a day in the life of a volunteer

Hi everyone
It will take too much time to update you all with news and experiences from the yoga ashram and from my first few weeks here in Thiruvalla in Kerala so I thought that, just for now, I'll give you an idea of what sort of day I have had.... then I will do an overview when I have more energy.

Torrential rain overnight.  Woke up several times and was very pleased into be in a flat, all warm and dry.... then discovered in the morning that the monsoon rain had got into the kitchen.  Was jolly gateful that Kerala Link is renting the flat and it was not my problem!  Cup of chai to start the day.  I am getting seriously addicted to the stuff but in my defense, I would like to point out that I have not had an alcoholic drink in a very very long time.  Breakfast was mango, red banana and grapes with yoghurt and honey - delicious.  Keralan women are of course up at 5am and slaving over hot stoves to make loads of cooked breakfasts and also cooked tiffen(lunches) to take with you.  I prefer a more Western apporach to breakfast!  Normally I get to do a 20 min yoga routine but I needed to catch the bus this morning as it is Saturday - my Elanthoor day.

Caught the bus to Elanthoor, only there wasn't a direct bus and I had to change at Kozencherry.  Buses here are old and battered with strict male/female divides.  I got lucky and got a seat otherwise it is a painful stand as the drivers here drive very fast and then slam on the brakes.  It's not easy to keep your balance and other people on the bus have had years of practice and I have had only 3 weeks.  No windows on the bus so there is a nice breeze.  When it rains the metal shutters come down over the window spaces and then I get anxious as I can't see when my stop is approaching.  Fortunately no rain today so was able to spot my landmarks and nimbly jump off at the right spot.  You have to be fairly agile to catch a bus - they don't stop very long at any of the stops and sometimes you find yourself getting on or off when the bus is still moving!

A short walk through the very small town that is Elanthoor took me to a half way home for women who have had (are still having) mental health issues.  They are 7 of them and they were all waiting eagerly for me in the rec room.  Today we were making pockets - hanging oblongs of materials with pockets sewn on them.  Bet you didn't know that I am a sewing teacher!  Amazing what you can knock up when you have to.  Actually the pockets have caused me alot of stress as I had to find the material, get a tailor to cut it up into the right sizes, get the thread, needles, and pins.  Needless to say my Malayalam (the local language) is not up to this....  The women had a good time (I think) and then it was time to play bingo.  Yes, those years of Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb work with older people were not wasted!

I get lunch at the half way home - yippee - this means that I do not have to cook tonight!  I am getting a tad jaded with rice.  Yesterday I made masala dosa, which was a welcome change.  Then up the hill to the girls hostel.  There are 40 girls aged between 5 and 15 and during the weekday they all go to local educational institutions and then spend the rest of their time at the hostel.  Their families can't keep them - often for financial reasons but sometimes because their father drinks and it is not safe for them to be at home.  The incidence of male violence against women, especially in the family, is very high.  And despitge the government controlling the sale of alcohol, the rate of male alcoholics is also high.  The girls are always great fun to be with and I think I provide a bit of light relief on a Saturday afternoon.   Today was making small books from a sheet of A4 paper then they drew pictures in their books.  Then I taught them What time is it Mr Wolf which they all enjoyed.  I can't cope with 40 girls at the same time (though I was expected to!) and I see them in two groups of 20 each which is still pretty large but at least I can manage them.  Thank you, Lucy at Carlton Hill, for classroom management tips! 

Fortunately got a direct bus back to Thiruvalla and picked up 3 packets of milk from the milk "shop" ie someone's house near the bus stop, crossed the road and picked up 6 eggs from the stall by the road and a couple of these funny doughnuts which are savoury and have chilli in them as I was in great need of a snack.  Had a chat with the stall holder's sister who is visiting from Mumbai and is a retired teacher.  Then back to the flat for a flop on the bed, munch of the doughnuts, slurp of another chai, before dashing out to the local internet cafe to write this blog, whilst being bitten alive by mossies.  I need to go back to the flat very soon as I have a 6pm curfew which I am stretching to 7pm, having negotiated with my landlady who lives downstairs and who gets very worried if I am not home when it is dark.  Also the Kerala link people ask us to keep to this too "for our own safety".  I shall save you all from my diatribe on the fate of women in Indian society and sign off instead.

Will write again soon with news of the ashram and of general impressions of Kerala.  And I will get to put up some photos before I leave!

Only two and a half weeks till I go to New Zealand.... golly gosh!  And my other big news is that I have found a bar!!!!!!!  I might even get inside it and have a drink before I leave.

cheers

bee