Baba School: Day 2 - the details

Ok, let me try to give a more detailed description of yesterday's events; hopefully without the computer stealing it this time!
The morning assembly was a silent meditation day, followed by the school song and mass P.T. (kind of like karate moves and yoga). I think its a nice way to start the school day, getting the students focused and limbered up.
The basketball game was fun and interesting. It's apparent that sports are not taken as seriously as they are for high schoolers back in the states. The level of play by these 10th grade girls was more on par with what you might see in middle school level games. After 20 minutes the score was only 10-2! The match was between the Baba school and the Kakander School (the one we haven't been to yet). Baba school won the game and then challenged us to a game. Its been about 10 years since I played full court basketball, and most of our team never played basketball, so we were pretty proud when Team USA only lost 8-6.
We observed kindergarten next and it was fun and amazing! Their kindergarten is ages 3-5 and organized so that students experience many different things and do many hands on activities. The kids seem so much more advanced than this age children in the U.S. I met a 4 year old gifted student that can read the newspaper and spell almost any word you give him! I was told that this boy Vishnav Jai, was a very special child, but all of the children were at least partially reading and writing (with amazing penmenship) and very well spoken. The Kindergarteners took me on a nature walk and collected plant debri that they'll use for hand-crafts later in the day.
Mitch wanted some time with the Indian teachers, so they brought in a couple 9th grade girls to design mahendi (henna-like) tattoos on all of us. It's pretty awesome and there's pictures over on facebook. Everyone's is different and unique and completely amazing! The school has a mahendi contest and one of these girls was the winner this year. She was phenomenal, they both were!
The students put on a cultural program of dance, song, and instrumental music to close out our day. They are always exposing us to their culture and traditions! It has been so wonderful to conclude each day with a cultural experience! :-)
The shopping trip wasn't much, but like I said in the quick post yesterday, I got a churhida (a blouse, pants, scarf set). The most exciting part of the shopping trip was my very first rickshaw ride! It was quite an experience. One minute you're zooming past a bus that 10 times the size of the rickshaw and the next you're going by a cow close enough to touch it! If I thought the traffic was crazy when viewed from our hotel vans or buses, the traffic is downright insane from the rickshaw! Oddly, I kind of enjoyed it! We had 8 of us stuffed in there too!