We reach St. John’s College of Engineering and Technology in Palghar and have a session with them, but this time there’s something different. It was
a classroom of about 50-odd students and it was like the most intellectual
session we’ve had. The issues were the same, but the approach to them by this
lot was different from what we’ve heard. They spoke about corruption and
women’s safety, and they spoke about making the change themselves. Right now. It was like it was important to
them and one thing I’ve learned is that when something is important to you, you
just get it done. You figure out a way. Inspiring.
The welcome at Vasai was the most spectacular we’ve seen!
There were these really cool school kids who led us with great fanfare and
drums and this whole procession. And then when we reached the gate of the
building we had to enter, there was this whole row of kids holding flowers and
they threw it all over us as we entered. And Rakesh takes some from them and
throws it on them too! Hehehe.. He always has a way to make every situation
light and happy.
They hold a welcome program where some kids put up this traditional
Marathi dance and when it finishes, everyone starts shouting – Once more! Once
more! And they actually start the song again and start dancing. But this time
Rakesh, Shikha, Ravi and Jennifer get up on stage and join them and watch and
learn and dance with them there. It was sooooooooooo funny!! But it was so cool
too! Everyone felt a lot closer to them and to the team that way, because it
kind of broke the ice and showed our team as informal, fun, approachable and
open.
But really.. Watching Rakesh & Ravi dance Marathi
style was hilarious!
We step outside and see the palm/coconut trees and the
sand and breeze and the salt in the air and the vegetation and Solomon says, “I
feel like I’m in Goa..”
I was thinking the exact same thing..
On the way to dinner, we stop at Allwyn’s house here in
Vasai. Allwyn has been with us ever since Goa and been our guide all
throughout. So selflessly he’s been with us helping us every step of the way.
He takes us to his home and we get to meet his family and they make us feel as
if we are part of them. They were completely informal and warm and simple and
unpretentious and all smiles all. A couple of Allwyn’s cousins or nieces (I
don’t know which) put up these dances and they are so talented! One was the
traditional Marathi dance and the other was a contemporary kind of dance and
she even used a hoola hoop! It was so cool!
After they performed, all our dancers were asked to dance
something, and Jennifer suggested that they put on the Marathi dance again and
that they all dance with Allwyn’s
cousin/neice. I remember watching all of them dance watching the girl and
picking up the steps and having such fun at learning something new. It gave a
rising feeling inside to realize the spirit with which everyone on this trip
has come. If you are rigid in your beliefs and routine of doing things, you’d
never be able to survive. Each experience is unique and being able to swim that
ever changing ocean of different languages, cultures, customs, religions.. And
to be so welcoming to all of that was very touching and inspiring.
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