Transportation Stories

One of my favorite ways to see the country is out the window of a car (or train). Traveling through communities you see the way people live: the kids on their way to school, people working in the fields, people dressed for office jobs on the bus or a motorbike. You get a sense of the “life” of the community - how people react to each other, to their circumstances, etc. I have gathered some short “out the window” videos for you.

I took a taxi to the train station in Mumbai and it seemed like everyone was going to the train station as well.

After a night on the train I woke up and the landscape had totally changed! This is taken through the train window.

My friends picked me up from the train station in Itarsi and we drove the 90 minutes through villages. You can really see the difference in lifestyle between city life and village life. You will also notice the bumpy roads.

On the train to Itarsi

The overnight train adventure was a success!

Made it to the train station in a taxi and when we arrived a young porter helped me with my bag and took me to the platform, to my train car and helped me find my compartment. That process gave me a lot of anxiety - making sure I found the right spot. I tipped him quite well but he was very helpful and I was very grateful. The family sharing my compartment has been very nice and offered me some dinner. Nice folks!

Did you know? Itarsi is a city and municipality in Madhya Pradesh, India in Narmadapuram District. Itarsi is a key hub for agricultural goods and is the biggest railway junction in Madhya Pradesh. My friends Mr. Singh and Mr. Andrews picked me up and we drove to Padhar, about 90 minutes and we stopped in Shahpur for tea with Mrs. Singh.

Thoughts about traveling during High Tea

I spent the afternoon at the Taj for high tea and then will return to the hotel to catch a taxi to the train station. My overnight train leaves at 7:30pm going to Itarsi.

At tea, a pair of British ladies sat next to me and I overheard them talking about eating lunch alone. Maybe it was my ear, but I thought they mentioned me eating solo…. Maybe I was just being sensitive… but it got me thinking about traveling alone and once being asked if I was ever scared. And really, I never am. I am careful. I don’t go out after dark. I go to familiar places. I am always polite and respectful, and I try to be accommodating to others. And I like my own company.

I don’t get bored easily. I spent all morning in the hotel room watching videos and sleeping. I think my kind of holiday would bore others, but that’s why I like traveling alone. The freedom to do less.

I think it is important when traveling with others that you each understand the others’ pace. On our holiday in Greece, my friend Molly learned I only do 1 thing, maybe 2 things per day. If I push myself and do more, I am grumpy for a long time afterwards. She would make fun of me because she would go and go all day, and I would need my rest time. But it worked out once we learned about each other.

What I love about architecture in Mumbai

I like the iron work railings and the scrolls in window frames.

I like the way they use bamboo for scaffolding.

I like the British colonial style mixed with some Indian lattice work.

I like the colors.

Rest Day in Beloved Mumbai

Greetings from Mumbai! I arrived last night and had a good night’s sleep in my room on the seventh floor of Hotel Godwin. The flight from Zürich on Swiss Air was very smooth and fairly empty, which led to a peaceful 8 hours. This year, because I am flying out of Delhi, I only have a day and a half in Mumbai, so the trip is a bit abbreviated. Usually I spend 2-3 days in Mumbai, giving me ample opportunities to do all the things I like to do. But I have also used this time to recover from jet lag and living in Spain, the time change is only 3 and a half hours, therefore recovery is much easier.

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I did my shopping this morning, finding cute clothes for my baby grand-niece and some bits and bobs to give as gifts. I walked throughout Colaba (and logged 2 miles on my step-counter) and then found my way to the Taj Mahal Hotel for lunch. It is a mandatory trip, especially after my friends Catherine and Richard mentioned that I always take a picture of masala chai sitting at the Sea Lounge, overlooking the Gateway of India. Today it was lunch, but I did as directed. :)

It rained off and on all day and I got caught in it a bit. The only thing I forgot in the hotel room was my umbrella! But it was a good day.

Traveling, part 2

Guten Morgen from Zurich! A few more observations about traveling:

I really like being driven - taxis, Ubers, private car…. I realize that it’s expensive, but I would rather put my trust in someone who knows the way than to spend the anxiety to figure it out.

