Hey guys!
So it's been ages since I wrote a blog, which I think in some ways must mean I have less time on my hands which is a good thing? Perhaps? So I've been doing a few things over the past few days...
The week just gone I ended up not having class but instead spending the morning until lunch practising by myself. I've found a lot more motivation recently and enjoy pushing myself to go over items until I'm happy with them. I've been listening to BBC Radio Berkshire, BBC Rado Devon and NDR to keep me company.
I've begun going out after lunch for two main reasons, firstly Aunty doesn't like me sitting idle and secondly walking is good exercise. So I go out and walk around Ballygunge and Gariahat. I'm starting to get through my list of presents that I have to buy as well! People warned me that I'll be ripped off because I'm a foreigner and that's very true, I do pay more than Ilina would for example. That isn't to say I don't haggle, because I do, but I'm haggling on an already inflated price. The thing I have decided though is that what I pay still isn't a lot and it isn't everyday a westerner comes along so I feel that really I should pay a little more, simply because I can. It just seems fair.
I like walking around, not only is it quite liberating but of course I discover where places go and what shops are where. Shopping is also fun but if course because this is India you generally have to give yourself time. If you want to buy a shawl for example, expect to be shown the shop's entire collection in every colour before then getting around to haggling and whilst you're haggling you'll have to keep an eye on the shopkeeper putting the shawl your haggling over in a bag before you've fixed a price.
The last three evenings have been taken up with a three-day Mohiniyattam festival. Mohiniyattam is a classical dance form from Kerala, the same state Aunty is from. Aunty was a guest of honour and had helped organise the festival so we went for all three evenings. It was so surreal to walk into an auditorium in the middle of Kolkata and suddenly find yourself in a room of Malayali's all chatting away loudly in Malayalam. It basically like walking into Kerala. The dancers were all amazing, three of them famous Mohiniyattam dancers and the other two up-and-coming dancers. I've never seen abhinaya like that before (abhinaya is the art of expression in Indian classical dance). Such inspiring performances! You could feel the characters pain, sorrow, ecstacy and joy, it was just perfect. Mohiniyattam is traditionally performed by women but I wouldn't mine learning a little of it, it's so beautiful.
I'm busy making plans for the rest of my gap year after I get back from India which is a exciting and I'm generally doing all I can to make sure I make the most out of what time I have in India.
So it's been ages since I wrote a blog, which I think in some ways must mean I have less time on my hands which is a good thing? Perhaps? So I've been doing a few things over the past few days...
The week just gone I ended up not having class but instead spending the morning until lunch practising by myself. I've found a lot more motivation recently and enjoy pushing myself to go over items until I'm happy with them. I've been listening to BBC Radio Berkshire, BBC Rado Devon and NDR to keep me company.
I've begun going out after lunch for two main reasons, firstly Aunty doesn't like me sitting idle and secondly walking is good exercise. So I go out and walk around Ballygunge and Gariahat. I'm starting to get through my list of presents that I have to buy as well! People warned me that I'll be ripped off because I'm a foreigner and that's very true, I do pay more than Ilina would for example. That isn't to say I don't haggle, because I do, but I'm haggling on an already inflated price. The thing I have decided though is that what I pay still isn't a lot and it isn't everyday a westerner comes along so I feel that really I should pay a little more, simply because I can. It just seems fair.
I like walking around, not only is it quite liberating but of course I discover where places go and what shops are where. Shopping is also fun but if course because this is India you generally have to give yourself time. If you want to buy a shawl for example, expect to be shown the shop's entire collection in every colour before then getting around to haggling and whilst you're haggling you'll have to keep an eye on the shopkeeper putting the shawl your haggling over in a bag before you've fixed a price.
The last three evenings have been taken up with a three-day Mohiniyattam festival. Mohiniyattam is a classical dance form from Kerala, the same state Aunty is from. Aunty was a guest of honour and had helped organise the festival so we went for all three evenings. It was so surreal to walk into an auditorium in the middle of Kolkata and suddenly find yourself in a room of Malayali's all chatting away loudly in Malayalam. It basically like walking into Kerala. The dancers were all amazing, three of them famous Mohiniyattam dancers and the other two up-and-coming dancers. I've never seen abhinaya like that before (abhinaya is the art of expression in Indian classical dance). Such inspiring performances! You could feel the characters pain, sorrow, ecstacy and joy, it was just perfect. Mohiniyattam is traditionally performed by women but I wouldn't mine learning a little of it, it's so beautiful.
I'm busy making plans for the rest of my gap year after I get back from India which is a exciting and I'm generally doing all I can to make sure I make the most out of what time I have in India.
Aunty on day 2
Ilina on day 2
I'd just like to end this blog post with a small tribute to perhaps one of the greatest men to have visited this world,
"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." - Nelson Rolihlahli Mandela, may his soul become one with the almighty.
"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." - Nelson Rolihlahli Mandela, may his soul become one with the almighty.
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