Day 1
Sunday 13th February 2011
I have spent most of Sunday 13th February above the clouds! Flying from Birmingham to Dubai and then onto Bangalore has been very tiring indeed. However, it’s also been fun and the Indian people I have met so far have been incredibly welcoming. Also, in Dubai I bumped into Andrew Strauss, the England cricket captain. I shook his hand and congratulated him on the Ashes victory (I didn’t mention the one-day series!). Dubai airport is more like a space station than an airport. It is incredibly flash!
The flight from Dubai to India was also interesting because I was surprised by how much alike we are with Indian people in terms of clothes. On the flight, and in the airport, most people were dressed like people do in Keyworth. There were only one or two people wearing saris, salwar kameez or traditional Indian men’s clothing. This really surprised me, because when I went to the Indian Visa Bureau in Birmingham, a large majority of people were wearing 'traditional’ clothing. I’m sure a Sociologist or Anthropologist could make something of that!
Bangalore airport is very modern and impressive. However, once you leave the airport and head for the city, you quickly start to notice shacks by the side of the road where people live. The contrast is amazing between modern airports, roads (not all of them) and office blocks with the shacks. Some shacks were simply made of bits of corrugated metal with no doors or windows; people were sitting inside the shacks around fires. Most of the shacks seemed smaller than a child’s bedroom in England, but they housed several people. This really is a country of Haves and Have Nots.
The sound of horns is still ringing in my ears!
The day was finished nicely with a delicious curry. Paneer Jal-Frezi with vegetable rice and buttered Nan breads!! Yum-yum! The waiter actually brought me a menu of Western food to start with, but I asked him to pick me a mild vegetarian meal that he would have himself. It was delicious. Will any of you try Mrs Stockdale’s Indian food on Friday?
Tomorrow morning at 7.30am (2am your time!) I will be meeting the Head teacher, Brother Cletus, at St Francis School (see the picture below). I will let you know what happens, and try to answer more of your questions, tomorrow.
More photos of day 1.
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Day 2
Monday 14th February 2011
What an interesting day!
The day started with an outdoor assembly led by the children. Every day starts this way, with singing and information about everything from school routines to the news headlines. It was 28 degrees at 8am! The children stood in rows and responded when an older boy shouted, "Attention!" over the microphone. I am getting one or two ideas for Crossdale……
After this I met all the teachers and then observed an ICT lesson on LOGO. LOGO is a program that we have at Crossdale. The children worked very hard and seemed to enjoy the lesson – there were lots of smiles!
click here to watch a video of the ICT class.
After ICT I went around the 3 Reception classes (They call it Stage 2). The teachers and children were very smiley and the children sang and danced for me. I was shown the English handwriting done by 4 and 5 year old children. It is the most beautifully neat joined handwriting. They must spend many hours perfecting it.
In the afternoon I worked with Brother Cletus to complete an action plan and other forms that will allow teachers from India and Crossdale to visit each other again.
At 3pm Brother Cletus took me on a tour of Bangalore, showing me the regional parliament building and some incredibly posh shopping centres.
On my tour I noticed many, many people wearing saris and salwar kameez. However,I asked Brother Cletus who told me that less people wear them now as Western fashions are really popular. I also noticed that everyone speaks English! Signs and even tannoy announcements are all in English. Brother Cletus explained that English is a lingua franca for the many different cultures who come to Bangalore to find work. This really surprised me as I didn’t think I would be able to understand a thing out here!
More photos of day 2.
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Videos
Day 3
Tuesday 15th February 2011
India gets better and better! This morning started well with a meeting between me and several teachers here in Bangalore when we planned activities that children at St Francis and Crossdale can complete together. We had a really good talk about the similarities and differences between our two education systems.
Next, I worked with two teachers (Jincy Mathew and Bella James) to discuss Fronter and how children here can log on and use it.
After this we had a video presentation where I was shown the most amazing production that was done here in January. Each class performed a dance or drama piece in a 4 hour spectacular! I have a DVD to show in school; the production values are amazing. Costumes, lighting, stage and props all look like they have come from a Bollywood movie! I showed the children here video and photos of Crossdale and afterwards the children wanted my autograph – fame at last! The children were talking so much about the photos that teachers in other classes came to ask me to show the pictures again. (Well done Luke, Francis, Remi and Verity for preparing the photos)
The best part of the day came after 4pm when Brother Cletus had arranged for some teachers to take me out. I was met at school by one of the teachers’ husbands. He immediately offered to drive me to the Golden Temple if I had time during the week (I do not). The golden temple is 120km away and takes a whole day to get there and back. This was typical of the rest of the evening; the kindness and generosity shown was like nothing I have ever experienced.
During the evening I visited 4 teachers in their homes. After each visit the host followed on to the next house meaning that our numbers grew and grew. I was very well fed at each house and then, after about one hour, transported to the next house. Each host insisted that I ate well, and I did not feel I could refuse! Consequently I will not need to eat until I return to England! Although I was in a foreign country with people I have never met before, the conversation was easy and enjoyable.
