Communicative English Orientation & Conolly's Plot..

First day of training was fun & funny. We met a lot of wonderful teachers and some beautiful children. The kids are AWESOME! They treated us like rock stars. No one told them that my own child doesn't give me treats, blow me kisses, write me letters, or even want to talk me some days.. Oh well they will find out soon enough.
The main facilitator or who I have named Mr.MoveItMoveIt was a a wiggly, jiggly, happy little man. He moved his entire body in the strangest was to make his points. I wanted to video tape him but I thought it may be a bit noticeable so I refrained but I giggled to my self the entire first half of the session.
Meet a teacher named Sherzad, with freckles like my Martins, who made me laugh so hard I had tears rolling down my face. Between her & Alyssa I was in stitches.

Imelda, Sherzad, Me, Kareem, Alyssa, Caroline, Alix, & Mr.MoveItMoveIt...

 After tea, yes tea, in the middle of the 97 degree day we went to Connolly Plot. Conolly's Plot is the oldest ManMade Teak Plantation in the world. It is Nilambur's claim to fame. So off we went to walk the entire plantation. Did I mention that it was 97 degrees outside? Humidity is apparently the norm in Nilambur. It was hot & sticky. Regardless, off to Conolly's Plot.

 We walked the hanging bridge across the Chaliyar river.  The bridge is made of iron bars and ropes.. This links Conolly's Plot to the mainland.  It was the only access for us to see the giant teaks planted in 1846.  I decided once I walked up all 289 steps that I could have missed the old teak trees because the bridge is terrifying.

 I obviously made it through to tell the tale but it was rough going.. I have never been so sweaty in 400 layers of clothing in my life! I was so hot & miserable that I didn't even get a picture of the oldest and largest tree on the plantation. Sorry family. I did manage to catch this guy on the way out -

Bartholomew formally, Bart to his click.

First day of orientation - check.  Teak Plantation - check. First Indian monkey sighting - check.

From the Terrace..

Layla makes coffee at 6am after the Muslim prayer chanting at 5am. Yum.

I have decided to have my coffee on the terrace. Here are a few of my sightings and random ramblings.

 Just saw a man on a motorcycle with a skully on a plaid short sleeves shirt & a white skirt - doing it. I could not get my camera out fast enough to catch him. Shoot, tomorrow perhaps?

Little Muslim children running to school at 6:30am to be on time. They have their lunch bags and they are ready for action. Modern cars, rickshaws, mopeds, motorcycles, and bicycles share the narrow roads. There are horns blowing, roosters crowing, birds chirping, and bells ringing. It is a new day in the Manalody section of Nilambur.

I am ready for today..but not breakfast - sambar & idli. These dishes are also known as veggie curry soup and white mini muffin thingies.. I am not a fan.

My Temporary Home Away From Home.

Ahh.. Layla's HomeStay. Praise God for AC! But I digress..

I share the second floor of an Indian household with a woman from the UK named Caroline, her younger cousin Alyssa from St.Louis, Missouri, and a few gekkos. The first one, I am naming Stanley. There is also Jerome, Gabrielle, their baby Abigail, and a friend of the family that I call Sven. Sven only visits on Wednesdays after 4pm. He has things to do.  Stanley, the G Crew, and I have mutual respect for the others personal space. I almost forget, there is also Stanley's companion Ira the gekko from downstairs. They meet just outside my bedroom door on the staircase wall - in the night. Make of it what you will, I hold no judgement.

I have my dance space & they have their dance space. Never a twine shall meet.
In other words - Don't come for me Stanley. I'm mean with a Nike flip flop when I am afraid..

Stanley

Our driver and arranger Yousaf comes to pick us up for our first official day in Nilambur.

Yousaf

We were supposed to go out and run errands today to prepare for our stay before the three days of training tomorrow. Up early & out only to find out that the shop keepers had all gone on strike. Not one shop was open. That meant no Indian mobile phone, no hand soap, or toilet paper for some teachers! But guess who had TP on the stash from the hotel? ALESHA, that's who. You say stealing I say proper planning.  So a day with things to do but no real work can be done. Back to the home stay to soak up the ac & play with the GCrew.

Terrace door.

Or maybe I'll get a baby nap..

