Lessons learned by them..and us. By Hollie, 11/28

I’ve come to learn that each day is a little gift just waiting to be unwrapped. Each hour, and each minute, is something new and unexpected. Working at the school is something that is rewarding with even the smallest of gestures. 

Every one of these children obtain a presence of such great beauty that I have never encountered. Each face has a story or something to teach you of their culture and lifestyle that none of us Americans could ever imagine. The way of learning here is so different, each student comes to school like its their temple, their place to indulge in everything beyond their own little village. It seems as if in the US, traveling is so foreign to many because we are afraid to reach out of our own little worlds. Until I came to India I didn’t realize how Novato is so miniscule in size compared to what this world has to offer; its scary at first but when you find a rhythm, you start to realize what these amazing places have to offer!

We arrive at the school sore, but ready to work!

Today, we took our normal route with Shagzil to the school in the afternoon. It was almost like slalom racing around each puddle but I still managed to be completely covered in red mud by the time we reached the school, not to mention the added fact that of my unshaven legs, that have given me the impression of grizzly bear. We met the teachers in their office to talk in the morning and we made nametags for the children, to make it .5% easier to pronounce and remember their names. Each of them wore it proudly with the brightest of smiles. 

Our class (with name-tags)

Today was much better with the teaching, and I was not as much of a deer in the headlights as last time. Mom and I shared a class of 7^th graders, which made it easier to think of ideas between the both of us. We continued the day with English lessons which consisted of “The Very Quiet Cricket” and “Where is my Mother?.” The class was delighted with all of the pictures and were quite proud in telling us each word in Malayalam...instead of English. Surprisingly the “simple” words did not stick with us and I honestly don’t see us remembering any.. seeing as I, for example, cant learn a language in a course of 6 years other than the word “hola.”

Cheeseburger in Paradise?
If only....

At the end of the school day we headed back to the hotel for a quick lunch and the realization that our cravings for American food has become quite severe (i.e. fudge, Christmas cookies, A THANKSGIVING DINNER, steak, CHEESEBURGERS, the list goes on and on.) I’ve never eaten fast food but this would be a time where I would do anything for it. Anyway, tomorrow we are staying in because of a strike in Kerala. One of the major dams to the East, near Periyar, is beginning to leak because of the sudden rainfall. The people in the region are slightly agitated as the opposition party has made them feel that the Government is indifferent to the safety of the people and inactive at a time of serious threat to the Dam. To highlight the issue to the attention of the Government, the people in the region are on strike and Cochin/Aleppey and Kottayam (Kumarakom is part of it) are joining the strike tomorrow. (as written by Renuka, our guide, we had no other way of explaining it!) More tomorrow!  

Ayurveda Spa Day...aaahhhhh! By Hollie, 11/27

Cue a relaxing day! We woke up to sound of the birds singing and the quiet trickle of the rain outside of our porch. We proceeded to the restaurant for a light breakfast and met Renuka at 10:00 for our luscious and rejuvenating Ayurveda Spa day. 

Coconuts upon arrival!

We took a boat to the Coconut Lagoon Resort, which is part of the highest rated line of hotels, CGH. We were welcomed from the boat by a beautiful flute player and colorful flowers. We sat down and were immediately presented with coconuts opened up just enough to sip the juice from a straw. I’m not sure if this was real! I have yet to experience the India that I had imagined for a year before coming on this trip. Next was the massage where we were met by a “Dr.” and 3 TINY women. He asked of any complaints in the past or current ailments and then took our blood pressure. I was confused if I was getting a checkup or massage! I went into my own private room and I was asked a question that I’m not exactly used to hearing….”please mam, take off” gesturing to my clothing. Now I thought India was about staying completely covered? Never in my life would I have thought I would experience this! Nevertheless, the massage was amazing and I cannot wait to experience another soon. 

