Live from Pondicherry ...
January 29, 2012 by Yves Duteil
Dear Friends
After Hurricane Thanes who passed through the region and causing extensive damage to school, our partners, many godfathers / godmothers and donors have been particularly responsive. Emergency aid received very quickly helped to address priorities for buildings, equipment, and school supplies basic necessities. 
Companies have also mobilized. Thanks to you all, the repairs are nearly completed, and the school is operational again for all children. 
We face now a psychological consequence of this unexpected event: the terror experienced by the children was sent to parents, coupled with unfounded rumors of new cyclone, and even earthquakes. Narikuruvars some families are afraid and are not yet ready to send their children to school. Only some of the children came back about a third, and we are in contact with the families to explain that the school can get their children safely.
It is against this background that Noelle and I have anticipated the date of our visit ...
January 26, as every year, AFTER SCHOOL celebrated the "Republic Day" national holiday in India, 
and we have this opportunity to express our gratitude to those who have mobilized in an emergency, our appreciation for the magnitude of the task accomplished in so little time and our pride in the team assembled to the crisis. The festival was more exciting than ever. Raise the national colors, children's show, traditional dances and songs were framed words gushed forth from the heart experiences and testimonies, impregnated shared in these hours of anguish, happy and solidarity which helped to erase the traces within the school. It now remains for us to dispel the shadow of the storm, still present in families, and each case is considered individually. 
We will take stock during February and we will keep you informed of course developments.
Meanwhile, we appreciate your trust and your continued support, and send you all our friendship.
Noelle and Yves.
Also read the full article and editorial, to be published on the site www.apresschool.org
Writes Between You and Me | 15 Comments » | 
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Hello Yves, Noelle and all in Pondicherry
I am very happy to read this good news and I am delighted that all the solidarity that was set up after the hurricane has helped make the school functional so quickly.
What a joy to see all these beautiful colors and the big smiles.
I'm sure all the support and love that you make to children and their families will eventually alleviate their fears and trauma leus and they will all return to school. I understand they were so afraid.
In my turn I would like to congratulate all the teams who have worked at the feet back on the school. Really BRAVO!
I wish you again a lot of courage and I join with you in spirit.
I kiss you and I send Liege, huge hugs to all those children I feel so close.
In friendship,
NICOLE
What a pleasure to see the buildings again ready to receive children. I sincerely hope that parents will understand that their children are not at risk and allow them to return to school with confidence. The work accomplished is huge and there is much to do yet. Congratulations to the team, thank you all for your dedication, your energy and tireless enthusiasm to get on with the future of these children so generously. You are wonderful! The celebration of National Day had to be overflowing with emotion after the turmoil of recent weeks. Let me send you kisses friendly. Danielle
Hello Yves, Noelle and all in Pondicherry
I am very happy to read this good news. The solidarity that was set up after the cyclone has been effective and I am delighted. What a joy to see those big smiles and all these beautiful colors.
You will find the words to reassure children and their families, I'm sure they will all return to school because the love and support that you give them, will eventually erase the trauma and fear.
In my turn, let me congratulate all the teams on site for the efficiency of their work and back on her feet as fast school.
I wholeheartedly wish to draw you in even the strength and courage necessary for reconstruction.
In thoughts with you I kiss you and Liege, I am sending huge hugs to all those children I feel so close.
In friendship,
NICOLE
Dear Noelle, Dear Yves,
Yesterday, amid all the messages I wanted a happy birthday, your editorial was ... What a gift and what a joy to see that the mobilization of all allowed in so little time to erase almost all traces of that terrible Cyclone! Thank you for those beautiful smiling faces ... I have no doubt that any team with patience and gentleness will manage to reassure the families and persuade them that their children are in safe hands.
Congratulations to all and big kisses, VIVIANE
Hello Yves, and Noelle,
I'm glad to hear the very positive evolution of situation.Je'm sure the families, now reticent, gradually resume confiance.Comme always in these cases of major trauma, "you must let the time to time ".
With big kisses.
Annick.
Dear Noelle and Yves,
I am absolutely sure that your recent visit to AFTER SCHOOL has left a positive aura about the school and its future.
Nothing can touch her gray now.
A new future filled with promise emerges.
I can hear an air of joy that swells and hums in all open classes and open!
I'm not sure, but I think I recognize the very pretty little mug of the last picture. She grew up ...
We embrace you.
JM & MA
Dear Noelle, dear Yves,
I hope your report after three weeks of Pondicherry all families have sent their children to school. I can understand a mother refuses to return the face of such a catastrophe. But I am certain that they have resumed gradually confidence. Surely you believe that is the best for their children back to school.
As for the national day celebrations I know these are extraordinary events. Each year we are fortunate to celebrate the festival of lights in November with our Indian friends and other Indians living in our region. This is a wonderful show and very moving with light, recitations and dances.
