In the remembrance of.....

it's really quite shocking to listen from my sis that our beloved, student friendly principal Lilly Ma'am passed away. Omg. i'm still unable to digest the news. how can someone who is so good can pass away? She still lives in all the students hearts.

Ma'am you are the princess and you are the inspiration. One lovely song that you've taught all of us in the school echos in my ears whenever I remember you. I wish your soul rest in peace. In your memory I recollect and penning down the songs. It's dedicated to you. All your students mean it alot.

Honge kaamyaab, honge kaamyaab
hum honge kaamyaab ek din
ho ho mann main hai vishwas
poora hai vishwas
hum honge kaamyaab ek din.

Hogi shanti charo aur
hogi shanti charo aur
hogi shanti charo aur ek din
ho ho mann main hai vishwas
poora hai vishwas
hogi shanti charo aur ek din

Hum chalenge saath saath
dale haathon main haath
hum chalenge saath saath ek din
ho ho ho mann main hai vishwas
poora hai vishwas
hum chalenge saath saath ek din.

Nahi darr kisi ka aaj
nahi bhay kisi ka aaj
Nahi darr kisi ka aaj ke din
ho ho mann main hai vishwas
poora hai vishwas
nahi darr kisi ka aaj ek din

May your soul rest in peace.

start of 'Hitakarini.. the benefactor'

I dream a lot but for the first time I sincerely woke up to feel the happiness when a dream comes true. The first ever successful venture of sans and her good-hearted friends left them with immense satisfaction and zeal to dream more and more. I’m talking about the five-day rehabilitation workshop organized at Santhi ashram, Visakhapatnam from 22nd to 26th October, 2008. I’ve been dreaming about this workshop for so many months. For a month I worked on it and in just 5 days I made my dream-come-true.
It started when I woke from day dreaming and realized that my longtime dream can be made true with some efforts. I’ve put forward my idea of the workshop, in front of my friends. Everyone is really interested but no one knows how to proceed. I’m always ready to take the initiative in doing something good. I’ve asked my friends to go to ashram to take the permission from the management and to know the timings when the children will be free. I’ve listed out some important points that I wanted to convey through the workshop to the kids as well as to the volunteers. At the beginning I was told that there are a fair number of 25 volunteers who are interested in taking an active part in the workshop which made me go above the ground, flying (’aye udi udi..aye aye udi udi..’).
Then I’ve designed a schedule leaving not even a single minute to go waste. Time factor is a major hindrance. Children hardly had two hours of free time after their academic hours. So I’ve to train my friends 1 hour before hand and then work with children. On the first day I’ve given a powerpoint presentation in my department (in the university). I found many of them eagerly waiting to start the work after each slide was getting over and but for one boy it was a mere lullaby. He went into deep sleep that caught my attention which made me deviate the topic and make the presentation more interactive by asking questions to the listeners and ask for some doubts. I really had a great time in this episode.
Then started the time to work. We’ve started the first day off by making children write the copy writing books (both in English and Telugu) fine-motor and oro-motor exercises. Children felt so happy and excited to use all these thingies. On the day 2 we’ve conducted competition in drawing and painting. Even it worked out very well. In addition to this some special activity based classes were taken for few kids who were found dyslexic from the handwriting copies of previous day activity. On day3 we had activity time. Mask making for junior children and SUPW for seniors. The funniest thing was in masking. I drew the basic picture, my friend Ammu helped children colored it and Srinivas helped in cutting it into a mask shape. I was then drawing Spiderman, Batman and other famous cartoon faces. On one of the masks I drew a king’s face with long big mustaches. Children liked it so much that they all wanted for a second mask. They took so many photographs with those masks. Omg! They liked it so much that some of them wanted mustaches to be added on Spiderman’s mask also. Well on day-4 it was a little serious work. We’ve taken activity based classes on GK, math, science, clock, health and nutrition etc. On day-5 we have made children draw the do’s and don’ts chart for the Diwali that was just nearby 2 days. That day children actually wanted to repeat us the previous day placards as they enjoyed it a lot. Each and every one of us had wet eyes when those children tried to produce sounds while teaching. One sign of fruition was clearly visible.
Then we have distributed chocolates and pencil pouches. It was really silent when we were leaving the ashram after finishing the five-day workshop. So gloomy to see standing at the ashram gate and give a longing look to see us back soon.
In any way I can’t express my gratitude to all my friends and juniors who volunteered for the workshop. Some came down from Anakapalli everyday, some from Vijayawada, some from Hyderabad and some used to take permission from their workplace for 2hrs and volunteer. 1 sub junior and 15 juniors inspite of final exams came to attend the day-1 activity. My special thanks to
1) Rohi and Chaitu for giving such good name to the workshop ‘Hithakarini..the benefactor’.
2) Srinivas and Karthik in designing the logo and the certificates.
3) All the 25 volunteers who took active part inspite of their own busy schedules.
The moment I boarded the train to leave back to my home was really hard, felt like continuing the workshop for some more days. But time really played a critical role. One of my dreams came true, in fact I worked to make it come true. So many factors tried to pull me back, to withdraw my idea of workshop. But my desire to see it happen drove me till I finish successfully. End of that day made a start to new dreams in my life.

