The Life of an Eight Year Old in Chennai

Notes: Amma means mom, Appa means dad, and Paati means grandmother. Flat means apartment.

What chores do you have at home?:

"I have a garden on the roof of our building. I planted the seeds in small pots a few months ago. Every day, I go and water my plants. A few days ago, I had to move one plant from one pot to another.

I also help clean up the dining table after we are done eating dinner."

What jobs do your parents have?:

"My dad is a software engineer and my mom is an environmental engineer. Their jobs are very far away from where we live. They work from home some days during the week. My dad drives one and a half hours to his office two to three times a week. My mom drives 30 to 40 minutes to her office three to four times a week. My mom's company works with people in different countries, so sometimes she has to stay up after my bedtime to call the people in other countries."

What time does school start, and what time do you go home?:

"School starts at 9 o'clock in the morning. I go home by 3:30 in the afternoon."

How do you get to school? Are you allowed to go to school by yourself?:

"I take an auto to school every day. There is a specific auto driver that my parents trust to bring me to school, and I usually take the auto with two of my friends from school."

Where do you eat lunch? What is your favorite food?:

"I eat lunch in the playground at school. My favorite food is ice cream."

What language do you speak at school? How do you say "Hello" in your language?:

"In most classes, we speak English.

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