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Namaskaram! So another week, another blog. Well to start off with the bad news, I have a cold...can't quite believe I'm in India and I have a cold...ahem.... Also we now have no idea how we're going to get to Goa as the train seems to be booked about 2 years in advance, we may have to resort to booking a flight if our budgets wll stretch to it, or hitchhiking if all else fails. Apart from these stresses, it has been a good week. We went to Mavilikara on Thursday morning and spent time at B-ghud, an english language college run by the ubiquitous John Sir. He sent one of his minions to pick us up from Thiruvalla and thus we embarked on possibly the scariest car journey of our lives - we had to shout at the driver in the end as he seemed to have got his role as our driver confused with some sort of determined kamikaze mission. I swear I will never get used to the roads in this country! We arrived in one piece, vowing to stiick to buses and trains from now on, and were escorted in to meet the students, most of whom are nurses or airline workers who are trying to pass their IELTS so they can work abroad. I found myself with a microphone, in front of 15 students, who were firing questions at me such as 'what do you think of co-habitation?' 'what are the differences between Indian and English culture?' and 'do you like our food?' It was good fun, but you come away feeling that they are in for a big shock when they go to western countries as most of them found it scandalous that I don't live with my parents and eat with a knife and fork. Hanna has been spending a lot of time at B-ghud, but is getting to the point now where she's thinking of really shockiing them and telling them she's an athiest prostitute who hates curry - she'd probably get deported! Joking aside, it was really interesting to talk to young people about their lives and values, and I really respect their work ethic and dedication to their careers. However it is difficult to overcome and explain these differences, as John Sir says 'we are from another world.'
After a quick break for lunch and temple viewing (pretty decent elephant) we made our way to Jyothis School, where Hanna is doing the bulk of her volunteering. Spent the afternoon making masks with some of the children, whilst sheltering from the monsoon style downpours going on outside. Braved the rain at home time and spent the night at Hanna's flat (she has good cable channels!). The rain finally subsided by the next day and we made our way to Trivandrum on the train. Once there we found a decent hotel and had a look around the city. Did some shopping and even got free facials in the middle of a supermarket (v strange, but nice). We all got practically eaten alive by bed bugs that night and set off for Kovalam pretty early. Arrived and took great pleasure in having our first western breakfast in a while (I know its shameful but I cannot stomach egg masala first thing in the morning!). We then spent the day on the beach, and did some frolicking in the waves until the very over-zealous lifeguards starting blowing their whistles in our direction (we are mystified as to why its fine to be nearly killed several times a day on the roads, but not ok to swim in the sea). More of the same throughout the weekend, however the staring got a bit much for us after a while. Swarms of men seem to suddenly appear on the beach from nowhere and just stand around unashamedly leering at you - not at all conducive to a relaxing sunbathe. We really wanted to go body boarding as the waves were amazing there, but the lifeguard told us that they weren't allowed to hire them out as if the locals saw us doing it, they would try as well, which would be really dangerous as most of them can't swim :(
Left Kovalam the next day and headed back to Trivandrum. We went to see the Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple (v impressive architecture) and wanted to go in the Puttan Malika Palace but unfortunately was closed on Mondays.
Back at MTSS this morning - the kids really enjoy drawing and colouring and are soooo cute. I find it hilarious that some of them are called things like 'Kevin' and 'Steeve.'
So all in all India is as amazing, challenging, wonderful and baffling as ever...and of course we are fine and taking care of each other.
Missing you all muchly and want to hear what's going on at home.
Lots of Love, Carly and Beth xxx
Things we've learnt about India:
-Just because there's a tap, it doesn't mean water is gonna come out of it
-Squat toilets ARE more hygienic
-Pavements are a luxury I will never take for granted again
-Washing is futile, you constantly smell anyway
-Everyone has right of way
-Elephants rule
-Everything sort of works, most of the time...
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