March 29 - Becoming a yogi... maybe

Today’s day started a bit different than the other days. We had our first yoga class at 7:00 am…yes! I was really hoping that we would manage to get a yoga teacher for us to come a couple of days to teach us yoga and it worked out… thanks to Riya who has organized this for us. After this very first class I know that I am not flexible and I am stiff and I don’t manage to touch my toes… I wonder whether this is gonna improve after 3 ½ weeks of yoga… I will keep you posted. But I felt good after this class – I hope I will say the same before tomorrow’s class, hoping my muscles won't be too sore.

Today our group spent the day in the hotel, focusing on breaking down the statement of work and recapturing what we have learned over the last couple of days about Concept Society. The day went by quickly but we have been really productive and I feel good about today’s outcome and what is ahead of us. Going to bed now so I will be fit for my second yoga class tomorrow… ooooouuuuummmm.

March 28 – Visiting Manpur

I forgot to post yesterday that we actually had dinner at a McDonalds in a Mall approximately 15 min walking distance from the hotel. We were simply curious what the menu in India looks like – I had a McSpicy Paneer.

Today was a field trip ahead of us again. Hemal from Concept Society picked us up at the hotel and without us knowing we stopped in Old Indore for a quick breakfast on the street. We had Boha (not sure this is spelled correctly), this was mashed rice with some vegetables, a piece of lime and some spicy seasoning on top. A bit spicy but very yummy.

On our 1 ½ hrs journey we spotted some camels that have walked all the way from Pakistan. When arriving at the tribe we have been welcomed again with a bindi and flowers. We then sat in an area where they would usually teach children; you could see some of the education material hanging on the wall. The women introduced themselves to us and we had a good conversation with them about how they are living and their agriculture.

Then a tractor came by, playing loud music and everyone got excited. The women started to show us a dance, and all of a sudden we were in the middle of it. We were told they love to dance and would usually do this all evening. After we took a group picture of all of us it was already time to leave again.

Next stop was Concept Society's Manpur Office, where we got to meet three of the field officers running the offices and the projects for the surrounding area. We exchanged a lot of information and the time went by too quickly. While being there we have been served a lunch (at around 3:00 pm). It was very interesting, even though we asked the staff to sit and eat with us, it is tradition that they would only eat after the guest would have left. I had a strange feeling about it, but this is their culture and we need to respect this... as they accept some of the things that we do, which they might find strange.

While having another 1 ½ hrs ride back to the hotel we made a quick stop on our way to try the sugar cane juice. We were not really sure if this is a good idea, as this was against all the instructions we have been given, only to eat things that have been cooked, can be pealed... Oh well, we took the risk and it was delicious… sugarcane, with lemon, ginger, mint and some garlic.

This was again a great day that Hemal has organized for us… I know this post mainly focused on food, but after having spent those 2 days with her, her team, and the women she is supporting gave us a great insight on the work that Concept Society is doing and I am so impressed by how much Hemal and her team has achieved in only 7 years… incredible! The other thing that strikes me most is with how little the people in the villages and tribes can live, this puts my ‘normal’ life, once again, into some very different perspective...

March 27 - Visiting Dewas

Today we have been visiting Dewas. Dewas is a district approximately 50 km north from Indore. Concept Society has one of its 3 offices there. Upon arrival we were greeted by the 3 field officers who are the major focal points for a number of different program that they are offering in Dewas. In the office itself there is a room in which they are training women to do leather work. While being trained they are already producing handbags and develop their skills further. They produce about forty handbags a month.
The office also offers hobby trainings. One of them is henna painting, which Jessica and I had to check out. Those were made by two girls at the age of 13 and 17.





Later in the afternoon we visited a village a few kilometers away, where we have been welcomed by women giving us a bindi and throwing flowers and rice over our heads. We then were invited into a house , where we talked to the women about the work they are doing - producing jewelery which they sell. Before leaving they sang a song for us and we took a group picture outside.


Our next stop led us to a farm where farmers would produce organic vegetables and fruits. They also make their own bio gas with which they would cook and even make electricity with. They invited us into their house for a chai.

March 26 - First meeting with our client

Today was an exciting day. We met with our client Hemal from Concept Society the very first time. 'We' means: Jessica from Australia and Tyler from Canada and myself. The three of us will be working on a project for Concept Society. Later this week I will probably post a bit more details of our scope of work.

me, Jessica & Tyler meeting Hemal from Concept Society

Tonight I went first time shopping for local clothing at 'fabindia' and I must say I was quiet successful. Though it took me forever to decide what I would be getting . The content of my shopping bag can be discover on future postings.

success at fabindia

Most of us went for dinner again and I finally had my favorit dish: Aloo Gobi.

Aloo Gobi - yummy!

March 25 - Can elephants dance

Mahatma Gandhi Hall in Indore

I started today with an easy breakfast down at the Citrus Cafe (the restaurant in our hotel) with some of my teammates. After a lazy morning we left to exploring a bit of the surrounding again and hoping to find a place for lunch. After a good hour or so of making our way across multiple streets without being hit, seeing an elephant on the street and passing by various shops and street food places it was about time to head back to the hotel, with little time left we decided to go on our first rickshaw ride, what an experience – seat belts, no; turn signals, no; horn, yes! Below I posted a few pictures from our tour.

the first elephant we saw on the street in the middle of traffic

just beautiful

close up

imagine the traffic noise plus uncountable honks

In the afternoon all of us were meeting for an orientation session. Each one of us was just sharing a bit about themselves, their history and what has moved them in their life. This was really great ‘cause we learned a lot about each other, you could see many similarities but each of the stories was also unique. I love to hear more of that.