The Spa Rooms

Our ride back home

After, we had a nice (and expensive) lunch at the hotel, with way more food than we bargained for! Then out for a tour and quick boat ride back followed by a stressful journey home in an auto rickshaw, also known as a tuk-tuk. It probably wasn’t the wisest thing after such a nice peaceful encounter, but we finally made it home and laid down to experience the best sleep since we got here! 

Kerala ‘Riverboat’ Tour - By Cate, 11/26

Just around the bend....

Our Captain!

The consumate tourist?

Family wash day!

After our clay experience we headed out on our "three hour tour" boat ride that took us through all the backwater canals - it was very cool.  It all seems rather Disneylandish around here...it's like the safari ride that goes through the jungle and you see all the animals and villagers. We saw many villagers going about their Saturday and discovered that it must be "wash" day - and that includes everything and everybody!  We saw every kind of bird - but I would need a bird book to tell you what they are. The Egrets, pigeons, crows and ducks look the same, except there is a grey bird, that looks like a type of Egret that only has it's head above water when it swims. We also saw what appeared to be hummingbirds on steroids that are four times the size of ours, but the same brilliant color and quick as a whip! We also saw a couple snakes in the water and a man herding ducks with his canoe, big sport here on the backwaters! 

Meeting the locals

We felt a little like we were the tourists on display with our pretty little princess wave, but the villagers were accommodating and waved back smiling and the children ran along side the banks asking us for "pens" - which unfortunately we did not bring with us; but they didn't really seem to care, they picked a flower and tried to give it to us instead.  The little boys would run up to the bridges and hang over the edge just to touch our hands; this made both of our days!

After two and a half hours in the canals - and lord knows how many trips around the bend (perhaps the same bend?) - we started to crack up thinking, “when will this ever end”??  We swore we saw the same little man in the canoe at four different points on the trip and Hollie, who had a full blown head cold at this point, was starting to think we would never get back. This was good for a few extreme laughing fits, which there have seemed to be many on this trip!  We got home 3 hours later and took the rest of the afternoon off reading and hanging out.  The weather has been perfect, overcast since we have been here and big rain in the afternoons - it's definitely kept it cooler - but it's still humid and around 80. 

Hollie chilling out at the end of the day

We enjoyed a fabulous dinner (I still can't tell you the names of what we are eating...) that was accompanied by a beautiful Indian dancer dressed in the most amazing costume! Now time for bed and tomorrow is Sunday, we will meet our new friend Renuka (who works with Destination Himalaya) and she will take us on a boat ride to an Ayurveda spa, where they poor butter milk on your forehead which is supposed to cure all ailments (hope it works on Hollie!).  I'm sure that will bring up more laughing fits and I can only imagine Hollie sitting there as they poor buttermilk on her head and cover her in oil as they slip and slide across her body. I just don't think I can do it without cracking up but alas, I will try to hold it together for the sake of everyone. 

Saturday Morning Clay Experience - By Cate, 11/26

The Master at work

We started our day with a lovely buffet breakfast - we are warming up to the Southern India food - which tends to be on the spicier side. We headed out the door of our little restaurant and there was our 75-year-old pottery master waiting for us to throw some clay pots (not literally). We didn't really have a choice; he had decided this is what we were going to do!  

Helping Hands

So, he got his big bag of clay (or perhaps cow dung...because that is what it smelled like) and threw it on the wheel. He grabbed Hollie's hands and got her up to her elbows in the special clay he had made. The first dish she threw kind of fell apart and he looked a little disappointed. 

The second attempt was a pretty little vase that he helped her create - it was very sweet the way her held her hands to help her shape the vase. The only problem after she was done was what to do with the sticky clay that she seemed to be covered in head to toe! He solved that with his bucket full of water that was filled with all the stuff they warn you about...

The final project!

First attempt....

Pictures of the day

Canoe and Ducks on Kerala river

River side view on our commute

Canoe ride anyone?