Did you know the Swiss still use Francs!? Neither did I. I thought we were all on the €!

I got some good sleep last night at the hotel and I think that will help me today in my dealings with others.

Also, I am doing a scientific study on the demographic of those who cut in front of me in line. So far it is men of all cultures and all ages. More data to follow.

Traveling

Hello from Zurich! I have finished my first leg of travel and now I am safely ensconced in a hotel room for a good nights sleep. In the morning, I will catch a taxi to the airport at 645am to make my 955am flight to Mumbai.

A few observations on this first day of travel:

I am not accustomed to waiting. I sat at the gate for less than 45 minutes and the minutes ticked by so slowly. Obviously I have been working/living at a quicker pace than is good for me. A good reminder to slow down.

Zurich is too clean. It is beautiful but much too clean for my tastes. It makes me uncomfortable- maybe I am readying myself for Mumbai, a city that is loud and colorful and not too clean and quiet.

It was fun to see Catherine and Richard at the airport . They are heading back to Scotland after their Spanish holiday.

My hotel has a BATHTUB! I immediately soaked in a warm bath tonight and hope to get another soak in tomorrow morning! Heaven! (I don’t have a bathtub in Spain.)

I am off to bed. 645am comes early!

Getting Ready, Part 2

It is Sunday, September 17th and I am completing my final packing to head to India. This is my tenth trip to India and each year, I take a similar journey; I visit the same restaurants; I shop at the same shops; I stay in the same hotel and see the same staff members. Occasionally, someone will remember me and say, “Welcome home.” It is a joy to have a home away from home.

This year I will be traveling through Zurich - with an overnight stay at a hotel in Zurich - then a flight into Mumbai. After a day of shopping and eating, I will take the train into central India to begin my stay in Padhar. While there, I will visit 5 of the schools we support with Friends of Padhar Schools and meet with teachers, administrators and students. After a 5-day stay in Padhar, I will travel to Bahiram - another small village - to visit 3 more schools. Again, I will meet with administrators, teachers and students and ensure the funding we’ve sent is being well-utilized.  After all business is complete, I will take an overnight train to Delhi, spend a day and night in Delhi and then start the journey back to Alicante. 

As Lao Tzu once said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” And therefore, I will begin by packing my suitcase, delivering Po to her caregiver and stepping onto a plane tomorrow. 

Getting Ready, part one

When I take a big trip, I play a little game… can I use of all the perishable food in my fridge before I leave? Last week I did a “big shop” because my friends Richard and Catherine were visiting, so this week I’ve eaten fairly well to use up all the extras. All that is left is some salad makings, a cheese sandwich or two, some eggs and maybe a quesadilla. It’s all part of getting ready to go. A ritual of sorts.

Our “Give Books” Effort!

This Summer we have been working hard to provide books and school supplies to the students of Panchsheel Ashram School and Felix Convent School. I am happy to report that together, our efforts raised $4590.00!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SUPER-READERS, CHARLIE AND COLIN! They each participated in a July Read-A-Thon to help provide books and school supplies for children in rural India and together, they raised $310. Charlie (left), seen here with her sister, read 10 books during the month and raised $100 and her mom raised $110 with an Instagram fundraiser. Colin (right), seen here reading to his brother, read each of the 31 days of July earning $2 per day for a total of $62! Colin’s mom donated the rest to total $100.

Our Board Member, Loreen Marshall (left), hosted a Summer Read-A-Thon program. She explains, "Our small organization works tirelessly to help fund the education of children in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to establish partnerships that cross boundaries of culture, class, race, religion, disability, status, or wealth. We have a limited window to raise funds for the upcoming school year before the laws change which will make our efforts more difficult."

Her goal was to raise $3000 by reading at least 3000 pages (approximately 10-ish books) in 31 days. To date, she raised $3278 with donations from her friends, colleagues and co-workers. Many thanks to all who donated!

Our director, Krista Givens, hosted a Facebook fundraiser to provide books and supplies. She posted this:

"As a parent how much do you spend on school supplies per year? As a teacher, how much do you spend on school supplies for your classroom each year? At Panchsheel Ashram School, the government supports teacher salaries and other costs, but does not provide funding for books and classroom supplies. Let us combine our resources to provide students all they need to begin a new school year."

