Ramnad: I'm suffering from guilt pangs about what I've said about C. lately, but I'm on a higher plane today. We are in Ramnad now, staying in the strangest of places in the grounds of St. Andrew's Girls' school. We are here for one night, meeting people. There are three schools here: girls', boys' and a co-ed. Funny, that: in the information pack M. gave C., it said that there were two schools; St. Andrew's Girls' (English medium) and St. Martin's Boys (Tamil Medium). The girls' school is actually Tamil medium and the boys school doesn't exist, not by that name anyway! No-one knows that we're here, or that we're supposed to be teaching! Cheers, M.! (I know it's probably not your fault but we need someone to blame and hey, wadda ya know – IT'S YOU!)
This is no bad thing. It means that they don't have any unrealistic expectations of us, and we are therefore able to almost dictate what we will do. We visited the co-ed school, and are going to see the other two tomorrow. They want me to teach the harmonium! Well it's the same as an organ only different and you can play the piano. I could teach music theory and am interested in teaching physics – the level is much lower than ours and it's from a syllabus anyway. C. expressed our desire to teach in a more informal situation and the Headmistress suggested discussion groups. They are quite worried about how much the children will be able to understand, as they are used to each others' English.
We will have to learn their accent – like speaking Jive on Airplane. We were proudly shown round their computer room, with ten ancient PCs and no mice. They use LOGO and Dbase and other 'unable to use anywhere else so let's give it all to India' software. Maybe we'll get the chance to do a bit of touch-typing. C. said he wanted to learn so we'll probably be forced to! Indians' hospitality is incredible – say you like something and they'll give it to you. You have to be so careful about what you say.
I can't handle all these servants and women calling you 'sir' and being so damn respectful all the time. There is a guy here called Winston who is much older than us but he even pours the water for us to wash our hands in. I can't stand it!
We met two other priests (as well as the one who showed us around – Rev. Athisayam, Pastor of Ramnad), one who bears an uncanny resemblance to Delboy and our next door neighbour. The latter has a gorgeous daughter who is brilliant at painting. No formal training, we were told by her proud father as she displayed her stunning oil studies. C.'s found a companion in art. (hurrah!) At last, someone he can share interests with. I'm going to join the choir for Christmas and there's also a music fanatic here who they are going to arrange for me to meet, so it looks like I'll be pretty sorted too.
Our future accommodation looks good, a brand new building with a courtyard and all the facilities, I'm told. At the moment we're staying in an office with all the bare essentials (squat toilet, walls, roof, that sort of thing). It's a really nice place. When the priest said that no-one knew we were coming my heart died a little, but now we've met the neighbours it's becoming more human. I think we're going to be alright.