My amazing new job.

More soon, just a quick check in as I wanted to share my good news.

 

Since emigrating I’ve been kinda bimbling around trying to find a place to work, I mean a place to really invest my time and energy in a way that feels right in my heart.

 

I mean, I’ve spent my whole adult life doing whatever work came my way. To continue in that direction after taking the leap of faith and moving here seemed a little silly.

 

This video is a few years old but wanted to show you who I’ll be working with from July: Eco Femme Video.

 

Not only do they make beautiful environmentally friendly cloth pads (with nappies and breast pads in the pipeline) stitched by local village women to provide them with livelihoods but they do extensive work to help empower and educate women here in India on menstruation. Watch the vid and you’ll see what stigma is attached to that perfectly natural monthly occurance through lack of education and communication.

 

Am so excited as it’s exactly what I hoped to do out here. Since using cloth nappies with my son, I've seen how good you can feel about making a small change and have been proudly using reusable sanitary products for a few years now. Disposable sanitary waste is bad news, full of plastic and harmful toxins and isn't going away.

 

It’s all come about due to following an inkling of an idea and just goes to show that sometimes it’s good to 'find your dream and boldly go for it' (wise words from my dear uncle) 

 

More info on the inititative available here on their website: Eco Femme.

 

 

 

Laura xx

Our day trip - 27th may

Hi, I wanted to write about our day trip to Vandalur Zoo and Dizzee world. We were approached by the mother of a girl in K's class aboiut taking a minibus up the coast near Chennai for a day trip. It sounded like fun and the sort of thing you should do at least once during the summer holidays so we said yes.

We went on the 27th May - a Tuesday - in the hope to avoid the weekend rush. The minibus picked us up outside our community at 8am where we joined the other 3 families, a Russian family with 3 kids (one girl in K's class), an Indian lady and her daughter (also in K's class) and an Italian couple and their son.

 

 

Bus view:

 

 

At one of the toll gates along the way (I love the painted trucks):

 

It was quite a long journey to get to the zoo, especially including a stop for coffee and the loo but finally we arrived there at around midday (quite a hot time of day to be out and about but nevermind).

 

 

First stop was the fish shaped aquarium, better from the outside. it contained mostly common aquarium fish and empty tanks...

 

 

Then we saw an enclosure full of albino peacocks - beautiful!

 

 

One thing I love about living here are the funny signs, misspellings etc. 'IT IS OFFENCE!!' tickled me...

 

 

The zoo is actually rather big and the little tour buses were fully booked so we hired bicycles to get about on (for the equivalent of 20p)

 

 

Another of my favourite signs, there wasn't even a noticable heap of leaf litter. :)

 

 

A white tiger having a midday snooze...

 

 

A newly arrived collection of Wild Ass (yep, I am quite immature *snigger*)

 

 

K and his monkey friend

 

 

Zoo-ed out in the midday heat

 

The zoo was ok, the price was good, 50p for me and C each and 20p for K but most animals were hidden away and without the uncomfortable bicycles we'd have had a long walk. Anyway, onwards we went towards Chennai and Dizzee World...

 

Shot from the bus

 

 

Another view of 'real' India. The littering here is immense, makes me sad but after all, India is a country of extremes.

 

 

Finally arrived at Dizzee World at around 3pm *everyone in the bus cheers*

 

 

We had no idea what to expect, one thing I've learned from spending time here is to never presume to know what something will be like, be it food on a menu or a tourist destination.

 

 

But it was surprisingly clean and functional...well...except the pool areas...

They were over crowded and dirty. Many people, especially the women, go in fully dressed which is very unhygienic. C went up to go down the water slide to find a human poo on the stairs. Needless to say we stayed in long enough to cool down after our sweaty morning and made a hasty retreat. I think I've been spoilt with the pools local to us in AV. Clean, rarely busy and certainly no poo!

 

 

 

C and K on a ride

 

 

We didn't have time for the rollercoaster, maybe next time...

 

 

A funny looking caterpillar ride

 

 

K's favourite ride, he was giggling and spinning in circles for most of it.

