What a day!

We are just about to exit the house when I receive the phone call. Ten thirty instead of nine thirty. We go back inside and wait for one more hour, explaining amma that the principal called and changed the time. Only ten minutes ago we were in such a hurry trying to get our sarees right and finishing the breakfast. And now we have to wait.

We wait outside the bus stand were all the bikes are parked, as the principal told us. A drunk man is lying on the middle of the road. Only a few people even acknowledge him. I tell Pia that we wait for half an hour, then we go back home. I receive some messy calls from the principal and finally a guy on a scooter shows up, talking something about the old bus stand and a bus. He disappears as fast as he appeared. Annoyed and pissed of we finally find our way to the old bus stand. We wait there for a while next to a stinking waste container. Soon our friend on the scooter shows up again and we are all squeezed inside a jeep. All in all there are 18 people in the car.

Hunsur view

We drive through small villages and country sides. My saree is almost flying away as I'm sitting half inside half outside the car. I look at Pia and she is laughing. Half annoyed, half amused we are wondering where this day will take us.

They don't really know how to deal with us in the school. I'm repeating myself to the English teacher at least 10 times. It doesn't matter, he doesn't understand anyway because he's not really listening. We sit and wait and sit and wait. Finally the English teacher admits that they are a bit surprised that we showed up today, and that is why the arrangements take so long time. Frustrated and strained I explain that the date was fixed already weeks ago and that I've spoken to the principal several times this morning. Then they call for the principal who hadn't even cared about showing up. They still don't get our program but it's allright. As experienced social workers we have already chosen the only soothing program for this school. It will be Home-documentary in Kannada, due to lack of equipment and English skills.

In the end we showed Home-documentary and not King Cobra

Pia trying to be excited

We don't know for how long the students have been waiting in that classroom. The small TV in the corner looks a bit sad. As the English teacher is making his long speech about us and the importance of our program I feel so embarrassed and stupid. So now they can spill empty words and compliments on us and our program that they don't even understand. I also know that the teacher is mixing up and confusing everything about our club and our programs, but he is speaking in Kannada so I can't correct him. We insist on making a small speech of our own to save the awkward situation. Pia asks “ootha aitha?” and we get enormous applauses and laughter as a reward.

The TV

Interested students

Had your lunch?

The documentary is working quite well from the small TV. After one hour, however, the students get restless. It doesn't matter. We get tea and cake and biscuits.

In the end the English teachers makes another too long embarrassing speech. We save it again in the end by wishing them all a nice day and by thanking the principal and the other teacher for their support and cooperation. Exhausted by our own frustration we are looking forward to go home and stop pretending and smiling politely. But they won't let us go away that easily.

They want to show us their own holy man, Swamijii. He is old as the hills and never eats anything else than fruits and drinks water. We take off our slippers as we enter the room of the Swamiji. He is wearing only a dirty white loongi and I wonder what he is thinking about us. We are sitting there a long time with all the male teachers, only sometimes exchanging a word about our countries. Your country miss? Finland. Tinland tinland. Pinland. It is in north Europe, border to Russia. Aa, Russia. No, Europe. Aa Greenland, Denmark, Tinland? Greenland? Greenland is quite far away...whatever...Swamiji poses some questions to us about how we will save the earth. Embarrassed and annoyed I try to explain why we are here and that it is just the name of our club. I'm projecting my own doubts about volunteerism on the Swamiji, feeling stupid and useless. We get tender coconut milk and Pia has a hard time trying to finish the big glass.

Finally we are leaving. We get a ride in the principals fancy car. On the way we stop for ice-cream and bananas. It is so unbelievable everything. So crazy and weird and funny. When we finally return home we laugh and let it all out. What a day, what a crazy country. Only India can be so frustrating and lovely at the same time.

mmm ice cream in a car! Such luxury!