Melting in India....

So, it’s been two weeks since I arrived here in Ahmedabad and it has been HOT. Currently around 38 degrees and rising…!

I have had sufficient time to settle in and I’m now getting stuck into various projects here at Manav Sadhna. My accommodation, although basic, is full of life. Waking up to the sound of peacocks, I would walk down stairs from my second floor room (with a fan to keep me cool) around the front where the regular peacocks would be roaming, to the backyard, past the Gaushala (Cow home) to the reach the outdoor bathrooms / sinks where I freshen up, shower etc.

Letting go of many of the luxuries I’ve become accustomed to has been an integral part to making India my new home. Rooms are quite dusty and things aren’t usually spotlessly clean (although relatively hygienic). People have been very friendly and welcoming. I’m sharing my room with Simon, an Australian Architect who has come to help out on design projects building pre-schools for 5 weeks – I’ve ended up helping him out by acting as a translator with his builders!

Manav Sadhna family is very warm, led by Jayeshbhai and Virenbhai. Every morning, there is a Prathna at 10.45am – and that’s about it for organisational planning. In fact, Jayeshbhai calls Manav Sadhna an Unorganised Organisation. It’s more of a ‘flow’ where volunteers and people come, serve, leave, come back… etc. No particular structure or project definitions, targets or deadlines. I.e. the opposite to what I’m used to back in the UK, therefore it’s taken a while to just relax and go with the ‘flow’.

Food here has been great – as you’d expect. I’m eating well and drinking lots of water, so health has been fine. The odd few mosquito bites but other than that, I’m good. It is hard to get good sleep sometimes, especially when it’s hot in the room and you’re sleeping on the floor. The ceiling fan feels like a fan heater on full heat!

Projects that I’m working on include building a walkway at a recently renovated Blind School, supporting Health Projects / awareness camps, working on constructing pre-schools, and each evening, I’m volunteering at Seva Café. Seva Café is an initiative born out of Manav Sadhna to promote the experience of selfless service and paying it forward. Guests come to eat, they are greeted and served in line with the Indian saying “Guest is God” and then when it is time to leave, they choose what they want to pay. The concept being, that the person before you paid for the food you are eating today and your contribution goes towards the next days food. Volunteering there is hard work… first time I went, I was washing dishes for 4 hours, and the last time, I was co-ordinating orders with the canteen staff! Crazy and busy, but lots of fun and meeting new people all the time.

Although I’ve only been here for a short time, I’m learning a lot about life in India and about myself. I’m missing family and friends a lot however, there are many good friends here to visit when I do feel home sick (Thanks Sunilbhai!).

Photo of me and Sunil bhai after Holi Festival!