 

 

Spot the boy...

 

 

Enjoying a motorbike ride

 

 

Me and K posing with a Triceratops, naturally.

 

 

Just before leaving.

 

 

All in all, we had a great day out. The zoo wasn't so great, maybe the midday heat contributed to that but Dizzee World was fun, not just for K but for us grown ups too. It was a very long day, we left at 8am and were home by 9.30pm. So tired the next day at work!

 

Anyway, must close now, tomorrow me and C are off back up the cost to Mahaballipuram for the night to celebrate our 2 year wedding anniversary. Not had a night to ourselves since Jan so looking forward to that.

 

Will be back soon as have some exciting news regarding my new job starting in July and other bits and pieces besides.

 

Sending love from hot and sweaty India.

 

Laura.

 

 

 

 

The month of May

Hello! Wow, the past few weeks just flew by.

 

Well, a few days after my last post we had the most amazing monsoon rains. It's very unusual to rain at this time of year, sometimes there are summer monsoon rains in June but never this early. The temperature has been creeping up since the beginning of the year and it's had been about 4 months since our last rain. It's a very interesting concept for me as a British person to feel such elation at the sound, smell and feel of rain but there you go. Nearly 10 months of scorching heat and roughly 10 days of rain can do that to a person. Anyway, we had a good 4-5 days of proper rain and it has done so much good. I mentioned in my last post about the water shortage worries here so as you can imagine, there were a good many smiling faces beneath raincoats over those days.

 

I took K to the Drs for a test after his dodgy tummy didn't settle down, he's now taking some medicine after both worms and amoebas were detected. It's a standard complaint though, it's wise to deworm yourelf here every 6 months or so just to be sure. Since K enjoys digging and playing in the dirt where these kind of things can be caught, it was only a matter of time. Still, he's been a good patient.

 

K in his carefully chosen 'rain outfit'

 



 

 

A soggy rest after our trip to the Drs

 

There is a big dipped area of ground in front of our neighbour's house which filled with rain creating a pool for all the kids. They all stripped off and spent hours splashing, making mud pies and just having proper messy fun. I was careful to keep a bucket of fresh water outside to prevent muddy footprints all over the house!

 

Mud beast

 

I've also started a temporary summer job at the Freestore (in their words "A place of free exchange for clothing, and some other useful items" as well as a tailoring service for repairs and alterations). I basically sort through the donations and makes sure items are put in the right place, are not too dirty, ripped etc. It is so much fun. I always loved scouring charity shops in the UK and this place is just like one except everything is free. It's very sociable (as you can imagine, it's a very popular place to visit) and I'm allowed to take things if I like them. The good thing is that I might take a few items of clothing, try them on at home and bring them back if they're not quite fitting right or bring other items that just aren't worn anymore. It encourages the spirit of sharing and most people who use the Freestore make sure to bring donations as and when they can.

 

It's just until the end of June, then I must find something else. I still have 2 possibilities but have a couple other ideas too. We'll see what happens but for now I am enjoying my summer job. The Tamil lady I work with even henna'd my foot (the beautiful rug is also from the Freestore).

 

 

 

I've left my camera at home the few times we've been out and about so don't have so many photos to share. We took a trip to Sri Ma (a community up the coast) and had a dip in the sea, lunch and a swim in the pool last weekend. I found this wonderfully spikey specimen which I added to my collection on the balcony.

 

 

We've also been over to the playground at Certitude for climbing etc.

 

 

We're off on a day trip next Tues to Vandalur Zoo (http://www.aazoopark.in/) and Dizzee World (http://www.mgmdizzeeworld.com/). It's being organised by the mum of one of K's classmates so there will be a bus load of us going up towards Chennai for the day. Should be fun although nothing is ever how you imagine it'll be here in India. Anyway, be back soon with more on that.

 

Other than that things have been much the same. The heat has increased the population of tiny-red-ants-that-bite which makes things a bit annoying. A plate with crumb on it will attract hundreds of them in seconds, so have to wash up more frequently and they seem to like towels so have had too many refreshing cold showers followed by frantically trying to brush nasty tiny-red-ants-that-bite off myself. Just so you didn't think it was all fun and games, haha!

