Cara is searching for another way to occupy her time as she has decided journalism is not panning out in a way that she likes and taking care of little ones who don't speak English isn't what she really wants to do. She comes into Cheru Resmi with me one day and we discuss the work I am doing. She is more interested in teaching older children and starts working at the after school Tuition Centre. She is dedicated and demanding and finds the experience quite frustrating but perseveres.
I carry on with job descriptions and time management charts, also drafting job adverts and letters to lawyers. Work at some length on an aid agency report (using the new reporting format) revealing a lot of missing data.
Sr. Mercy invites me to a staff meeting and she asks the staff to produce the goods there and then, in front of me. She says they won't do it if I am not there. Interesting! Some of course plead for time, and the next morning they are all lining up at the door to complete their slots. It's mostly missing figures she needs and they are rifling through their log books.
Sr. Mercy invites me to a staff meeting and she asks the staff to produce the goods there and then, in front of me. She says they won't do it if I am not there. Interesting! Some of course plead for time, and the next morning they are all lining up at the door to complete their slots. It's mostly missing figures she needs and they are rifling through their log books.
On the home front, food is still an issue and evening meals have lost their appeal completely. I just don't like the fat and fluffy Keralan cooked rice, overly interfered with vegetables and overly spiced and cooked fish that tastes of nothing. Babu surprises us one night with an oven roasted chicken bought from Zam Zam Restaurant. I get to carve it and in a trice there is nothing left.
For some light relief, I propose we all watch episodes of David Attenborough's Private Life of Plants
and we all get hooked. I had bought this DVD for Babu but he has no interest in these things. At least it is not wasted. We are also hooked on watermelon which is in season and with Cara's fruit carving skills we get through a 4 kg melon every night while watching TV. Tastes fantastic.
Wednesday evening we are invited to the Christ Nagar Secondary School annual show, speech day and prize-giving. The main attraction is the keynote speaker - the charismatic Minister Shashi Tharoor. He arrives late but makes up for it by giving a good speech. We leave immediately afterwards. It's all a bit exhausting! Beginning at 5 pm it is set to finish at 10.30 pm Yikes! What a marathon! Predictably, as with all speech days, it only really sustains the interest of families and children of the school.
The purpose of our visit is to familiarise ourselves with the venue. Babu is lining it up as a potential new Placement centre. It looks good - well organised and disciplined with hard working students and lots of parental support. Maybe too good! We volunteers discuss whether we think we should be working with more down and out people (disorganised and low-standard) or up and coming people who have had some advantages in life. Fascinating topic!
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