Day 30 – Tuesday, April 1
Left an hour later today, around 11.
Picked up the ice creams on the way and as soon as wet got there the
head teacher assembled everyone together on the veranda and we passed
them out to the kids. They loved it. So many “thank yous” and
of course the smiling faces. We had bought 100 and had just enough.
Then the teacher let them all free for fun, so there were frisbees
(spinning discs), badmitton birds, jump ropes and of course the
football all over the place. Everyone had a really good time.
Before long, it was time to say our goodbyes because the next time we
see them will be June 10, a full two months. I am really going to
miss them till then. The little girl that made one of my bracelets
checks my wrist every day to see if I am wearing it; I never take
them off. She will be so happy to see me wearing it when she comes
back. The long good-bye continues even after we leave the gate. The
boys climb over bricks and scale the wall shouting good-byes and
waving. Naroda has become a home to Nora and I. There is a chance
when the new session starts we will start living out there several
days a week to avoid the long commute. Nora wants to sleep up on the
roof with the girls and I would live in the dormitory with the boys.
I think we will have to take turns on the roof because this area
should be pitch black at night with nothing but stars in wide open
sky. On the consistently clear nights, this must be an amazing site.
I have to go pick up my shirts in old
city on the way home, so we take a ricksha. Taking a ricksa from
Naroda might not have been the wisest thing to do. Naroda is outside
the Ahmedabad limits, so the driver got lost more than a dozen times,
but he never gave up until we found the shop. We decided to keep
him, so he waited while I went in to make payment and pick up the
items. For being patient, we used him to take us on further to
Gandhi Ashram. I gave him 250 rupees, much more than I would
normally have; but he had to go way back to his home area of Naraoda,
and he was patient with me, so why not.
I go use some wifi at Manav Sadhna.
Talked to VerranBai – he mentioned that all the volunteers were
invited over to his house tonight dinner. That works out great
because I am tired and don't feel like cooking, plus now I won't have
to volunteer with Seva Cafe. Becky had talked to me earlier about
this and I am meeting her at her place around 6 and we will go
together. I go home a little after 4 and sit in the chair and close
my eyes; didn't take long before I dozed off. Each day the weather
continues to get hotter. Today it was around 41 or 42 (that's around
100F). Today that sun was beating down; you can feel the piercing
rays cut through your skin. Sitting in the ricksha with my foot
hanging halfway out, it was taking the rays directly. The top of my
foot is already sunburn, or should I say brown, following the pattern
of my sandals.
I wake up around 5:30 and take a shower
before heading over to Becky's place. I meet her daughter, Helen,
who is visiting for about week. She is a much younger version of her
mother. Very Australian; tall, thin, around 22, blonde, very pretty.
This is her third time visiting in India. We chat a bit before
heading out to VerranBai's place. I have no idea where we are headed
but we arrive in about 15 minutes. It's a nice home in a nice
neighborhood Nice veranda, nice porches in back. They call the meal
they are making tonight “Mexican” - but it turns out to be more a
vegetarian “Tex-Mex” and I am pretty impressed; it tastes really
good. His salsa could compare to any good salsa I've ever had in
Texas. It's a good night; I had met some of the people before, but
not all. Not all are Manav Sadhna. In all, its a nice evening.
Laying around in the flat gets boring unless you are just tired and
need a sleep break to catch up. Otherwise, it's nice to get out and
meet new people. Enjoyed the evening.
All in all, it was a great day at the
school, and a very nice evening out.
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