SOMEs = Self-Organized Mediation Environments

After a 6-month interruption of chats due to exam time, vacation and very hot weather in India, I had my first chat with a group of six 12-year-ol students in the Hyderabad area this morning at 9:30 Lisbon time, 14:00 their time. Their names are in the chatlog below. Jeevan, the technician, I believe, was with them and sometimes helped with the conversation.

As usual, I love the children's clean look and their lovely uniforms. They look absolutely impeccable. They weren't very open this first time and, as is usual with children, there was the tendency for all to answer at the same time making it difficult for me to understand.

I introduced myself, asked them what they'd eaten for lunch and said what I'd just eaten for breakfast. I asked them if school had ended for the day. No! Then I gave them the link to a World Atlas, asked them to click Europe and told them where Portugal is. Thta's when I asked what time it was in their city, told them my time and explained that there's a 4 1/2 hour difference between us. They told me they learn Genki English at school. I googled it and told them it was a nice website. There are also CDs, so I don't know which they use. I'll have to ask them.

We chatted for about half an hour. I couldn't stay longer. I had a wonderful time and it felt good to be back chatting with children so far away.

Here's the chatlog.

[9:21:28] Teresa Almeida d'Eca: hello! i'm teresa in portugal
[9:21:37] jiya main: jiya main has shared contact details

with Teresa Almeida d'Eca.
[9:22:17] *** Call to jiya main, duration 00:40. ***
[9:26:09] *** Call from jiya main, duration 26:47. ***
[9:27:59] jiya main: ishrath 12 y
[9:30:01] Teresa Almeida d'Eca:

http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/world.htm
[9:34:39] jiya main: 2 pm
[9:34:53] Teresa Almeida d'Eca: 9:30 am
[9:36:01] Teresa Almeida d'Eca: rice?
[9:36:15] Teresa Almeida d'Eca: what else?
[9:36:45] Teresa Almeida d'Eca: a roll of bread with butter

and a coofee
[9:36:54] Teresa Almeida d'Eca: coffee
[9:36:58] Teresa Almeida d'Eca: with milk
[9:37:39] jiya main: milk
[9:40:02] Teresa Almeida d'Eca: sandwich
[9:41:26] jiya main: social
[9:41:42] Teresa Almeida d'Eca: social studies?!
[9:44:24] jiya main: genki english
[9:48:19] jiya main: arshiya
[9:48:25] Teresa Almeida d'Eca: my name is teresa and i'm in

lisbon, portugal
[9:48:44] jiya main: masrath
[9:48:54] jiya main: amer
[9:49:06] jiya main: zubair
[9:49:18] jiya main: azeem
[9:49:57] jiya main: ishrath

And here are some screenshots.