Hitting the Ground Running

So I do not have very much time, so I will make this brief.

After a week and a night at Achen's house, we all went our separate ways. The training time was over. No more comfort and security of a family that was used to volunteers. No more people who were there to help get us used to India and acclimate. Nothing is scarier than being pushed out of Taxi door on the step of a building in a strange land.

Well, at least that part is true. Nothing is scarier than that first step out into your new unfamiliar world. The rest however is not so much. From the moment I stepped out of the Taxi, everyone knew my name, and I fell like it was only for the sake of introductions that names where exchanged. They were solely for my benefit. Another thing: everyone hear wants to help me acclimate. So many people have tried to take me under their wing that sometimes I feel overwhelmed by hospitality. But it is beautiful. With so many people wanting to help me with my language skills, how can I not learn Malayalam?

And it being the second day and all, I think people are starting to realize that I speak a lot less Malayalam than they in English, so there is no harm in trying. It also helps when I butcher my Malayalam in front of a group. Everyone else sounds a bit more confident after that.


So I am living right now in a small room with a connected bathroom. However I think I am living above what the students and single faculty have. It is still however simple by western standards, and I believe that there is something to be embraced in that. Simplicity.

Other things that I have done here is become apart of the seemingly daily cricket game. One of my new found student friends wanted me to play today on his team. I do not know the rules or how to play, I said. He did not care. We will probably lose, but it is good to be apart of something so cool.

I don't think I mentioned this earlier, but I am staying at a Blind School in Kerala. That means that the students are all partially blind, if not entirely. But it is really cool the way the ones that are able to, lead those who can not. Even the blind will lead the blind in and out of rooms together. Everyone buddies up to get around, and they take care of each other. It is a beautiful sight (pun not intended) and I think there is something to learn there. The same with my lack of Malayalam and their lack of English. Through the dark we stumble together.

That is all, I have to go. I will try to add more later but internet is not easily accessible here.

Touch Down

So where to begin? I guess I can start with getting on the plane in New Orleans, Louisiana. Here after a cup of coffee, I left my mom, dad, younger brother, and girlfriend (I miss them) to board a plane for what promises to be an adventure of a life time. Because of Hurricane Gustav I was not able to fly out on that Monday (Sept. 1). If you did not know, that is the day Gustav came across my beautiful home state, once again redesigning the look of coastal Louisiana, most notably for the worst. On that note, does anyone know how Grand Isle is looking?

Anyway, because I could not make my original flight, I ended up having what is considered a last minute flight out of the country. I was considered an SSSS flyer. What does that mean? I can only imagine it stands for Security shouted four times really loud, most probably in a W voice.

So as I walked up to the check point, this was highlighted, reiterating that I deserved special attention, which I got. A few pat downs, something the attendant called a special back rub, and a chemical test or two later, I was on my way.



Now the flight from New Orleans to Washington was nice. The flight from Washington to London was interesting. The flight to Bahrain from London was long. And the flight from there to Kochi was, well, let’s just say I am glad to be here. While it was fun and all, 34 hours and two days later makes for a tired person, even if one is used to the rigors of college.

Now while walking through customs is no problem, mostly because I have nothing to hide, I still get very nervous. I had been through a checkpoint at ever stop, save D.C. but still was worried that they might find something on me. What if the granola bars that I didn’t declare as nuts and berries really are? (By the way, thanks mom.) These are very real fears. But as I overcame them and cleared the line, I grabbed my luggage and was able to go.


So out into the Indian air I stepped; A very real experience indeed. While I knew that my country coordinator or perhaps his


India 1
friend was going to pick me up, I did not know where to look for them. This made it very difficult seeing as there was a multitude of people packed everywhere waiting for loved ones to arrive (Think Mardi Gras). And I, being me, decided to go look for Achen (my country coordinator) myself. After wandering through the crowd fearing pick pockets for about 30 minutes, dragging my little bit of luggage on the way, Achen’s friend found me and we went and got into the car.

Now in the U.S., people drive on the right side of the road where as in Britain people drive on the left side. Now in India they drive more on the left and more on the center. It is a combination of quickness, skill, and good timing. A thrill to watch and even more so to experience. However, it is more of a courtesy of the road than a dominance of it. So while it often feels to one not used to the driving that it is one big chicken fight tournament, there are surprisingly few dents on cars. People truly are considerate of the road which leads to less traffic build up, something Americans could definitely learn from. However, I am glad at times for a strong bladder.




But as I got to Achen’s house I knew all was well. After several days of traveling I had found a friend. In fact I had found several. I met Achen’s wife Betty as well as the five other Volunteers: Sudie, Ariel, John, Becca, and Lindsey. It was good. I found out that they had been praying for me since they had come together. And now they felt complete. It was a good feeling.

