The end of this tour is getting closer and closer, and tomorrow is the day we board the 30 hr train back to Mumbai. We went to Kanyakumari(the most southern point of India) and back to Kerala again, the AirCondition in the bus was defect so it was a rather hot experience going through Tamil Nadu and to Allepey in Kerala, but we made it!

We went on a boatcruise on the backwaters and all of a sudden someone comes up with the great idea to jump into the water and 13 of the 16 exchangestudent hurry over to one side of the little bat, almost casing it to tip over, and jump in the cool water in all our clothes. The air was around 29-32 degrees and the water wasnt much cooler. While we were swimming an old indian guy sails by in something that looks a bit like a canoo and several people try to climb onto the poor mans boat, until he yells at the travelguides to get us all away, of course we did, and he even seemed happy when i gave him the 30 rupees(ca. 3,5 kroner) i accidentally had forgotten to take out of my pocket before diving into the water. It was fun, but while we were swimming the sun had set, so it was a little cold on the boatdeck in soaking wet jeans, but i guess thats our own faults :/ hehe

I really enjoyed this trip, and can feel how all the exchangestudents are so much closer after this, but now I'm looking forward to going home to Mumbai and have some of my hostmoms good cooking (Im getting a bit bored with the hotel-buffets...)

Take care
Maria

Southtrip - part 1

So, Tuesday very early in the morning all the exchangees of district 3140 were standing on platform 16 of Mumbai VT station. We were off to go on our forst trip - the southtrip, and first stop was GOA! Beautiful beaches and lots and lots of sun and fun... After two and a half day there I was badly sleepdeprived had an ugly sunburn and were 3 dresses, a nice anclet and a pretty bag richer. (the sunburn came from hanging on the beach for 4 hours with Ailyn and Leticia - Danish people seriously cant take as much sun as brazilians!)...

We boarded the train last night and after a rough overnight journey we woke up in Cochin, Kerala almost as south as you get in India. Its a very pretty area, and we spent all day sightseeing (and I have already started to think in christmas presents, need to get them home before the 24th of december) Its very difficult to communicate with the locals since people in southindia dont speak any hindi (forget about english!).and tomorrow we are gougn by bus to the oh so cold Munnar (17-18 degrees ;D )it will be fun.

Definately still enjoying!!!!

Maria

Making Kandeels for Diwali

The day after my Birthday (1st of november) my last hostfamily had invited me over to make kandeels (or lanterns?) for Diwali.

Birthday, moving and diwali

So... A long time since my last post, sorry for that, but i have been very busy! On the 30th of october, Imoved to my third hostfamily - I arrived late in the evening, and had dinner with Nilima (my hostmom) and Juili (my youngest hostsister who usually studies dentistry in Nashik, but she was home for diwali), my second host sister, Shalmali, wasnt there. Later on my hostdad (bal) came home, and we all stayed up till twelve end ate icecream the moment I turned 16 ;) Then we went off to sleep but got up just seven hours later to go to a rotary wheelchair distribution in Malad, it was fun, and those people got really happy, so it was with a good feeling that I could go home and prepare for my birthday party in the afternoon. We had invited ALL THE OTHER INBOUNDS, so we were 12 exchangestudents plus all of my hostfamilies, my counsellor and his family and my club president, It was really fun, we had Chicken biryani and chinese food for dinner and three different cakes for dessert - All of which were smushed out in my face and hair when my hostmom had to feed me my first piece (indian tradition!), it was just unlucky with the tiramisu cake, because when it got in my hair, it looked like someone had vommitted all over me :S but it was FUN!

Then it was time for Diwali, the main festival and the ending of the festival season (yes, this mean that there wont be any more pooja's, aarti's, godly statues, dancing on the streets or things like that untill sometime in the new year. Diwali, the celebration of light, has something to do with a tale about Ram and his siblings, my hostmom told me, but im incredibly sorry to sayt that I dont recall the details of the story :( It is celebrated with a lot of fireworks and crackers all over the city (except for colaba thanks to a certain mr. Obama). My host uncles (i guess) and their family came to stay with us over the week, I got to meet Alopa(?my host cousin?) who's wedding I'm going to attend in december. Two very mischevious kids (also host cousins) came too, they were soo cute, but I couldn't really communicate with them since they only spoke in Marathi :/ We all made a bunch of indian sweets (and I actually liked some of them this time!!!) gave eachother presents, I got a new, beautiful sari (Ivory and turqoise with silver embroideries) a bunch of lovely imitation jewellery and three nice purses. (Pictures are on their way!)

One day we went to this Punjabi dabbar in Thane, and had some AMAZING punjabi food. We were sitting on these odd net-benches, a guy was playing a drum while singing hindi-hits and it was a really fun evening. Another day we went for lunch at the ISCON temple, it was also extremely good food eventhough everything was veg. The buffet was booming with options, and I practically got full just from looking at all the food! haha.

My hindi is really coming along great, and I can (sort of) communicate with our maids and my hostgrandma (she onbly speaks marathi, but I think she understands me when I say soemthing in hindi). Its a little weird though when I ask how someone is doing (Aap kaisee hoon?) and get a really complicated answer that I didnt get a word of! I can practically read everything out lound eventhough I'm still having a bit of problems with the vowels... At least I know enough to direct the rickshawdriver to the right place and ask for food from the maids (the two most vital purposes).

Next time I will be writing, will most likely be in the small gap between the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadertship Award) in Lonavala and the upcoming southtour, but im not certain, and my next post might not be untill december... Sorry...


goodnight and take care for now, Maria