Prashanth

Prashanth really is a cheerful person; however, the students don’t like pictures of themselves smiling.  Whenever I manage to get a picture with a smile they ask me to delete it and take another picture.

Prashanth was a 1^st year intermediate student.  I say was because the intermediate students have completed their end of year exams.  (The school year begins in mid-June and ends in late March for the Junior College [i.e. intermediate] and Degree College students.  The 10^th grade completed their exams on the 6^th of April; the rest of the students will complete their school year on the 22^nd of April.)  Apparently their exams were graded the moment they were turned in because each day he told me how he did on that day’s exam.  He did well so I am sure he will be returning in June for his 2^nd intermediate year.  

Definitions:

High School: grades 8 through 10

Junior College: grades 11 and 12 except they are called 1^st and 2^nd intermediate

Degree College: typically three years

It was Prashanth that explained to me that relationships are more likely to be an analogy than the literal blood relation.  His example was how a previous visitor regarded him as Thamudu (little brother).  He asked and I agreed to call him Thamudu.  His English was and is excellent.  While studying Telugu the students that were helping me frequently turned to Prashanth to get the English equivalent.

St. Andrew’s, Kothagudem

Bishop Devamani has been telling me about St. Andrew’s, Kothagudem for weeks now.  It is the largest congregation in his diocese.  (The Cathedral is the second largest congregation; however, it is not the second largest building.)  I was told to expect 3,000 people at the service.  The second service, the Telugu service, at which the bishop preached, did indeed appear to have 3,000 people.  This is a picture of just part of the congregation.  One of the students in the hostel recognized his aunt near the front, just left of the center of the picture.  She placed her hand on her face to avoid visual distractions while praying.

St. Andrew’s has an English service.  This was my first opportunity to attend an English service since arriving in India.  Therefore, I was eager to go even if it meant getting up by 4 AM and leaving by 5 AM to make the two hour drive before the 7:30 AM service.  On Saturday the 27^th, Bishop Devamani made sure I understood this timeline.  He then proceeds to surprise me.  Not only is he going to explain to the congregation what a Eucharistic Minister is (they don’t have Lay Eucharistic Ministers in this diocese) so he can utilize my Chalice Bearer license (he talked via e-mail with Bishop Greg Rickel); he also asked me to preach at the English service.  Of course I was nervous.

I am grateful for the experience.  Apparently I did okay because the bishop expressed his thanks.

Notes:

Kothagudem is also a coal mining community

Kothagudem is a city now; however, its name comes from its founding over a hundred years ago.  The name means new hamlet.  (A hamlet is smaller than a village.)

St. Andrew’s primary school and St. Andrew’s high school are next to the church.  They will be celebrating 75 years of service next year.  Presently this school is struggling; however, efforts are underway that could draw more students to this school once again.

In India, they decorate the palm branches with flowers (please see the picture of the Palm Sunday procession below).

   

End of the School Year

This blog entry is being posted out of order to help explain what is happening here in Dornakal.

Summer comes to India at a different time of the year than what we are used to.  In India, particularly south India where I am, summer comes in early March.  By Mid-March (March 15 this year) the government orders the schools to go to half day because it is too hot to keep the students in the classroom during the afternoon.

(Note: because of this heat I have been asked not to go outside during the afternoon.  This means I don’t go to the office where I can access the Internet until evening.  [I am at school in the morning].  If the office is open in the evening I can go in then – if it is open.  The connection speed has been getting worse as the heat increases; isn’t physics wonderful!  As a result I am behind on posting the entries that I write while I am off the Internet.  They will be posted.  Meanwhile this one is being posted out of order so you will know why the entries are referring to old events as if they had just occurred.)

The school year is also adjusted.  The summer break is planned to keep the students out of crowded classrooms during the worst of the summer heat.  As a result we are conducting end of the year exams now.  The last day of school will be 22 April with a final working day for teachers on the 23^rd.  After that I will be preparing the computer lab for next year and supporting diocesan programs (which may include teaching computer skills – TBD.)  The new school year begins just as US schools are letting out – 12 June.  It is a six day school week with Saturday being a half day (since 15 March they have all been half days but full days will resume when school re-opens on the 12^th of June.)  The rains come in June and the heat lets up.

Exams are a little different.  Just like I remember, there is a modified school schedule during exams.  Unlike my memory of exams at Shorewood, the exam school day begins with an outdoor assembly – everyday.  That is at 8:30 AM.  We would start in the classroom and after announcements and roll-call the exam would begin.  Here the announcements are made at assembly but the students are not permitted in the classroom until after 9:00 AM and the exam doesn’t begin until 9:30 AM.  Roll is taken during the exam – for the exam it is assigned seating so it is easy even if I am giving an exam to a class I have never set foot in front of before.