Now, being jet lagged and not really sleeping on my flights, I was wide awake. No, seriously. There are only so many cups of coffee that a hostess can serve on a flight, and I drank everyone, and tea, and the cokes. By the way, I think I should mention here all the people who told me not to drink caffeine on my flights. What do they know? So it being Sunday morning, and me being cracked out on caffeine and adrenaline, we all went to church.

So Achen is a pastor. In fact, Achen is not so much his name as it means pastor, or a respectable person. But nevertheless, he is a pastor, at a church, that we went to, that does not speak a lick of English. Which is actually a really good thing seeing as how poor I sing. Did I mention that we were asked to stand in front of the congregation and sing a hymn to them? Well we did, right after our introductions. But it was okay for my compatriots had practiced the night prior. I however had to sing too. One that I had never heard of before. Let me assure you that it was beautiful. Tone deaf and half asleep I sang a song for them. But you are thinking they do not know English so it is okay. I should note here we are one of the few nations of people that speak only one language.


Something else amusing about church is that women sit on one side and men on the other. John and I sat with the rest (mostly because we were told to by Achen) but we got some looks for it as well. All and all it was a good time, wrapped up with tea outside. The congregation was nice and a lot of members came and spoke with us. Upon our return home, the rest of the day became a blur. I remember a guest speaker but not so much what he said. Mostly this is because I could not stay awake and I am pretty sure I ended up drooling on myself. I did feel bad and apologized profusely for it. I think he found it humorous, at least I hope so. I then napped and ate dinner and then retired early.



Thus ends the first day.


The rest of the days since have been characterized by pretty much the same, so I will not give a play by play. I know,…tear.

The mornings begin (if you get up on time) with “bed tea,” that is tea served at 600. Now tea here is not good as tea at home, its even better. I like to think that it is the milk, or maybe the love put in. Whatever it is, it makes for some good stuff. Now I have been told on multiple occasions that the purpose of bed tea, besides to wake you, is to “stimulate the bowels.” That not everywhere has the best facilities and this tea is there to help you go in the morning.


(On a side note, we, as volunteers have been instructed not to inform you, the public of our daily movements, but know they are a large part of daily life as well as the conversation. This I am sure is much to Achen’s chagrin.)

The day is then followed by the reading of the newspaper as well as correspondence home. The later I have failed to do up until now. While our live may seem very strenuous to you, Achen emphasizes to us reading daily news so that we can be informed of our surroundings. For instance, it is one thing for him to tell us to turn off lights and conserve energy and quite another to read about the negative effects the lack of power is having and the continued rolling blackouts. It is very real here.

Then there is breakfast. Breakfast, lunch and dinner all seem to consist of a rice dish accompanied by some curry or sauce. There is usually a side bread and a source of protein. There is also on some occasions a wonderful vegetable salad type dished that Betty makes. It is delicious, and I mean it. This is all eaten with the right hand. The left is used for other purposes.



(Cultural Check: So right about now you are probably thinking that is not sanitary. How can you eat with your hands? Well first, it is only the right, and second is that we wash them well before. The hand is a useful tool that is much better for eating than the fork. I can eat politely with my hand faster than you can eat like a Mongol with a fork -<apologies to the Mongols. That was an unfair stereotype.> The hand is then rinsed of food and good to go.)

(Cultural Check: To address the other end; yes it is cold and yes, my bum is cleaner than your bum. Toilet paper is nice and you have a warm dry feeling from it, but you can also get a rash. Water is gentler and actually gets everything that needs to be got. How clean do you really feel after T.P. knowing that you got it all, at least what did not dry on first? Do you feel clean? Because I do. There is a reason people do things.)



India 2


Following breakfast we have our morning bible study which is usually tied in with the social implications that that book has. Actions and Words, Actions and Words. Its all about making them line up. Does your kingdom of heaven have poor people in it? Do people share? I would hope so. After all, thy kingdom come, thy….Whatever it is, it is all good. But I will not stand too long on my block. I think a lot of people already know what is wrong and what is right. It is a matter of making it all come to.

We usually get something to drink after. Sometimes juice, sometimes tea, in fact mostly tea. It is good though, much like everything else I ingest here. Let me talk about bananas. I have never had such awesome bananas. I eat them at every meal because they are so good, well that, and they help with other things.

On the Block - You know what the best thing about bananas is? They are a quarter for more than two pounds. And yet people go hungry because they can not afford food. As cheap as it is, people work but can not always eat. What does Holy Communion mean to you in a world like this?


Zoo

We also have speakers and such come and talk about the state of Kerala or India. Sometimes Achen will talk about stuff as well. I am finding that most people here are better informed of events that occur around them than people back home. In part it is refreshing.

We also have begun to learn the language of Malayalam. Somewhere around 50+ symbols that each have there own sound, none of which are similar to the Latin alphabet. But so many symbols is not a bad thing. In English the pronouncing of a letter depends on the context in a word. For instance the A in Cat is different to the A in Cart. This makes English a hard language to learn. In Malayalam, a symbol always has the same pronunciation, which really helps.

I think that is all I have time for now. Go in peace, serve the Lord.