Lucie from Normandy is a workawayer staying at Mysore Bed and Breakfast and finding time to visit Kaliyuvamane to share her language skills.
Lucie in action.
Category: Kaveri
A year later..
It’s been that long since Kaveri joined Kaliyuvamane
From the very beginning —-Sarvesh (Multi-lingual, typical talented Indian) and I (mono-lingual.. you know the stuff!!) explained to her mum Chandrika the pros and cons of the school:
— it’s small, free to parents, with a good track record from not following the education sausage factory model
— It’s residential, and you’ll only see Kaveri at home a couple of times a month although you can visit as often as you wish.
— as it’s outside the system she can’t easily (if at all) rejoin a mainstream education (it’s an alternative/free school) until age 16
Chandrika and Mani had visited this and one other school I’d suggested and been invited to suggest others.
We did emphasise it was her decision.
She chose Kaliyuvamane.
Personally I liked the school its approach to education and life in general. I think it’s been a great success. The fact that it’s residential, also helps.
BUT over the past few months Kaveri’s mother has changed her mind. She, in any case has difficulty sticking to one thing. She decided to take Kaveri out of the school.
She misses her and wants her to help around the house. Neighbours, employers and others, we don’t really know who, criticise her for ‘giving-up’ her daughter.
It’s been a stressful period to put it mildly.
You’d be forgiven for thinking she’d gone stark raving mad. Everything about Kaveri and her life as improved dramatically. She now the average size for her age, progressed in all her education, had a great confidence, a real star at the school. Ticks in all directions.
So we invited Chandrika, her mum and sister over to my house to decide.
Chandrika has agreed to keep Kaveri at Kaliyuvamane. Thanks to everyone in the team, and at Kaliyuvamane. Not forgetting the significant help from Sarvesh, in Australia.
Midweek visitor.
It was my day at school but Kaveri had tooth ache. So it became a trip to the dentist.
One tooth removed, followed by a visit to see grandmother and ‘sister’ Radhika and a special treat of ice cream.
Announcement.
Help Required.
Kaveri will spend much of the Summer school holiday in April and May with me at Mysore Bed and Breakfast
She’s a great kid and nearly ten.
It’s fun.
Last year Ilaria helped me provide activities and be ‘chaperone’. More here.
We had all sorts of activities … skating, swimming, crafts, cycling and a bit of seaside. We’ll do similar this year but need help.
Can you (needs to be a woman) come and stay preferably for a minimum of three weeks. Accommodation provided and meals. Last year Ilaria came as a workaway volunteer. We tailor it to try fit in everyone’s needs and preferences.
Write if you wish to find out more.
Tours@mycycle.co
Delayed.
Christmas gift giving was delayed as Kaveri and I were otherwise engaged on the day itself.
We combined it with my birthday on New Years Eve and Sowbaghya created a lovely day.
Great to feel the love of friends here and away and to share special time with Kaveri.
Duty Done
Not satisfied with one, here’s number two
Kaveri and I appearing yet again.
Her alter ego altered from Christmas girl to Elfie.
This time for the 100 children at her school Kaliyuvamane.
Elfie leaped ahead, to translate the mumbles of Santa to explain the most important gift we can give is at no cost, which is to care and be kind.
We jointly prepared 100 bags of sweets for the students.
A great opportunity to apply the times tables (bits of them anyway) working out systems to fill them, fold them, then pile and pack them.
Adam Smith would have been proud of our ingenuity and innovation.
A combo of system, specialism and adaptability. Ok it’s small and simple but helped me realise —- Doing projects is the learning way forward.
So I could explain that there are thousands of us helping share his caring message, as there’s too many daytime events for him to get round them all, all at once. I’ve never met him I just get requests to appear so I don’t know if he’s real or not.
Don’t ask me how he manages go fill so many stockings in one night.
As Kaveri doesn’t get a holiday from school our Christmas Day is postponed to New Year’s Eve, when she’ll be on Sunday holiday. Coincidentally it’s someone else’s birthday.
Merry Christmas
….
Yes, it’s true Santa aka Father Christmas appeared at the children’s market. But then we did it again
We’re reliably informed that there are many helpers appearing as Santa, around the world.
Our very own Father Christmas aka Santa said: “I received a message asking me to appear at two events on behalf of Santa. I’ve never met him and don’t know if he’s real or not. I don’t care about that. What’s important is not that we give presents but that we share kindness and show everyone to ‘be kind’. All the young people I’ve met already know to BK.”
A new career begins
I’m helping out at Kaliyuvamane, the alternative ‘free’ school where Kaveri attends.
Our morning session with members of the teaching team
Then I was hijacked by Kaveri and some of her classmates
to cover a lesson as their teacher was on leave
Did someone set me up?🤭🤔🤪
It was an education! To put it mildly. I now promise to properly prepare for when a similar situation arises again.
I’ve facilitated workshops for adults for many years — that’s nothing compared to working with young people.
I realise what a challenging job the teachers have and how difficult it is to make a class interesting and responsive to the diverse needs of the students. ….. as a one off, let alone day-in-day-out!!!
Well done all.
It was a fab day, helping me realise I’m right to support Kaveri and now the school itself to meet the needs of 100 children.
All in Manjula’s name
Great conversations.
I collected Kav from school to visit the dentist, followed by a treat and a shopping trip.
I have no control
I love our conversations. Her English is developing at a pace.
This week we discussed: ‘I’m being positive not negative’. I’m not sure where that came from — probably from one of mother hen nags.
Separately.. Coming of age, old man (grandad/dad) ‘going round the houses’ eggs, mammals, babies, pregnancy, (not too much detail mind) eventually using the local term ‘date’ only for madam to say: ‘you mean period.’ I’ve so much to learn
Our mini team
Kaveri and I drew a picture to show what we’d done together since we met over a year ago
Me and MYCycle 