Exams are 2 and ½ hours long.  I remember the exams at Shorewood being longer than the normal class period but not that long.  Also we had two or three exams in one day.  Here there is only one exam per day because school needs to close by lunchtime due to the heat.

I am feeling the heat a bit more now than before, but I am doing fine.  Every once in a while I manage to see a newspaper.  Even though it is in Telugu, numbers are numbers so I can get the previous day’s temperatures if see the paper.  The last numbers I have are 24.8 (76.6 F) and 42.4 (108.3 F).  Of course there is some variance; I was looking for the paper that day because the previous day had “felt” warmer.

Church Dedications and Mission High School

The next couple of trips were also to the region of Khammam.  On Saturday, 20 March we went to Thimminenipalem where we dedicated a new church.  St. John’s was started by six families living in the hamlet (smaller than a village) of Thimminenipalem.  Others were interested; however, they chose to travel to churches (one family to a Catholic Church others to independent churches) in neighboring villages.  These families were also present at the dedication and indicated their intensions to come to St. John’s, Thimminenipalem now that the church is built and dedicated.  Many others from the hamlet also attended so the church was packed for the dedication.  If half or even a third end up attending on a regular basis St. John’s will need a new building soon as witnessed by the number of people participating via the window’s and doorways.  Unfortunately the picture doesn’t show how many were outside; but if communion is any indication it was a lot.

After lunch we traveled to one of the early works of the diocese.  Seventy-five years ago this work was so well established that it was able to begin a school for the children of the surrounding area.  These children were housed in hostels next to the school.  (This is still true for the students of today.)  We were there for a series of committee meetings and to witness Mission High School’s Sports Day.  We were ushered into the ten acre campus with traditional dancing and numerous banners.  To my surprise there was even one naming me. Mission High School is much larger (and older) than the schools in Dornakal.

           

On Sunday, 21 March we returned to the Khammam area.  This time we were in Wyra, a village outside of Khammam.  St. John’s, Wyra is an established congregation.  Their old facilities were literally falling apart so they tore them down and in just seven months build the church facility that was dedicated as part of the Sunday morning services.

We began by being paraded several kilometers down the biggest and busiest street in the village (which is also the street St. John’s is located on).  This was arranged ahead of time.  As a result there was a band, fireworks, and the police were on hand to direct traffic.  When we arrived at the church we paraded around the new building, dedicated it and then moved inside.  Well some of us did, the rest sat in the areas that had been set up for the reception afterwards.  Again, if even a third of this crowd attends on a regular basis then they built too small.

The CSI (Church of South India) prayer book also has a service for the dedication of a church; however, it does not have the individual prayers for the consecration of the various parts of the church (altar, pulpit, lectern) so bishop Devamani Thandrigaru borrowed mine for this service.  (We compared them following the dedication in Thimminenipalem the day before.)

           

Sounds of India

My camera also takes short movies (.AVI files for those who know what that means).  Unfortunately they get very large very quickly.  I have been attempting to make some of them available.  However, the .avi file format is not supported by this blog and the only conversion program I currently have access to will only create .divx files which are not supported either.  I looked into YouTube but I couldn’t establish an account because I do not have a phone that they can call to verify my request. 

I hope to have opportunities to talk about my mission trip when I return.  I would like to utilize those opportunities to share some of these short movies.

Exciting times

A lot has been happening lately.  First of all, bishop Devamani just returned to Dornakal after being away for over nearly two weeks.  Before he left he made note of my computer skills (bachelor’s degree, 13 years with EDS and two years teaching computers with the Peace Corps) and asked the principal of the Diocese of Dornakal English Medium High School (DDEMS) to work with me on the computer program. 

Let me share a little history at this point.  The students of the diocesan schools come from poor communities and / or poor families.  The diocese desires to help make education available to all, so they gather up these youth and house them in various hostels near the diocesan schools.  There has been a desire to add computer skills (i.e. a computer program) to the curriculum of the diocesan schools for some time (I don’t know how long).  A computer lab has been built next to the diocesan office.  A couple of weeks ago I was talking to Kalyan and mentioned the upcoming computer classes.  He said he is eager to learn about computers and how to type but that computer lab will not be open for another two years.

