Namaste! The group arrived back in Mumbai at 7 a.m., and we're freshening up at our original hotel before spending our last day in Mumbai. Sorry blog posts have been infrequent: we had a hard time catching an adequate signal while in the south. Here's a post that Jake L. and Meret wrote a couple of days ago, and I hope to get at least one more post up at the airport before our flight tonight.
Parents, please check back because it looks like our flight has been delayed 75 minutes. I'll have more information later, and will post a quick update when we land in Newark so that you know when to meet us at Lincoln Place.
- B. Clarke
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There is
nothing like a delicious, heaping pile of rice to start one’s day. Some woke up
to muffins made of rice; others, rice pancakes. Although most live within a
four or five minute radius, some must make a grueling, ten minute hike to
Krishna’s house. Throughout the night, Yakshagana artists danced through
everyone’s dreams, and so it came as a disappointment when we were informed
that our teachers would not be able to come. We practiced our newfound moves on
our own to keep them fresh in our minds.
After our
dance practice, we trekked to the peanut fields, which are conveniently located
in Krishna’s backyard. During our hour-long experience, we managed to pick
roughly half the amount of peanuts that a farmer harvests in ten minutes, as
well as sweat out half our body weight. A new appreciation was gained for how
physically demanding a farmer’s job is.
We returned
to our loving homestay families, where we eagerly gorged on another platter of
rice. The first of two much needed showers were taken.
We returned
to Krishna’s where cups full chai tea awaited us. We wrote in our journals
considering the question: “Who are you in India?” As we have reached the half way mark of our
trip L,
we are beginning to think about what everyone contributes to the group with
their different leadership styles. We read aloud short paragraphs and were led
through activities that prompted us to reflect on ourselves.
For many,
our time spent playing with the children after school is some of the most incredible.
We led everyone through games of Duck, Duck, Goose, an instant hit, and a
challenging game of Seven Up. Unfortunately, our playtime was cut short as
rickshaws, a cross between a motorcycle and a taxi, rolled through the front
gates of the school fifteen minutes early. We were carted away to a market just
outside of Heranjalu.
It is incredible how far one can
stretch 100 rupees (roughly one and a half dollars) in an Indian market. Everyone
participated in a scavenger hunt, looking for items such as cookies, fruits,
and vegetables that are unavailable in the USA, and most importantly, goli baje (a savory twist on a doughnut
hole, which to the hungry traveler seems like a delicacy). Rumor has it that
Jacob, Dean, and Jake blew their remaining thirty rupees on bags of goli baje. We headed to the local
restaurant where we indulged in a meal of cauliflower disguised as General
Tso’s chicken, and rice disguised as a potato latke.
We boarded rickshaws in groups of
three and drove back to Krishna’s where we ANCHORED and formally answered the
question of the day. We returned to our homestays where we took our second
shower of the day and promptly crashed.
-
Jake L. & Meret
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| Dance practice at Krishna's |
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| Games with students at Heranjalu Primary School |
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| A fun day at the beach |
