Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Farewell
It was farewell for the class 12s last night. They had a big celebration with candles and music. Afterwards there was a disco where we were up Bhangra dancing for a solid hour and a half. Never been involved in anything quite like it.
Hindi Song
I sang a Hindi song from a Bollywood movie at the cultural show during the exchange visit. It went down well.
I now have a medium sized picture in the local Hindi paper.
The video will be uploaded soon, keep checking this entry.
I now have a medium sized picture in the local Hindi paper.
The video will be uploaded soon, keep checking this entry.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
They did it
Despite quite considerable odds, the school band managed to learn and perform the British national anthem.
They did it in spite of:
1) Having four days to learn the whole thing
2) Not being able to read music
3) Never being able to practice as a whole band, only ever being able to practice in classes, where only two or three of them are there
4) Not being given instumental lessons, only "band" practices, which forms a subset of problems:
a) See number 2
b) Not knowing things like how to be counted in properly
c) Having terrible technique
6) The band room being about 2 sq. ft. big
5) Being taught to blast as loud as they can, so they weren't able to play anything quietly
6) The kids who weren't in the band being allowed to muck around in the band room with the instuments so you couldn't hear a thing
7) Different instruments being in different keys, but no one knowing what keys they were in, and being adamant that it didn't matter.
8) The band master not speaking a single word of English, so not being able to help.
9) Having some sort of aversion to playing the last line properly
But the final result actually came out alright, so I'm really pleased with them.
They did it in spite of:
1) Having four days to learn the whole thing
2) Not being able to read music
3) Never being able to practice as a whole band, only ever being able to practice in classes, where only two or three of them are there
4) Not being given instumental lessons, only "band" practices, which forms a subset of problems:
a) See number 2
b) Not knowing things like how to be counted in properly
c) Having terrible technique
6) The band room being about 2 sq. ft. big
5) Being taught to blast as loud as they can, so they weren't able to play anything quietly
6) The kids who weren't in the band being allowed to muck around in the band room with the instuments so you couldn't hear a thing
7) Different instruments being in different keys, but no one knowing what keys they were in, and being adamant that it didn't matter.
8) The band master not speaking a single word of English, so not being able to help.
9) Having some sort of aversion to playing the last line properly
But the final result actually came out alright, so I'm really pleased with them.
Monday, 23 February 2009
School Exchange
The English exchange students have arrived so I get to do fun things instead of classes this week. I feel a bit like their bodyguard, hanging around making sure things run smoothly for them. We went to visit a different school the other day, which has students from 100 different villages all over.
We then visited a cow shed which the school owns for orphaned cows. At feeding time we got to chuck sugar resin at them. They were all lining up to get their share, when a charged up bull came crashing through the middle of them with his mate running away from underneath him. It was hilarious.
The aviary across the road wasn't such a success since it had no birds and I almost caused offence by suggesting that Lord Krishna rode on an ostrich.
The other day we went on a trek to a hill with a temple on top. You have to remember, the English people are all a bit overwhelmed by India, so the temple in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of men who lived there and smoked sheesa pipes all day was a bit odd to them. And so it should be...
We then visited a cow shed which the school owns for orphaned cows. At feeding time we got to chuck sugar resin at them. They were all lining up to get their share, when a charged up bull came crashing through the middle of them with his mate running away from underneath him. It was hilarious.
The aviary across the road wasn't such a success since it had no birds and I almost caused offence by suggesting that Lord Krishna rode on an ostrich.
The other day we went on a trek to a hill with a temple on top. You have to remember, the English people are all a bit overwhelmed by India, so the temple in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of men who lived there and smoked sheesa pipes all day was a bit odd to them. And so it should be...
Friday, 13 February 2009
Bahal Sports Meeting
There were no classes today, which was as much of a surprise to me as the boys, and they were suddenly told they were to go and watch the local sports event in the village. When there, it turned out to be rather camel orientated. Basically there was a camel art exhibition. The local men decoratively shaved their camels, paraded them in front of the judges and made them do funny stuff like dancing. While this was happening the crowd were closing in more and more round the staging area, and all craning for view. I exited the crowd and then found myself offered a camel ride. Whats more exciting than a camel? A white person on a camel. The crowd quite quickly lost interest in the stage and turned round to swarm round me. I was paraded through the judging area, and there was a Hindi announcement in the middle of which I could pick out the word "Scotland."
After that there was an old man race. There were men with stunning beards running, who had probably come out of meditation in caves specially for the event. The winner was duly swarmed and actually lifted up like a champion above everyones heads, before celebrating by doing cartwheels.
Lots of fun.
After that there was an old man race. There were men with stunning beards running, who had probably come out of meditation in caves specially for the event. The winner was duly swarmed and actually lifted up like a champion above everyones heads, before celebrating by doing cartwheels.
Lots of fun.
Hapy Valentines Day
I got woken up at 5am by half an hour of the same four lines of music blaring out of the speakers. It's the first time I've ever been reduced to screaming into my pillow.
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