Hello everyone, it's been a while!
Wait. It's been already over 4 weeks; that's a month! Those days flew by... and it's August already!
There have been some difficulties and challenges, but there have been so many fun, new, and exciting things. I wish I could share it all!
Today's post: update on Field Placement.
I have chosen to work at Krupa (pronounced: kri (like KRIsten) pa-- I don't know why), a place that works especially for and with "the forgotten and forsaken", located in a village on the outskirts of Chennai. They begun their ministry helping people suffering from leprosy, but then realized there were so many other facets of Indian society that also needed assistance, that they expanded their focus. Today, they still work with people with leprosy, but also, work in areas of Chennai with gypsy communities, housing children who don't otherwise have access to homes, educating children (especially those who live in their hostels and of the gypsy community), hosting a community college for secondary school drop-outs, providing work opportunity for destitute women to learn weaving and then to accompany that, teaching embroidery and block printing, and also using a sewing machine. They are skilled in making saris, mats, bags, bed sheets, aprons, and other items. Krupa also plans to start a bakery program.
And I get to work there!
The variety of this placement really caught my attention. Many of you who know me well know that I love to be involved in many various programs, especially differing in the level of challenges. So, I hoped to get to observe many of these different programs.
During the first day, I found out that I would be helping to teach the college students basic conversational English and to set up a weekly literary club. I would have an interpreter and/or other students from MCC joining me, so this will not be too difficult of a task, or so I thought. I have not taught yet, but have had several opportunities to interact with the students and to get to know them a little. And I think it will be more challenging than I first supposed; language can be a huge barrier... And I recognize that so much more now that I'm in the minority, or at least a minority of sorts.
The other big project that I have been asked to help with is called Arunodhaya, a program first year students developed and continued all year last year. Their task was to locate all of the autistic children and their families in the surrounding villages, and then start going door to door asking parents of their need and if they would be willing to let Krupa teach their children- free of charge. They encountered a plethora of difficulties here, ones that I would surely face. I believe I will start working on that possibly in August, but for now need to become more familiar with culture and surroundings, language, and people, to be able to help them adequately. And, once a couple of first years come to Krupa, they will be able to go with me and help me, too.
Then, yesterday I was able to see a different part of the city. I visited Krupa Headquarters in the heart of Chennai, set in a neighborhood. This was so neat! I will need to take a picture when I go again, so you all can see. Aside from being able to observe what Krupa is involved in, I was able to help work with them! They were getting ready for a grand opening of selling the women's products from Krupa, and I was there to assist in taking inventory and measuring items. In other words... Organizing! Let me tell you, I felt right at home. While there, I first helped transfer stock from the storage room in one house down the stairs and up another stairs to the room that things will be sold. Then, we sorted all of the products by kind and counted them. We also ended up measuring a lot of the bed sheets and tablecloths that were brought up as well; 6:15 seemed to come pretty fast!
The only thing was that it was a long day... I left here at 8:20, got on a train for 45 minutes, arrived at 9:30 to Krupa Headquarters, and worked there until 6:15. Time got a little away from us. I had to cross a busy road (by myself) to get back to the station and that was probably the scariest part of that journey. I took probably five or seven minutes just gathering up the courage to step out and run! :) But, I made it. Then, caught my train, and was home by 7:15. Not bad, right?
Tomorrow I'm not sure what I will be doing. Indian schedule... I might be at the headquarters, I might be at the other site of Krupa, or I might be off with the department HOD on a field trip. We'll see!
Next week, I think I'll be at the headquarters again, helping with some clerical duties. Perhaps the week after that I'll start teaching English?
Wait. It's been already over 4 weeks; that's a month! Those days flew by... and it's August already!
There have been some difficulties and challenges, but there have been so many fun, new, and exciting things. I wish I could share it all!
Today's post: update on Field Placement.
I have chosen to work at Krupa (pronounced: kri (like KRIsten) pa-- I don't know why), a place that works especially for and with "the forgotten and forsaken", located in a village on the outskirts of Chennai. They begun their ministry helping people suffering from leprosy, but then realized there were so many other facets of Indian society that also needed assistance, that they expanded their focus. Today, they still work with people with leprosy, but also, work in areas of Chennai with gypsy communities, housing children who don't otherwise have access to homes, educating children (especially those who live in their hostels and of the gypsy community), hosting a community college for secondary school drop-outs, providing work opportunity for destitute women to learn weaving and then to accompany that, teaching embroidery and block printing, and also using a sewing machine. They are skilled in making saris, mats, bags, bed sheets, aprons, and other items. Krupa also plans to start a bakery program.
And I get to work there!
The variety of this placement really caught my attention. Many of you who know me well know that I love to be involved in many various programs, especially differing in the level of challenges. So, I hoped to get to observe many of these different programs.
During the first day, I found out that I would be helping to teach the college students basic conversational English and to set up a weekly literary club. I would have an interpreter and/or other students from MCC joining me, so this will not be too difficult of a task, or so I thought. I have not taught yet, but have had several opportunities to interact with the students and to get to know them a little. And I think it will be more challenging than I first supposed; language can be a huge barrier... And I recognize that so much more now that I'm in the minority, or at least a minority of sorts.
The other big project that I have been asked to help with is called Arunodhaya, a program first year students developed and continued all year last year. Their task was to locate all of the autistic children and their families in the surrounding villages, and then start going door to door asking parents of their need and if they would be willing to let Krupa teach their children- free of charge. They encountered a plethora of difficulties here, ones that I would surely face. I believe I will start working on that possibly in August, but for now need to become more familiar with culture and surroundings, language, and people, to be able to help them adequately. And, once a couple of first years come to Krupa, they will be able to go with me and help me, too.
Then, yesterday I was able to see a different part of the city. I visited Krupa Headquarters in the heart of Chennai, set in a neighborhood. This was so neat! I will need to take a picture when I go again, so you all can see. Aside from being able to observe what Krupa is involved in, I was able to help work with them! They were getting ready for a grand opening of selling the women's products from Krupa, and I was there to assist in taking inventory and measuring items. In other words... Organizing! Let me tell you, I felt right at home. While there, I first helped transfer stock from the storage room in one house down the stairs and up another stairs to the room that things will be sold. Then, we sorted all of the products by kind and counted them. We also ended up measuring a lot of the bed sheets and tablecloths that were brought up as well; 6:15 seemed to come pretty fast!
The only thing was that it was a long day... I left here at 8:20, got on a train for 45 minutes, arrived at 9:30 to Krupa Headquarters, and worked there until 6:15. Time got a little away from us. I had to cross a busy road (by myself) to get back to the station and that was probably the scariest part of that journey. I took probably five or seven minutes just gathering up the courage to step out and run! :) But, I made it. Then, caught my train, and was home by 7:15. Not bad, right?
Tomorrow I'm not sure what I will be doing. Indian schedule... I might be at the headquarters, I might be at the other site of Krupa, or I might be off with the department HOD on a field trip. We'll see!
Next week, I think I'll be at the headquarters again, helping with some clerical duties. Perhaps the week after that I'll start teaching English?
Conversational English? That sounds like it could be challenging. Good luck!
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