Around Goa we explored the old town, which was filled with old churches from the Portugese back in the day. We also lounged around by the pool and enjoyed the beautiful Goa sun. For as long as we’ve been in hot, sunny India, we are pale. Later we went to this crazy discotec in town, where there was a bunch of foreigners, strobe lights and techno music. We all had a good time showing off our bollywood moves. The next day we went to the beach and spent the whole day there shopping and eating fish curry rice (goan cuisine.) We lounged around the hotel some more and just enjoyed each other’s company.
Halloween was definitely lack luster. Our hotel had a night club in the basement that was having a Halloween party, but when we looked in, it was all Indian teenagers. Woof.
Today was our first day of the global corps training. So, the first part of our program (which was having internships at a non profit and then evaluating their programs) is over for all the other groups but ours is still going. Our project is to create pictoral flipbooks about general health and nutrition for women in a certain village outside of Hubli. Our funds are also paying for 10 demonstration gardens in the community that will teach people how to grow their own vegetables. Many of the farmers that work with BAIF are cash crop farmers, and must buy their own fruits and vegetables, which are more expensive at the market. This is one of the reasons why they don’t get enough vitamins and minerals. Our funds are also going to buy model fruits and vegetables (they’re basically plastic toys) that the community health guides will take around as visual aids to the women they teach in the villages.
There’s been trouble getting our flipcharts printed because we’ve had to get them translated into Kannada and that has taken a lot longer than we originally anticipated. Then, we need to take the digital form of the flip chart to the printer and get it printer. I know we can do it, but with this second program starting up, it just seems like a lot to try and juggle.
We’re all pretty much adjusted to life in India: the traffic, the nose, all the staring, the spitting and urinating in the streets, the heat, the smog, and the line cutting.. I’ve really turned a corner with Indian food too. I didn’t dislike it, and I thought it sounded good, but now I know what everything is on the menu and I crave it. Even when we were in Goa I didn’t want a break from Indian food and kept eating it. I’ve got my salwar kameez on and my head wobble is getting pretty good. Next step: Indian boyfriend? Eh...maybe there’s some experiences I can live without…
Roomies! Allegra, Rosie and I, eating out in Goa!
beautiful old goa
the church where st. francis' body is buried
No comments:
Post a Comment