Her supporters raised $1002 for the “Give Books” project.

Many thanks to Charlie and her mom, Colin and his mom, Loreen, Krista and all those who participated and donated! $4590 will will provide our schools with all they need to begin a new school year right!

Congratulations to our Super-Readers!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SUPER-READERS, CHARLIE AND COLIN! Together, they raised $272 for books and school supplies for children in rural India.

Colin, seen here reading to his brother, read each of the 31 days of July earning $2 per day for a total of $62!

Charlie, seen here with her sister, read 10 books during the month and raised $100 and her mom raised $110 with an Instagram fundraiser.

With all their efforts, children in rural India will have access to books, stationary and school supplies for the coming school year. Many thanks to Colin and Charlie, their supportive parents and donors!

Focus on Reading!

We are focused on READING this month! Many of our supporters are hosting "Read-A-Thons" (including our board member Loreen Marshall), using their love of books to provide books and supplies to students in rural India. Our Director Krista S Givens is also hosting a Facebook fundraiser to help fun books and school supplies to Panchsheel Ashram School. If you'd like to help, donate here. Every little bit helps!

Congratulations to graduates of Felix Convent School!

Congratulations to the 12th class students of Felix Convent School in Paratwara, India! 47 students took the graduation exam and all 47 passed: The students with the highest percentage

Miss . Purva Choudhary 89.20%

Miss. Tanvi Shirbhate 81. 49%

Miss. Nivedita Gaikwad 78. 20%

Congratulations to all the staff and students and the parents from all of us at Friends of Padhar Schools!

Congratulations, Graduates!

News from Mr. Bajirao Gawai, Director of Panchsheel School: All 83 12th grade students of Panchsheel School Bahiram successfully completed their graduation exams and 41 students scored the top grade! Many congratulations to the 83 graduates of Panchsheel School, their staff and teachers! From all of us at Friends of Padhar Schools

Great News about our Nursing Students!

Great News! As the school year comes to an end in India, we have news that the three students we have supported at Mure Memorial School of Nursing have successfully finished their first year and are getting ready to begin their second year. Ms. Sonam Kasdekar, Ms. Saloni Ingle and Ms. Angel Chauhan were the first recipients of the Jaime Kim Scholarship, given to deserving young women upon the completion of higher secondary school and entry into graduate studies. As graduates of Panchsheel Ashram School in Bahiram, Maharashtra, all three young women had a solid educational foundation. Congratulations to them for finishing their first year of Nursing School!

Jaime Kim was a founding Board member of Friends of Padhar Schools and helped us with fundraising and administrative work. But most of all, she was our main supporter, encouraging us when times were hard. She also celebrated when things were going well. The Jaime Kim Scholarship provides support for exceptional female students in their post-secondary education: teacher-training, nursing school, medical school, career-training or university education.

To donate to the Jaime Kim Scholarship, click here.

Giving Tuesday 2022

Thanks so much for your support on #givingtuesday2022! Together, we raised $3201.00 for the General Fund and $2685.00 for the Jaime Kim Memorial Fund for a total of $5886.00. Many thanks for your support!

A Story about Millie

A few years ago, I was first introduced to Millie, a girl living at the School and Rehabilitation Center for the Blind in Padhar. She had severe mental impairments and was having a hard time. When she first arrived she was very combative, would physically harm her caregivers and it was a chore to get her to eat, dress and care for herself. She was isolated and would not make eye contact or engage with others, unless it was to express her anger. The situation was so bad that the staff made arrangements to transport Millie to a different facility. They just couldn’t care for her in ways that would help her. The day before she was set to move, the caregiver and the director both got a message that they needed to help Millie and so they decided to keep her. From that day, she began to make progress. The staff changed their methods and expectations and learned how to communicate with Millie. 

I hadn’t seen Millie in two and a half years, but when I went to visit the School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind, there she was among the crowd of girls at SRCB. I had to ask, “Is that Millie?” Because she was engaged; she was making eye contact and reacting to language and smiles; she was interacting with others and not just on her own, as she was before. 

