Chennai has all the surreal elements of classic India: vivid colour, monkeys, mangos and wandering cows. All of these things hit you as soon as you arrive, the hope of being eased gently into Indian life couldnt be possible. What actually happens is, you are thrown into all the elements of india both surreal and paradoxical.
Once you have overcome this aspect of India, the next challenge is the placement, however you need not be nervous. The children are so friendly and even before you have time to draw breath, they have all crowded round you and are desperate for hugs. Each time I hugged a child their faces lit up, it did give me areal sense of fulfillment, and I really did want to take each and every child home.
Besides the placement we did other things. Everyone went to Mallaparaum where I encountered monkeys. One stole my bottle of water, and then drank it. A tip for everyone going out to India, Stay away from the monkeys!
