The Tour!! :D

          Oh! I still remember that morning after a sleepless night full of excitement and joy. I hadn't slept all night because of the excitement running through my veins. That night was the eve of our class picnic which was why I was so excited. We were going to Cochin for 2 days. 

          We were to leave at 5:30 in the morning on the 3rd of Feb. I had all my things packed and ready the day before. I reached the school at around 5:15 in the morning. All my friends had already reached and were loading their luggage into the back of the bus. I too did the same. I dumped my backpack at the back and just took my money and a bottle of water with me in a small cover. As soon as everyone had loaded their bags into the back of the bus, Vijitha ma'am told all the girls of Class VII A and VII B along with the VII A boys to get into the big bus. The VII B boys were in a smaller bus.    

          After everyone got into the bus (I was in the big bus), Shija ma'am took the attendance to check whether everyone had reached. After that we were all ready to leave.

          After loving goodbyes to our parents, the bus started moving. We were so happy that everyone started howling and shouting. We played some good music and before we knew it we were all dancing away. It was a lot of fun. We danced for about an hour. By then everyone got tired and settled down in their seats. The journey was quite tiring and many people slept off. 

          We stopped at Thrissur for breakfast in a hotel named 'HOTEL AARYAS'. After breakfast we continued on our journey to Cochin. The journey from Thrissur was not very long and we were in Cochin before we knew it.

          The first place we visited was a palace called 'HILL PALACE' where a Malayalam movie called 'Manichitretayam' was shot. We had to go barefeet into the palace. We went in at around 11:15 am and came out at around 12:15 pm. We were really hungry by then. 

          We saw a lot of interesting things inside the palace. We saw gold ornaments, inscriptions, texts, chariots and a lot more. We then went back to the bus. Our next destination was the marine walk from where we were to go on a ship cruise.

          We reached the marine walk by around 1:00 pm. We then boarded the ship. We were the only people on board the ship. We had lunch on the ship and then they played some music for us and everybody danced. The teachers also danced. Some of the teachers sang a few songs too. We were on the ship whole afternoon and got off only in the evening. 

          We were then divided into groups of eight. Members of each group were to stay together. After this, we went to oberon mall were we had one and a half hours to do a little shopping. After all the shopping, we went to the bus again. Now,we were going to go to the hotel we were to stay in.

          On reaching the hotel, we had a magic show awaiting us. It was 'THE MAGIC OF CLIFFORD'. After the magic show, we all settled down and had dinner. After dinner each group was given the keys to its apartment. Each apartment had two rooms. We all settled in and went to bed.

          In the morning the teachers woke us up at 6:00 am .We had to get dressed by 7:00 am and then go down for breakfast. We got ready somehow and went down. After breakfast everybody was playing with the baby goat in the garden. They had a lot of animals over there. There were even Emus. After all this we headed back to the bus. Everyone was very excited because we were going to Veegaland.

          On reaching Veegaland, we were given our tickets and were told to stay with our group. We did the dry rides in the morning and the wet rides in the afternoon. We really had a blast over there. By the time we were leaving, everyone was hungry and exhausted. Everyone slept off in the bus soon after dinner and before we knew it we were back in Calicut. 

          We reached the school at around 1:00 in the morning of 5th February. We had left on the 3rd of February. We slept in the kindergarten till 6:00 in the morning. Parents started coming and everybody went home. The tour was over and we were back home to face another month full of studies and Exams! : (

Learning First Aid the fun-filled way!

My eyes snapped open. I raised my head slowly and looked at the little clock on the bedside table. Time? 8:28 a.m!
 

'8:28 a.m?????????!!!????? OH NO!!!! I'M LATE!!!!!!!'  and a perfect day too. We were going to be taken to MIMS hospital in the town for a First Aid class. 'Oh , GOD!!' I let out a loud groan, thinking about Gigi ma'am 's (That's our class teacher) reaction.
 

GREAT. I missed my bus. I had to take the line bus instead. I reached school at 9:15 a.m.

'Oh no. What if they've left without me?'

I was worried as I dashed across the steps to my classroom. That's when I saw the yellow school bus slowly backing out of the parking lot. I ran back the same way I came, to the school parking lot. I started panting as Anuradha ma'am 's silhouette slowly took shape.

"What happened? Why are you late?" She asked reproachfully.

'I... Missed.... My bus,' I panted.

As I entered the bus, a loud, "SHAMIA!!!!" greeted me. Gigi ma'am gave me a piercing glare. Well, I deserved it. I then struggled to the back of the bus and found that two of my friends had, thankfully, saved me a seat. The bus had let out a roar and started toward the exit of the school.
 

