During summer vacation the kids' schedule at the orphanage relaxes considerably. There's no such thing as summer school in India, so all the kids are around the orphanage all the time. The past few weeks have been great because we get to spend a lot more time with the older kids whom we don't get to see as much during the school year because they don't attend Bensons (remember, Bensons the school only goes up to 4th grade). While the kids don't have class, they do have to work on projects around the campus for a few hours a day: cleaning, general maintenance, building things, gardening, clearing away brush and undergrowth, etc. As a reward for their hard work, once a week all the kids get to go on a field trip together.
This past week we went to GRS Fantasy Park, a small amusement park in Mysore that concentrates mostly on water rides. I have to say, our day at GRS might have been the best day we've had in India. The kids were totally pumped up for GRS (it's most of the kids' favorite field trip of the year). We've been hearing about this place for the past three months--how great it is, how much fun we were going to have, how I was going to fall into the pit with the dragon in it (one of the kids had a dream where I fell into the Dragon's Den, one of the rides). Amazingly enough, it actually delivered (except for the dream--I didn't actually fall into the dragon's lair). I've never seen the kids so happy before--all of them. Everyone was laughing, playing together, getting wet and wild. It was awesome to see the huge smiles on the kids' faces. I had so much fun splashing water in children's eyes, pantsing some of the boys (underwater to minimize embarrassment), and going down the giant water slides that I don't even mind the nasty sunburn I still have (yes, I used sunscreen). Plus, Eric and I totally dominated on the Pendulum Slide, this enormous cross between a water slide and vert-ramp that you ride on with a two-person inner tube--we went faster, higher, and harder than anyone else (it's the best ride in the whole park and there was never more than two people ahead of us in line all day, how sweet is that). But if there's one thing I will always remember from this day, it's the look of joy on one of my favorite little girl's face as she jumped up and down in the waves at the Wave Pool.
Sometimes Eric and I dream about taking all the kids to Hawaii. Only two of them (out of 34) have ever seen the ocean before. Going with the kids to GRS might be the closest we ever get to Hawaii. But if that's so, I'm ok with it. Thanks for the memories GRS!
Here are some pictures for you to enjoy:
GRS, here we come!
Soshimla's look of joy.
Soshimla's look of joy.
Under the waterfall (l to r: Giri, Zuky, Nomel, Babu, Kariyapa).
Naningkhui, Mothangwar, and Raikan get it on with the brontosaurus.
Leishipem (doesn't she look Korean?) and Ashaveine prepare for the Ferris Wheel.
Subashini and Yaomungla have headaches after the Ferris Wheel.
The sensitive man (Mothangwar).
Because I want to be in at least one picture in this post (l to r: Eric, Yangreipam, Yaomungla, Leishipem, me).
Paotam riding a cartoon version of himself.
The boys (Shonyui (top), Sosem, Varekan, Chingreisho (l to r)).
Eric letting his inner-demons out with Giri and the trash can.
A fitting end to a great day. Thanks GRS!
