well received. We went downstairs to continue our talking. I learned all about Malayali and Indian actors that the girls love. One of my fastest friends is Merin, a 17 year old first year teaching student. She is obsessed with Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus. haha. Merin holds my hand often as we walk to the mess hall. It is extremely common in India to see same sex friends holding hands. I think it's a really sweet sign of affection. The rest of the day was filled with more sharing and laughter. It was really a joy. I am typing to you after my first day of teaching and guess what? It was not that scary. I taught 10th standard (ages 15-16) and they were a lot of fun. 

Grace and peace

Rachel

"Ozone Day"

My New Window Decorations! :)

The Corner says I heart you. SO SWEET!

What a day full of beauty! I have actually been told multiple times today that I look beautiful, which was very sweet to hear from girls of all ages. Even the teachers approved of my appearance today in my new Churidar, which is the more traditional women's dress here. The teachers all wear a very traditional silk Sari. I am not quite that formal yet. haha. I love my blue Churidar mainly because it was a gift from Jaimol Kochamma. Today in assembly she leaned to me and told me that today is "Ozone day" so many of the lessons are centered around the thinning of the Ozone layer. I sat in on four class periods today, english, social science, math, and art. In the art class today we made paper butterflies. It was so much fun and made me think of my sorority sisters from college. At the end of the class many of the students gave me their butterflies as a gift! I also had one autograph request today which made me laugh. I am learning more and sharing a little bit more of myself today. I sang "Here Comes the Sun" in honor of Ozone day of course for all the classes. It has been such a joy to be recieved here at Buchanan. I will have pictures for you tomorrow!
Grace and Peace,
Rachel

New and Blessed

My Room!

My first day at Buchanan!

I am currently sitting inside my new world for an entire year. Everything is still so new ! I am also a little jet lagged. I was awaken from an accidental nap right before evening prayer by Mariamma Kochamma. She is the “warden” of my hostel, which essentially means she is a house mother for me and the other girls who live here. She is well respected among the girls and the teachers. She was a Malayalam teacher for years and is apparently an excellent poet! When I first arrived, she immediately ran to show me a photo of herself and the previous volunteer here, Madison. She openly expressed her love and care for Madison, and indicated with the little English that she has that we will have good times as well.  There are 21 women ranging roughly from age 16 to 19 living in my hostel. By day they are students at one of the campuses that shares land with the Buchanan campus, the TTC or Teacher Training School.  Many of them knocked on my door while I was moving in and greeted me with smiles. I am so grateful for their patience with me and my non-existent Malayalam. Today has included many challenges, but each challenge has been accompanied directly with touching, heartfelt moments.  I have a feeling that for much of this year challenge and beauty will go hand in hand.  My supervisor for the year is a woman named Jaimol Kochamma. She was so understanding, helpful and informative while giving me a tour around the campus today. On Tuesday we went into the nearby town of Kottayam to get some necessities and get registered with the local police as students. I am very thankful for her friendship already. On Wednesday I rested all day, and today will be filled with some more rest and hopefully a more extensive Malayalam lesson. I am already catching on quickly. I was also told by the girls yesterday that I will be the new art teacher. No questions asked. haha.  I am also thankful for the friendship I have in Madison. I feel that so much of her light is still lingering here, and it actually comforts me to know that just a year ago she was maybe just as challenged by her first day at Buchanan. In my room she has also left quite a nice collection of books and other small goodies!  I am overflowing with love for this new community and I absolutely can’t wait to learn more!
“ Our steps are made firm by the lord, when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.” Psalm 37:23-24

Thanks Be to God

What a full day! 

Our day began with an early church service beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Christ's Church in Cochin. The other volunteers were very excited because the whole service is in English. Last Sunday they got to experience a service fully in the native language of Kerala, Malayalam. I was also thankful for the English service since my Malayalam is non-existent at the moment. The service itself was officiated by Thomas John and two other pastors in the church. During the service we were all brought to the front of the church and introduced. Claudia Binu and I sang a song called "The Summons" for the congregation. Binu (Thomas John's Son) also accompanied us on the guitar. 