The trip to MIMS had been great. Many of my classmates had burst into the most horrible songs I'd ever heard. (Actually, the songs were good. But the way they sang it wasn't!) 

Some of the teachers accompanying us had also joined in the fun, Valsraj sir, our P.E sir, was one of them.

We had reached after what seemed like a few minutes. The marble floor shone as we walk across it with sharp, tapping footsteps. We entered through a door in the corner to an unfamiliar surrounding,  unusually disciplined and quiet, except for our shuffling footsteps. All of us had been to the hospital, but we had never come to this part of it before. 

At the top of the stairs stood a magnificent door, leading to the auditorium. At least, that's what it said on the signboard above. But to me it was... HEAVEN. The doors were opened to reveal a spacious room filled with a hundred very comfortable-looking seats with the air-condition in full blast.

We all scrambled to get the best seats. Everyone looked ready to drop off to sleep immediately. That was when a smart-looking man entered the auditorium. He walked all the way to the podium and tapped on the mike. All the lazy talking ceased immediately. He introduced himself as the doctor who would be teaching us all about First Aid. His name is Dr. Augustin.

"Wish all our classrooms were like this," a boy murmured lazily. Many grunted their assent. All of us were too comfortable to answer.

Dr. Augustin cleared his throat and spoke,"Well, I know it will be hard, but I want all of you to pay attention to the class and I promise you, I'll do my best to rouse you all from your sleep." The last few words caught our attention. That was odd. Most teachers wouldn't t notice us sleeping in class while they droned on.
 
Dr. Augustin walked up to the projector placed on the stage and switched it on. The huge screen behind the stage immediately displayed, "Learning BLS with MIMS." with a rather cute picture of a small baby. We waited excitedly for Dr. Augustin to start.

The first part of the class was about what we should do if a person gets a heart attack and see him fall unconscious. Well., we have to do Chest compressions and try to get the person's heart to beat.

After a careful explanation and demonstration of how to do so, we were divided into 4 stations.

Each station had a 'half- mannequin' of an adult as well as an infant. We practiced on them. Each of us had to perform Chest Compressions on both the adult mannequin and the baby mannequin. Not surprisingly, all of us had a lot a fun. (Don't worry people! If one of you happens to faint too, we'll be extra serious when saving you!) We also practiced something called Mouth-to-Mouth resuscitation which helps the unconscious person to breathe.

"What would you do if one of your friend starts choking?" Dr. Augustin asked us after the practice sessions.

"Hit him on the head!" Came a suggestion from the boys.
 
"Thump her on the back!' Another boy yelled.
 
"Use a De fibrillating machine!" A girl cried, losing her head completely.
 
Dr. Augustin smiled at all our weird suggestions and burst out laughing at the last one.
"No, no! You would apply the Heimlich maneuver," he informed us.


That was new. We all listened with rapt attention. We later practiced the Heimlich maneuver on each other in turns.

After this came our lunch break. None of us had noticed the time go by; We were having too much fun for that. After the lunch break, Dr. Augustin taught us all there is to do if a person is rescued after a near-drowning experience, if a man's heart starts fibrillating (THAT'S where you use the De Fibrillating machine!),  if a person receives an electric shock, etc. In short, we now know how to save a man's life in any dangerous situation.

When his lectures seemed to be in danger of boring us, he would crack a joke which would have us all rolling on the floor laughing. All in all, it had been an awesome class.
After our class, our school Assistant Leader (who happens to be in our class) gave the Vote of Thanks.
 
We were all sad to leave the hospital. (That sounds strange, doesn't it?) Many of us wished for another class.

As we were going back to our school, a boy started choking on a piece of chocolate he had accidentally swallowed before chewing.
 

The whole class grinned at each other. All of us rushed forward to help the poor guy who was now looking panic-stricken at the number of people who were racing toward him with their hands outstretched.

So everyone think before you choke in front of a Devagirite, we are all BLS experts, waiting to test our newly-acquired First Aid knowledge!

Expletives -- Form of Expression!!!!

           Discussing profanity is a taboo and if you are an educationist it is almost sacrilegious. The usual tendency is to brush it under the carpet. Pretend it never existed. Before I develop cold feet let me give vent to my thoughts scaffolding it with a few observations. The recently concluded Literary Fest at Jaipur grabbed a lot of eyeballs for various reasons. The one that grabbed mine was the debate on 'Expletives a form of expression'. When did cuss words become a form of expression?? The occasional 'friendly obscenities' were just that, occasional and friendly. Not worth the salt, very forgettable. They taking a literary hue left me baffled and curious.