There are a myriad of reasons for Millie’s improvement, mostly within Millie herself, I’m sure. But I think a nurturing environment, a community in which to belong, and caregivers and staff who are willing to adjust and learn what they do not know … well, those things matter.

Below: Photo of Millie in 2018 and photo of the girls at SCRB with Millie on the far right, 2022.

Accomplished.

Tonight, I leave on an overnight train from Amravati to Mumbai. I will spend 3 days ‘decompressing’ and shopping and then will be on my way home. I have a lot to process, think about and reflect upon. I am grateful to have had this time to reconnect with this part of my heart.

I am finishing my time in Bahiram and Paratwara and packing up my suitcases. Clothes are washed. Gifts are given. Classrooms have all been visited. I have three days in Mumbai and then I am back to Spain.

11 schools visited.

8 welcome assemblies.

24 “”Friends of Padhar Schools” bags given

44 sponsored students located and photographed.

1 water cooler and purifier ordered and received.

3 nursing students given scholarships.

Many flowers and monkeys seen and photographed.

13 days of monsoonal rain.

Many many electrical blackouts.

8 family dinners.

Only 1 bad slip and fall that resulted in 3 bruises and 1 bruised ego.

5 nights watched of “Aai Kuthe Kay Karte” - a serial TV program in Marathi.

My time at Panchsheel Ashram School

This week, I have been the guest at Panchsheel Ashram School. I visited the classrooms at Panchsheel Ashram School. The 500 students live at the facility and are cared for and taught by 22 teachers. Students from class 1-12 study, play, sing, eat and work together at this wonderful school.

Some stories:

The Kindergarten children captured my heart. They are all tribal children from nearby villages and they speak Korku, a tribal language of the region. So they have to learn Marathi (the main Indian language of the region) then Hindi (the official language of India) plus a little English. That is so much to learn!

Every day the kitchen staff prepares two meals a day for all 500 children. Rice, daal, chapatis and vegetables. They have a policy that they can eat as much food as they want to: if a child asks for 3 chapatis, they get them. No one is deprived of 2 solid meals per day. They often have a snack as well, but the two meals are standard. Consequently, it costs a lot of money to cook for 500 every day of the year.

One of the games played here is called Kho Kho and it is played by both girls and boys. It is a complex game of tag between two poles with a team of folks (from what I can tell) and it requires a lot of running. I enjoyed watching the kids have so much fun playing it.

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The first recipients of the Jaime Kim Memorial Scholarship

The Jaime Kim Scholarship is given to deserving young women upon the completion of higher secondary school and entry into graduate studies. Friends of Padhar Schools is proud to announce the first recipients of this scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Ms. Sonam Kasdekar

Sonam is a recent graduate of Panchsheel Ashram School and is starting her first year of nursing school at Mure Memorial School of Nursing in Nagpur. She is dedicated to her family and would like to become a nurse to help provide a better life for them. Friends of Padhar Schools’ Jaime Kim Scholarship will support the first year of Nursing School for Sonam.

Ms. Saloni Ingle

Saloni is also a recent graduate of Panchsheel Ashram School and is starting her first year of nursing school at Mure Memorial School of Nursing in Nagpur. Saloni’s childhood dream was to become a nurse, but when her parents died and she was left to provide for her younger siblings, she thought it was just a dream. Friends of Padhar Schools’ Jaime Kim Scholarship will support the first year of Nursing School for Saloni.

Ms. Angel Chauhan

Angel is another recent graduate of Panchsheel Ashram School and is starting her first year of nursing school at Mure Memorial School of Nursing in Nagpur. Angel is a bright student, but being from a poor village her educational options are limited. Her hard-working family provides enough to manage the family needs, but not the fees for education. Friends of Padhar Schools’ Jaime Kim Scholarship will support the first year of Nursing School for Angel.

To donate to the Jaime Kim Memorial Fund, click on https://friends-of-padhar-schools-inc.networkforgood.com/projects/15490-friends-of-padhar-schools-projects and select “Jaime Kim Memorial Fund” in the “Apply my Donation to” section.