A Shared Auto is like a Tuk Tuk but for 6 people at the back and a couple up front with the driver. Only there is more likely to be 8 or even 9 in the back and I’ve seen 4 plus driver in the front! There are no stops, you just wave it down, you need to know when to get off and shout Rukaw (stop) to get off, (that may not be the correct spelling). My journey to and from work takes about 10 minutes and costs IR5, about 5p. It’s an experience I won’t easily forget, since I’ve been here I’ve  passed an Elephant, with his owner sitting on top,  just walking along amongst the scooter, busses, bikes and cars, all hooting, ALL of the time, totally unconcerned. Camels, stunning white Rajasthan horses, donkeys, more dogs than I’ve seen in one place, they are all the same, they just come in a variety of colours and look like skinny Labs.

My route to work, the red building on the right along the dusty road.

People on the bus usually point and stare at me, they smile and giggle, they say “hello, how are you” every time and are very friendly towards one another. Accept  the old ladies, if there is no room, they will give any young guys a clout and make them move!

A very beautiful travelling companion. 

The most people on a motor bike so far 5, a family, mother sitting ‘side saddle’ with a tiny baby on her lap, one child on the handle bars the other wedged in between mum and dad, terrifying to see, it’s madness on the road!

I digress, after shouting Rukaw, it must sound right because they always stop, I then have a 10 minute walk to the Short Stay Home where I work. It’s a home for abused women. Most are young, married early by arranged marriage. All are very sweet. A young Indian girl, who studies in Udaipur and also volunteers, comes two afternoons a week, when she is able to translate so we can all talk together. When she is not there, well, I do what I can. We have 8 women and 7 children at the moment.  I play with the kids and just try to get to know them, win their trust and become friends. Last week I took everyone’s photo, had them printed and gave them as gifts, the women were so happy, some even dressed up in their best Sari’s and wanted more taken. In time I need to come up with ideas to keep the women interested and entertained. Arts and crafts, some exercise, teaching them hair cutting, manicures and pedicures, writing their storey, poetry. 

Another project I have been given is to write presentations on issues like, personnel hygiene, family planning, health and nutrition, STD’s, drug and alcohol abuse, to name a few. No expert myself, I am researching via the Internet and putting together small presentations that can be translated into Hindi. There is no expectation, you do what you can, when you can, no one is checking up on you, you do need to be very self motivated, able to come up with ideas or a plan and see it through. I’ve been asked to do another presentation about ‘anything I like’ to the people here in the office, anything that will help them either at work or in their personnel life, wow, I feel very under qualified for this task, any ideas???……

My room mate and I also visit The Blind School when we can, it’s a government funded school for boys, age 7 to 18. Seva Mandir try to help by providing what they can to make life for the boys a little easier. Conditions are appalling, I can’t even begin to describe the horror I felt the first time I went. The boys ‘live in’ most see nothing at all, born blind, others have gone blind, some can see shadows. They are from very poor families, even though conditions are so bad, without the school they would probably be begging. They appear happy, they love to try to speak English and play cricket very well by using a ball with a bell inside, it’s incredible to watch, they never miss! 

The  Blind School

I took some time off and relaxed at a hotel pool this weekend, it was needed and so refreshing, good to feel clean apart from anything else! Sunday morning I went with my room mate to a temple with one of the staff and her husband, they then treated us to Sunday breakfast India style, the best samosa ever and other things I don’t remember the name of but it was hot, spicy hot. I’ve had an ‘iffy’ tummy a couple times but nothing too terrible. Still living on a limited diet at home but have been a little more daring when I’ve been out.

Feeling……..very peaceful, happy, a little ‘homesick’ at times but mostly content and full of gratitude.
Namaste