I am sorry to be so behind on the updates. The last few weeks have flown by and I feel like I rarely get a chance to sit down.
I am completely settled at the school now. I have to admit the first week was difficult. There came a time when I actually thought about how long a year is without my family and friends. After lots of prayers, God gave me the strength to move past that. I know many of those prayers were coming from all of you back home, so thank you!
Another big shock came about 2 weeks after my arrival. Being naïve, I just assumed that students and teachers at a Catholic school would be Catholic, or at least Christian. Two visits to the local temple with the school and I realized that 98% of the students and staff are Hindu. Probably shouldn’t come as a shock in India. This was very eye opening and hit me hard at first, but it made my purpose here clearer.
As hard as it is to believe, I’ve almost been here a month and half. I have the schedule down finally…study, prayer, study, eat, study, school (6 days a week), study, prayer, eat, study… I wonder why these Indian children seem so smart?
I know I have learned at least 50 names, but I think it is closer to 100. My goal has been at least one a day. This task would be much easier with a John or Sally thrown in there! My first month here, I was known as Mam. Now that there is one other American and four visitors from France, I am Kim Mam. Being the first one here, I have become the go between for teachers and foreigners. I’m glad they are feeling more comfortable with me. The students love to come to me and ask if I know their name. Their next question: My friend’s name? The answer they are looking for being, “Kim,” just melts my heart every time. I now have 600 friends who I love spending time with and get to daily. However, some have upgraded me from friend to sister (Aca). I am proud to carry either title.
I now know 138 Tamil letters. Over half way there! I can read Tamil, but couldn’t tell you what I’m saying. All students and teachers have taken advantage of the few sentences I do know and let’s just say I get plenty of practice saying that I’m finished eating and telling everyone what I had. According to them, I will speak fluent Tamil by the time I leave. I wonder if there’s a great need for Tamil teachers in Kansas?
I will do my best to give more frequent updates. Hopefully, I will have a flickr account soon so I can share an occasional picture.
