''After some initial awkward moments of getting through misunderstandings, miscommunication and the language barrier we feel very much at home and comfortable in these new surroundings!''
We have spent just over two weeks here in beautiful India at the Mamta Mandir Trust now and having a really fantastic, interesting and challenging experience. We were immediately treated so well and welcomed as part of their family. After some initial awkward moments of getting through misunderstandings, miscommunication and the language barrier we feel very much at home and comfortable in these new surroundings! Our Gujarati is slowly slowly (haule haule) improving as is our sign language with the children. We're also loving the yoga at 6.45 every morning!
Unfortunately the founder and director of the charity, Mahesh Kothari had sadly passed away but a few days before our arrival so the school was in the traditional thirteen days of mourning when we arrived. It was a sad atmosphere but truly moving the way everyone paid their respects and many visitors came from surrounding areas – as well as Mumbai and Japan to show their respect and love. Each morning was spent in prayer, chanting hymns to the scent of incense. We realized that this is a really special and important place.
From the beginning we fully immersed ourselves in Indian Culture; the food (which is particularly good, and is served in abundance – Hanish makes a mean cup of chai), getting to know locals (we’ve had so many invitations to people’s houses for chai), Religion (lost count how many Hindu temples and statues of Ganesh we have visited) and of course Bollywood! We were initiated into the wonderful world of Indian cinema by going downtown Navsari to the picture house to see ‘Bodyguard’ the new Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor hit.
The Mamta Mandir Trust is split between three lovely schools – the deaf school in which we are staying and mainly working. Opposite across the road is the school for slow learners and about a two and a half hour drive away in the hills is the school for the blind students. It is situated in an area called Dang which is a totally jungly, rural and tropical so humid infact Christelle’s glasses fully steamed up! The staff were all very welcoming and the children very musically talented from tabla players to great singers. Previous volunteers had created a great sensory garden with water fountains, wind chimes and scented flowers. We were treated to a delicious lunch including chapattis, daal and rice of course and also mango pulp which is awesome by the way. Next time we visit we will spend 10-15 days there to get to know the children and put on various workshops and activities which we are really looking forward to.
The charity has won many awards including the best NGO in India and is also host to a range of charitable activities, not only including the three schools, it has a resident doctor. The doctor goes out every day in the medical van to surrounding villages to distribute medical advice and medicine and to see to anyone who needs medical attention- free of charge, as medicine is expensive in India this is a brilliant scheme. We have twice been out with the doctor and his insanely fast driver Hiren out to the rural communities to see to all kinds of people, rich, poor, Hindu, Muslim, school children, alcoholics, student lawyers all of which are seen to with both ayurvedic and western medication.
One of the things that has struck us about the Gujarat is the warmth, hospitality and friendliness of the people, in one of the villages we went to a family open heartedly welcomed us into their home to offer us chai and a tour of their wonderful garden in which they grew ocra (lady fingers), lemon, lime and mango trees, beans and chilli peppers, oh and next to the kitchen the room where their buffalo are kept. It was nice to know, and this is quite common in the Gujarat that they have family back home in Leicester so it is like home from home!
One thing we have gotten used to in India is the limitless number of cows casually grazing everywhere – in particular the middle of the road which we have to dodge and swerve not to hit, One thing we haven’t got used to yet is regular bowel movements! If it’s not the inevitable Delhi belly then it’s full on digestive block!
This week we prepared an English Cultural presentation for assembly where we delivered an insight into British culture, history, politics, food, festivals etc as well as stories about our home life and families. It was a success and the students and staff were really interested in our families and appreciated our dramatic play at the end! – and the sweets
Again, we have a full week ahead to look forward to; a prayer in town where we’re hitting Navsari in our new razzle dazzle salwar kameez’s the traditional Indian dress, and the upcoming week at the deaf school where we’re practicing for a big sports competition. Everyday is different and not knowing what to expect is part of the adventure, cant wait to find out what crazy situation we will find ourselves in next; we’ve already been on motorbikes, camels and singing with philosophers! We are also waiting in anticipation for three new volunteers from the UK that were looking forward to welcoming into the family!
