Talent unearthed…summer camp and the kolkota trip

Quite amazing how at the time of need, you discover new things about yourself… be it the smallest detail like you pout when you are disappointed or that you are as responsible as a king can be, at the time of calamity…

Those were the thoughts that came into my mind when I found a few details about my own self in a span of two weeks. Let’s go by Episodes-

EPISODE 1: 20-23^rd of May

To begin with – I was surprised that I could do Photoshop quite satisfactorily when I designed a poster for Jashan 2008- Ram’s Summer Camp for children between 4 to 16 years of age. I would be happy if you could take a look at it:

(Well in connection to this I can’t but mention my sweety-pie nephew – Nandan- who stayed with me to attend the camp: pls click the links below to see snaps in picasa of the summer camp culmination day program):

THE SUMMER CAMP

EPISODE 2: 30^th of May- 7^th of June

Before I start my next big discovery let me share an apprehension of mine:

I + Kids = Disaster.

The point is I love kids and so long as they are crawling and toddling I can be a best nanny to them but once they start going to school I treat them as friends. Now this can be problematic- as being friends, according to me, means the other one has to be responsible for his/her actions. Only in such cases I will back them for their efforts and support them when they want to improve themselves. This, however, works differently with kids. They are way too small to realize the ‘responsible’ part of being friends. This mismatch of opinion and reality had made me think that I might be bad influence to the lovely beginners of life. And hence my apprehensions towards my dealing with kids!

So when Ram said our team was not just supposed to give technical support but also personal care to a 25 children team, which was taking part in the 5^th National Children’s Theatre Festival in Kolkota, my insides churned. I am sure you’ll agree with me if I say -without my apprehensions itself the task was quite challenging.

But considering that children’s hero- Ram – would be there to handle them and the hope that others like Vikram, Raghu, Deepak, Avanthi and Sudha Didi (the teacher) would be better equipped than me, I stayed cool till the trip began. Little did I know that soon my assumptions…or rather our assumptions would go for a toss!

30^th May, 2008 at 4 in the evening the team (excluding Sudha Didi as she was supposed to board the train from Katkat) with 25 kids, boarded the train to Kolkota – the Super Fast Faluknama Express.

Once all was settled I was feeling on top of the world first because it was going to be a week's holiday, away from work and of course with Ram and for theatre...what can be better?

Well...before I had felt enough of reveling on the matter it was dinner time. There was lot of food as every parent was suppose to bring assigned food for all of us. So began the whole exercise of brain storming between me and Avanthi to figure out how exactly to serve the pulihora, dadhojanam and biriyani.

To conclude... the whole affair of serving the dinner was such a dog's breakfast that out of stress and shouting, me and Ram had a fight for such a silly reason and I ended up crying. The good part was that we patched up in less than two minutes (as Usual) and the bad part of it was that I had a weird feeling it is just the start...nothing looked hopeful and the way children were around and above Ram I thought I won't even get to spend time with him...

You must be wondering (at least a few of u) what must have gone wrong with the dinner serving...well, when you have 25 children insisting (read it as practical stubbornness) that they would eat junk and drink cool drink (both prohibited as they were going for a performance and could not afford to lose their voice), shouting at the top of their voices and running around in the train because of their new found freedom, one suddenly complaining of stomach ache started crying, the other insisted that she should have a middle berth while sleeping and so on and so forth ...they didn't actually seem like kids to me!!! To top all this is my habit of taking up responsibility(extremely annoying for myself and also injurious to my health) made my head reel at the end of it.

I've heard somewhere that man learns to survive in every challenging circumstance...though a far off thought, I mentioned it as one of my reasons for survival and victory during this trip. By next day afternoon I had quite become the ring leader of the lion troop that I was going with.

But little did god think of ending my suffering there and I knew that I was right in thinking - this is just a start!

When we reached the station - 31st of May- two human beings had come with a bus to receive us all. So we- Ram, I, Avanthi and one man from the 2 ppl who came to receive us, sent the kids with the rest of the team to board the bus while we waited till the other team members would drop the kids safely to the bus, come back and take all the luggage with us. It was a fool-proof plan except that Ram forgot to handover the tickets for the kids so that they can exit the railway station. So we saw Deepak coming back to us in some time to collect them. After he went in some time one of the team members called saying Deepak had not reached where they were (it was already half an hour since he left) and that he had no mobile to contact...tension... then we saw Deepak coming our way..thank god we thought...he had lost the way (was the staion so big I still don't know). So he was sent back with proper guidance and an instruction that he should just usher the kids out and immediately come back to us with the tickets to help us take the luggage tot he bus.

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

Apparently Deepak became so involved in kids safety (for which there were already 3 others) that he went straight to where the bus was...hmmm... so after realizing this fact and that it had already been an hour and a half standing on the station we decided to hire a trolley to carry the luggage till the bus... that was the first 'bokka'- 150 straight-

We reached the exit and again realized that there was an exit where you needn't show tickets so relieved we came out and rang our so called guide as to where the bus was...great news was that the bus was parked nearly two kilometers from the station...oh shucks!

The trolley didn't approve of the distance on the road so again we were stranded this time on the road...Deepak found us in some time (another half hour)... we coaxed a trolley guy to come as the bus driver said buses are not allowed anywhere around the station parking...another bokka- 100 straight-

Finally we got near the bus...but wait- the bus- it looked more like a police van without any grills on the window...never mind...next stop Heera Hotel...2 star it seems...

