April 10, 2008

Photo: Ladies carrying baskets of dried cow manure.

Well yesterday we set in motion our plan to send two of the orphan boys (Niraj and Dharemendra) to private school. Our hope is that they will succeed and be able to help the other children and teachers especially with their English. Just filling out he admission application raised many questions. Like the boys have no idea when they were born. Curtis took the twos boys and the school principal, Uprendra, first by bicycle rickshaw then by auto rickshaw to the School (Manav Bharti School). 10 adults and 2 children and several large sacks rode in the small three wheeled vehicle. The children were interviewed at the school. The admission officer was sympathetic. The verdict - the children are at grade level but their English is lacking. We had discussions and a program was developed and the children were admitted to class VI. These children face huge challenges to succeed at the school but we think that this is best course for them (we hope). Curtis prepaid for one years tuition for the two. Curtis and the others went Gaya to buy uniforms, backpacks, water bottles, books, supplies, lunch boxes, and a wristwatch for Niraj and Dharemendra. They were thrilled to put on their first pair of shoes.

Indians are tough. In Gaya, Curtis suffered under the heat and toxic effects of the contaminated environment of the streets. Everybody else seemed unaffected. We ate at a singularly unappetizing restaurant. In the baking sun we stepped across a large open sewer to enter. Liquid was running down the steps to the door. Inside was dingy and filled with men and flys. Several kerosene stoves were burning and the center piece was a charcoal fired stove with a enormous wok filled with boiling oil. The restrauant was full so we stood until some spots opened. The floor was blackened and cracked. Men had there heads low over their plates, shoveling in food with their hands in the Indian way. The power was out so it was dim and the ceiling fans were off. We sat. I turned down the Curd (liquid yoghurt poured over some sort of ball) and opted for the geasy bread like stuff and veg liquid with chick peas. Everything was extremely hot. They brought steel glasses and pitches of water. I was overheating but dared not drink. We ate and left after washing our fingers with glasses of water on the steps. The bill for four - 25 rupees - 62 cents.