Koncham touch lo unte chepta....4u

Heya
I'll soon update my space for "Koncham touch lo unte chepta". I'm glad that people are really enjoying it and am getting great feedback and response for my lovely creation.
It's dedicated to all the readers.
lovya
Sans

INTERESTING(ly) (/)BAKWAAS???

Huh….after a long time I’m here to jot down some interesting Bakwaas. Hey confused eh??? Keep reading you can conclude at the end if it’s really interesting or bakwaas.
Of late I was busy schooling….oh yeah you’ve actually read it right…no wonder, it’s quite surprising even for me that sans is a teacher now...a special teacher. Finally I did it. Thank god, I was really worried how I will become a special educator without any professional background like B.Ed or some other blabla. But the quote proved me right "Sometimes Actions Speak Louder Than Words”. Yeah it’s very true my interest in special education drove me to Santhi ashram and that act of mine is now carrying a lot of weight in building my career.
The first thing people uttered when I told them that I’m placed as a special educator were….”whaaaat???? you and a teacher??? Don’t joke. ” till date people are seriously unable to digest that am working as a teacher. Hold on…if it’s a teacher…even I wouldn’t have taken up the job..but it’s a special educator..my dream come true. You know what…???...when I come back to my place after the strenuous work…. I feel like…..”whaaaat??? me and a teacher??? Is it a joke???” Lol you know I neva expect any of students to be highly disciplined and silent in the class…’coz you know I neva used to sit quiet in the class and was never on time to the college. One funniest thing was, in the beginning of my college days I used to be on time to the college with my best buddy Sah…. And we daily used to go central library (3times a day lols) to study and used to irritate the library staff to issue us the cards so that we can take some books to hostel and study during nights. Rosy dreams, aren’t they? But later we became very good gals infact role models to some of our classmates by being late to classes and overnight preparation for exams….haaaaaaaa nostalgiaaaa..
Well coming back to the topic. I fear if any teacher complains of me to the director of my school that I’m not being strict in the class…ha but my intention to start schooling is to change the present scenario of education system. Am completely against black-board: chalk teaching methods..all those conventional methods. I strongly believe in one:one teaching method. There won’t be any chance of losing concentration from the student’s side…and there will be total assurance from the teacher’s side to make know that the student has really got to understand the concept or not. What say? As a special educator I should take 1:1 classes. I’ve hardly 3 students to teach. But believe me 1 special student is equal to 100 students and so I call it a real strenuous job. Needs lots of patience, which I’ve in abundance... The student tries in his/her best way to distract the class and I need to clarify those impossible doubts in a convincing fashion. What I’ve noticed is the saturation period to hold the concentration for a special student is just 20 minutes. I just need to know the saturation period for a normal child. If it’s known and accepted, I’ve an idea and have to see the response. How’ll it be if a school is started with all the students getting 1:1 care…irrespective of the student’s mental status (I mean a special or completely normal student)? Assuming the strength of the students joining the school is 100 then I can employ 100 teachers. J Sounding funny and ideal??? I can contribute something in the removal of unemployment and crime as well. “Crime and unemployment” don’t you think these two are correlated? I think so. Unemployment and crime are directly proportional to each other. Unemployment leads to frustration, as unemployment increases frustration increases and frustration can do anything..yeah anything means anything.
As a person I can’t change the world but as a person I can change the world of one person. If I apply this to my idea of starting the so called ideal school then see IT WORKS. The other day I was reading {not actually reading looking at the pictures} the booklet given with Eenadu news paper on every Sunday and saw one article. One man really inspired me in many ways. He’s an environmentalist; he wants to see the green globe. He first made his street, then the area, his town clean and green. He tried his best and he’s still trying his best. His enthusiasm, his zeal are so infectious. One very interesting quote moved me a lot and when I’ve shown it to some of my friends and colleagues even they are moved. Then I thought what if I start a movement..??? Tell me my dear readers…IF NOT EARTH THEN WHERE, IF NOT NOW THEN WHEN, IF NOT YOU THEN WHO? Awe… it’s quite thought provoking. Isn’t it? It’s about global warming. But I’m able to apply it wherever I’m and whatever I’m doing and it gives me immense satisfaction if I get the answer like I did it NOW .

