The Annapurna Guy

This is the first installment of the weekend edition. Yesterday (Saturday) started out very chill, I was able to finish all of my work on the website that I have built out for the program, as well as the accompanying power points that I'll use for the workshop on Tuesday. Having 3+ hours of uninterrupted work time was a vacation of sorts. I then ventured out on my own for a walk, an ATM trip, and began it all with some breakfast in the hotel. The coffee is good, much like you would get in Europe, basically a latte. I am really enjoying the food here, but opted for some toast. My walk was an accomplishment of sorts, because so far I have been shuffled everywhere in a car, van, bus, or rickshaw. It doesn't seem like people walk very far, and I can see why in that it is tough to navigate the crowd. I did my frogger moves through the streets, and eventually finished by taking 15,000r out at the ATM (~$300). My hosts have paid for everything, so I'm just giving Rajagopal installments for the hotel, and the trip to Kerela. When I returned to the hotel I got my first workout in which consisted of core, strength, and cardio in the confines of 4x8 space.

Devika picked me up around 1 pm, and we then picked up 5 other teachers in the air conditioned van. After an hour trip that tempted some motion sickness, we arrived at a location that showcased all the traditional houses in the four southern states. I really enjoyed seeing the various architecture, but more than anything it was fun seeing the social sciences department interact. The are a funny group with very different but complimentary personalities. They all are very concerned about my eating, so my tertiary goal of coming home at a super light climbing weight is shot, especially since everything seems to be 50% ghee (clarified butter). Devika is a very calm, warm person, who exudes class. Shree who I believe is her cousin in a couple of ways, as well as her best friend, is an absolute fire cracker who is always cracking jokes, making fun of the other ladies, and harassing the wait staff. This is all in good humor, and I find it all amusing. Shonda is always smiling and just makes you feel happy to be in her presence. One of the women, who's name I forgot, was very much into sticking by to nicely explain whatever we were viewing whether a temple, traditional homes, or the beach.

Before we left the traditional house park, we had a late lunch, Dosas! I may be getting a little over ghee'd but I'll take the dosas all day. This was an onion dosa (1 part onion, 1 part dosa) which prompted Shree to heckle the wait staff over the missing dosa in the onion pile. Most of the time they are speaking Tamil, but it is easy to tell what Shree is up to because she is so animated and even gets the bystanders to laugh. Before we left we had a coconut (the water first, then the woman bust it open for the meat). The coconut meat tasted like avocado, but it was not my thing. The coconut/ machete master approached us and was ranting about something. After she walked away, the women suggested that I had to know what she was talking about. I had no idea, perhaps her affinity for coconuts or traditional houses? Nope, she was complaining about all of the valueless couples who have the audacity and lack of class to walk around this place unmarried and near each other. She suggested that they are just waiting to get alone in these houses. From an American perspective, I am hoping that if Jane has to date in middle school that she carries on like these controversial couples.

Before we left I had my future read by a guy with a parrot, who instructed the parrot to grab a card from many to read my future. The parrot searched through the stack of folded cards, and after selecting it the man revealed it as a deception of Jesus. He said that even if I don't believe I have the blessings of this god and whatever I do I'll be successful. Anybody who knows me is willing to help me, but I will never need help because I'll always succeed at whatever I attempt. He said my wife is what brings me so much luck and peace (agreed), and that I'll never have issues with wealth. It went on a bit more.....but it was what I expected (I of course want to see him tell someone "Ahhhhh your life is no bueno, I can tell that your bowels are a mess and so is your marriage).

After the park we went to the Shore Temple. This was like any other tourist spot in Guate, Mexico, Italy, or France. People were swarming me trying to get me to buy postcards and various other things. The temple was closed, so we may try again tomorrow. We did wander to a public beach, and although Devika and the woman who is very apt to explain were a bit embarrassed of how trashed it was, I found it interesting. This place was indeed trashed, there was liter everywhere; I didn't find this unique, nor was I surprised. When you have a ton of people living in one place and little waste disposal infrastructure this is what it looks like. It makes me realize how messy humans are, and to think we as Americans produce at least 20 times the waste as these beach goers. Before leaving we were approached by another fortune teller, who basically cornered Devika. She said some things to Devika that made her and her friend wonder because it was right on. She also told Devika a lot about me, and Devika said it was the same thing the other guy said. Do I believe this stuff, not so much; but according to the first guy I don't need to trouble myself with believing because I'm blessed regardless, sweeeettt!

After the Shore Temple, we stopped at a very nice, quiet, and clean temple that obviously was very important to the women. It was a Sai Baba temple, of which there are many around the world. Sai Baba is a modern figure, so I'm sure most Americans have seen his picture not knowing his importance (At the Annapurna restaurant he the guy in orange on the north wall). Before entering the woman stopped and prayed to the Ganesha, which is the god that removes all obstacles (elephant headed god). They start all prayers with the Ganesha, and start their Monday's with the Ganesha. The Sai Baba was up on an alter, and there was a long rectangular open aired room beneath. I took off my shoes and processed with a couple of the woman. They advised without presumption that I can pray and ask for what I want. I knelled at the alter as they did and walked around the bottom. Their was another alter below in a garden, where there was a younger man in orange garb praying and chanting. Some of the woman walked around him, at which point I sat in the covered area. Devika instructed me that I could open my hands and close my eyes. I was able to enter into a silent mind quickly and engaged in a few minutes of meditation. This was super cool, a step beyond the meditative time in yoga class back home.

When we were parading out Shonda was full of smiles, and inquired if I could feel the peace and wondered if my home was so empty and peaceful like this temple. I agreed that it was a very peaceful experience, and acknowledged that my home was also empty (neat and without crowds). I wonder if I appreciate the serenity and peacefulness of my home enough? We have an abundance of space and solitude from noise and crowds at home, but I don't know how often we (including myself) allow the noise and crowds to exit our minds to stop and take in peace to our minds.

On our long and congested (more than could ever imagine) ride back to the restaurant by my hotel Devika and I spoke at length about what it means to get our students involved in something greater than themselves, and we both acknowledged that we may not do enough of this ourselves. She has had similar experiences with community service, which I refer to as passive involvement. It is like fly by service that consists of raising money or spending an afternoon helping. This may actually be counterproductive, it may enable people to live their lives in a fashion that disregards the needs of others due to self aggrandizement of an isolated action. So we are both on a quest to have our students become invested in their own community, our what we are deeming at nex+gen as community action. With whatever guidance is needed students should identify and lead long projects, where hopefully they learn about themselves and their community and go beyond superficial satisfaction. Without ranting on this, the first step of this is ability to not pity others, while building a sense a deeper sense of empathy. Feeling pitied is piercing and belittling and presumes that you know more.

We finished by having dinner at the same place Rajagopal and I ate the other night. The naan and malai kofta were awesome. As always they feed me too much, and food just kept showing up. A wonderful day once again, and I was lucky enough to see my wife and daughter over skype to cap it off. Technology really lets you have you malai kofta and eat it too!