Bye Chandrapur

Thanks everyone for your messages! It’s good to hear from you all. I bet most of you’re back to work tomorrow. I’m looking forward to another 2,5 weeks holiday. (sounds short though). I think I gave the impression in my last message that things are not completely going ok. But beside the stomach problems, I really had a great time around here! And all these things happening is just a good and learn full experience to me. So I’m feeling really sad to move on. Especially now a big festival is coming up. So I would have loved to see that. But taking some holidays and being on my on feet and making my own decisions will be nice too.

My newyears day here was good. Not really special party or something. But just being here and not feeling lonely somewhere at a party that I don’t like…was already a good thing. We watched a movie and around 12 we went out somewhere on a rooftop eating (=throwing) some cake and some dancing. Mostly the young men where dancing…wow..If dutch guys could dance like that!! I tried some to, but Shanoo took a video and I look dumb on it. Partly also because I didn’t dare to make the same moves, as for a girl that would not look good here. And I really don’t want to give people a wrong impression here. So I’ll have to do some practice when back home ;-)

On new year day we went to see a dancing contest of some schools in Chandrapur and also Babeloo (the sun of the family) was acting in one group. I really enjoyed it. It was a good massala of Indian and western, and some children where really great. Like a free Bharati show! We all wear Sarree’s!! I can tell you, it maybe looks good, but it’s not really comfortable. And especially I wore trousers under it instead of a skirt…so no possibility of going to a toilet (because then the whole doing of it should be renewed..). And for going home they put me on the bike, as going by auto would cost more because of having a foreigner…so legs on one side and going…with every bump I slipped a bit more to the edge of my seat.. looking nice that soft material but in India…not handy! But I felt a real Indian lady, so that was a very special feeling I wouldn’t have missed. Also I think a lot of Indian men here on the street didn’t miss me…..

Back home we had a diner party on the street for new years day. Good food again and nice to do everything together with all the neighbor ladies.

For the rest I took some time for sleeping (It’s astonishing how tired I’m every time of doing not much. but also good, I’m catching up some missing sleep of the past year I guess), and I went on writing a sort of report about the water project, which hopefully is useful to the people coming here in February. Friday I went for some shopping of typical Indian stuff to send home (so when I’m coming home a tiny memory of India is waiting for me). I’m also completely going with the Indian mode…of putting glitters on you nose (left one) and making all kinds of special bindi’s (between your eyebrows). The woman in the neighborhood are every time checking me …wowow good good…we like and a very big smile….Also I experienced some housekeeping (and Indian man-woman talk-fights) etc. So it’s like I’m  living here for ages …hihi. But it is really giving me good insight of the woman life here. And I know for sure that we all free woman in the west really should proud and happy of that…we don’t have to ask our men when we go somewhere. And we can go out whenever we want…Here that is almost impossible…

As Sunday being my last day here I took the family to a restaurant where we had a really good diner. One of whichin Mumbai or Delhi you'll end up paying the amount with one zero extra. I really enjoyed the food and I think I’ll miss the advantages of being in a small town and hanging around with a family who know where to go…nu wordt het weer tijd om mijn eigen indiase boontjes te doppen!!

Monday my train leaves in the afternoon for Hyderabad. I’ll reach that around 19.30. There a hotel is arranged for me, so no hassle. And then first I’ll take a shower and a good rest….and then it’s really holiday time!

So take care, good luck at your jobs and till the next blog.

Greetings Marloes