National Park

Samstag, 5. September 2009

Thane

Wie zum Dank für den großen Aufwand, der am 3. September für ihn getrieben wurde, schickt Ganesha seitdem einen Regen, wie ich ihn bisher kaum gesehen habe. An den Fenstern sind dunkle Ränder von Regenwasser zu erkennen, die sich immer weiter auf der Tapete ausbreiten. Gerade heute wollen meine Gastfamilie und ich einen Ausflug zum National Park machen, in einen Teil, in den man nicht ohne gute Kontakte hineingelangt. Meine Gasteltern haben es jedenfalls geschafft, unsere Zulassung zu erkämpfen.

Uns öffneten sich zahlreiche Schranken, die klar mit der Aufschrift "NO ENTRY" gekennzeichnet waren. Ein tolles Erlebnis war das: Gerade noch unter Hupen und Schimpfen in den Abgasen herumgekurvt, fuhren wir plötzlich durch dschungelartige Landschaften. Das strahlende, frische Grün der hohen Bäume, der Sträucher und Büsche und die klare Luft gab einen starken Kontrast zu dem Dreck und den staubigen Straßen Mumbais.

Wegen dem starken Regen zeigten sich uns leider keine Löwen oder Tiger, nur ein Leopard in einer eingezäunten Zone schaute uns verwundert nach, als wir mit einer kleinen Bimmelbahn an seinem Gebiet vorbeifuhren. Wir sahen Rehe, Ziegen, interessante Vögel und, für mich das Highlight des Ausfluges, zwei Affenfamilien. Sie saßen auf einem Baum nahe der Straße, auf der wir fuhren, und starrten das Auto mit großen Augen an - wie kleine, behaarte Menschenkinder!

In unserem Auto, das in fast jede Parklücke hineinpasst, klemmten für einige Stunden also fünf Leute: Meine Gasteltern, mein Gastbruder, eine Begleitperson - ein freundlicher, redseliger Mann, der aber leider nur Marathi sprach - und ich. Viel Bewegungsfreiheit gab es nicht, sodass wir uns bald alle auf Dosa, ein Indisches Reisgebäck gefüllt nach Wahl, und auf dickflüssigen Lassi freuten.

Heute war wirklich eine Wohltat für meine Lungen! Die Luft war fast so gut wie im guten alten Bad Kreuznach.

Monatsbericht August

Am Ende jeden Monats lege ich meinem Rotary Club in Indien einen Bericht vor, eine Art Zusammenfassung meiner Erlebnisse, um auch die Rotarier hier an meinem Leben teil haben zu lassen. Im Gegenzug bekomme ich mein Taschengeld - Dafür macht man es doch gerne!

Hier der 'report' von August:

"Dear President, dear Rotarians,

August is over and I again had the chance to make a lot of new experiences which I would like to share with you!

Writing this I just came back from Panvel, where I stayed Saturday and Sunday with many Indian boys and girls and around 15 Inbound students for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), an offer from the Rotary District 3410. Our group of ca. 70 people had a great time discussing, playing games, listening to music, swimming and hiking on a mountain nearby, where we took a nice shower in the waterfalls. In this Hotel there was a big hall where there was also the opportunity to dance! Apart from teaching Chacha and Rumba steps here and there, my host family is really improving, I could again do ballroom dancing after almost two months. Michael, one of the Inbound students who lives in Mumbai South, and me gave a Walz performance on the second day. Now we are looking for a hall near we stay, to teach all girls and boys who became interested and to train ourselves. Hopefully we find something!

But the RYLA camp actually is not the main thing I wanted to speak about, as during the last weeks Ganpati was going on.

I saw Mumbai twinkling, sparkling, glittering in all kinds of colours. Ganesha idols were to be found in every house, in every street – everywhere! Thanks to my host parents I also know, why this god has such a special head and this big stomach.

During the two days when Ganpati was also celebrated in our house I got to know many new recipies and the names Indian snacks: Puranpoli, Aluwari and Cachori are just a few of them. I also experienced how it feels like to wear a Saree half a day long, as some of you certainly remember. Poojas were hold, Aartis were sung and there was a lot to eat. Now I am looking foreward to the 10^th day, the end of this big festival.

The last month was full of singing, dancing but also learning, as I am now a student of the V. G. Vaze College in the stream Arts. Also my school in Germany has begun, so I study for Mathematics using the same Maths book like my German class mates. By luck Aniruddha can often help me if I get confused.

Everytime I get more used to the Indian trains and, arriving at CST station, I learn how to bargain with Indian passion. I enjoy meeting Inbounds and Indian people and make a lot of contacts.

The 26^th of August my host parents took Adriana and me to an sight seeing trip all over Mumbai, where we took a lot of photos walking through the wonderful Hanging Garden, standing infront of the sea or watching the Haji Ali mosk. We also went to the Aquarium.

Going back in time I notice, that Krishna's birthday also has been in August! It was a great festival and I have watched a lot of pyramides, tembling until the Handi was broken and everybody took a yellow Dahi shower.

When I think of Aniket I am sure he also enjoyes very much all new things he gets to know. All four of us keep in contact via Skype, where we can not only chat with each other, but also see our faces! It is so funny to hear him talking about students or teachers of my school!

I live in a time that is full of action, and I really enjoy this.

Last but not least I want to thank you for supporting me! Bahot bahot shukria, phir melenge!"