lost in translation.
HOMESTAY
With our homestay mataji in the village of Chomu
Open fields. Kids running barefoot. Simple living.
Hanging out with our choti behen (little sisters) after a morning in the fields
Choti Bhai (little brothers)
Playing badminton. Hanging out.
Fields of mustard greens line the dirt roads
Ellie surrounded by women in the traditional Rajasthani dress.
February 20. Chomu -- small village outside Jaipur.
Last night was our first night of the village homestay. Rain, lightning, cows, clay ovens, simple wheat cutting machines. Grandma is a fairytale; inch-wide dental gap front and center, easily tickled sense of humor, and sweet-tooth. She slept with us last night, with Cima, the younger sister of the oldest and most angsty girl. It was difficult to differentiate between her flatulence and thunder. During the day though, Grandmother was just a mess of joy.
We had an interesting experience with figuring out how to communicate the desire to go on a walk around the fields or village or wherever was available. But, as has become a regular occurrence, our intentions were misinterpreted as "yes, let's go work. let's go?
work. wORk. yes?"
Noted Observations:
1. mother, watching a bubble float away with hands in air and awe
2. two three yr old boys sharing a bicycle ride. derails, both get off and begin to re-rail, poor positioning, flip bike upside-down on handlebars, proceed to replace chain and spin pedal, fixed, up, riding again.
3. this is the first place i've seen roses in india
I could save time by journaling all of my thoughts and theories about happiness here and everywhere, but now I feel more present than I have in a long time, and I'm liking it.
SCHOOL
Being welcomed by the principal of Vidyagram International School
A student performing a traditional Rajasthani dance at the morning assembly
We got to ride the school bus to school with all the students
The teachers in training dressed Josephine up in a sari
Josephine interacting with the students in Science class
Getting ready for a competition arranged by the 10th grade students
Comments
This is great Mand!! You had me laughing with tears in my eyes!! I'm so stoked for you right now and I love that I get to follow it all on this blog. Ever present!! I love you!!
Posted by: Soog | February 28, 2011 11:48 PM
Loving this, Mand ... thank you for a giving us a view into some of your experience ... beautiful words and images. I am so hapy for you, and I love you very much.
j
Posted by: Jay | March 8, 2011 5:45 AM