Technically, there's another day tomorrow, but we're leaving tomorrow and this is supposedly the last full day of activities. So the plan for today is to engage the kids at the St Joseph convent school.
As usual, the kids were damn excited to see us! We were suppose to be there for flag raising, but I think we missed it. So we went straight into computers lessons, teaching the higher grade students how to use Microsoft word and PowerPoint. I actually doubt thru retain much of it, but it's still good to be aware that such programs exist and what possibilities they bring. The students range from the demure angelic and ever-eager to learn girls to the devilish clowns in class that nearly made me snap at them.
Midway through, we joined the students for lunch, where I sat among a group of little girls. As usual, I gobbled up lunch quickly and ran around to play with the boys, trying out a little of their cricket, trying to topple a stone wall from afar with a ball and being made used of to borrow the volleyball. The lower grade boys were obsessed with my height, which resulted in me having to carry them up and down (that little paternal instinct leaked out)
After lunch was back to computer lessons, where we continued to conduct classes while the principal round up the school for a little surprise. After being segregated according to their age group, we each went to the group and tried to engage them a little. Since we were supposed to talk abt dreams, I went around asking every kid in the group for their name and what they would like to do when they grew up. Common answers among the girls include teacher and doctors, while the guys almost unanimously wanted to be police officers. A few interesting ones include being a sister and engineers.
The highlight of the day was definitely the balloons. The plan was to give everyone a balloon, write their dreams down on the balloon and then release it as a school. So each of us took like 30 balloons each and started giving them out to the kids (it really felt like being Santa). Given the the rain was coming, we decided to skip the writing off dreams and proceed with the release of balloons. After a thankfully short speech by the principal, everyone released their balloons together, and the sky was filled with a myriad of colors as the students let loose as their dreams took flight. Our day at the school ended with a short interaction with the students, where I engaged them in simple sports like volleyball and dodgeball.
We went back to complete our mural painting, and waited for the next activity at support (which houses HIV patients). They were sending off one if their long term staff and we were invited to attend as well. Members of staff and Father George offered kind words to the leaving sister while we were suppose to put up a short perform (which we didn't prep at all). It got a little emotional, with all the sisters sobbing and offering hugs. At last, we decide to sing 'I'm Yours" (thankful for the last night sing-along session in bunks) and luckily I happen to have lyrics on my phone. Thank god for musically talented HY and Jon on their ukuleles and Ja on his guitar. Dinner came soon after and was served with ice cream. At this point in time, anything cold and sweet is greatly appreciated. We stayed at support for a while longer and had sing-along sessions there with the girls (their bunk is at support). The indians wanted a dancer and naturally C got all our votes (and i got it down on video :p). Took a late night walk back to our hut (the only good thing abt our hut is its location!)
Mark!
Starting to miss this place
PS: I really love the kids here
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