Now that our time in India is over we are looking back on eight months full of adventures, happiness, tears, smiles, challenges, traditions, festivals, colours, a lot of sharing and learning.
The experiences in this country were unexpected and different from all we imagined:
In our application form for this programme we had to think of things we connect with India. What we wrote down that time were: the Taj Mahal, Saris, Bollywood, Delhi, Hindi, Hinduism and festivals. And even if those things are not wrong and definitely a part of India, we realize now that OUR India is so much more than that.
What really made our stay special and memorable were the encounters with people who crossed our ways with a smile or accompanied us through our daily life in Parvathipuram:
There were the members of our JKS-Family. Every single one fo them supported us and made us feel at home by taking care of us, sharing their work, having a nice talk over a cup of chai or welcoming us back whenever we’ve been away. We had a lot of great moments and fun with all of them which we will never forget.
Trip to the “nearby” Borra Caves and Girl’s Day with Sandhya, Uma, Satya, Sonia and Divya
New Year’s celebration with all JKS staff members. Left side: female staff, right side: male staff
Especially our mentors Uma and Satya, with whom we spend a lot of time, were a great support and became close friends to us. They not only guided us through the mysteries of the Indian culture and gave us a great insight into their own lives by taking us to festivals, inviting us to their homes and introducing us to their families, but also tried to understand us and our culture and cheered us up whenever we felt down.
And of course our Director Sir and his family were another important part of our life. No effort was too big for him in his pursuit to make us feel happy and at home away from home. We spend a lot of our free time together with him, his wife and his sons making trips and celebrating Indian festivals.
Our Director Sir also introduced us to our numerous aunties and uncles and their children in the neighbourhood who took good care of us and helped us whenever there was a problem.
During a trip to different temples with all our neighbours and their children.
Silvester with our neighbours and the Birthdayparty of one of our neighbours.
But not only the people living in our direct surrounding shaped our time. Walking through the streets of Parvathipuram there were a lot of people who gave us the feeling of being at home by friendly waving at us everytime we walked by their shops or showing interest in what we are doing.
Our favourite vegetable seller (“You like my daughters, I love you”) and shop owner.
The security man in the department store and the team of Sweet India.
Our tailor Parvathi and her team; there is no dress she did not make:)
During our days on field we also got in contact with the people from the different villages we were working in. Even though we did not have a common language they were able to express their sympathy through gestures and smiles, which meant a lot to us and was a very new and intense experience.
And last but not least there are our schoolchildren, with whom we spent some of the happiest moments during our stay. The deep affection they showed to us, their joyfulness and willingness to learn really touched us and is something we will never forget.
Thank you for being patient and for helping us understand your culture. Thank you for being there for us and spending so much time with us. Thank you for smiling and laughing with us.
Thank you so much for making the last few months unforgettable and one of the greatest experiences we’ve ever made. All of you became a very important part of our lives and each of you will always be a part of our personal India which we will never forget.
With Love,
Lena and Annik
