Montana and LuRue headed off for PRS Matriculation School this morning, wondering how the filming would go. The kids were quite cooperative as it turns out. Some of them were very excited, but got back into a sort-of circle without too much nudging. The filming went well, with Montana using the flexible legged-tripod wrapped around the metal design that covers each window. No one could ask for more enthusiastic students!
See Montana's latest production!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGPxrDmwys
On the way back to the guest house, brother Stephen was driving on a one-way street, preparing to turn right onto a semi-main street. Just then a car turned into the lane. No problem...Stephen just reversed a bit and pulled a bit more to the left (British-style driving here). He reached out his window & flipped his side-view mirror toward him & pulled alongside the other car. The other driver didn't look very happy & LuRue did hear some minor scraping, but it didn't sound like metal on metal--perhaps just plastic on plastic. The left-hand side view mirror just barely cleared the wall & pipes it encountered, but no contact there. Once at the main street, a right-hand turn put us into the oncoming traffic lane, but brother Stephen remained far to the right...next to the parked motorbikes. He did have to stop once for a couple of men standing by their parked car, but they politely moved out of the way, allowing us to pass & continue. After a couple of blocks, we arrived at a break in the concrete lane dividers, a sign that it was time to cross over to find an opening to blend into the correct lane. We've learned that oncoming cars are worth waiting for...when a group of motorbikes or even auto rickshaws are approaching, it is time to pull out and make them slow down or even stop. Bicycles don't even count (unless you are walking...then they win.) We are getting the hang of how to drive here. We can now predict when our car will probably pull out into traffic. Almost all city driving is done in second gear with frequent jabs at the brakes. And of course, lots of horns honking.
After lunch, Montana put together the movie to show the kids tomorrow. LuRue sorted through paperwork and crafts in preparation for getting ready to leave. We plan to be completely packed tomorrow afternoon before we leave for our final visit to SEAM. Hopefully we'll be able to get to sleep earlier than usual, as we'll need to leave at 4:00am Saturday morning.
At 5:15 we left for Roshan's school to attend the annual event of recognizing academic achievement and to celebrate their school. To say we were blown away would be an understatement! As Montana said, there is no way to describe through pictures or words what it was like. She said that besides the Taylor Swift concert, it was the biggest production she'd ever been to. There were two jumbotrons (modest, but substantial) so that the back half of the seating for 2000 attendees could see what was happening in the front. The school has 2,500 students, so it was necessary to have an invitation to attend. Besides the searchlights (after it became dark), there was a professional sound system putting out concert decibels as well as other professional equipment, such as a long camera boom. The school is currently L-shaped, with another wing being built that will complete a "U". Everything took place in the open courtyard of the "U".
The program began with the usual dignitaries and several achievement awards, but then dozens of students made announcements, each with their own mics and without notes. The colorful part began with an exotic dance by older girls with eye-popping costumes. It looked quite professional. Stephen & Sheeba said that it is called the "bharathanatyam" dance. (A Google search shows pictures of poses these girls didn't manage, but still...)
Other acts came on, with the kids wearing individual mics so that all the words could be heard. From Cock Robin by the littlest ones to Robin Hood to other acts, the choreography was quite complex and lengthy. Roshan (in Standard 2) was a fisherman in one act, but his parents couldn't spot him until he came on for the finale for his section.
There were some video sections (on the screen behind the girls) referring to philanthropy, to terrorism, to all kinds of messages about conservation of resources. These kids are getting exposed to the world in ways that US kids don't seem to get. India tends to be thought of as the location of call centers. It is so much more than that!
Had to try to describe the "indescribable"...LuRue thought India couldn't surprise her anymore, but she was wrong!
The school is a Catholic private school (though not limited to Catholic students) which is extremely difficult to get into. There are hundreds of applications for every available spot. Stephen and Sheeba have been extremely active with another children's home (Catholic) besides SEAM, so they received some recommendations from the nuns at the home. They feel very fortunate to have their son receiving such a good education. Every subject is taught by Anglo-Indians (whatever that means) and is taught entirely in English. It is probably safe to say that future Indian leaders are attending this school.
See Montana's latest production!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGPxrDmwys
After lunch, Montana put together the movie to show the kids tomorrow. LuRue sorted through paperwork and crafts in preparation for getting ready to leave. We plan to be completely packed tomorrow afternoon before we leave for our final visit to SEAM. Hopefully we'll be able to get to sleep earlier than usual, as we'll need to leave at 4:00am Saturday morning.
At 5:15 we left for Roshan's school to attend the annual event of recognizing academic achievement and to celebrate their school. To say we were blown away would be an understatement! As Montana said, there is no way to describe through pictures or words what it was like. She said that besides the Taylor Swift concert, it was the biggest production she'd ever been to. There were two jumbotrons (modest, but substantial) so that the back half of the seating for 2000 attendees could see what was happening in the front. The school has 2,500 students, so it was necessary to have an invitation to attend. Besides the searchlights (after it became dark), there was a professional sound system putting out concert decibels as well as other professional equipment, such as a long camera boom. The school is currently L-shaped, with another wing being built that will complete a "U". Everything took place in the open courtyard of the "U".
The program began with the usual dignitaries and several achievement awards, but then dozens of students made announcements, each with their own mics and without notes. The colorful part began with an exotic dance by older girls with eye-popping costumes. It looked quite professional. Stephen & Sheeba said that it is called the "bharathanatyam" dance. (A Google search shows pictures of poses these girls didn't manage, but still...)
Other acts came on, with the kids wearing individual mics so that all the words could be heard. From Cock Robin by the littlest ones to Robin Hood to other acts, the choreography was quite complex and lengthy. Roshan (in Standard 2) was a fisherman in one act, but his parents couldn't spot him until he came on for the finale for his section.
There were some video sections (on the screen behind the girls) referring to philanthropy, to terrorism, to all kinds of messages about conservation of resources. These kids are getting exposed to the world in ways that US kids don't seem to get. India tends to be thought of as the location of call centers. It is so much more than that!
Had to try to describe the "indescribable"...LuRue thought India couldn't surprise her anymore, but she was wrong!
The school is a Catholic private school (though not limited to Catholic students) which is extremely difficult to get into. There are hundreds of applications for every available spot. Stephen and Sheeba have been extremely active with another children's home (Catholic) besides SEAM, so they received some recommendations from the nuns at the home. They feel very fortunate to have their son receiving such a good education. Every subject is taught by Anglo-Indians (whatever that means) and is taught entirely in English. It is probably safe to say that future Indian leaders are attending this school.
Certainly an enthusiastic group of students.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope you don't drive like that when you get back home!
fantastic video--truly shows the beauty of music as an 'international language’. Amazed at how well the students knew all of the songs and their motions
ReplyDeletegreat traffic report!
what an interesting event to end your time in India