My Home-Stay Part One

I made it to Nilambur safely...just. The people here drive like bats out of hell. They make my dad seem like Hoke driving Miss Daisy to the Piggly Wiggly. We almost died no less than 75 times.
We stopped at a wonderful Hotel/Restaurant/Spa on the way for lunch. That yummy devil Naan bread didn't have the nerve to show but the papadums were delicious! I had Butter Chicken that was so good and buttery that I could feel the fat going straight to my thighs but it was worth it.
Back on the road and we realized we were a bit late to the big reception and meeting they had planned for us so the driver had to drive even faster!! The chicken and papadum wanted out after this hair raising ride.  We arrived at a hotel outside of Nilambur just in time to wait for the chairman to return.. When he arrived so did the local press. We had to sit and eat snacks while pretending we could hear over the traffic noise. There was scuffling for photos and video footage not to mention the swatting away of mosquitoes that were hungry for our fresh Western blood that made it all seem a little surreal. They wanted us to taste everything..even the fried and battered banana. Everyone that knows any little thing about me knows that I HATE bananas. The host would not stop until I had taken a bite of the fried yuck stank so I took a tiny bite and almost had an Exorcist moment for all of Nilambur to witness. Swallowing that bit of banana was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I had some of it left in my hand so I looked to Alyssa to help me toss it out and her advice - down it. UGH.

They wanted us to have dinner but everybody was still full from lunch or in my case nauseous from the banana not treats. So off to our new living quarters we went..except some of us were told that our home stay was not available so we would have to stay at a temporary family home with a host family.  I was a little nervous about this but when we arrived I was pleasantly surprised.

My room.. with air conditioning! Hot damn!



I was told this is were we would stay until the remodeling of our independent home was completed up to code.  The three of us would have to share one bathroom but at least I didn't have to share a room. Caroline & Alyssa weren't so lucky. They didn't seem to mind because it was temporary and they are cousins. Plus, it would only be for a few days...or maybe a week...or maybe a few weeks.. Ah India.  The host family consists of Layla (the mom,) Joshua (daddy dearest,) and son Dany. Dany would be leaving for graduate school in a few days so Andrew would leave the hotel to come over with us until the new place was ready.
We would have the dinner that we didn't eat at the Reception/Meeting delivered to our home stay. Babu ordered the food for us but all I wanted was a shower and bed. It was late and the day seemed to go on forever like the taste of nasty bana- you get the picture. But the Chairman showed up to inspect our rooms, confirm that we would have wifi, make sure the air conditioner was on and working - thank you Shoukath! After making sure we were comfy we talked with him a while longer. The food showed up but I barely ate a bite because Alesha was DONE. Tired to the bone marrow.
Tomorrow - Indian mobile phone,  planning meeting, and copies of passports. Easy.

Guess who's in India about to teach?


Me.

Good Bye Kochi...Hello Nilambur

I'm rested, re-packed, full, and ready to go! I have met all of the teachers except for Hazel who will be coming in on the 17th of October. They are a cast of characters but I find them all to be nice and generous of heart. Alyssa is from St.Louis, an opera singing soprano, beautiful, and the baby of the group.  Andrew is from Bristol, loud, boisterous, and a master of everything. Diane is a retired teacher of sport (or PE as we call it in the States) from Northern England who is sensitive with a huge heart. Caroline is from London and is Alyssa's cousin. She is a tough cookie with a mushy inside. Alix is the foodie of the group and she has traveled to Kerala before - three times. She is slim with a gamin haircut & sneaky funny.  Imelda was the teacher from last year that they asked on to get us all together and ease our way into the project. She is so warm, kind, tough, and giving of herself. She is about to start a new career as a independent funeral director. I love it. We are all packed into the van and off to see the wizards... I mean the Chairman of Nilambur Shoukath and the director of the Sadgamaya Project Babu.

Attention Ft.Kochi & the Casino Hotel! The Communicative teachers and general rowdy bunch have left the building!

 Curly out.

The Church, the Docks, the Palace - Oh My.

St. Francis Church, Ft.Kochi

St. Francis Church, Ft, Kochi

St. Francis Church, Ft. Kochi

 St. Francis Church, Ft. Kochi

St. Francis Church, Ft. Kochi 

St. Francis Church, Ft. Kochi 

St. Francis Church, Ft. Kochi 

St. Francis Church, Ft. Kochi 

St. Francis Church, Ft. Kochi 

St. Francis Church, Ft. Kochi 

Chinese Fishing Nets or Cheenavala, Ft. Kochi

 Chinese Fishing Nets or Cheenavala, Ft. Kochi with a goat just chilling in the shade.

Chinese Fishing Nets or Cheenavala, Ft. Kochi with the same goat posing for the picture.