Huh! Too much of funda and phil. Oooooo. Enough. Now temme isn’t it interestingly bakwaas. Or just bakwaas/ interesting/ ???????

A day at the ‘Workshop’

I was just wondering how things link with each other in our day-to-day life. It was around 10:00am I was still in the deep sleep as it was very early in the morning for me to wake up. Then I just got a call from Ms. Sant…, asking me if I can accompany her to the NTV office to meet my sis. I was a bit hesitating to say no and with great difficulty committed that I would love to accompany her. LOL. A small decision taking..saying yes/no to Sant.., turned my dreams come true. I dunno what forced me say ‘yes’….but thank god I have accidentally found my dreams coming true one after one. When we reached the NTV office I dint even go to my sis’s cubicle. We were there in the next cubicle for nearly half an hour discussing an official matter. Our work was done and were about to leave the office. My sis intro’d Sant.. to one of her colleagues and they started gossiping. I was still in the next cubicle. I again dunno what pulled me towards my sis’s cubicle.. I just walked till my sis’s cubicle and was just looking around and suddenly turned back to see if I was right that I’ve seen a poster naming ’AUTISM’. Oh my god.. I was wondering what this very term AUTISM is doing in the NTV office. I was worried all these days because this is really a very much ignored disease in our country India. Not many…not even the parents realize that their child suffers from this particular disease unless he/she is out of reach and advanced. Coming to the reality show I had.. I then went to the poster and saw the lines..’April is AUTISM month but every day is AUTISM day’. I felt happy for the one who quoted it and was looking for its owner. For the first time I was reading about the very NGO Saaburi which works and educates the children with learning disabilities, especially the Autistics. I have jotted down the number, my sis took an appointment for me and I reached them in no time. I spoke to the director about my project AUTISM: Genetic and Molecular Studies. I told her my dissatisfaction in wet lab work and my interest in interactive work with the kids. I told her about myself and gave her my resume. Thank god…she’s impressed. She told me about the MAPLE workshop dated for July 01. I was running out of time to register for it coz I need to talk to my parents, sis and to the organizer of the workshop. I’ve again gone to Saaburi and met a VIP my dream person..the pioneer of AUTISM in India..’Dr.Mythili Chari’, also the organizer of the workshop. I have explained everything and she suggested me to attend the workshop and then decide if I’ve got to join the required special education training or not. The program’s scheduled to be 9-5 on Tuesday. Waking up 9:00am??? OMG. Midnight 9:00am??? Though it’s the toughest job I woke up and went to the workshop. It became hell for me to locate the venue. People with half-knowledge, generally misguide or mistake I don’t understand. I was lost somewhere in the city and it was already 8:55am. I was at the top of my temper. Thanks to the autorickshaw driver, he made me to be at the workshop exactly by 9:00am. Everybody and everything over there was completely strange to me as am new to Special education line itself. I felt a lil bit Okay when I saw the director of Saaburi and Dr. Mythily chari. While in the auto many things went on in my mind. I was thinking if I was taking right decisions till date in my academic life. I was MPC student in my intermediate studies and then did graduation in Biotechnology. Post graduated in Human Genetics and now Special Education. Though it seems to be very complicated in questioning..i found a very simple in answering myself. Yes I’m immensely satisfied with my studies. Because I’ve chosen Biotechnology in my graduation I was able to get introduction to genetics. Genetics slowly became my passion and I’ve even mastered it. Though I’ve less interest in its research side as it’s not interactive with the public. I dint find anything fun doing the research work. Because I’ve done my masters in Human Genetics, I wanted to do PhD as a part of continuation. If I really had the interest in it I’d have gone in to it. May be because of lack of interest I’m not driven to the PhD entrance exams. In one of my posts I was talking about the Santhi ashram kids and my interest in educating them. That’s my driving force. Today at the workshop I’ve in my lifetime for the first time expressed a doubt during the speech. I never had any doubt in Genetics..may be because I never overlooked it. The best day in my life is just today. I wish it comes again. I learnt a lot. I feel like I’ve learnt what I really wanted to. This is so beautiful to see in the workshop how the professionals and parents of autistics were interacting with each other for the betterment of the special education techniques and I’m happy that even I could contribute it from my experiences. It is so lovely and so adorable that people think and explore various techniques to educate the children with development. The kids have motor failure, developmental failure, occupational failure, communication failure etc. facing them, taking them as a challenge and solve the problems give real satisfaction. It’s kind of service to god’s own kids and to the Nation in raising such kids. I dunno haw many of you are aware of learning disability kids. Listening and reading about them is different from seeing and interacting with them. For example I read that autistics have severe temper tantrums and have to be careful while dealing with them unless and until you become familiar to them. I realized it when I first saw them at the Institute of Genetics and Hospital for Genetic Diseases, Begumpet, Hyderabad. I had cold blood when I saw them. Only when people see such children, normal people understand that we are all gifted by god and should use the life properly and meaningfully. Pity them, the kids can’t say anything and do anything properly and on their own. They need support. Autistics can’t even communicate about their needs. They fail to express ang gets frustrated and throw temper tantrums; the parents with no knowledge unnecessarily beat them, shout at them and worsen the situation. They just need some support, they need a helping hand, and they need to be understood by the parents, society and all. Dear friends I wanna express my opinion on one particular issue. One or the other day we will be parenting our kids. Who knows whose child is gifted or what? So I just want you all to be aware of disease. You needn’t have to be aware of its biochemistry and all; just know the symptoms are some major diseases that need early intervention or else the situation really worsens and it may become still more difficult to manage the things. Prevention is better that cure is what I mean. A stitch in time is worth nine is what I believe in.

