This is my blog for Sohail! He is currently my only male sponsored child. His name on file is Mohammad Sohail, but with his welcome letter I learned that he actually goes by Sohail (it's not his last name like the report implies - apparently Indians do not always have last names). I began sponsoring Sohail at the beginning of June 2010. He had already been in the program since 2006 and had 2 sponsors before me. But I intend to be the last!

He is 11 and will be 12 in January. I was drawn to him because of his gigantic smile! He has just begun grade II. He seems to have gotten a late start on his education but he's doing well in school and progressing at a normal rate.

He lives with his parents and 3 siblings - one older brother, and two younger sisters. His income looks like it's dropped about $10 since June though, very unfortunate. His father is the breadwinner and works as a daily worker so monthly income is not going to be consistent.

July 2010

I got a welcome letter! It looks like Sohail still isn't writing yet. However, I'm hoping that will change this year now that he's staring grade II. That seems like a year most kids start putting together sentences in school. We shall see!

Letter:

"Dear sponsor, Ms. Clinton.

Hello, how are you. Sohail and his family welcomes you in this sponsorship programme. Sohail is reading in class II. He likes to play football and also likes to watching cartoon programmes im TV. He likes to eat cake, Magi, fruits etc. Sohail wants to know about you. Please send him letters.

Mira Shah on behalf of Sohail"

I did send him a letter the week after sponsoring him so hopefully I shall be getting a letter in reply to that as well! I'm surprised that he watches cartoons. A TV is not something I would have imagined him to have...I'm always learning something! I wonder if he watches and Bollywood. I'd love to mention it but I want to make sure it's something he does.

Oh and on the back he checked of that He likes to play with "bat and ball" and that he likes learning "rhymes". Does anyone know what Magi is? I tried to look it up. The closest I got is that it may be some sort of pre=packed noodles? I think I'm going to learn a lot from his letters!

August 2010

8/30/10 - I received my first non-welcome letter from Sohail! Again this one is written by a volunteer as he is not far enough in his studies to write yet (he's in Grade II). This was in response to a letter I sent him they day I began sponsoring him:

"Dear sponsor Dorothee auntie,

Please accept love from Sohail & his family. There are well & hope all of you are well. Sohail is very happy to get your nice letter. His is very happy to know that you stay in New York. Sohail stays in Kolkata which is very nice also. Sohail has 2 brothers & 2 sisters. He is very happy to know that your birthday is in October. He will pray for your long life & well-being. I convey his best wishes for your birthday. His parents also send best wishes to you. Sohail is very happy to know about you. His nick name is Paltu. He is happy to know about you. He has drawn a picture of home for you.

Yours sincerely,

(volunteer name...can't read off the scan so will fill in when I actually have it in my hands)"

He seems very happy to have heard from me. I'm not sure if that's just common phrasing, but I'm thinking that perhaps his last two sponsors never wrote him? And I love that he keeps talking about my birthday even though it's still far off and must have been very far off when this letter was written. Still the sentiment is very sweet.

I did learn from this letter though that he must have one more brother (only 1 brother, 2 sisters on his sheet). I'm guessing he's an older brother that must have moved out for one reason or another. Usually the sons stay in the same house, so I'm rather curious about what he moved for. Not that I'll ask as I don't feel like it's any of my business, but still...curiosity rules! I tried to see if his nick name means anything and from what I gather it means 'pet'? Like a pet animal. Seems like a cute affectionate nick name.

The drawing of the house is interesting as well. It looks like a 'normal' hosue but it has two side-by-side doors. I wonder if he lives in a two-family home. His place does seem very small, and I think I've gathered that he's actually in the city as opposed to the rural regions, so it's possible that he lives in some sort of multi-family building.

I also love that he's already calling me auntie!