As the evening drew on, I asked what language they would use if I wasn’t there. They explained that the only language they had in common, despite the fact they are all Indian, is English! All four teachers in the room, and their husbands, were from different parts of India, each with their own language. Although the national language is Hindi, this is only commonly used in the north of India and they were all more confident in English than Hindi.
It was interesting to look at the Hindu shrines in each house (although St Francis is a Christian school, the teachers and children follow different religions). Also, at some of the houses flowers,candles and chalk drawings were on the floor to welcome me as a visitor: this is a traditional Hindu welcome. All of the houses I visited were much smaller than in England, and all were spotlessly clean and tidy. People in India seem to be incredibly house proud.
I really feel that I have made some good friends today, and I will always remember their generosity. Tomorrow I am visiting another school and meeting with the teachers at St Francis school to plan our international link.
More photos of day 3.
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Videos
Day 4
Wednesday 16th February 2011
As today is a national holiday for a Muslim festival, all schools are closed. With no children in school we (there were two other English teachers in Bangalore today) started with a trip to another St Francis school. The St Francis schools are run by religious brothers and their aim to provide an education for all regardless of their religion or position in society; many children benefit from their work. At this second St Francis school there is an orphanage. Most of the children there have had little education and are between 12 and 16 years old. The orphans are trained to do jobs involving electrical work, metal work, printing, and other trades. You may think it looks hard work, but it is a wonderful opportunity for children who would otherwise have to live on the streets.
More photos of day 4.
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Videos
Day 5
Thursday 17th February 2011
Today was a mixture or working with Brother Cletus and other teachers to plan our school link, and observing lessons. The children had lots of questions for me when I was in class, they are incredibly interested in England and are all very positive about our country. The children are very confident and seldom hesitate to come forward to share or show something.
Click here to see a video of a 7th standard (Y7) class in action. The teacher is Brother Anthony, who is a very nice man and the Vice-Principal. Don’t forget, not all teachers in India dress like Brother Anthony: this is a Christian school run by Brothers. However, most of the teachers here are Hindu or Roman Catholic women who dress in saris.
After school finished three of the teachers took me to see a Hindu temple and then shopping on M.G. road, and finally for dinner. The Hindu temple was fascinating. All 3 of the teachers with me were Hindus, so we went in and followed all of the appropriate rituals, including repeatedly chanting:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
A holy person performed a ritual with bells, flowers and a golden statue of Krishna while we chanted. I have learnt a lot about the Hindu faith from this visit, as most people in India are Hindu. However, it is fascinating to see how well Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and Muslims co-exist. When you throw in the mixture of languages, it is amazing that everyone rubs along so well together. India is a great example of a tolerant multi-cultural society. (St Francis is a Roman Catholic school and around half of the teachers are Roman catholic. Most of the children are Hindus)
More photos of day 5
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Videos
Day 6
Friday 18th February 2011
Brother Cletus planned a farewell assembly for me today. The children came to school in PE kits. What followed next was amazing! A marching band started up and the children split into their house (teams for sports day and other competitions). With everyone in the same house standing together, they marched around the yard and past me, saluting as they went!
Next, children came out to perform different routines. These included:
·a fashion show of regional costumes ( click here to see the children together).
·a girl doing an amazing dance whilst balancing a candle stick on her head.
·some older boys doing a 'Bollywood’ dance.
·2nd Standard (R/Y1) children doing a Krishna dance.
·A parade of Indian resistance heroes.
·….. lots more.
It was all very impressive!
Afterwards I was called to the staff room where parents had brought in a display of Indian crafts and lots of food for me to try. Although it was only 10.30am I was presented with plate after plate of different dishes to try – delicious! It is now almost 9pm and I have not eaten another thing since!
The rest of the day was spent in classrooms (where I showed off Y4’s brilliant guide book) and working with Brother Cletus on an application for funding to allow teachers from Crossdale and St Francis to visit each others’ schools over the next three years. Earlier in the week we had already started one grant application, but we found in the week that our government had pulled the funding on that grant – so all our work was wasted! However, we are determined to be successful with this effort.
The best part of the day came at 3pm (9.30am UK time) when we connected Y6 and Y5 at Crossdale with children at St Francis school using Skype. It was wonderful to see the children at Crossdale looking so colourful, happy and excited. The children asked brilliant questions chatted for around 30 minutes. The room at St Francis that we used was full of teachers and children all excited to see Crossdale. Children from both schools were fantastic!
I have more videos and pictures of today, but I’ve had huge problems all week uploading images and videos and logging onto Fronter. Consequently I will add more media when I return to the UK.
All being well I should be back in Nottingham by 9pm tomorrow. Have a great half-term!
More photos of day 6.
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Videos
Farewell assembly 'Heroes of India'
Farewell assembly – Krishna dance
Farewell assembly – Groovy Dance
Farewell assembly – amazing candle dance
Farewell assembly – march past and salute 1
Farewell assembly – march past 2
Farewell assembly – Regional costumes
Skype communication – St Francis / Crossdale
Skype communication – St Francis / Crossdale 2