From Left to Right: Binu, Ian, Claudia, Betty Kochamma, Thomas John Achen

After the service we drove to places all around the greater Cochin area. We visited the Jewish Synagogue, St. Francis Church, and the Dutch Palace. It was amazing to see the religious diversity in Kerala coexisting at all of these sites. To the left is a view depicting the Hindu Temple and the Jewish Synagogue all together in harmony. We also got to see many different sides of Kerala's famous back waters. We walked around a local fish market that was situated right in front of these huge fishing nets. They are heavily weighted on one side, so it is actually very easy to pull up the nets! The fishermen let us pull up our catch, which consisted of five small fish, but we were very proud. After that we had a traditional lunch on Banana leaf, ran some errands for our departure to our sites tomorrow, and went shopping at FabIndia as a group. I got two tunics and a pair of pants, which will be practical until I can find a fitted Churidar. We didn't make it back to the house until 4 o'clock! At afternoon tea I was blessed to have a wonderful discussion with Binu about all sorts of intellectual things, including some insight into the teaching world in Kerala. We even talked about Economics, which is a newly growing interest of mine. The group rested until dinner, went over travel plans, laughed, and shared stories. 

Us in front of the HUGE fishing nets!

"Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf." -Rabindranath Tagore (Indian poet, novelist, philosopher)  

Welcome to India!

Hello all!
I am posting my first blog from Kerala! I arrived around 3 a.m. to Cochin International Airport and was warmly welcomed by Thomas John and his son Binu. Once we arrived at the house I was surprised to be greeted with hugs in the still of the morning by Nicole and Claudia. It is so good to be reunited with my YAV family! At 8 o clock we all had a lovely breakfast cooked by the best cook in India, Betty Kochamma. Now we are getting ready to start our first complete day together. I feel completely at peace here already!
More updates are to come as more stories unfold.
With Love,
Rachel 

Between Two Trees

The title of this post refers to the theme of a Senior High Youth Connection in 2008. The conference was held at Austin College as usual, but the theme was particularly meaningful to me. The main message of the keynoter for the week was that we were all in a constant state of living between moments of complete skepticism and moments of complete faith. He went on to ask the group, what would happen if we learned to live confidently and intentionally between that space? What if we could use this "limbo" space as a way to remind ourselves to spread God's love even through the little, everyday things?

I am currently living between two of my own trees. Though I think in some way, God may be telling me to slow down. I am in this strange limbo space between a wonderful (and eventful)  YAV Orientation in Stony Point New York, and my departure to Kerala. My fellow YAVs are already there and loving every minute of it! I am so glad that they are enjoying their time and I absolutely can't wait to join them.

I am in this limbo land because I have been waiting for my Indian Visa to arrive. I also woke up on Tuesday morning feeling very ill. I couldn't quite pinpoint what was causing it, but i knew one thing. I needed to go home while I still could. So we scrambled and found a ticket (even among the crazy hurricane delays) that would bring me home by 9:45 Wednesday morning. The plane stopped in St. Louis and on the first landing, my ears were very uncomfortable. They filled with so much pressure, but by the next take off they were back to normal. The landing in Dallas was another story. My head felt like it was going to explode. I was wincing and  probably looked very over dramatic to my neighbors. I couldn't hear much at all when i got off the plane. At the doctor's appointment not too long after the doctor said  "oh my, your ears look awful. They are severely infected!"  WHAT?! That was crazy news...and maybe a huge sign that I need to take this time to slow down, rest up and get to feeling better before my long, plane ride filled journey.

Today I got some amazing news. My Visa will be on my doorstep tomorrow morning! This short delay has been a rest worth taking. I am healing quickly and so energized to live fully in this time god has given me to rejuvenate. Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers! I will let you know when my travel plans start to come together, but hopefully this time next week i'll be Kerala Bound!

Blessings,
Rachel