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

The hotel guys had given us the accommodation in one of their sister concern hotel called 'Meena Guest house'... we climbed three stories which actually resembled a haunted building...we saw the rooms that actually seemed squashed between the walls of the hotel...bathrooms fine but with insects...ok I don't remember much after that on that day...kids crying that they wanted a spacious, airy room and that they've never seen a place like that, that they are hungry, that they are sleepy .... everyone pacified, parents apologized to, dinner served, had, sleep... something inside the brain said it would not be so bad...( I was right)

Next morning- 1st of June- brought much more than the pestering calls from the parents- right from 5 in the morning- The place looked less gloomier...a little more airy and people helping each other...after all it wasn't so bad!

one more thing managed...bravo!

Evening we were suppose to join the rally that begins from Victoria Memorial and goes till Rabindra Sadan where the festival was going to be conducted.

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

none of the taxies would take more than 4 ppl, also they had to be paid 50/- each (all for a ten min drive) and the budget wouldn't allow more than 3 taxis with such a price tag...so again 'bokka' ...5 taxis and off to Victoria Memorial...beautiful palatial space with a small pond...

The rally was good and we enjoyed the performances...except that one child kept puking and the other kept going to the toilet and we elders stuck in all these...(trivial by this time)

At8.30 p.m we decided to go to the hotel...we thought looking at the weather...it would be pleasurable if we all walk down the what-so-ever little distance...kids agreed too.

We started walking...and walking and walking and walking...kept saying we've reached ...but...once the kids started complaining even the elders lost their senses...no vehicle would come to that direction...the market was open and the kids had to be saved from the stare of the local ppl and pimps eying them...we were scared but alert to the core. Finally the hotel reached...now the hotel looked almost like a heaven.

One more lesson learnt...things are farther than they appear...again pacifying crying and fighting children, serving, eating and sleep...

Next morning- 2nd- was the day to finish whatever remaining work was there on the sets. A new found confidence was seen in all the team members and kids also seemed to be enjoying themselves...why I still don't know.

Evening little kids who can't walk were sent in the taxi and the others walked down...mission neatly managed. the program culminated and we came out of the auditorium.

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

It was raining and no vehicle would come towards the direction of our hotel. hmmmmm...god's great.

The only option is the metro train. A few mins of walk and we got at the metro station at Rabindra Sadan...our hotel just three stops away...everything is fine...but the kids are scared and we are too as they outnumber us and they all have to be brought safely...And we did it!

Again I had to handle over-excited kids in the hotel...this time pouncing at the food they despised all this while...it still isn't a easy life I though!

Next morning- 3rd- the day of our performance... Extremley hectic ...after managing food, stay, mids and hearts...now it was time to manage the work of dressing up 25 kids in a limited time that too for 2 costume dramas...It went really well, the photographer took nearly 100 photos and was so happy that he gave all of it for free...

check them out:

KOLKOTA CHILDREN'S THEATRE FEST- OUR PLAYS

We made it to the hotel successfully that evening and children had a ball as they were given cool drinks and chips and what not...a great day...also I realized that sharing Ram's presence with the kids made him even more dear to me...the way he handled them and the way I handled them brought us close even more...

next morning- 4th june- sight seeing day- One temple, Science City, Picko Park...wasn't bad but mad as I had to handle travel sick kids puking all the way...The vans cost us a fortune but still it was trivial compared to the fun...oh forgot to mention the bokka- an unexpected 2000/- extra ...and you call kolkota a low cost city..I don't agree...

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

Evening we got to know that a Lightening Bandh has been announced in kolkota and that it might also be that the train are also canceled...well, we were taking the early train next morning...

we rushed tot he hotel..canceled the shopping...hurried to get whatever food we can get and whatever vehicle we can get to reach the railway station...men of our team running outside to arrange things and we ladies int he hotel handling the wailing kids...they were upset that they can't shop...so we pacified them and the men arranged everything.

next morning- 5th june- all up and ready at 4 int he morning...travel by 2 trolley trucks- one for the kids and ladies of the team and the other for the men of the team and the luggage. Mission manged well...

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

We just scrapped through the heavy storm and rainfall that attacked us while we were entering the staion...luggage and the men at the platform and the kids and ladies in the waiting room ... hmmm...god is not yet tired...

All hopes that Falaknuma would start at 7.45 am faded as they canceled East Coast express...what would happen if the train was canceled, where would we go with 25 kids..and with practically very little money....oh god give us the strength to cope!

All the stress was put on the station manager who didn't know the status of the train till 12 in the afternoon...finally we heard that Falaknuma will start at 5.30 in the evening...13 hours late from its usual time...We managed the kids and luggage from the evil eyes of the crowded kolkota railway station...boarded the train and then I realized the best is almost going to end...all of us enjoyed the moment a lot...

Right then we got th enews that a power plant had burst at vizag so they are stopping all the trains...hmmm...god is great!

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

But yes...you are right...we were not stopped and we reached the Hyderabad at midnight on 7th....

I so wish the trip would have never ended as it was the best in my life. I learnt that I can handle kids very well without getting them to hate me...All of them loved me so much that they keep insisting me to quit my job and join as a teacher in their school...they were all lovely...And I would thank everyone in my team especially Sudha didi for being sucha wonderful friend and guide...And Ram for giving me this opportunity.

NOTE: PLS COME BACK AGAIN TO THIS BLOG AS I'LL POST SNAPS OF OUR CONDITION ON THE PLATFORM IN TWO DAYS TIME.
Here are the pics link...apart from the pics at the railway station there are a few others of the kids...pls check:

AT KOLKOTA RAILWAY STATION AND AT THE WORKSHOP

To all those parents out there...I have a request...do not treat teachers as slaves and instead trust them if they ever take up the responsibility to care for your child... I know your concern makes you do certain deeds but believe me if you respect the teachers they will respect your feelings.

Thanks for reading till this...I know its long..pardon me for the mistakes in grammar.