Running has been a really big challenge here and I am in no way going to be properly trained for the Mumbai marathon in January. Since running the actual mileage I am supposed to is not feasible, the best plan I can come up with is to walk alot and on Saturdays I walk 3-4 hours continuously. That's how long I will have to be on my feet for the race so I am hoping that "training" will help some.
So on Saturdays I usually walk to Juhu beach which takes me an hour or so to get there, then I walk/run on the beach and walk home. Today's goal was to explore alternate/ shorter ways to Juhu Beach. that did not happen. On my exploration, I fell in my favorite experiences here in Mumbai. I wandered into a slum. and this one was FANTASTIC. It was one of the most disgusting ones I've ever been in but the people were great. Most people are shocked to find out my favorite parts of Mumbai are the slums. Most people avoid the slums :) Not me. I seek them out. There is a strategy to getting the best experience though.
When I start into a slum I get stared at. A LOT. They don't see white people in there often. If I continue and people are gawking a lot, usually a man that speaks some English will come up to me and ask where I'm going and why I'm there. They think I'm lost and are trying to help the poor, scared white girl out of the slums. :) I thank them and smile and explain I am there on purpose. Which usually leads to more staring. So... if I want to be welcomed I usually start showing interest in their livestock. Today it was a goat community. They had a lot of goats and they all wanted to show me which one was theirs. They immediately asked if I had a camera because they wanted picutres of them with their goats. I did not have my camera with me :( They didn't believe me - all white people have cameras :) They asked about my mobile - which they were shocked to find out does not take pictures!! My friend Andrea says that "If Bobbi Jo gets separated from the group, look for a large gathering of children - you'll find her there" so true. You gotta hook the kids first. If the adults see that the kids like you and that you'll invest time in their kids, they will warm up to you. There were probably 20-25 kids gathered around me all trying to show me their goat, tell me out their goat, tell me how they fight their goat and who won the latest goat fight :) They were very proud that they went to school and know English. I high fived all the kids who said they liked Math. :) They told me all their ages and says a man standing nearby was 100 ( He was probably in his late 30s) so they all laughed and I said he looked pretty good for being 100. That's when a bunch more adults joined the group and became for interested. I talked with them for a long time and eventually the adults told the kids to let me go. The "road" was a narrow pathway that seemed to end so I asked where the road is and how i get to Juhu. The path went behind a building and became far less than a path. I followed and ran into a couple of other kids who showed me where to go - the older kid said "watch out, very dangerous" the "path" turned into nothing and you had to walk sideways on these rocks. He proudly tells me has a goat and asks if I want to see it. Of course I want to see it!! :) so he leads me to another group of people.
They also want to introduce me to all their goats and tell me about the latest goat fight. The have a goat there that has his horns all decorated and they have me pet him. Some holiday is Monday and they invite me to join them for their festival. But I have to teach :( They also want a picture of their goats, I told them I'd come back next Saturday. They guy said that would be too late. Apparently this goat is part of the ceremony and will be dinner :) ha! I talk to that group for awhile. The kids are also very proud of their english speaking schools and told me their favorite subjects. I told them the words I knew in Hindi and they were appreciative. maybe I will bring my flashcards down there and let them help me with my Hindi. At some point in the conversation the goat totally butts me in the crotch!! They said that was his invitation to fight me. Ha! bet none of you fought a goat this morning!!!! ha!! They asked me if we had goats wandering around in America. Nope. So this kids asks about chickens, dogs, cows and when I say no to all of them he asks "not even buffalo" nope. especiallly not buffalo!!! Animals don't wander freely in america kiddo - that is why it doesn't permanently smell like feces there!!!!
I think I will go back tomorrow to take pictures before the goats meet their maker :) maybe I'll play some cricket and fight another goat too :)
Great things about the slums:
People are much more likely to talk to you and explain things (once you hook em)
They are very proud of their education and whatever they do for their livlihood
People are usually a lot nicer than in Banda - the wealthy part I live in
no begging - no one ever asks me for money
no cars or honking - generally not big enough paths for that
You realize that happiness is not dependent upon your income or social status - I meet some of the
funniest, happiest people in the slums.
