In the Groove By: Samantha Anderson

In the Groove

By: Samantha Anderson

Since we’ve been in India for a few days, I have gotten in the groove of a routine. We wake up at 7:00 a.m. every day, always with a knock on the door. Then we eat breakfast, go to our schools, and teach. I will now name each and every child’s name at our school because with every name comes a sweet personality: Diya, Angli, Devinder, Preveen, Varun, Priyanka, Laxmi, Chirag, Simrann, Angli, Akshita, Kritansh, Manju, Vaishnavi, Sarika, Arnav, Minakshi, Amrita, Aayush, Samit, Rijul, Angli, Ishant, Gopal, Chitra, Lucky, Aaryan, Rehan, Shagun, Angel. I just love all of them so much.

 

Today was so special. We were able to paint a mural at our school. We painted mountains with many sections of color above them, and Bob Ross trees. There is a picture of it in this blog. All these kids started to file into the school just to watch us paint. Even Krishant came. We were listening to Tiger Teeth, a song Jens showed me. Please listen to this song. We used light pink (pink is every single kids’ favorite color at the school), light green, dark green, yellow, and orange. I have loved participating in something that makes such a difference in these kids lives.

 

Each and every kid’s smile is so priceless. I love them so much. It is going to be so hard to say goodbye. I don’t even want to think of that moment. Some cute things they do are:

-Holding your hand at every possible moment

-Calling the girls “Didi,” which means sister

-Handshakes of every sort

-They say “cheat” every time someone cheats or I look at their nametag to see what their name is when I forget

-Are so anxious to help clean up the lesson supplies after each one (especially Preveen)

-Lots of laughs

I have been getting used to this routine, and I do not want it to end. I don’t want this amazing thing that has started to abruptly end. These kids are so pure and have taught me much (sometimes I even get the math problems wrong). But not only have the relationships with the kids been established and built, but also with our Operation Parivar (family). We are so much closer and tighter knit. I love this. And no mom, I am not homesick.