First Notes From India
(4th Year)
November, 2005
Just to let you know I
arrived safely back in India after
almost 2 years. I was far from the Delhi bomb
blasts and from the terrible train wreck in Hyderabad.
On arrival I went to a
Buddhist retreat camp for an 8 day Nonviolent communication workshop intensive
with Bridget Belgrave from UK. I
felt very spoiled being picked up at the airport at midnight, driven for 3 hours and then
walked with 4 men for 40 minutes thru rice paddies in the moonlight to the
centre. What a treat after 20 some hours in the air! We saw one of the 4 most
poisonous viper snakes (who all live in this area) on the way. How exciting! :-)
The workshop was excellent!
And what a treat to be a participant for a change! My desire for deepening my
skills in this regard was certainly met!
From there went back to Bombay for
trainer support of one of our senior instructors D. Very enriching catching up
and assisting her in giving 2 basic workshop in Wenlido. One to college
students and the other to daughters of families who live and work in the
garbage fields in Bombay
slums. They were chaperoned by 4 older womyn who support these families. In the
evening I danced with the college girls to Hindi Bollywood film music. What a
riot! There was no translation for me and i was happy to still get by enough. (am
taking some Hindi tutoring right now)
I managed to slip in 2
days with my 82 year old friend Nishtatai who just broke her leg and now am in
Central
India, preparing the advanced work with S. In 4 days onward
South for 3 days (workshop), back on the train to Delhi for
meetings, then Rajathan for a 7 day advanced 1st phase of instructor training. My
schedule is very packed already until March. But who knows? Nothing is ever as
sure as change, especially in India.
It is hot and muggy. I am
spending Diwali (like our Xmas for Hindus) with friends and their family. Sleeping
on cement floors with a thin blanket...proud I can still do it!
Thinking of you all
In womyn's strength and
support locally and globally
Gitta