Catch up

People at Sangam

Community Volunteers - people doing the similar volunteer work as me
Sara - Sweden
Linnea - Sweden
Kylie - New Zealand
Katsuko - Japan

20/08/09

Nothing much happened today we took part in an international conference about climate change which was interesting and rather amusing attempting to watch the conference with the power and internet connection permitting. In the evening I got my A level results. We also had a meeting about work and so on. It turns out that I will be taking part in a 10 day event and then I will start work, which will be nice. Everything is a bit up in the air because of swine flu.

21/08/09

People started arriving for the event today, I have to admit I preferred having fewer people around. Katsuko showed us how to make turtles out of cord and 5 yen which was fun. We went for a walk around the neighborhood in the afternoon and visited the Hindu temple. I really enjoyed being outside of Sangam and seeing a bit of the neighborhood and Indian culture.

22/08/09

I got my 1st rickshaw ride today - LOVED it. Even though there is the feeling you may crash into vehicle in front of you. Me and the rest of the community volunteers went shopping on MG road, which is the western side of town. However, the poverty was still present, it seems to be inescapable unfortunately. Whilst walking along the street, one lady tried to sell me her baby. What to think? Disgust, pity, sorrow. However, it's worse when it's a child asking for money for food. You have such a feeling of helplessness, for you know even if you give them something that only gives them something for that day, what about the rest of their life and will the money if go to getting them food.


When we got back to Sangam all the participants had arrived so we played a few getting to know everyone games. Then we went for another walk around the middle class area and went to Tarabai's (a women who had worked at Sangam for 20 years) house and she gave us prasad. That evening all the participants took part in the welcoming ceremony - in which kum kum was placed on our foreheads and we were given garlands and prasad.

23/08/09

Best part of today was the international night in which each group performed something to do with their culture. Sara and Linnea performed a dance which takes place at Mid-summer festivities, Katsuko sang the Japanese national anthem and a group from the UK did a little medley of things from the Queen having tea to the spice girls. After which we could swap items we brought from our countries and I got a cuddly haggus and some fudge from the 2 Scots in the group.

24/08/09

I woke up bright and early for yoga this morning, which was a great way to start the day. We learned about Hindu Gods and Goddesses which was really interesting. We were supposed to go out for another walk in the afternoon but the monsoon weather would not permit it, instead giving us an amazing thunder and lightning storm and rain that just didn't want to stop. This also prevented us having our campfire outside, so we had it inside instead but minus the fire and a lot more singing.

25/08/09

We went to Laxmi road today, which is the main market area in Pune. The roads were packed with people and some were even closed off because of the Ganesh festival is in full swing. On many of the streets there are temporary shrines to Ganesh and lots of people selling coconut on the side of the street to give as offerings. Whilst out we were out we went through the fruit and veg market which was as full with colour as the sari shop we visited. When in Laxmi road we were made to cover our mouths and noses encase we had swine flu, and if we didn't the police threatened to take our passports of us, which i thought was a bit out of outrageous really. When in the sari shop I brought some material for a Punjabi suit and when we got back the tailor came an took my measurement, which means i'll have my 1st Punjabi suit in a couple of days!!!! We also went out for cake as it was Katsuko's Birthday - the cafe took a bit of finding especially as the rickshaw driver wanted to take us to Osho (an ashram whose yoga and meditation is sexually orientated - so we didn't want to go there). At dinner we sang Happy Birthday to Katsuko and she got another cake!!!!

26/8/09

Today we went to Aga Khan Palace, the site where Gandhi was in imprisoned. The architecture was amazing and the palace had beautiful surrounding gardens. After an interesting rickshaw drive back to Sangam (the driver didn't have a clue where he was going luckily me and Kylie realised he was going in the wrong direction) we had our 1st Hindi lesson in which I learned how to say my hello my name is Mollie - Namaste, mera nam Mollie hai. In the afternoon there were craft activates, for which I did Indian embroidery and learned many new stitches including how to secure a mirror onto material - not that I was actually very good at that part but i really enjoyed it :-)

Arrival -18/08/09

I've just set this up so I thought I would go over everything that has happened so far.

Well the flight here went smoothly, I had the usual entertainment with the added option of Bollywood films. Looking out of the window when we were just about to land I could see a landscape that was awash with colour and crammed full with people. The blocks of flats and high-rise buildings, which usually stand alone in a city, had slums crammed in between them, which gave me an insight into the business to expect below.

On arrival at Mumbai airport I was greated by staff with masks covering their mouth and nose and a man holding a heat detector . Why? Because of swine flu. I was even question and had to fill in a form as to whether or not I had a temperature or a cough etc. (at which time I had a slight cold but nothing on the level to indicate anything serious, so I made sure not to cough whilst talking to the staff ).

The ride to Pune was interesting, as soon as I left the airport I was greeted by such a mixture of aromas that it's difficult to describe. People had mentioned all the smells which would greet me on my arrival and I found that it was wonderful. So different from the culture I'd left behind, something new, and interesting and one I was eager to explore. It didn't take long to get a test of the culture, as we drove towards Pune I saw the business of the city turn into beautiful mountains. Both views where amazing, there was so much going on in the city I didn't know were to look, from the shops to the slums it was all so new. It was difficult seeing the poverty 1st hand, people living on the pavement with just a few sheets (attached to the wall behind) to protect, children sitting by the traffic light, looking after younger sibling, so that when the lights turned red they could ask for money from the passengers of cars and rickshaws.

Driving habits are ...well lets say different. For one everyone is rather horn happy and they use every opportunity to have a blast, just to remind you that they are there and coming up behind you. So move out the way!!! Also though there are lines on the ground no one pays attention to them, you just fit in where you can.

On arrival at Sangam, Pune, I felt immediately at home. After a little rest and refresh I got to know my companions for the next 3 months. I am sharing my room with one of the Swedish girls, Sara, who is great and I feel at complete ease around her. All I can say is that everyone is lovely and I know that I am going to extremely enjoy my time here at Sangam. To top things of the evening started with a beautiful monsoon sunset.

For dinner I not only had cake (which managed to travel all the way from the UK in my suitcase) but also food out at one of the staff's house, which was delicious.