          The expletives of yesteryears were empty words not obnoxious and maybe uttered in a state of irate exasperation. It was an element of grammar-attributed as a grammatical intensifier. Words like 'there is', 'they are', was considered an expletive a mere filler in a sentence.

          Fast forward to the present day. They are no more a sound expressing an emotional outburst. These 'salty expressions' have over the course of time turned 'colourful' and steamy. Sadly unsavoury vituperations are generously mouthed by our young boys and girls. A walk down the corridors of educational institutions would leave one appalled at the liberal sprinkling of these pejoratives aired without qualm, almost an incantation. The need to appease, to please, to be accepted paramount. The 'cool' image is don like a badge of recognition. Its 'sceptred sway' undeniable. The uninitiated are looked upon with contempt. They too eventually join the bandwagon exploiting the expletives.

          Having traversed the country I can with confidence exclaim that expletives are certainly not the domain of a few. Even Presidents have fallen prey to it . [Remember, expletive deleted Watergate tapes of President Nixon!] Every region is attuned to it, adding to this long barrage of detestables a unique regional flavour. These abominables are everywhere. Writers argue that expletives in sync with the character makes it more realistic. Movies and television blanket the expletives with a beep or a buzz. Both need to be expurgated. They are more offensive than the word, besides they trigger one's imagination!! In many ways they can be truly called Expletives The Leveller. [James Shirley would be mortified!!]

        
          On a personal front I find expletives quite limiting. It stunts creative impulse. Talks of a deteriorating word power. A good indignation makes an excellent speech. It would be a pity to let anger die on the anvil of a few repetitive profanities. Acclimatized to counseling I can't help but urge youngsters to refrain from scavenging with words.

Religion: A gift or a curse???

           Religion is a cultural system that creates powerful and long-lasting meaning, by establishing symbols that relate humanity to truths and values. It moreover advocates the existence of a supposed superior entity responsible for creation, sustenance and repercussions. To whom as famously believed paying homage is essential and often considered the corner stone of any religious practice. The purpose of this institution is to instill in people a sense of moral righteousness thus effectively averting the human tendency to indulge in the corruption of one’s mind and body for obtaining pleasure.

          
It serves the above purpose effectively to a certain extent. The looming threat of eternal punishment providing the individual an ample incentive to avert corruption.

        But these pros are often overshadowed by the cons which apparently are more pronounced...

          Religions instigate the segregation of society into a variety of factions based on the particular religious text followed, often instigating religious hostility resulting in bloodshed which in no way is desirable. It furthermore serves to strangulate and dilute the development of a country by generating a variety of demands each serving to uplift a particular group, often conflicting in nature. These demands slows down the pace of decision making. Most religions often indulge in time consuming rituals or establish biased restrictions often curtailing individual preferences. Patriarchy is reflected in most faith rendering women inferior, stifling them in manacles of restrictions subject to the authority of the father or husband.

          Religions also stunt the progress of science and reason, as observed during the age of Galileo and the vehement opposition to the cloning process (potentially an elixir of immortality) thus restricting mankind’s progression.

          Moreover the veracity of the entity termed as God is in no way secure. Religious texts which are supposedly truthful accounts of the truth are nonetheless authored by human hands and thus cannot serve as adequate proof.

          Though the existence of this superior entity thus cannot be proved, religions can serve as a cushion or a crutch during our times of need. Religions thus are efficient harbingers of hope that sustain mankind in the darkest of ages.

A Unique Republic Day Celebration

Yesterday, I had a very unique experience of Republic Day celebration -- I was in school together with a few faculty and staff peeling and cutting fruits and vegetables!

Peeling and cutting fruits and vegetables in Class I room.

Ms. Swapna Vinod & Ms. Rekha Valsaraj peeling carrots. Or, shall I say scraping?

 
Around 120 CMI priests and brothers were at school yesterday to celebrate their Provincial Day. At 9.00 am they started off with a Mass at the home theatre celebrated by Rev. Fr. John Panamthottathil CMI, Provincial, St. Thomas Province. 


While this was going on, Fr. John Mannarathara was going up and down the stairs and moving about to prepare for the next programme in the agenda -- the volleyball game at the Monastery playground.

Rev. Fr. John Panamthottathil CMI and other CMI priests and brothers

After the Mass, the CMI fathers and brothers were taken to the Monastery playground for a volleyball game. Can anyone guess who the referee was? Who else if not the very dynamic Fr Sibi Ponpara?

Fr. Sibi as referee.

One of the fathers jumping for a spike while the opponents were on theirs toes ready to block it.

Obviously not everyone could play the game... The others had to play the role as audience.

