Hey Everyone! I am doing great and getting a wonderful experience! Yesterday was hands down the best day I could ask for! There were 40 surguries scheduled for free from the local Lions Club in Vadodara. So we got up early and watched a few surgeries, there were 2 rooms ready for operation and a constant stream of people coming in. There were medical students here from India and they helped us understand what was going on. Then Ami's aunts got Ashley and Me ready for an indian wedding in the local village. We put on beautiful sari's (I think that is how you spell it) and went into the village. The parents of the bride were SO HAPPY we came. The entire wedding process is days long so we just went for the reception with the brides side before the wedding ceremony. There was a big band and they played classics indian wedding music. All the people in the village, about 1,000, were there and about 300 started dancing in a circle. They were simple steps that went along with the music and traveled around the circle. The people would not just let us sit on the side and watch, they pulled us into the circle and we learned the dance. It was so funny! The wedding photographer kept taking pictures of us and the father kept saying thank you. Then some man and wife jumped in the circle next to me and spoke english, they tried to get me to marry their son. They pointed in his direction but I did not get to meet him, they tried to plan the wedding for today. HAHA Then after the dancing we came back to the school and started a kickball tournamant with the children. Only a few knew english so we had a while explaining them the rules but once we started they had a blast. The kids here are so happy even if they have no idea what I am saying to them. I got to experience all types of cultures yesterday and it made me very happy to be here.
Today we went into the classrooms of the small children and watched their English lecture. They were learning their alphabet, like b is for ball, and writing it in cursive. We are taking a break now to write to you all and then going back to the hospital to do post operation check ups. Tomorrow (tuesday) we will only be at the compound for half a day, then heading into the large city to do some shopping and hopefully watch a show. We leave very early wednesday morning and I will be back very early on new years eve. I am going to attemp to uplead videos of the Taj Mahel and the Wedding. I am going to miss this place but can't wait to be home with my family. The people here are wonderful and I don't ever feel unsafe. Everyone looks out for everyone! It really is a beautiful culture full of love!
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sounds like a good time kiddo,thats nice that they included ya'll in the wedding dance. whatch that getting married stuff don't make any wrong moves. love you DAD. keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteWendy, your accounts of your experiences in India have been fascinating to read, and -- although I am not an English teacher -- are extremely well-written. It sounds like you are learning a lot as a result of this immersion into Indian culture. I hope you continue to enjoy India and continue to learn much.
ReplyDeleteMr. W