In friendship
Ulrike
Dear Yves, colleague,
As I had the opportunity to tell you, and the risk of repeating myself, I repeat to you my immense happiness of your call at my beautiful city of Villenave Ornon.
Once again you have capsized my heart as well as hundreds of spectators through your poetry, your music and your talent.
What better reward for an artist than a full house standing to applaud you at the end of your set, which end always comes too soon.
I have discovered on stage 2 years ago in Bordeaux, thanks to my friend Helen, and I confess that I was eager to enjoy your talent and the Villenavais Villenavaises.
So thank you again and especially good luck and much happiness for you and those you love.
I embrace you.
Denise
Congratulations for your site Duteil sir. I invite you to listen to a beautiful rendition of one of your songs I've always liked: For children everywhere http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp486GlalTk
Good Mooooooooorning the Fraaaaannnce!
You are very live from Radio-After-School!
The sky is blue, the sun heats a lot already (it's only 10:30 in the mornin 'and it is already near 30 degrees), the sea is beautiful, the birds sing and children are ... wonderful!
Back in After-School with my mom and her friend Chantal, so we live to the rhythm of children. Breakfast at 8:30. Small ceremony (prayer, singing, reading the newspaper headlines of the day, etc..) Was 9:15. Entry into a 9:30 class. At 11 am, break for 5 or 10 minutes for everyone: everything stops After-School for a time of milk-tea
Then return to classes until 24:30. Lunch, then again during a 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m., with the same milk-tea break was 15h.
After the course, children benefit from either the pool or games company, is a jump ropes, balls, etc..
Dinner at 7:30 p.m. and then to bed, in the new dormitory was opened last year: boys and girls down at the top.
The children are adorable.
The smaller (3 to 5 years) are very cuddly. As soon as we sit on the floor, there's always one who just sit on our laps. It's the same in the largest, but it is more "discreet". Among the greatest, it is mostly girls who open their arms (except for my godson who comes to me as he can).
Some larger, which were already there last year, we were immediately recognized and are very easy to talk to us.
Most of them speak English quite well, now (except smaller, of course). They have made enormous progress. After being here for a School-in 2010 (about 4 months after the opening of the school) and in 2011, I see the evolution and progress of children.
And they are always smiling! For us, their smile is more beautiful than the sun!
Yesterday, we celebrated the anniversary of our three godchildren. As we have no exact date of their birthdays, so we decided that it was yesterday
We bought three cakes, on which was written "Happy Birthday" followed by the surname of the child and the date of yesterday.
Our principal occupations during the course of the children: take all the books in the library, Internet to sort with those that were damaged by the cyclone (those who were too chasms are unfortunately discarded), and we cover all those who are not abyss.
Well, I leave you ...
As I have been very talkative, he is soon 11h, and I would not break the magnifying glass milk-tea
Hugs to all
Rachel, usually in Paris, but for today, Pondi
PS: sorry for mistakes eventelles and lack of focus, but in India they are qwerty keyboards: some letters are not in the same place, there is no focus and no umlaut either ...
Hello and thank you to Rachel for these new fresh Pondi that delight us.
I see the normal course of life AFTER SCHOOL is well established.
Thank you to your mom, and her friend Rachel for you help and comfort that you bring on site.
A kiss to everyone AFTER SCHOOL and friends of Blog Share from JM & MA also live in the subcontinent, but in Lahore, Pakistan.
Love to all and Noelle and Yves who lend us their blog so valuable for these exchanges.
EMMA
Hello Rachel,
It's really great to hear from you and especially to have such good news of Pondicherry.
I am delighted to know that life at school resumes, your positive comment is very reassuring.
I send you all my sincere friendship and huge kisses
Hello Rachel,
Glad to hear from you live in Pondicherry!
Your message is timely because next week I do an intervention in the school of my son who is organizing an action of various associations (AFTER SCHOOL I'll show them).
Them I can "tell" the school day in Pondicherry, without forgetting the milk-tea break. I think they'll be very jealous.
The photos you sent me were very helpful to me to constitute the file I submitted to the Director and support my proposal.
Love and kisses to all, not forgetting, of course Noelle, Yves, and all those working on site for the association with such efficiency.
Viviane
Hello,
I am a little worried.
Yves, you always used to give us hear from you regularly.
For more than two months we have not had. Sure, you're a busy person. I know that you are preparing a biography, and the town hall and your new album ....
But when you enjoy the people, we love to hear from them, that's why I allow myself this mail.
Yours.
In friendship.
Marie.
Thank you Mary
I can not resist the pleasure to meet you ... Yes it's true I'm very busy. Including writing the album, which is well advanced, and eats most of my days and my nights. I will write an article soon to keep you all abreast of news as it prepares ...
I kiss you ...
Yves
Noelle Hello, Hello Yves,
And thank you for your delicate attention for having responded to my message.
I wish you good luck for the coming weeks in the gestation of your new album.
Friendships.
I embrace you and Noelle.
Marie.