So on Saturdays I usually walk to Juhu beach which takes me an hour or so to get there, then I walk/run on the beach and walk home. Today's goal was to explore alternate/ shorter ways to Juhu Beach. that did not happen. On my exploration, I fell in my favorite experiences here in Mumbai. I wandered into a slum. and this one was FANTASTIC. It was one of the most disgusting ones I've ever been in but the people were great. Most people are shocked to find out my favorite parts of Mumbai are the slums. Most people avoid the slums :) Not me. I seek them out. There is a strategy to getting the best experience though.
When I start into a slum I get stared at. A LOT. They don't see white people in there often. If I continue and people are gawking a lot, usually a man that speaks some English will come up to me and ask where I'm going and why I'm there. They think I'm lost and are trying to help the poor, scared white girl out of the slums. :) I thank them and smile and explain I am there on purpose. Which usually leads to more staring. So... if I want to be welcomed I usually start showing interest in their livestock. Today it was a goat community. They had a lot of goats and they all wanted to show me which one was theirs. They immediately asked if I had a camera because they wanted picutres of them with their goats. I did not have my camera with me :( They didn't believe me - all white people have cameras :) They asked about my mobile - which they were shocked to find out does not take pictures!! My friend Andrea says that "If Bobbi Jo gets separated from the group, look for a large gathering of children - you'll find her there" so true. You gotta hook the kids first. If the adults see that the kids like you and that you'll invest time in their kids, they will warm up to you. There were probably 20-25 kids gathered around me all trying to show me their goat, tell me out their goat, tell me how they fight their goat and who won the latest goat fight :) They were very proud that they went to school and know English. I high fived all the kids who said they liked Math. :) They told me all their ages and says a man standing nearby was 100 ( He was probably in his late 30s) so they all laughed and I said he looked pretty good for being 100. That's when a bunch more adults joined the group and became for interested. I talked with them for a long time and eventually the adults told the kids to let me go. The "road" was a narrow pathway that seemed to end so I asked where the road is and how i get to Juhu. The path went behind a building and became far less than a path. I followed and ran into a couple of other kids who showed me where to go - the older kid said "watch out, very dangerous" the "path" turned into nothing and you had to walk sideways on these rocks. He proudly tells me has a goat and asks if I want to see it. Of course I want to see it!! :) so he leads me to another group of people.
They also want to introduce me to all their goats and tell me about the latest goat fight. The have a goat there that has his horns all decorated and they have me pet him. Some holiday is Monday and they invite me to join them for their festival. But I have to teach :( They also want a picture of their goats, I told them I'd come back next Saturday. They guy said that would be too late. Apparently this goat is part of the ceremony and will be dinner :) ha! I talk to that group for awhile. The kids are also very proud of their english speaking schools and told me their favorite subjects. I told them the words I knew in Hindi and they were appreciative. maybe I will bring my flashcards down there and let them help me with my Hindi. At some point in the conversation the goat totally butts me in the crotch!! They said that was his invitation to fight me. Ha! bet none of you fought a goat this morning!!!! ha!! They asked me if we had goats wandering around in America. Nope. So this kids asks about chickens, dogs, cows and when I say no to all of them he asks "not even buffalo" nope. especiallly not buffalo!!! Animals don't wander freely in america kiddo - that is why it doesn't permanently smell like feces there!!!!
I think I will go back tomorrow to take pictures before the goats meet their maker :) maybe I'll play some cricket and fight another goat too :)
Great things about the slums:
People are much more likely to talk to you and explain things (once you hook em)
They are very proud of their education and whatever they do for their livlihood
People are usually a lot nicer than in Banda - the wealthy part I live in
no begging - no one ever asks me for money
no cars or honking - generally not big enough paths for that
You realize that happiness is not dependent upon your income or social status - I meet some of the
funniest, happiest people in the slums.
What about squirrels? And pigeons?
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