Chinese Fishing Nets or Cheenavala, Ft. Kochi

Chinese Fishing Nets or Cheenavala, Ft. Kochi

Chinese Fishing Nets or Cheenavala, Ft. Kochi

Chinese Fishing Nets or Cheenavala, Ft. Kochi

Mural up in the cut - Cheenavala, Ft. Kochi

Interesting "Members Only" Club..

St. Francis Church, Ft. Kochi 


Ft Cochin is full of history and local flavor. The have a main street named after Mahatma Ghandi with loads of shops. The Chinese fishing nets or Cheenavala are right on the coast with hundreds of street salesman, boats, and tourists.  The street vendors smiled, flirted, and were amazed by my nappy hair all while trying to sell their wares. Everything from postcards to pasta makers were sold right on the sand. They chimed that you could get it for free as long as you paid money to them lol. Or that it is was free to look - no pressure. Just let me say - there was loads of pressure. 
The Mattencherry Palace also known as the Dutch Palace had lots of murals that told stories with portraits of Indian leaders. It seemed that the murals were fading and that some of the furniture was molding because it is damp with humidity.  I am so glad I got to see it before it fades completely away. No photography was allowed inside the palace but was allowed inside the church? Lol. Different.
The Saint Francis Church is one of the oldest European churches in India. When you step inside you feel a sense of reverence and peace that it is awe inspiring.  I admit that I was a little choked up looking at the pews and pulpit.  I wanted to sing a hymn and read a passage of scripture but we left to go to the Paradesi.

We attempted to visit the Jewish Synagogue, Paradesi, but it was closed. I will definitely  try to visit again before I leave Kerala.

The sites, sounds, and smells were so interesting that I barely took any photos at all. This is an experience of a lifetime. I am so glad they chose me.


Veendum kaanaam. (I will see you again.)

Meals with a View..

As I sit down to eat my lunch I notice that there are rocks with lot of greenery just outside the window. All of a sudden - water starts pouring over the rock ledge! What? Not lunch next to a waterfall?!  It makes the curry fish, rice, and chapati taste even better! I was feeling a little groggy and blue then Boom the water started flowing.

Not the best picture but an awesome view. 

Every day and every meal they have a lot of desserts here at this hotel. 

They even knock on the door in the morning to bring you cookies...yummy, yummy coconut cookies. Not that I tasted one but they looked like - oh hell I ate them both everyday little bites at a time.

I know, I know not good for the diabetic but I paced myself lol.  I also drank tons of bottled water, ate lots of oranges, and fish. So there.

I am so surprised that I like the food because at home Robin, Angie, and Mommy always try to get me to eat Indian and I never eat with them.

Now curry is yummy. Go figure.

My Swanky Hotel Room

Walking into a cool, clean, & quiet hotel room is priceless..

The scent of incense is throughout the entire hotel because there is a guy who has the job of walking through the halls with an incense burner on a chain. It smells like heaven.

This is a good look on you Southern India.

I've Arrived..and How

I have landed at the Kochi airport in Southern India! We arrived 30 minutes early and I am dead tired. Going through Customs was a breeze! I think I like that you already have your visa when you land and they just give you another stamp then send you on your way. Groovy.
Luggage carts are free here in Southern India! Take that USA. You just grab one and wait for your bags. The men have pushed me around a bit in the jockeying around for the best spot to snag your bag but I am holding my own. Never underestimate the power of a woman who has been traveling for 3 days! And it is the literal buttcrack of dawn.. As I am pulling the first bag off the carousal I realize that this crap is heavy and I may have over packed! I realized then that this was the first time I had actually handled my own luggage since I packed it. The second bag almost snapped my spine in two places but the bags were on the cart & ready for action.
The driver wasn't inside the airport so I ventured out into a sea of people looking for their loved ones. It was exciting and awe inspiring but hell of hot for 5:30am. Then I notice that everyone is noticing me. Some are pointing, some just staring but most seem very intrigued. I'm wondering if I am the first black American face they have witnessed. Then all of a sudden I see my name on a piece of white paper held by a smiling face. Someone's here for me!  He loads me up and off we go.
On the ride he is telling me about the different sites and all about where we are going minute by minute.  Then he stops looks at me and says that I am the first Black American woman he has seen live. I burst out laughing and he smiles. I then ask him what does he think and he says "Not very black." O_o

We arrive at my destination -

The hotel is so lovely! I was really nervous considering that all the hotels on the way were absolutely hideous. It smelled of Kush incense and the people welcomed me with big smiles. I was at the check in counter for about 5 minutes and then I was on my way to my room.  I am ready for bed.

Curly and exhausted.