 

Have a lovely weekend.

 

Laura x

 

 

 

 

 

Ouch!

Hi there. It's the middle of the first week of the summer holidays. We got a beautiful photo from K's Kindergarten on the last day (last Fri) of his class and teachers.

 

It made me realise how far we've come and how much better K is doing since we moved. He still has his moments but together we are all learning and seem much happier as a family.

 

On last Friday me and C were officially given our status here, him as a returning Aurovilian (which lasts 6 months before getting full Aurovilian status) and me as a Newcomer (which lasts a year). It's nice to have that part of things done, nearly 8 months later we are still waiting for our residential permits and visa extensions. Once they are in our possession, C can apply of OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) status and me and K will be eligible for PIO (Person of Indian Origin) status as his wife and son. That will enable us to live here and travel to and from India without visas which will be a huge help.

 

Getting to the reason behind todays post title, on Monday morning I had my first bike accident. I was going a little too fast around a corner and my front wheel slipped on the gravel as I was oversteering and down we went. K was totally unharmed (phew!) and I grazed my right arm and leg as well as taking off a layer of skin on my big toe. It was a small accident, but enough to shake me up. I am driving much more consciously now! My arm and leg are fine, a little sore but healing well. My toe, however, is going to take a little more time. Here in the tropics, things just don't heal so quickly and out here with all the dust things can easily become infected, especially on the feet where the exposure to dirt is higher (no shoes or socks for us!). I'm just not used to having to be so stringent about these things but luckily C, having grown up here, knows the drill. It's still swollen and sore, hopefully it'll heal soon.

 

To top it off, K came down with a bad stomach on Monday night, I'm not sure yet what the cause is but it's still happening now although he's much better. Yesterday was full of trips to the loo and me hobbling after him trying to keep my foot clean and dry whilst keeping him clean and dry as well as washing all the dirty bedding in between power cuts.

 

Me and K are coming down with colds too, which is silly considering how warm it is but with all the cold showers and sleeping with the fan on, it's apparently quite a common reaction.

 

So all in all a bit of a rubbish start to the holidays. Tomorrow is another holiday so it gives me another day to heal before work on Fri and Sat. I'm hoping that it's a case of getting all the injuries and illnesses out the way for a while so we can enjoy the next 7 weeks.

 

That's all for now.

 

Laura

Here comes the summer!

Hi there, so today is election day here in India. It's a national holiday so nearly everywhere here in AV is closed for the day. Always nice to have an extra day off!

 

Tomorrow is K's last day at school before the summer holidays, they are off until the 1st July. I have mixed feelings about the holidays as me and C are still expected to work so it will take a bit of juggling things around to make it work, as well as most of his friends being away in Europe for the duration. There will be a summer school starting for 3 days a week soon so perhaps he'll go there for some of the time as well as C's mum hopefully helping out.

 

A photo on display at K's Kindergarten from the Pongal celebrations in Jan:

 

 

C is currently working 3 jobs (with the mind to pick the 2 he likes best) so my time is limited in what I can do and when. It is important that I work during my newcomer period and I have so many options that it is a bit overwhelming. I'm currently helping out 2 mornings a week at one job, have another on the sidelines, and I had another offer a few days ago to help out for 6 weeks over the summer whilst someone goes back to Europe. I'm not good at making decisions at the best of times so am struggling to decide where I would be happiest/most useful as well as not wanting to let anybody down.

 

Just another day at the office - view of the Matrimandir from town hall where I've been working:

 

 

 

Other than that, the sun continues to beat down on us. We've been hearing murmers of water shortages due to the last couple of poor monsoons and already some communities have water restrictions in place. We're doing our best to minimise our water usage and to reuse as much as possible. We now shower with a bucket positioned under the stream to collect surplus water (baring in mind we all have 2-3 showers each a day in this heat). We save a couple of buckets a day like this and it really helps with things like washing the floors and watering the garden. I now rinse all the washing up in a bucket rather than have the tap running too which seems to help. It's nice to be conscious of these things.