Well, that was a reminder for me that things happen here at a different pace.  When Joshua (the principal of DDEMS) and I talked I shared my computer experience with him.  The following week I asked if he had a syllabus for teaching computers or if he wanted me to develop one.  At this point the pace of things changed.  Instead of ‘I’ll get an answer for you’ or ‘we will look into it’ or (you get the idea) it was an immediate answer – can you write it? 

Working from my memory of the syllabus I had in the Gambia and my experience with teaching there, I did develop a curriculum.

I little more history will help me explain this.  In the Gambia many of my students came from towns where there was no power.  They had never seen a typewriter or a computer.  However, the curriculum that was provided there started straight into using MS Word; very much like we would expect to be able to do in the United States.  Well I learned quickly that most of the students didn’t know what a keyboard was, how to use it or how to boot a computer for that matter.  While I have not been to the surrounding villages and hamlets yet (when the bishop met with me following his return he told me about plans to take me to some of the villages / hamlets during the coming month), I do know that some of them do not have electricity.

I wrote a syllabus that went beyond the request to come up with something that we could do between now and the end of this school year (23 April).  If the desire is truly to enhance the schools program and provide these students with more skills, then a one time – eight week – program would be the wrong answer, even if that was the request. 

I couldn’t find typing tutor in the Microsoft suite of programs on my computer so I designed my own.  Something that can be worked on in small pieces thereby answering the desire for doing something this school year and creating flexibility that can be built upon for future school years.  I also included proposals for instruction in how to use MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint, thereby making it a multi-year syllabus that can be adapted to the student’s skills.

That was last week.  This week Joshua approved the plan and provided me with an opportunity to transfer my work to the diocesan computer so I could print the syllabus.  He also arranged an opportunity for me to see the computer lab so I could customize some of the diagrams and details of the syllabus.  (They have received just four computers which will prove interesting since this is going to be offered to several hundred students as well as the current teaching staff.  The good news is the computers that were provided are new; not new enough to have Windows 7 but they do have Windows Vista.)  I have met with the bishop and he also approved the syllabus.  He is looking into making the Sunday school area of the cathedral available to me and Deacon Charles (the other Charles) who also happens to know computers.  This would allow for the instruction to be done in fewer sessions (larger groups) than visiting each class at each school.  He is keen to open the computer lab but fully agrees that a knowledge of what is there, why they care, and how to use it needs to come first.

Less than a month ago the forecast (by a student) was ‘it will be two years before the computer lab is open.’ Now it looks like it will be next month – and I get to be part of making it happen!

Meanwhile, I have been working with two students, Kalyan (mentioned above) and Pasha (a year younger) to test the syllabus.  At first it was just Kalyan that was interested.  He is working through my version of a typing tutor and his experience is helping me customize the syllabus to the understanding of the students here.  Pasha returned from visiting his family a week and a half ago (a local festival for one of the other faiths).  He must have told his family what I was doing because his family encouraged him to learn all he can.  He is!  He has already caught up with Kalyan, making it very clear that the part about “why they care about computer skills’ is going to be a very important part of the pre-computer lab instruction if we want to make the most of each person’s computer time.

I should mention that the computer lab does not have internet access at this time so my e-mail and blogging access will remain unchanged.

Visitors – pictures from the Korean program

There was very little talking during the Korean presentation.  It was prepared with the Deaf and Dumb School in mind (also pictured).  Please move your mouse over the picture for a brief description.

    

    

Visitors

Good morning from the calm, peaceful and even sleepy town of Dornakal.  From time to time we have visitors from other parts of the world but mostly (from what I have seen) Dornakal serves as a transit point where people from the local community can come to catch the train (or send produce) to Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, or Delhi.

Last weekend was the “end of winter” festival for the Hindu faith.  Interestingly enough it occurred at the same time as the Chinese New Year.  I don’t know if they are based upon the same calendar; however, I wonder.  All of the schools were closed on Friday and Saturday so students could travel home for the festival.  Approximately half of the hostel did travel.  It is now Tuesday and some of them still haven’t returned.  I am told this is common.  For those who did not go home to their families for the festival and for those who are of other faiths (Muslim, Christian, Jainism …) there was an outdoor program at the Cathedral each night (7:30 PM until it gets done – somewhere around 10 or 10:30 PM).  A guest preacher came from the Church of South India (CSI). 

The CSI is comparable to the Episcopal Church of the United States of America (ECUSA) in scope, i.e. it is one of the provinces of the Anglican Communion; however, the relationship between the CSI and a diocese is closer to what we know of a relationship between a diocese and a parish instead of what we experience as the relationship between ECUSA and a diocese.

