I am currently staying in a flat-share type accommodation, sharing
with other Indian university students. It is very much like student digs
or something, but really cool. On my first night in
Bangalore,
I went to see a student play, supposedly an adaptation of a Greek
tragedy, and it definitely was a tragedy so to some extent they didn't
do that bad! After that we also went to a rock bar, where I was
expecting bearded men in leather biker's outfits, like an American rock
bar, but instead it was a fairly civilised middle class crowd just
rocking along to Black Sabbath! In that sense India never fails to
surprise.
Also in
Bangalore
right now there are a few other gappers from England; so that's really
cool. I have also started my volunteer work as well. I am at an NGO
which has four schools around
Bangalore
working with slum and street children. It really is a fantastic NGO,
they do more then just provide education, they also look after the
child's healthcare and that of the family and they also take care of 80%
of the child's nutrition and food intake. I started on a Monday and
they told me they always order double food on a Monday because most of
the kids won't have the money to eat on a Sunday. Even with the odds
against them though, the kids are just like any other normal child, it
just goes to show that if given the opportunity to succeed and at least
compete on an even basis then these kids will embrace it. The thing is
though you don't look at these kids as victims or anything like that
because they are so normal that you just forget about the difficulties
they face.
That brings an end to my adventure thus far, hopefully still got
plenty more to see, hear and do! I hope all is well at home, again do
keep me updated on what is going on! Just a quick thought though, it is
only something like 10 weeks until I come home, time really does fly
when you are having fun!