 

We've also been making food from our own garden including sweet chilli sauce and pesto. We have such little access to processed foods that we've gone back to basics (processed food is actually more expensive here which seems to me to be the right way to do it). It's certainly more satisfying than getting stuff from the supermarket. Our local shop is a co-operative which sources most of it's product from local farms and the next town. It just takes a while to master each new recipe. Next on my list is lemon curd, kombucha and I'm having a go at making my own sprouts from green lentils. I also need to find a way of making a good veggie alternative to meat - no more Quorn products for us here. I do miss the convenience of having a freezer full of chips, fish, and veggie products but I'm certain we're healthier because of it too.

 

We got our first couple of cucumbers from our plant which were delicious. The plant is interesting in that it produces both male and female flowers, the female flowers having a swelling below it that will become a cucumber provided it's fertilised. As our plant is on the balcony, we're doing this by hand. It seems to produce more of one flower than the other at alternating times. We only have male flowers at the moment!

 

Harvest.

 

The papaya tree has several good sized green papayas on it. Will be very happy when we get to try one. Mango season has also started here. I got a couple the other day, small, yellow and fragrant. Nothing like the large green ones I've seen before in UK supermarkets. C says there's around 3 varieties grown locally. I can't wait to try them all and already have plans for mango based treats including this I found on Pinterest:

 

Healthy homemade mango fruit roll ups

 

I'm also gathering things to start crafting again. I left all my crafty bits in the UK so have to start from scratch and now I am trying to focus on recycling waste to create things. Yet again, Pinterest is super for getting ideas. I have a nice idea for creating lotus flowers from pistachio shells and want to reuse drinks cans and bottles somehow, probably to create garden decorations, will be sure to show you as and when I get some things done.

 

Anyway, I think that's it for now. More soon,

 

Yours sweatily,

 

Laura

☼

 

 

 

 

A little update...

Hi there, well after just over 7 months, the Entry Service have been kind enough to go ahead with our applications. Our papers still haven't arrived from Chennai but they have been guaranteed that our residential permits have been approved and that it's not fair on us to delay the process any longer.

 

I will become a 'Newcomer' for a year before becoming an Aurovilian and C will be a 'Returning Aurovilian' for six months before regaining his status. K will become a 'Child of Auroville' until his 18th birthday, when he can then choose to be added to the master list and become an Aurovilian in his own right.

 

I had my interview with them last Thurs and have since spent this week filling out forms and getting documents in support of my application. Hopefully in about 10 days time I will be announced in the weekly News and Notes and my year as a Newcomer will begin.

 

It's an exciting time as it marks our commitment to AV and opens up a few more opportunities that just aren't available to a volunteering guest.

 

 

Other than that, things are much the same. It is getting very hot. It's said that April is a difficult month as you really notice the change from warm to hot, after this month you kind of get used to being perpetually sweaty. It's fine as long as you have regular access to pools, showers, fans etc. But then, the middle of April is the latest in the year I've been here so we'll see how it is in a month or so!

 

Anyway, just wanted to share our good news.

 

More soon.

 

Laura

ॐ

 

 

 

 

 

Another month gone by!

Hi there, finding a spare moment here and there is indeed are rare thing. And so, I blink, and another month passes by. I guess I'll fill you in on the past month to start...

 

So at the end of Feb we took a trip to Banyan beach, which is 5-10 mins down the main road towards Pondicherry. It's not as badly eroded as the Repos beach which is opposite the Auroville turn off and as the weather hots up, it's nice to remember that we are living very close to the sea.

 

 

I'm also undergoing a transition between jobs. My time at Nandini has been a great way to meet people within the community but I don't feel I can provide them with the full time hours that they need and the hectic, hustle and bustle of the place is exhausing for my somewhat introverted soul. It's more than I can take on with a small child to look after and a house to manage as well as persuing my own interests and integrating into life here.

