KOCHI

What can I say about Kochi and my Volunteer Journeys experience.  It was nothing else but extraordinary.   I loved every minute of it… from the beautiful country, to the other volunteers, and to the participants and staff as well. 
When I first got there, I met Emni from Florida and David from Dubai.  We had a great first day walking the streets of Kochi  and that night went to a music storytelling performance.  The singers played music and interspersed storytelling.  It was a creative exhibition, but there were times I couldn’t quite understand their English.

Afterward, we walked back and stopped for a drink.  Low and behold, they had youtube projected on the wall and played Indian, English, and contemporary videos.  Needless to say, I saw a girl who wanted to dance, so we started, and soon, many others joined us.  What fun, that was!  That was a great introduction to what was to become an awesome experience.

In the meantime, I’m still upset about my lost phone… I locked the phone and my American sim card, so at least I no longer have to worry.  Then I got texts and calls from the laundry guy, Mohit, his Instagram handle (his laundromat is next door to the hotel I was staying).  He was busy trying to locate my phone and said I should report it to the police.  Then he found the taxi driver that took me to the airport and… guess what… he had my phone!  In my rush, I had left it in the back seat of the cab.  The cab driver, Mr Cool, again an instagram handle,  called me and said he went back to the airport to find me, but I had gone already.  He said he wanted to return my phone.  Remember, this was my old phone.  I was using my new phone with the Indian sim card.  I told the cab driver to just give the phone to the laundry guy.  The taxi driver said no and that he would only return it to me.  So I gave him the address of my Volunteer place and my next location in Goa.  He said he’d send it in the next few days.  What a miracle! These 2 guys did so much to help me.  It made me appreciate  India even more. 

In the morning, we met the ladies in the English program.  There were about 15 of them. All well dressed wearing jewelry and looking gorgeous.   I was surprised at how good their English was.  Sonja, one of the other volunteers who had been there awhile, taught the class beautifully.  We work on grammar, punctuation, making sentences, conversing, and more.  The hour and a half went by fast, and I truly enjoyed the ladies. 

The volunteer house provides 3 meals a day, except for Sunday night.  Simple, sufficient, and healthy meals. 

I met the volunteers from all over the world… England, New Zealand,  Dubai, and US of A.  A really great group of people.  I really enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them.

We teach the English classes in the morning and then computer class in the afternoon.  The only day of no classes, besides the weekend, is on Friday.  On Friday,  we can help the embroidery classes.  My friend,  Rosie, had given me friendship bracelet supplies.  I felt this class was perfect for it.  I gave it to the instructor and explained it.  She caught on real fast, and the next day, when I saw what they had completed, I was amazed.  The bracelets looked great.

On Friday, some of us volunteers went on the backwater boat ride.  These waters here are interesting.  Depending in the time of year fresh water enters from the mountain, turning the water salty.  There are these water plants that only survive in the fresh water and they die and return every season.  It is so interesting how it works.  Different sea life depending on the water. 

The ride to the backwaters took about 2 hours.  When we got there we boarded quite the boat!  It was soo fun.  We stopped at the Hindu temple and ate lunch on a banana leaf to be eaten with only our hands. 

Actually, we’ve been eating with our hands regularly.   Food actually tastes better that way.  Maybe I will continue this at home…

The next morning some of us went on a historical walking tour.  Kochi is quite an interesting place.  Once a vibrant spice trading market, Kochi, in the state of Kerala, also known as Cochin, has had Portuguese,  British, Chinese, Arab and Dutch influences.  Kochi was once part of the Spice trade and still remains famous for its black pepper among other spices.  They still use the Chinese fishing nets and you’ll see a variety of churches, including Christian, Jewish as well as Muslim and Hindu. 

We found some nice places to watch the sunset while we enjoyed the local beer Kingfisher and we always seemed to have alittle happy hour at the next door hotel outside Mai House.

They have a vibrant arts community and started many art cafes, which are interesting places where you can eat, browse merchandise and vew art pieces.  It is very peaceful and serene. 

Tasteful street graffiti and it has been the background of many movies. 

In the afternoon computer class, the ladies do extremely well.  We are getting a computer lab, thanks to a generous donation from a volunteer and her family.  All they need now are a few more working computers.  They are very blessed to have this awesome ac computer lab. 

While I chose to volunteer with the Women’s Empowerment Group, there are other areas as well. Some are working in neighboring schools teaching various grade levels, and there is a special needs school as well.  Our volunteers are quite good, and they lead the classes and provide much needed help.  They are amazing people, to say the least.  They take their volunteer jobs very seriously and put their all out.  Then we come home and laugh the nights away as we enjoy cards, going out and just being together.  What a great group we had for the week or so that I was there.  We even went back to dance and got caught in the rain. Where would you dance with the roof leaking and chairs put up to secure the area? Then they started mopping with towels… it was fun, fun, fun!

We went to see some traditional dancing.  It was very interesting and beautiful at the same time.  The colorful costumes and music took me back to another place.  We were all impressed. 

One afternoon, we went to the nearby orphanage to play with the kids.  Woah… I said play… they were exhausting.  Full of energy and the mosquitos were out in full force.  We were all exhausted and ready to leave in about 1 1/2 hours.  There are so many kids at this orphanage and of varying ages.  I noticed that when the head Sister came home, the kids stopped what they were doing to say hi and help her carry her packages.  It showed me mutual respect and that they must take care of the kids there because I felt love.  You know, when you play, there is no language barrier.  However, the kids seem to know more English than I do Hindi.  The volunteers go acouple tines a week to play with the kids, and we also are trying to help them with other projects, like playground renovations or improvements. 

The women in the program were inspiring.   They were fun as they shared their lives and loves.  We shared ourselves as well, so our bonds grew deeper.  It is hard to leave, but I know they are in great hands here and that the program will never leave them.  The originator of the program is quite the woman, Ridhi Patel.  She is a lady who saw a need and fulfilled it.  She also has a side business designing plastic recycled beach wear.  I purchased some of her swim suits and love the feel and look of them.  Her online company is called Cocopalms.

I left the program a little early to meet Jhit in Goa.  Jhit was my Mt Everest Base Camp guide, and I invited him to join me in Goa.  The trek was life-changing for me, and Jhit was so much a part of that.  I feel a special connection to him, and I don’t feel quite ready to let that go. So we’ll see what Goa will bring.  Kochi has been more than amazing.  I would come back here again.  Will see what happens in the future, but I really think this place is doing awesome things.  I would support them in any way possible.