If I just go back and think what would have happened and how much would I have lost if I said No to Ms. Sant..!huh. Bad thought.

If u think what I said matters..just click the link to know more about autism and other developmental disorder. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism

Thank you very much for sparing your valuable time in reading this prolonged esay.

Good luck.

SANS.

Lingo Bingo

Here’s a question and a challenge for all the readers of this blog and to my dearest SFA members.
Decode or translate the following mind blowing lyrics and find out the original song lyrics. They can be either hindi or telugu song lyrics. Good luck.
FYI: am translating one for your sake…make festival (pandaga cheskondi).!!

1)Fantastic dress we wear if, scarily look you give if, scary A you have scared.
Royally we walk coming, funnily you came across if, scary A you have scared.

and the answer is......

Adhireti dress memeste, bhedireti lookku meeriste, dhada, aa meeku dhada. Hundaaga memu nadichoste, saradaga meeru addoste, dhada, aa meeku dhada.

2) Though foot anywhere going, though heading towards anywhere,
Though step shivering, shall I come along?
Even small quarrel, even eye wetting, heart’s every beat, am I not there?
Lonely or failure, walking along shadow….

3)Green parrots along if there, singing coal along if there, earth is happy home. This world has no tears then.
Small small nests only heaven is there,
Small small heart in, love absorbs,
Sita’s scarf parrot sarees why?
Love is enough, money giney , why say?

4)When saw you, then I understood,
love is a mental case lover,
Now from here where should I go?
Your arms in die I will.

