Fruity Tooty

Lightening brightens the night sky

 

Well, just as we are getting into the swing of workshops, it's time for the summer holidays. I shall be heading to the cool mountains for a few weeks and seeing more of what South India has to offer. So this shall be the last you see of me until the end of May.

 

 

It's been a tough couple of weeks, and not just because of my excessive heat rash. I think I am finally experiencing what they call 'Culture Shock'. Living in India and living with an Indian family allows a great insight into the culture, but I have also been learning and experiencing certain things, that have unsettled and upset me. And it all seems to come at once. Perhaps a holiday is what I need, anyway...

 

The boys hostel is looking great. 2 walls have been finished and the older boys started painting on their designs. I will be visiting this week and we can perhaps finish this one too.

 

It's been such a success, and although I think the pink flowers on one wall is extreme. The boys are happy!

 

 

 

The last workshops at Arni really was an eye-opener for me and the kiddies. Fruit Printing. Now if you remember, weeks ago I introduced this into one of the tribal schools. The kids at Arni really had something to say about using fruit in art and some of them took actions, which amused me then later gave me something to think about.

 

A group of older students, watched me paint an apple, as I was doing so, one of them said “so sad, so sad” and a few others followed suit. For them, this is something to eat, what a waste to paint! I encouraged them to look at the shapes and the patterns and once they got into the printing, I think they forgot about the edibility and enjoyed the marks that they made.

 

The following day, with the younger boys. A similar reaction and general confusion as I was demonstrating. Then again they began to really experiment with colours and I enjoyed seeing the differences in the students, some being very particular and delicate with the placement of the fruit, whilst others really slapped the painted fruit on the paper. Over the period of the workshop slowly the apples began to disappear, as the young boys thought it would be great to eat, even covered in paint.

 

Before leaving Arni, a student ran to buy me an ice lolly. 1 ruppee ice lolly. Then he brought me another. I thought well this is very kind of him. That is 2 ice lollies less that he will enjoy. It gave me the energy to make my way to the bus stand, were I have found a great tea shop, now it's regular for me to grab a quick glass of tea before running to board the bus. And surprise, surprise, more tea stall friends. Everyone wants to know what I am doing in this busy little Indian town.

Now when I get the bus, I do not look forward to the wind blasting through the windows. I could compare sitting on a bus like sitting in a sauna and having a hair dryer blasted at you. And if that is not bad enough, a really big, fat lady might come and sit not only next to you... but nearly on you!

I have filled my body with all kinds of exotic fruits this last week. My lunch at the office would consist of Papayas, mangoes, avocados, watermelons and bananas. Super refreshing when the weather is now about 43degrees.

 

On Friday, Eunice and I walked down to the learning disability school. Last week we had paper mached balloons. Which had been very successful. This week we brought paints for them to decorate the balloons. A sprinkle of glitter and waahla! We all clap and cheer as I hang the finished work of art from the ceiling. They look like 2 beautiful planets.

 

I've found a interesting loop to take an morning or evening walk, and I like it because on one particular road are a group of little wild pigs munching through the rubbish. They are quite amusing to watch. As dusk falls the bats swoop through the air above head. What interesting creatures.

Excitement broke out in the office on Thursday afternoon, as the sky darken and suddenly 'whooooossshhh' Massive winds shook the office. We felt cool(for us) air fill the room. We all galloped outside to see and feel the spectacle of the storm. Praying for some rain. I felt a drop or two. The following evening broke strong winds and lightening too. I stood in the evening on the rooftop, enjoying this cool spell.

 

Sunday and Monday were filled with a wedding, a baby name giving celebration and baby shower. So again I was dressed in a sari, surprising black and gold again. And I could bring out the Indian dresses that I have brought since I have been here. I have been filled with tasty foods and exciting Indian sweets.

 

One morning I helped my maid love scrape out the coconut from the shells. Once finished, I held them up to my boobs like a bra. I think she was so surprised and amused, but was quick to ignore what I had done. I was distracting her from her work. I'm a silly person and people generally don't act silly here. Oh my humour is wasted! Well I just laughed with myself.

 

See you all in a month!