Everywhere is jungle...oh so green

Back At The Hotel (aka Home away from home…only without warm water) by Hollie

Hollie in her swim "Costume"

We made the ride back home from school in one piece and enjoyed French fries on the veranda while sharing some with the local fish off of our deck. We decided to take a relaxing dip in the pool to erase the warm, sweaty layer our bike ride had so kindly given us. It was time for our one-piece suits, attire I had not worn since the age of 12. We proceeded to the kitchen to order dinner in our fashionable suits, mine with just a towel around my waist. And oh boy…did we get attention in that kitchen. The young boys that work for the resort, a little younger than me hurried to help us, as I felt their eyes on the small opening in the back of my one pieced suit! We ordered and carried on our way for a nice swim. 

After a hard first day at school...gee, not too bad!

The rest of the day was at ease, reading our books and sipping Chai tea, and me realizing my mother had eaten my last piece of sacred Bubble Yum bubble gum that I had been saving for a “tough” time. My security blanket and little slice of American heaven was gone. Not to mention she proceeded to kill me a just little more inside by kindly opening the door to house keeping while I was taking a shower…with the door completely ajar! If it wasn’t for the accent and the “goud eev-a-ning mam,” and the quick shut of a door, I would have been a lost cause! Well time for dinner and a easy, peaceful (hopefully) day tomorrow on a complimentary boat cruise. More tomorrow! 

First Day Of School! by Hollie

We reached the school for our first full day and we settled down into the office chairs of the headmistress. Little did we know what was in store for us. After a short talk of the schedule, she told us that two teachers were absent for the day leaving two classes vacant; we thought nothing of it and followed her into the classrooms. She introduced us to the first class, we said good morning to the students and we were excited to start a new day with new faces. However, our excitement did not last as long as we hoped. As soon as Mom was acquainted, I was told to follow the headmistress into what I now know as unmarked territory: teaching MY OWN class. It was the first time weaning me off of my mother since we have been here. I felt my heart skip a beat as she smiled and did the trademark Indian head nod as she left the room. There I was, left alone with 12 big brown sets of eyeballs staring at me as if they had all been brought into their first candy store.

I have always told myself teaching would be the last profession I would consider, and there I was, experiencing the precise definition of “stretching myself” Mom has always talked about. With the little amount of English the 2^ndGRADERS knew, I asked a question in two words: “English books?” At a moments notice, before you could blink, each child had a booklet laid open on their desk. Open to the same page and the same coveted story as if they had some kind of Jedi mind power. Each student introduced himself or herself, and each name almost seemed to be a mind game, or a joke that they play on clueless foreigners – so I just nodded with a convincing smile! We continued to look over their booklets and spelled out many words to form sentences, never in my life has patience been such a virtue. I asked if they knew any cartoons, and the answer was in perfect synchronization – Ben 10, and Tom and Jerry. They were the bees knees, enough said. After an hour or so the bell sounded: it was break time. All at once the children sat up and put their little hands to their heart, for another synchronized “thank you!.” Each one proceeded to come up to me and ask me more questions as if I were there God! I was even given a small car sticker as a token of gratitude. The teachers gestured us to meet them in the teachers office where they offered us their delicious chi tea, as we showed them pictures of our home on our laptop.

I guess the head nod is good for just about anything! We’ve realized its most common meaning is “ok” or “yes” even though the right to left motion is often considered a “no.” We finished, and immediately ushered back into the classrooms. No, we weren’t done yet! The fun had just begun! I moved on to a smaller class of about six 6^th graders, each one with impeccable English, making the 12 year olds in the US, and any average American seem unintelligent. We moved on with different lessons, and talked about our lives in different countries, but before we knew it the sacred bell rang high from the heavens and it was lunch time. Also known as, time for us to take our 5-mile bike ride back home. 