Based upon this, it was no surprise that he was welcomed in the same way that we would welcome a guest speaker from the diocesan staff.  He was the guest speaker for the Cathedral programs and the guest preacher for the Harvest Festival, Sunday service (the 14^th of February).  After the service on Sunday there was meal at the Cathedral where several groups made and sold items for lunch.  I mention this because when we (the reverend, I’m sorry but I don’t have the spelling for the reverend’s name, his wife and I) returned to the hostel we were served another lunch.  Was it hospitality or cultural tradition?

On Monday the diocese (of Dornakal) received a youth group from South Korea.  I had just arrived at the Degree College when they arrived.  After the formal reception at the only degree college in the diocese the Koreans continued on to see the junior college and the other schools while I joined my class.  I should mention that everything stops for visitors, so my students were also part of the reception at the college; however, they returned to class while the Koreans were treated to tea and biscuits (cookies) during the staff introductions.

I learned that the Korean youth group is from a sister church in South Korea.  Their leader, also a reverend, does speak Telugu; however, the youth do not.  They had prepared a presentation which was shared with all of the youth and teachers of all of the schools (therefore it occurred at the cathedral outer courtyard).  The presentation included a pantomime performance of a Gospel lesson and several traditional Korean dances.  They even had some of the students come up and join them.  This performance was the first time I saw the students from the deaf school.  Trust me, they got it.  I don’t know very much sign language but I do know love and thank you.  Both were being used freely and frequently by the deaf school students.  I will submit a separate photo blog entry once I have transferred the pictures out of the camera.

DD Eng Med High School

The Diocese of Dornakal began the English Medium High School in three small buildings.  With the completion of the current construction each class will have its own room.  It will also allow for the original buildings to be removed; creating a larger, more functional school-yard / assembly area.

The gate to the school-yard is just behind me.  The three old buildings with deteriorating roofs are to the right of the picture.  The eighth standard (8^th grade) through the tenth standard are preparing for a practice test.  (There are two lines for grade, one line for the girls and one line for the boys with the grade going up as you move to the right in this picture.  When they sit down outside they will sit on their sandals or on the textbook for another subject.)  The classrooms are two small for tests.  In the classroom the students sit at bench desks that probably should accommodate two; however I have seen three and sometimes four on a single bench using a single desk.  Our concept of personal space would seem strange to Indian students.

The person walking along the building is Principal Joshua.  (He is also working in the diocesan office filling a currently vacant job there in is “spare” time.)  The teacher at the left edge of the picture is Mr. Rajkuma.  I am working with Mr. Rajkuma – we are both teaching Math and English.  Periodically we trade classes so all of our students will hear English with an Indian pronunciation (accent) and with an American pronunciation (accent).

 

I am standing outside Principal Joshua’s office (which is also the teacher’s room).  This picture of the end of the school day assembly shows the three buildings mentioned above.  (The taller white building in the center is the back side of the Diocese of Dornakal Medium School hostel.  That building is accessed by leaving the school-yard and going around via the street.)  Hopefully this picture can provide an idea of how a school assembly fills the current school-yard.  The builders have informed Joshua that the building will be ready by the end of January.  They are moving along, but this seems optimistic.

The school day is 8:45 AM until 4:00 PM with an hour and a half lunch.  The students go back to their hostels for lunch and then return.  School is Monday through Saturday; however, Saturday is a half day (morning session only).

Cricket

As near as I can tell, the most popular sport here is not football (what we call soccer) as I had expected.  It is cricket.  Naturally the boys in the hostel take their game / exercise time each day to play cricket.  They have tried to get me to play several times.  I, in turn, have tried to explain that I do not know the sport.  Slowly, I am learning.

I now know that a wicket is any one of the three sticks behind the batter or any one of the three sticks behind the bowler.  Knocking down a wicket is (apparently) equivalent to an out in baseball.  The bowler is comparable to a pitcher in baseball although the way the ball is sent to the batter is different (it usually is bounced at least once.) 

Today I learned the terms “over” which equates to six bowls (pitches).  I also learned that the playing field extends behind the batter as well as in front.

I have a great deal more to learn about this sport.  Meanwhile, yes, I have attempted it.  Personally I think my efforts were pathetic but the boys are more excited about sharing their sport than they are about how I play.  I have not seen any girls playing cricket; not even at the DD English Medium High School which is currently having a sports competition.  (The school sports competition is comparable to “field day” in our primary schools except that the school extends through 10^th grade and most of the players come from the upper grades while the under students cheer them on.)