 

I am in a surprising situation, well, surprising compared to the UK, in the sense that I am potentially valuable as an employee here. Being a native English speaker with admin/computer skills is something much sought after and without even looking I have been offered 2 jobs. I've settled on a job working as an administrator in the Town Hall. I feel it will suit my need for quiet and organisation. The hours are the same as K's kindergarten hours and can be flexible during school holidays. Plus I have a nice view of the Matrimandir!

 

I've also started up yoga classes again. A twice weekly class has started in the community next to ours. It's free to volunteers which is a big help since our papers are still in the ether and it's only a minute's walk from my front door. It's been great to have a couple of hours to myself, for me each week.

 

The garden is looking good although how things will cope with the coming summer is anyone's guess. We already recycle some water for them to minimise water usage as well as timing the watering at dusk when it's coolest.

 

The papaya tree started flowering a few weeks back...

 

 

 

...and now has a few baby papayas sprouting!

 





 

 

 

We're having a go at growing cucumbers vertically, useful for the balcony. The plant seems really happy and has been growing so quickly. We're trying to concentrate on growing things that always get used in our house. It's easy to get carried away with the amount of different things you can grow!

 

 

 

A neighbour recently moved out and passed on some plants and baby trees, this is a kumquat tree which we'll leave to grow in a pot on the balcony. We were also given some passionfruit plants which we have planted along the hedge behind our back doors, an avocado tree - planted in the front garden and a lemon tree - planted out back.

 

 

 

We're also growing beans, similar to kidney beans which seem to be doing well although the bottom leaves have all fallen off. Might be a little while until we have enough for a stew though!

 

 

 

Here is one of the few troughs just for decorative purposes, it doesn't get any sun so these plants seem very happy here. I love ferns especially so want a few potted ferns up here eventually too.

 

 

 

On the other balcony we're growing three different varieties of chilli.

 

 

We're really loving how the garden is coming along and it is immensely satifying to eat food grown at home. It is a gradual process though, I tend to get impatient and want it all to look exactly how I imagine it at once!

 

We've also been meeting some local residents, this is a common house spider here. They're totally harmless but a bit massive so I do try to get them out as I am not great with bugs. They're fast though!

 

 

 

This is our local lizard, he's beautiful.

 

 

 

These are called 'Lovebugs', they mate at this time of year and can be seen crawling about in pairs.

 

 

 

This is some kind of mantis, I spent a good 20 mins watching this fella, he was amazing. He moved just like a leaf in the wind...

 

...and looked like one too.

 

 

We met this Very Hungry Caterpillar a few weeks back. He is a hawk moth caterpillar. He was huge and spent hours and hours eating. All the kids in the community enjoyed meeting him and having a stroke. he has big spots on the back of his head which when he's agitated will puff out to give the look of a snake.

 

 

 

Other than work, gardening and meeting creatures over the past few weeks we have been trying to spent more time in the water. We have a friend with a private pool and have finally made it to the public pool, La Piscine.

 

 

 

We also made it up the ECR (East Coast Road) to the furthest Auroville community, Eternity. We're friends with the kids that grew up there, now all adults. The land opens up onto the nicest beach I've seen on this side of India. It's well worth the half hour drive.

 

 

 

 On Mon (24th) K's class came to visit in the morning. The class visits a different child's house each Monday in an effort to get to know each other and gain an insight into how the children live.

 

Here they are settling down for a snack, I made some chocolate and banana cakes for the occasion. It went really well although I admit that me and C were a little nervous of having 13 children running about the place. It was a nice way for the children to get to know K who is still the new kid in many ways.

 

 

 

So, all in all it's been the usual mix of work and play. Tourist season is coming to a close and life here is settling down for a long hot summer.

 

Many residents leave for at least a few weeks if not months to their countries of origin at this time of year, leaving just a few behind. As we've not long been here and have minimal funds we'll be staying this summer.  

 

I'm looking forward to the inevitable slowing down of the pace of life that only extreme weather can cause but I do get irritable in hot weather so am planning to spent a large portion of the coming months submerged in water.

 

 

That's all for now. Sending love from India.

 

Laura.