Getting away - taking a step back

Sometimes, the fastest way to where you are going is NOT a straight line.
The experience here is so different from whatever I've done before, and intense on so many levels, that it leads to a deep journey within, challenging priorities, assumptions, values... sometimes inspiring, sometimes leaving me low and exhausted, not being fully there and fully functionning. End of January was time to take a step back

Aurelia and I decided on a whim to head to Udaipur, its beautiful lake and palaces for a couple of days: we enjoyed a boat tour, the rooftop terraces, our endless chats, and the German bakery :)

Album: Udaipur

Next, I spent a day at Sughad on Jayeshbhai's suggestion: Pavitra Mehta and Suchitra Shenoy were touring India to introduce 'Infinite Vision', the amazing and inspiring story of Dr V and the Aravind eye hospital. Hearing stories on service and helping the underprivileged was also a way to reflect on my own purpose here. You can see a documentary on this story, also directed by Pavi.

Mukeshbhai asked volunteers to join him in Nadiad on his temple festival - after begging so much to spend time with him, I couldn't say no and jumped on a bus to Nadiad; I found myself serving food and offering prasad (in the shape of rose petals) to the 100,000 or so devotees visiting the temple on that day. I also got a chance to sit in meditation with Mukeshbhai - shanti...

Last weekend, Jayeshbhai took all the volunteers on a tour in North Gujarat: we visited the Lokniketan centre, which educates thousands of rural children in the tribal area, and surrounding villages. We got a glimpse of houses made of mud and cow dung, buffaloes grazing, and tasted the best cucumber ever, when this old women offered us some rest on her porch, and of the lives of people there, where children can walk a couple of hours a day to get to school and back.

Album: getting away

These various short trips really helped me: I felt I could be back at Manav Sadhna with a more relaxed and focused mind and a more open heart. Note to self: take time away when required!

Working at the Blind School

For the last two months, I've been going to the Blind School every week (from one to three days, sometimes staying overnight).

You come in with the best of intentions, willing to 'help', eager to 'do something'; and then day by day, being exposed to a standard of living very different from what you would be expected in the West, seeing whatever change you had in mind would depend on so many behaviour changes and decisions, feeling the inertia, finding that not only sight seems to isolate you from the children but also language, that each visit makes you more and more tired ... this energy gets slowly eroded until it has left you almost entirely.

This is the time you learn that you have to leave your mind aside (at least for a while) and listen and look with your heart. And then I see.

That those children are so independent, able to take care of themselves so well - finding their way in the school, washing their clothers, helping each other, laughing, inventing games, telling stories.
That they are so alive when they play music, sing, or clap their hands in rythm.
That, last time, they all got a fresh aircut.
That a trustee and teacher at the school always welcomes me with blessing words and made me sing "we shall overcome" with him, making my heart melt.
That the children recognise my voice, shout out 'Karuna* didi!', hold your hand, and here I am, with Shina and Kaushal guiding me around the school, while they are gently chatting to me.
That by taking the bus back with the teachers I shared a bit of their life.
That I let a connection happen with the staff and the children at that shool and, somehow, I feel part of it now, rather than a project to do...

With the guidance and support of many volunteers, we were able to make kites with the children, in anticipation of Uttharyan, we visited the school on Uttharyan day, attempting to fly kites with them, and then run an art and crafts workshop!
Thanks Rahul and Aurelia for the pictures (and Jagruti!)... Thanks to all who helped on those days: you rock!

Album: working at the blind school

*The Indian name I was given