The children are all gone--a few of us old folks are here for another day or two, but the house mothers and cooks will be gone by mid-day. We feel a bit lonely and are missing all the activity!
It was a wild week, to put it mildly, but it turned out so well. The children's excitement for the Marriott Day of tree planting, and the Annual Day with the wonderful program, was only exceeded by having their parents or family member come to take them home for 5 weeks! That was the happiest thing of all.
The busy week began with the Courtyard Marriott team coming to plant 12 trees in recognition of Environmental Month. It was a truly wonderful day, with a group of about 30 coming to help the children get the trees in the ground (we had pre-dug and prepared the holes for them). They sponsored an art competition, complete with prizes, about awareness of the importance of clean, green, and being ecologically friendly. Lunch under the mango trees is also included when the Marriott team comes. The children loved every part of the day, but it pointed up to us they need more time for art in their lives; they loved the drawing and we should encourage more of it.
After an exhausting previous week completing exams, and the big Marriott day, they had an all day session of practice on Tuesday for our Annual Day program. It is very hot, and as you can see from a couple of pictures they were tired! I wish I could lie on a cement floor and sleep like that. Tuesday evening for us was an evening out with our friends Vickie and Gordon Gibb. It was to be their last night before returning to America and resuming his teaching at BYU. The American team piled into our new bus and headed to our favorite truck-stop/roadside stand for parrota and omellet. Not too fancy, but mighty tasty. We are so sad to have them leave--their contribution has been huge and they have become very dear friends. After the Marriott Day on Monday, they were honored by the teachers and the principal. It was very touching to hear the tributes to both Gordon and Vickie, and the love they have for them.
The finale on Wednesday, Annual Day and heading home, was another exhausting effort, but a big success. We have had 5 very hot days in a row, with not a bit of moving air to cool us. Wednesday, was no exception. The program was long (just handing out the awards for the children's achievements took a good 45 minutes!) There were speeches and recognitions, then the program the children had worked so hard on. It was darling--song and dance and a great "English Drama" created by Amy Kirby and Sara Zabawa. The children and their families loved every minute of it. We were melted puddles by the end of the three hours!
Following the program, we had a lovely lunch on the rooftop for the Board Members and other special guests, prepared by our great cook Padmini. A Board meeting followed the lunch. It was a marathon day, but so satisfying. Our great sadness was that Becky's plane from Boston to New York did not make it in time for her to catch her flight to India, so she was absent--greatly missed by all.
Children left with their parents ready for a well deserved rest, and we are quiet! We will be in the US by next Wednesday, stopping for a few days in Washington with Natalie and Matthew and their family. Next update from home.
2 comments:
Are you going to be gone from Chennai for a long time? I was hoping to talk to you this Sunday.
Hi Shankar,
We'll be there on Sunday, and then gone until May 18th. Back in the middle of the heat!
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