Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Blog Post 5


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

Dance practice at Krishna's


Games with students at Heranjalu Primary School


A fun day at the beach