The start of an interesting day! by Hollie

We are on day 3 of extreme inconsistencies from our water sources where a hot shower is like bathing in gold…when it is available. You never realize how well off you are at home, and that we take simple things like using a working toilet and washing our hands for granted. But in the end, the experience is well worth the stench of our sweat-ridden clothing!

Breakfast: we are well on our way to figuring out what is tasty in our little restaurant that we often find ourselves the only guests present. The boiled eggs are like precious gems cooked to perfection, and one of our main sources of protein! Then there is the toast with the candied jelly that is almost to sweet to stand; and of course the Chai tea, our new substitute for coffee for 2 months. Its warm sweet aroma lingering in the air, like Johan our waiter, who is at our side before we even know we needed anything.

Mom showing the way..can you say jungle commute?

Commute To School: After breakfast we took our backpacks and “cycles” and we were on our way for our first ride to the school without our trusty guides. We proceeded down the slightly paved road, our butts sore from the yesterdays ride. Every bump was like being shot in the rear end several times and worth a hearty scream; not to mention each villager looked at us as if we had taken some drug or just crazy American tourists. 

The last bridge before reaching the school

Nevertheless, Mom managed to say hello to every dark, light, wrinkled, and emotionless face we passed. Each individual responded differently, whether it was a friendly wave, a simple hello, a beautiful smile, or one of those looks of disgust and confusion. 

Kerala Hotel

HOW AMAZING!!

Hollie on our deck..taking in the tropical view

Our room...or cabin

Kerala Cow taking in the view

Thanksgiving India Style

Actual Kerala Turkey Day

Hollie woke up this morning and went out the door and said to me "Happy Thanksgiving mom!"  And, since we are a day ahead, I thought, wow, she's really thinking this morning!  Well, right outside our door was a GIANT white turkey all fluffed up and a female turkey eating next to him - too perfect!  We will have our Indian dinner tonight as our Thanksgiving meal - though we can't read or understand anything on the menu.... you should have seen what we ended up for breakfast - we didn't know what we were supposed to do with it!  Oh, and the Indian coffee.....not for me, so I think I'll start drinking tea.  But, I am ever so grateful for the Starbucks ™ coffee packs I slipped in my bag at the last minute!

Well, off to take a swim - then Ranuka will come with our lost bag of books, then Thanksgiving dinner.  We have a lot to be thankful for!!!

The School

Biking each day to School

We had a nice breakfast at the hotel Today and Sakzil came and brought us bikes and rode with us to the school. Yes, on the very same roads we navigated last night - definitely epic bike riding!!  Just STAY on the left and freaking hold your breath when the buses come by! Sakzil is awesome - very funny and easy going. The school was very cool and the children and teachers were so warm and welcoming. They are so interested in us and really want to use their English - thank goodness because we couldn't figure out one word of their language - and the names.....oh, the names.....Sakzil will get us name tags which will help - but still, I don't think my pronunciation is going to cut the mustard!  

Our class..ready to learn "American" English

We are back at our hotel now, sitting on the veranda looking over the waterways - it is tropical and beautiful here, it reminds me of Tahiti.  The people are so warm and welcoming and we have two helpful people to assist us while we are here - Shine is the manager and we have his cell phone and direct line and Ravi who handles any other need we may have. They are watching out for us - it is amazing how cared for we are!  

Arrival In Kerala

Ok!  So, we are here in Kerala, after a little bit of a rough, long day yesterday.  We had a car waiting for us in Cochin with Ranuka and a driver (local Destination Himalaya contacts) and we continued our epic journey through the night with wild, crazy driving down narrow streets with LARGE buses heading straight at you, but somehow with the flick of a light they all understand each other (the honking only happens during the day). I just sat there quietly and had faith it would all work out - not easy for me!  We got here at 10:30pm and had a miscommunication about the room - so they gave us a room that wasn't the best....it didn't help that the water wasn't working and we had no idea why they came in with two large buckets of water and no one speaks English here after 10:00, so we were on our own to figure things out - and let's just say it wasn't logical to my brain.