Saturday, May 29, 2010

Saturday, May 29, 2010

The oil on the forehead yesterday made me nod off once, but not today. I did, however, sleep the best last night that I have slept since the day after I got here.

I think VNJ is smoking pot right outside the door. It doesn't smell like what I smelled in Harvard Square years ago, but I've been told he does smoke it.

Anil's 40th birthday is tomorrow, but he didn't want me to tell anyone. He has a 3 year old daughter. He's also been wearing his mundi (skirt) the last two days, something he didn't do at all last year.

Baji told me they are trying to market Zamorin's. He has a tour director in Germany gathering up people who will hopefully put together enough money for he or Babu to go tell them about Zamorin's. He says they get referrals from many places--probably people like me. Apparently there are 14,000 websites for Ayurveda. How do you know which one is best or at least good?
(After all, I have gotten three people to sign up.)

Education:
In Kerala, all children 6 and over are to go to school. There are government schools and private ($$$$) schools. The children go to government school for free up until they complete what we would call 10th grade. All this time they are being taught in Malayalum language. Then 11th and 12th, you have to pay. This is where you learn English. All colleges teach in English so it is imperative to learn English. Baji didn't learn English until 11th and 12th. Babu learned English from first grade on.
As a side note, the Indians are very worried about China getting all the outsourcing. Babu was told that the advantage is NOW and the advantage is that educated Indians know English.

Babu gave me a folder about the college he is affiliated with. He's apparently in charge of admissions. I was very impressed with the engineering courses offered. They have a couple that are affiliated with a state university in Calcutta i.e., study here for two years (cheaper) and then go to Calcutta. The college has buses to pick up and drop off students for classes.
They also have an affiliation with a university in NYC with the same idea. These students will receive a US Bachelor of Science in Engineering.
He is interested in pursuing an extension or satellite of a good engineering school where, say Michigan or Purdue, would basically move into the infrastructure (which is very nice) and run a Bachelor's program--similar to IUSB for IU. The university would bring in their own profs, syllabi, etc. so it would be a US degree.

This college is amazing. They've only been in operation since 2003. It was originally funded by expatriots, who have money and want to give back to India. They take in nearly 400 students each year (100 of these are the disadvantaged. The main object is to give opportunity to disadvantaged students--both boys and girls. Babu goes to government schools in the district when the prospective students are in 9th grade and asks the principal for the top 10 financially needy students. They then follow them, making sure there is a need, and continue to do so until time for college (tutoring, getting them into a school for 11th and 12th to learn English, I guess). Then there are all different levels from full scholarship down to 10% and then there's full pay.
No government money involved. I will bring the folder home so you can judge for yourselves.
Amazing what they are doing!

The children are now coming out of the woodwork. One watched me do yoga today. Guess they were scared of me. Whatever. I also received two flowers on my walk yesterday.

Time for bed. I have a rather hectic schedule tomorrow as it is Sunday.

Take care and be good to each other.

Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny/NiNi