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Other entries in Chennai

Chennai

It's late on Monday evening and although still quite humid, I am no longer sweltering like earlier! 

It as so very worthwhile to be getting warmed up while cruising around in the back of a car through many parts of Chennai.   We got to the beach after sunset and it was nice (and vast) even in the dark.  Some beachfront buildings that had perimeter walls now are getting new ones built post-tsunami. They were working while we were there at  8pm Monday night.  That's India time for you.  I think I spotted some relatively new lighting fixtures around the beach carpark too. 

'Cruising the city' was the best word for it - the traffic and lifestyle here appears much less frantic (and somewhat more affluent) than  Kolkata.  The ladies in sarees still  look composed and elegant when getting around on a scooter (or side-saddle on the back of a bike).  Some choose to wear helmets, too.

We have been driven by a friend of a friend - the link being the family of a boy who was hosted by the Rostrevor community twice for cranio-facial surgery. 

He looks well recovered - perhaps related to his mother's great cooking that we got to sample.  His mate drove us to their family home, half an hour out of the city in Cortor (spell chek) for a bit of a feast. We met the extended family who stood and served the food and watched us.   apparently that is the way it is done!   

in between arriving here last nite and the outings, we have met the children this morning for brekky and school, eaten with the sister too and watched the children preform a cultural program. 

They were fully choreographed, with lighting, singing, dancing and wearing a wide geographical range of traditional dress or costumes to provide a stage extravaganza.  Lots of photos and some video taken for later enjoyment...

Aside from the well-rehearsed creative talent (and its surrounding area of palm trees and grotty streets with mini shrines), Mithra is like many special schools I have seen.  Right now the school is facing a space and resource crisis because of floods only 2-3 weeks ago.  Some students (they dont all live there) are yet to return as their own home area is recovering from the 2 recent floods.  Adelaide is a relative haven in so many ways - our floods resulted in funny emails rather than serious social difficulties.

The kids come up and lead us here and there.  There is a sort of sheltered workshop where some young adults with mild issues make candles.  Over breakfast a girl who is involved told me about it, but one of teh first things she said was feeling bored.  MITHRA is so diverse that it doesn't suit everyone.  I hope to get in the thick of it tomorrow - but it wont be as easy without ready access to a photocopier and laminator!!@

sightseeing is less of an adventure and less stressful when some one drives you and it's a real treat here.  The architecture is pretty varied both in the CBD and more urban areas.  Ideas for home are flowing!!!  my camera picked a bad time to run out of batteries but there will be another chance to get snaps in hte next few days I'm sure.  we are here til Thursday then on to Delhi.

Regarding telecommunications, I am apologising on behalf of a number of phone companies  - for both the poor coverage and exorbitant call rates!  My school email is a good option and also I will stay in touch on landline phones here.  They are everywhere and so much more reasonable.  Also, the profits can then go partially to the local area instead of multi-nationals. 

A parting comment for those who know something of the 1 - 10 rating scale - it's amazing how you can shift so many places in a single day.  I am happily headed back for towards 5.

cheers,
Natalie

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