This is such a beautiful and harsh land.
It's hot but the killer is the humidity.
My hair is tightly kinked - bless those genes!
The bed mattress is hard but the kids sleep on the cement floor.
Everyone eats rice and vegetables with their hands.
My ankles are the size of elephant's ankles. The humidity - so I'm pushing fluids and elevating them whenever I can. Give them a week and they will be back to normal.
I am now over student welfare which means I will help organize and work in the medical and dental clinic - review the menu and nutrition for the kids (they get almost no protein) - teach the room mothers how to keep the living quarters clean and what good hygiene is.
There are no volunteers here this week and no students either. They are on a quarterly schedule so they get 2 weeks off in May, October and January. What a blessing. I have a week to get my things organized, learn some of the local traditions and habits, catch up after jet lag and meet the people I will work with.
This place is divinely inspired. The spirit is very strong. Some of the things I brought but didn't know why at the time were right on what I needed.
The locals have a holiday this weekend. There is a man here at the school who is devout Hindu. He did a special celebration with chanting and bell ringing and flowers. It was to bless the school during the year so it will be protected and provide shelter for the children. The staff members who participated splattered red and yellow dye on all the vehicles and door posts. One of the villagers brought a cow which they splattered with dye too. Then they walked around it with lit lanterns while chanting and ringing an annoying bell. Most everyone walked around the cow. Some bent down in front of the cow with their head on the ground in prayer. Then they took the cow into the school and walked it up and down each hallway to bless the school. Then they went outside again where they held a small fruit up high with a sugar cube on it that was lit on fire. After holding this in the air and praying they smashed it on the ground. Then they did the same with an apple - then with a melon that they smashed into 4 pieces and put a piece on each of the 4 corners of the entry to the compound. It was very colorful and obviously important to them.
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