5)I have to tell tell you something,
I have to stay stay in your heart,
Life life now pain fights,
Bear bear can’t I bear.
Have to say, have to say,
Today to you, I have to say,
Have to live, have to live
Your heart in I have to stay.

good luck guys. keep sending your answers and comments.

AMOK:SMOKE

Smoking is passion for some and for some its fashion. But for everyone it’s amok.

I know most of you are tired of hearing "Don't smoke! Don't smoke!" but I've been trying to encourage people at a young age to never start and hopefully convince smokers to try to tone it down. To pursue great things in life, you need to be at optimal health, no? If you have the burden of having to smoke half a pack of cigs a day, knowing it's going to harm your lungs and knowing one day you'll end up in the hospital, are you at optimal physical health? No. Are you at optimal mental health? No.So, here are a few things you should keep in mind.

Effects of Smoking...Cigarettes:- Bronchitis- Emphysema- Lung Cancer- Heart Disease. 1 cigarette contains 4000 chemicals, 40 of which are cancer-causing chemicals and 3950 are poisons. Is it really worth it? Each puff of nicotine and tobacco temporarily increases heart rate and blood pressure, but your blood cells have less healthy oxygen! Smoking causes the blood to clot and causes heart and lung failure.

Pipe or Cigar:- Bronchitis- Cancer of the Mouth- Heart Disease--If you've already started or if you're just curious...

Tips on Quitting- Tell others about your plans.- Have friends support your decision.- Avoid places where other smokers may be.- Get rid of any smoking-related objects.- Set a quit date.- Communicate and coordinate with other non-smokers.- Forget about smoking and think of the benefits of quitting!!

Benefits of Quitting: Quit for ...20 minutes - Blood pressure, pulse rate, and body temperature of hands and feet should be at a normal level.24 hours - Chance of heart attack decreases.48 hours - Less sluggish, senses are sharper and body feels more refreshed.2 weeks to 3 weeks - Circulation improves, moving about is less difficult and lung function increases up to 30%.1 to 9 months - Body's overall energy level increases, lungs are functioning much better, coughing, fatigue or other minor effects should diminish. The cilia regrows in lungs.1 year - Risk of coronary heart disease is half of a non-smoker's risk.5 years - Overall health is about half that of a non-smoker's. Lung cancer death rate is decreased by 50%.10 years - Lung cancer death rate is very similar to a non-smoker and risk of mouth, esophogus, throat, bladder, kidney and pancreas cancer decreases.15 years - Risk of coronoary heart disease is that of a non-smoker.

SMOKERS..JUST REMEMBER- IF YOU QUIT SMOKING, YOU SAVE MONEY IN MANY WAYS!!

Interesting facts:- Every year, 390,000 to 400,000 Americans die from smoking and millions worldwide!- Cigarette smokers have a doubled risk of heart problems.- A pregnant smoker increases her baby's chance of birth defects, miscarriage, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).- About 87% of lung cancer victims suffer from it because of smoking. - Smokers are 10 to 15 times more likely to get cancer than non-smokers.- Smokers die an average of 10 years sooner than non-smokers.- With lung cancer, one has a 15.2% chance of survival.-

"It's easy to quit smoking! I've done it several times." - Mark Twain

Here are some of the replies I got from my friends.
Smokers:
1)One academically intelligent guy says that it gives him a very different feeling. He feels like that of a swing. And he has it for the next 10mins after the smoking episode. …
2)One well settled friend says that he smokes for fun.
3)Another says he smokes for no reason.
4)One interesting guy says that he smokes when he’s in great tension and after a puff he gets great relief.
5)Upcoming scientist says he smokes to remember whatever he studies and it increases his remembrance power.
6)One craziest guy says frankly that he smokes because his favorite hero smokes very stylishly and he wants to imitate the hero.…..
7)Craziest response is smoking in the name of youthful days…

Non-smokers:
1)One says he doesn’t smoke because none of his family members has that habit.
2)Another fellow doesn’t smoke because his girlfriend hates him if does.
3)One smokes not inspite of drawing inspiration from his favorite hero because he’s concerned about his health.
4)One girl bought a cig, but dint smoke, because she dint get a right occasion.
5)Many say that they don’t have intrest on smoking

ps:its not generalised.