Goodbye to India

Dear friends,

Here are pictures from my last day in India. They speak much louder than any words I could write.

Last meal in the hostel mess

My table with the 3rd years. Bindhu Miss stands by to make sure noone talks at dinner.



My plate for every meal at the hostel (Claudia is painted on in nail polish at the top).
A typical dinner: rice, chamandy, beet root curry, and achar (pickle)



Latha works in the kitchen and gave me a glass of milk every night after dinner.

Later that night, Sherina and Greeshma insisted that I leave my room for a little while so that they could clean it for me. After a little while, they brought me back into my room...
...with a surprise party waiting on the porch!



The cake says, "Miss U Dear Claudia"



Our last evening together

I will never forget walking into my room and seeing this image...

Last henna hurrah: Sherina and Ledu covered me in henna for the journey home

"Claudia Brown" in Malayalam

Wishing these were permanent...

Final day in India. My farewell ceremony at the seminar hall of the college. Various speeches and gifts were given by the Principal, Vice Principal, Gigi Sir, Vimal, Cinny, Shalini, Ann... So many kind words and presents and emotions.

 

Gigi Sir's speech

Principal Korah Sir drapes me in a special shawl given as a mark of respect, called ponnada.

Sunita, my Indian mother

Goodbye, CMS College.

Final moments at the hostel with Warden and the girls. Warden placed a necklace around my neck.

Final photo in India. (Taken by Ledu.) Someone said, "Chechi, sing one more song." Soumya took my hand and we sang a Malayalam hymn together through tears.

Faculty Boat Ride!

A couple days before I left India, we had a celebratory boat outing with the Faculty Voice class. On a Monday morning, we piled into three cars and drove to Kumarakom, where we took an hour boat tour through the backwaters!

Cinny Miss, Ajitha Miss, Rachel Miss

Mary Chandy Miss, Ann, Anju

The group

Off the boat, Cinny Miss and I collect our medals from Sports Day (We were the only runners in the Women's 50m race. I also took 2nd place in 50m Speedwalking, lol)

Last voice class with Jemima :(

Photos that I gave as gifts to friends and family

English translated into Malayalam

Thank you notes Sherina and Ledu helped me make

Photo session with Ledu and Sherina at Bavens (yes, I'm leaning on a gigantic teddy bears!)

Picture of all the 2nd DC girls. Stunning.

As part of the Maundy Thursday morning service at church a couple days later, I was recognized by the choir of CSI Ascension Church and given this gorgeous plaque to take home. 

Elephant family from Jemima's family: we named them Jancy, Jemima, Jovan, and Johnson Sir

Little metal violinist guy- from Blesson

Convocation

On Wednesday, April 4th, there was a special convocation held in the CMS College Chapel for the graduates of the Choir Directors Training Program and the Faculty Voice program. On my way over to the convocation, I said farewell to the PG Lit class I had taught all year-a dynamic and charismatic group I'll dearly miss. They gave me a watch as a parting gift and a kerchief that they had embroidered with flowers and colorful letters reading "We Love You, Claudia."





The convocation was held in the chapel in the afternoon, where each class was seated together on the two sides of the chapel. Two Achens were present along with Korah Sir and some of the faculty. Achen welcomed everyone, then there were speeches by Vimal Sir and Roy Sir, the organizers of the programs; Korah Sir, the college principal, and then a member from each class. My dear friend Cinny Miss gave a speech on behalf of the Faculty Voice class and Wesley spoke on behalf of the Choir Director's Program.

Korah Sir, College Principal, gives a speech

Cinny Miss

I gave a reply speech and then Joe and I performed a song together. The name of each graduate was announced and the certificates were awarded. After the certificates, I was given a lovely jewerly set from Faculty Voice and an amazing Aranmula kannadi mirror from the CDP class.

An aranmula kannadi mirror is a rare and special gift: a metal-alloy mirror, made of polished metal, different from a normal glass mirror. The exact metals used in the alloy are kept a family secret, as only one extended family in a village in Kerala, the village of Aranmula, knows how to make them. According to Wikipedia, "legend has it that eight families of experts in temple arts and crafts were brought by the royal chief  to Aranmula from the Tirunelveli district to work in the temple there centuries ago on the mirrors."

On the back: "In appreciation of the sincerity, commitment, and selfless contribution made by Ms. Claudia Brown for the Certificate Programme in Choir-Conducting. Centre for Sacred Music, CMS College, Kottayam 2011-2012"

After the convocation, we took a bunch of group photos outside of the chapel, and then lingered and enjoyed refreshments. It was so emotional saying goodbye to everyone in these classes; we shared and learned so much together. What an unbelievable experience it was, being with this group, seeing how God brought so much fruit from a little seed, planted in faith. The plan is that the Choir Directors Program will continue next year, Lord willing.

Lord, please help this program to grow and flourish, if it is Your will, that more may be blessed by having training in leading worship, that they may draw others into a deeper worship of You.

My certificate

The graduates of the CMS College Certificate Program in Choir-Directing.

Front row L to R: Dr. Roy Sam Daniel, Susheel George Chandy, Prof. Korah Sir, Claudia Brown,Renju Miriam Cherian, Midhila, Achen

Middle: Blesson Joseph, Susheil Mani Alex, Prasad Cherian Sir, Prof. Abraham C Mathew, A.M. Jacob, Jomy John, Achen

Back: Sam George, Chriz Daniel, Jacob George, Bijo P. John, Wesley P. Kuruvilla, Vimal Kurian, Prof. Samkutty George

Not pictured: Dr. Aswan Thomas Elias

The graduates of the CMS College Certificate Program in Faculty Musical Skills Enhancement (Faculty Voice).

Front L to R: Principal Korah Mani Sir, Dr. Sobhana Kurien, Steve Kunnath, Ben Varghese, Prof. Jacob Kunnath, Achen

Middle: Dr. Mary Chandy, Claudia Brown, Prof. Rebecca Miss

Middle: Prof. Mithra George, Prof. Cinny Rachel Mathew, Prof. Ajitha Miss, Dr. Susan Varghese, Dr.Rachel Mathew

 — with Mithra George.

All of the graduates of the CMS College Certificate Program in Choir-Directing and the Certificate Program in Faculty Musical Skills Enhancement.


Front row L to R: Susheel George Chandy, Susheil Mani Alex, Blesson Joseph, Jacob George, Wesley P. Kuruvilla, Chriz Daniel, Sam George, Jomy John

Middle: Achen, Bijo P. John, Principal Korah Mani Sir, Dr. Sobhana Kurien, Renju Miriam Cherian,Steve Kunnath, Ben Varghese, Prof. Jacob Kunnath, Prasad Cherian, Achen, Vimal Kurian

Back: Dr. Roy Sam Daniel, A.M. Jacob, Prof. Samkutty George, Prof. Mithra George, Prof. Cinny Rachel Mathew, Dr. Mary Chandy, Yancy Miss, Prof. Ajitha Miss, Claudia Brown, Dr. Susan Varghese, Prof. Rebecca, Midhila, Prof. Rachel Mathew, Prof. Abraham C Mathew