 By the way, I was taken to this playground in the Bolero, the school's new vehicle. Has anyone seen it? I was with Ms. Rekha and Fr. John. 


After the game, they were all brought back to the school for lunch. They were all ready for a good meal after that exciting game. The main attraction at the auditorium was not the fish or chicken curry. It was the fruits and vegetables wonderfully arranged by Ms. Megha, the crafts teacher.

The work of Ms. Megha and of course the fruits and vegetable cutters! :P At first, nobody wanted to touch a single grape!  People just stood there admiring the graceful-looking swans and the carvings on those pumpkins. Some were taking snaps of this beauty including myself!

A closer look at the fish carving on that pumpkin.

A closer look at the swan carvings on that pumpkin.

Ms. Megha, the master carver  (first left) and the vegetable cutters!

They were not only vegetable cutters they were also food servers! How admirable! (They are going to kill me for this!)

After the lunch, the CMI priests and brothers had their cultural show. I was not able to take lots of snaps of the show because I was eating at that time. I was having a good time with that apple and pineapple salad soaked in honey!

The young brothers singing a very funny Malayalam song composed by them. I don't know Malayalam but I knew it was funny because the audience was laughing! hmmm.

I didn't finish the show because I had to leave. Fr John told me that the show would be finished by 3.00 pm.

This was Mr. Valsaraj who pretended to hoist the flag.

I leave this article unfinished because Ryka is pulling my hair!

How to Save a Life

The most astounding of all the various capabilities that God has engraved in Man is Man's ability to save another's life.
But of what use is the rose when its fragrance is not appreciated by another; if with its fragrance, it cannot soothe another's nerves?
Of what use is the existence of the knowledge to save a life when one cannot use the same knowledge in a practical situation where a person is hanging onto his fading life by a fragile straw?
The Malabar Institute of Medical Science (MIMS) in collaboration with Devagiri CMI Public School, sought to imbue in students a few, simple steps that could possibly save a life. The day-long session aimed to teach students the Basic Life Support procedures - BLS. It truly came as a surprise to the students that it wasn't complicated surgeries or sophisticated machinery that the hospital staff used when a patient was first wheeled in.... but just simple ol' BLS.
When we (the students :D) walked in, we didn't see what we had expected to see - dilapidated old pillars, long rows of hunched up patients coughing and sneezing their way to the counter, nurses and doctors hustling about.. Instead, we were awed by the surprisingly classy, modern building, with squeaky clean floors and counters and an unbelievably orderly crowd. It of course soon led many of us (including me) to ponder on how convenient it would be to die here.
Upon beginning the session in the auditorium, the students were divided into four stations or groups. After learning in theory, they then practised the CPR( Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation) on the mannequins provided. You put a bunch of restless teenagers in a room with dummies, then of course fun and a lot of lame jokes are sure to ensue. But Dr. Augustyn and his team were extremely successful in holding the students' attention as they guided them through various life-threatening situations and how to handle them.
The students, charged up after bouts of tasty refreshments, were literally leaping off their seats with queries. The possibility that this practice would one day help them save a person's life filled them up with a contagious excitement on par with that of the MIMS team.
But what really kept them going was the amicable team that, through all the joking moments, the various anecdotes portraying the importance of BLS, and the endless queries, did not fail to fulfill their goal - to create a generation that would find itself capable of saving a life, one that was aware of how just a few compressions and head tilts could keep a heart beating.
At the end of the day, as the session came to a close, two of our students - Sachin .P and Sneha Nair - took up the opportunity to thank and appreciate the efforts of the team at MIMS.
But it wasn't the many crucial steps of BLS or the heavy mannequins that lingered in the students' minds......... it was the intriguing fact that the auditorium smelled just so good!!!!

Are you from another planet?

Yesterday, when I was walking back home after school, I felt like catching an auto so that I could reach home faster. An autowala smiled at me and showed that he was available to take me.
When I sat in the auto, slowly he started asking, “Are you a student or teacher?”
I looked at him through the front mirror and replied that I am a teacher. Then, he continued to say that I looked so young and no one would believe if I’d say that I am a teacher. He was praising me about my youth.
Soon, we reached the house and it was time for me to alight.
When I gave the money the expression on his face completely changed.
He asked, “Are you from another planet!? Don’t you know that the charges have increased?”
He demanded for Rs. 20/- instead of the usual fare of Rs. 15/-.
I said, ‘Yes, I am from Mars! I will give you only Rs. 15/-.'
He replied, “You are looking good and I thought you’d give me what I asked for.”
I asked, 'Who asked you to praise me?'
The argument continued.
Then, with much anger, he left.
I went back to Mars!