Plans for dinner were already arranged by Kabi for us. As the place we went to (Apna Sweets) was not within walking distance, we took our second rickshaw ride to the restaurant and really got some delicious food.

we had the Special Bhojan Thali for EUR 1,50

and this is what it looks like... some of it was pretty spicy

It is quiet late and I should probably be going to bed now. So I will blog again tomorrow after we have met with our client. Nighty night.

March 24 - Almost everyone has arrived

After I arrived last night, ten other team mates arrived during today… the first ones really early in the morning and the last ones just about 2 hrs ago. I started today with a quick breakfast at the hotel. They had the usual: cereals, juices, fruits and of course Indian breakfast. Besides the porridge I haven’t tried it today… but I might will over the next couple of days.

Around noon four of us took a walking tour in the streets that are just outside of our hotel. It was really warm, the sun was burning and the traffic buzzing. Getting across the road is not very easy, having the traffic going on the wrong side of the road (at least for me) and then this mix of rickshaws, motorcycles, cars, bicycles and constant honking did not make it easier… so we made our way across a roundabout. Yes, we actually spotted a cross walk, which I think was only there for decoration purposes and a traffic light, but I haven’t quite yet figured out how to read it.

just near our hotel - normal traffic

We entered some of the smaller streets with lots of little stores on the sides, selling different stuff from snacks, over clothing, to fruits, and offering repair services for motorcycles and rickshaws. Some of the people on the street greeted us with ‘Welcome to India’ and when we wanted to take pictures they sometimes even waved at us :o). We also had a quick look at the mall that is across the street from our hotel. When trying to get into the mall you had to pass a metal detector and we had to register our cameras before getting in. When we came back out we had to show our receipts which were then stamped. Not sure what that was for but I find out eventually.

Later this afternoon Kabi took most of us on a short walking tour and she showed us a few placed where we could go and eat. Right next door is an ice cream shop, so to be sure that it is worth going there again we all had some... well I’m gonna go there again! Kabi especially recommended a place where we could get some really good lassi and chai. I will probably try that later this week.

As today was Cheti Chand (a sindhi festival), most places would only serve vegetarian food… so this is great for me. We went to a restaurant within walking distance from the hotel and had a selection of local dishes that we shared. They were nice and spicy and I think we might be going back there again.

March 22&23 - Getting there

...my flight from Stuttgart to Paris was perfect, on time, friendly flight crew and when we flew into Paris I actually spotted next to all the famous sights, also the house I used to have my apartment in back in 2005. I still believe that this house was the set for 'The Intouchables'. No need to be jealous, my apartment only had 12 sqm, a shared toilette in the hall and you had to stick your head out of the window to see the sky… haha. After a 4 hrs layover my travel to India continued... next stop: Delhi.

I arrived in Delhi at 09:30 in the morning local time… so my overnight flight was on time as well, I was able to sleep a bit and I had my first Indian dish… yummy. As my next flight only left at 6:00 pm I had quiet some time to kill. The first thing I spotted when going through customs was an Airtel promotion and my heart made a little jump. I am not sure why I didn’t see that coming. After I found a place to rest and time went by I went through Transfer Check-in and ready to board again.

this is how the Air India Crew looks like

This flight took me from Delhi to a stop-over in Bhopal and on a 25min flight to Indore (final destination). On this flight, definitely a flight that is commonly used by people traveling on business, I was 1 out of 5 women on this plane. This really was strange… besides that the lights on the plane always started to flicker when taking off or when landing (nobody but me seemed to have noticed) it was a fairly smooth flight.

And now I am here… Riya from CDC picked me up at the airport and we had a taxi taking us to the hotel. It was already dark outside, it was around 09:00 pm and the streets were still busy. People walking around, many boda bodas, rickshaws, taxis and bicycles were making their way through traffic. After approx 15 min we reached the hotel where I met Kabi from CDC who prepared us for Indore over the past couple of weeks. More about my arrival and the work we will be doing later… I am going to bed now.

March 22 - Done packing

...ok... the countdown is almost over. I have said bye bye to my colleagues, I've done my last minute shopping, and I am done packing. 20 kg - more is not allowed! I hope the lady at the check-in counter agrees that it is only 20 kg.

my 20 kg luggage - readily packed

In about 1 hr I will be on my way to the airport and start my 24 hrs travel to Indore. First stop will be tonight in Paris, followed by the long flight to Delhi and an 8 hrs lay-over in Delhi. And finally my last connection to Indore tomorrow night.

My next post will probably be from Delhi, if connection (power and internet) allows me to.

The countdown begins...

...in only 7 days I will be leaving for my Corporate Services Corps Assignment in India.
How it all started... last year around this time I prepared my application for this program. It was early June when I received an Email saying... "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the Corporate Service Corps (CSC) program."... thrilling! And from there it all started... at that time I did not know where I would be going. I remember that I put Latin America as my first choice destination, but you never know whether this will be your destination. After the summer I was informed that I would be going to India. This is great news, especially as I have a history with India, as my parents and I have lived there when I was little. I don't remember much from that time, so it gives me a great opportunity to discover the country I grew up in for some time. :o)

Autumn passed and we were informed about our other 11 teammates. Wow... this team is really diverse, not just culturally. In December we started to have calls amongst us 12, getting to know each other as well as following 3 months education that made us fit for the assignment. So we are a team now and ready to go! Can't wait...