How Are Ashram and James Doing?
I would have to say that surprisingly they are adjusting to their life here in Bangalore really really well. Let me start with James.
I would have to say that out of all of us James has adapted to life in India the best. Or at least that is the impression he has given us. He has not gotten sick. Knock on wood. He has soccer scarfs and soccer jerseys hung up in his room. It feels just like home. James has neighbourhood friends that come over every day after school to see if he can come out to play and he usually rides his bike and plays soccer. He seems to love school. Every night we do homework and it seems pretty easy for him. The one thing he has to get used to is not eating with his left hand. And he is lefty. In India, people do not use their left hand to eat because it is considered disrespectful. I am not going to be graphic about it, so please look it up. One of JJ's friends was over and JJ was eating with his left hand and the kid quickly tried to correct him and said "Why are you eating with your left hand? You shouldn't do that!" I quickly jumped in and tried to explain that JJ was left handed and that we do not consider it to be disrespectful. I am not sure he understood but he left it alone. Lastly, we found a soccer practice that meets on Saturdays and Sundays at 6am in our neighbourhood. He is excited to try it. I am not sure we are that excited to get up that early on both weekend days, but maybe it will be a good chance to work out.
And now Ashram,
The funny thing is that a week before this field trip to snow city, Ashram kept telling us that he needs mittens and a hat and his winter jacket. I just ignored it and thought he must think since it has the word snow in it that it is going to be cold. He really told us every night and finally the day before the trip, I looked it up and lo and behold it is an indoor winter wonderland but it was too late to get him mittens and a hat. We thought that since the teachers never sent home anything or emailed us, that they would provide it and we would send him with his winter jacket and he would be all set. Nope. He needed the hat and mittens, but he said he was fine. My guess is that he hung out in the "warming" room. What a funny field trip for us New Englanders who came to Bangalore to escape one winter! Anyway, while Ashram has adjusted to life in India for the most part, he seems to be the most homesick. He talks about our house in Dedham and Padme often. He always makes sure he says he likes it here but misses home. I try to tell him that the great thing is that we will be back there in no time and all his stuff will feel like new toys. He quietly accepts it. He has also gotten sick the most. He has had a couple of nightmares (hopefully not from the malaria pills. Our doctor warned us that this may happen), he has thrown up, had a fever, and upset stomachs. Even though he is happy and loves riding his bike and playing at the playground, he takes a while to adjust. I remember this fall, his transition to Kindergarten was similar. We just try to go with the flow and provide him with comfort when he needs it and try to focus on what makes him happy here. He also loves school and comes home and talks all about it. He loves being a little helper around the house. He likes to go the playground and play with the girls. He is not into playing soccer like James. And that is ok. We have signed him up for Karate on Wednesdays evenings which should be good for him. Something he can call his own.
Overall, the kids have adjusted better than I could have hoped for and I am thankful everyday. Their free spirits are captivating.
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| Picture Day |
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| James has Formal Uniform 2-3 times a week |
I would have to say that out of all of us James has adapted to life in India the best. Or at least that is the impression he has given us. He has not gotten sick. Knock on wood. He has soccer scarfs and soccer jerseys hung up in his room. It feels just like home. James has neighbourhood friends that come over every day after school to see if he can come out to play and he usually rides his bike and plays soccer. He seems to love school. Every night we do homework and it seems pretty easy for him. The one thing he has to get used to is not eating with his left hand. And he is lefty. In India, people do not use their left hand to eat because it is considered disrespectful. I am not going to be graphic about it, so please look it up. One of JJ's friends was over and JJ was eating with his left hand and the kid quickly tried to correct him and said "Why are you eating with your left hand? You shouldn't do that!" I quickly jumped in and tried to explain that JJ was left handed and that we do not consider it to be disrespectful. I am not sure he understood but he left it alone. Lastly, we found a soccer practice that meets on Saturdays and Sundays at 6am in our neighbourhood. He is excited to try it. I am not sure we are that excited to get up that early on both weekend days, but maybe it will be a good chance to work out.
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| Field Trip to Snow City |
And now Ashram,
The funny thing is that a week before this field trip to snow city, Ashram kept telling us that he needs mittens and a hat and his winter jacket. I just ignored it and thought he must think since it has the word snow in it that it is going to be cold. He really told us every night and finally the day before the trip, I looked it up and lo and behold it is an indoor winter wonderland but it was too late to get him mittens and a hat. We thought that since the teachers never sent home anything or emailed us, that they would provide it and we would send him with his winter jacket and he would be all set. Nope. He needed the hat and mittens, but he said he was fine. My guess is that he hung out in the "warming" room. What a funny field trip for us New Englanders who came to Bangalore to escape one winter! Anyway, while Ashram has adjusted to life in India for the most part, he seems to be the most homesick. He talks about our house in Dedham and Padme often. He always makes sure he says he likes it here but misses home. I try to tell him that the great thing is that we will be back there in no time and all his stuff will feel like new toys. He quietly accepts it. He has also gotten sick the most. He has had a couple of nightmares (hopefully not from the malaria pills. Our doctor warned us that this may happen), he has thrown up, had a fever, and upset stomachs. Even though he is happy and loves riding his bike and playing at the playground, he takes a while to adjust. I remember this fall, his transition to Kindergarten was similar. We just try to go with the flow and provide him with comfort when he needs it and try to focus on what makes him happy here. He also loves school and comes home and talks all about it. He loves being a little helper around the house. He likes to go the playground and play with the girls. He is not into playing soccer like James. And that is ok. We have signed him up for Karate on Wednesdays evenings which should be good for him. Something he can call his own.
Overall, the kids have adjusted better than I could have hoped for and I am thankful everyday. Their free spirits are captivating.
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