In the nicest possible way.
Cycling and yoga guests from Germany, students from Kaliyuvamane, more cyclists from warm showers, and celebrating my birthday.
Takingover
Category: our story
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.
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
Grief gravy
For those in it, who’ve met that new lifelong friend or just want to know a bit more, there’s tons of my reactions and reflections on this site.
I’ve also found this ted talk which is good
.
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
Careless treeless.
When is someone going to get a grip and do something about the wanton destruction of our wonderful trees?
We’ll regret it but by then it will be too late.
This teams job is to trim trees but were stopped removing it. The house owner needs some advice to check that the tree roots are not irreparably damaging his house beyond his driveway.
If we get it wrong people die and trees are unnecessarily destroyed.
What’s the answer?
Specialist advice?
Education of the benefits of retaining trees.
Tree protection?
Facebook memories.
I’m grateful we found each other, pleased we could spend wonderful time together but wish we’d had more.
Puja for Manjula
It’s that time of year when we remember our beloved, who’s body has left us
An event that’s… Celebrated in communities and religions throughout the world.
Before eating we all left the house for Manjula’s spirit to enter our home and eat. We don’t want her being hungry.
The lunch was reminiscent of the wonderful shared meals created by MAnjula for our friends and guests.
Well done to Manjula’s team.
Police Psychology
No star, one, two, three
I was stopped on my usual cycle route this morning. An order prohibiting an event with a party political tint was the reason.
First the police officer stopped me. Star one and two got involved. I couldn’t go past.
I’m cycling and clearly nothing to do with the political agitation or whatever it is. The police act as a parent (or at least want to enjoy bossing the foreigner) and show no mental flexibility. I respond as an adult. (Psychological Reference: transactional analysis and the book: ‘games people play’) not as a ‘child.’
I don’t even want to go up the Chamundi hill (the subject of the order) I want to go around the bottom and backside (Indian English not double entendre).
So I reach out to third star.
He sees beyond the conventional level of following the rules aka orders and let’s me through. He’s clearly established the principles in his head which guides his decisions and actions. (Another psychology connection) and rests at advanced post-conventional level. Please see below and Kohlberg’s Theory of moral development.
Either that, or the mention of my Indian wife, did the trick. 🤔🤭
I hope we can help the children at Kaliyuvamane to develop core values and principles exactly like the three star policeman .
Or at least help Kaveri to reach the top level.
I also look forward to the overdue campaign to take car drivers beyond ‘pre-conventional.’ As many haven’t even achieved that level (of following the rules) as yet, it’s maybe too much to expect.
Me and MYCycle 