COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: UniBreak
PROJECT: Teaching & Community Healthcare
WRITTEN BY: Paige Hetherington
16th – 22th December
Hello. Welcome to the final installment of Adventures in Goaland. Your volunteers have all arrived safety home (except for Sarah who is still travelling) and have begun reveling in luxuries such as hot water and the ability to flush toilet paper.
Summary: Your blogger says her goodbyes and attempts to fly home.
Day 22 – Monday
Cow count: 22
The day did not begin very well as the night before there was a wedding in full swing nearby, complete with spotlights and room-shaking music that carried on well into the next morning. Tired, we wandered down to Colva in the afternoon and I learnt a lesson I’m not likely to forget soon. I was looking at a bracelet in a jewelry store and the first price offered to me was 2500R. I only had around 1000R on me, and I said so before walking out. At this point, the store owner accepted my offer. So, I have most likely been haggling terribly for the past four weeks (it’s funny the things you learn when you’re about to leave – like the fact that Majorda beach offers yummy sandwiches, juices and prawn crackers).
Day 23 – Tuesday
Cow count: 0
You don’t see any cows when you don’t actually leave the camp. I stayed put today since I came down with a cold – not something I considered when coming to India (despite it being ‘Winter’). Everyone was wonderful and I had numerous offers from people to go to the shop for me.
Day 24 – Wednesday
Cow count: 33
I went to both my placements today and the morning session was quite peaceful. The afternoon session was sad for us since it was our last one. I had a little party with the adolescent girls and I spent the first half an hour having henna applied to both my hands. Having henna applied is fascinating since they do it free-hand out of something that resembles a piping-bag and it still turns out beautifully. The girls gave me a beautiful card and a pair of earrings. The girls danced and laughed and seemed to enjoy the ‘party’. They are such sweet people and I hope their lives are happy.
Day 25 – Thursday
Cow count: 21
We get another public holiday for Goa Liberation Day. After we woke up, ate and lazed around for a bit, we started Rangoli. Rangoli (basically) involves outlining a picture on the floor and filling it with coloured flowers. These pictures are usually created for Diwali (the “festival of lights”) or to welcome someone to your home. I was teamed with Maddie and Renee and we made an elephant (my contribution was a beautiful sun). Then we decorated our camp Christmas tree. We spent the afternoon together relaxing on Majorda beach.
Day 26 – Friday
Cow count: 11
It was sad to say goodbye to the children I had been working with for so long but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to be home. I brought in some bubbles as a treat for my last day and they were all so happy and screaming. One of the little boys was just standing at the edge smiling (so I made sure to blow him some extra ones).
Then we had to complete our reports for our projects as it’s important to keep the records updated. While writing, I started second-guessing myself by wondering if perhaps I could have done more or done some things differently.
Some of us set off for Majorda beach for one last time. We spent our last night playing card games in the Rec Room before having an early night (we are, apparently, known as the “Australians who go to bed early” – with good reason) as we were going to have a very busy morning (and night, and morning and night again).
Days 27 and 28 – Saturday and Sunday
Cow count: 0
Having no running water for a short period in the morning should have warned me that our journey home wasn’t going to be as easy as I’d hoped. Once we had running water (and sort-of flushable toilets), the morning was lovely as we breakfasted together for the last time then packed and cleaned our rooms. Renee was the first to depart as she was spending the weekend in Palolem before she flew out on Monday. Jen and I were the next to go and the hour before we left seemed to tick by so slowly – then too fast. After some farewell hugs, Jen and I hopped in the jeep for our last bumpy trip along the dirt road.
After a long journey home, I was probably too eager for our first view of Adelaide and was grinning like an idiot when I saw it. It was perfect and it was home. I managed to hold in my relief (and desire to burst into tears) upon seeing my Mum and walked around to hug her. After a sad farewell to Jen, we drove home where my Grandad and brother were waiting to meet me. I told them all about my trip and showed them all the things I’d bought. Sleep was the furthest thing from my mind but after a glorious, hot shower I eventually slept. Waking up the next morning would mean that it was over and as much as I wanted to be home, I didn’t want the adventure to end. But everything ends eventually and it means that something else can begin.
Overall cow count: 87
Over the past week, people have consistently asked me what I’ve learnt from the experience and if it was worthwhile. Although I know some of my entries have been negative, I’m never going to regret my time in India. I’ve met some amazing people and seen some amazing things and I’d like to think I’ve grown as a person. We’ve complained that we can’t see the results of our time here but maybe we’ve started something that over the years will come to benefit the community enormously. Maybe all we did was give one child a positive memory that they’ll keep for their entire lives. Maybe we were kind to someone who was feeling down and gave them hope again. We are all part of a much bigger picture with a much bigger, collective goal. All we can do is our best to make a positive difference – knowing that the final result will take time but that it will hopefully be everlasting.
I doubt I have learnt anything earth shattering that hasn’t been said before, but now I understand all the life lessons we’ve read about – being grateful, being kind to others and living each day fully – with a positive attitude and with no regrets. Most importantly, I’ve learnt that no kind gesture, no matter how small, goes unnoticed.
I’m proud of what we’ve done here and how we’ve grown. I’m not sure how it would have been with a different group of people and I don’t want to know. Sitting here, it’s hard to picture not waking up and having breakfast outside with everyone, wandering off to our projects and chatting, supporting each other and brainstorming over lunch.
India has been incredible. It’s vibrant and terrifying and you’ll never know if you’ll feel awe or shock (or some combination of the two). Yes, there are many cultural aspects I don’t agree with because of my own experiences and the way I was raised, but I like to think I know have a greater understanding and acceptance of our cultural differences now.
Paige Hetherington signing out
No comments:
Post a Comment