Day 22 - 24/01/20
Dear Friends,
Tick. I have ridden on the back of a motorbike through the streets of Mumbai. Sorry Mum and Dad (actually Dad you would probably be proud of me - maybe mum too? let me know x). It was so much fun and ended far too quickly - it is definitely the way to go if you want to get around an outrageously overcrowded city quickly especially when there are no rules of the road.. (keeping my sailing terms ticking over for the summer) That same evening we went to a market in Bhulashwar to look for a Kurta for the boys and a blouse for my Saree. Kumar, Sunita and Fardiin came with us and introduced us to various street foods along the way. I have learnt to trust the local knowledge because I haven't been especially sick off anything they have suggested yet (touch wood)! The boys found some swanky but not too extravagant Kurtas for roughly 600 rupees, similar to the price of my cotton saree I had bought earlier on in the day, not that I have a clue how I am going to put it on.. Sunita suggested I get a blouse hand made out of the extra fabric from my Saree as we could not find one that matched in the market. The next day I met her at 6:30pm at the hostel and we walked together into the community and into a room that was about 2m by 2m with colourful materials strewn about the place and 4 seamstresses with rickety sewing machines, but there were people flowing in and out. The man in charge took about 10 different measurements and waited until the end to write all them down, I know he probably does this day in day out but I was super impressed with his memory. My receipt was a cutting of my saree stapled onto a piece of paper. It is going to cost 320 rupees, I am super excited to see it, but trying to figure out how I can get it back to the UK after the party because I'm not sure I can sustain carrying it around with me - I already have too much stuff!
We had a unique experience of being shown round Sassoon dock, one of the largest fishing markets in Mumbai, by Kumar. He took us through the maze of people all eager to get to the quality fish for the best prices which meant there was a fair amount of argy bargy, everywhere you looked there were baskets of fish being distributed, chopped or carried. There has been a drop in jobs for women who are prawn peelers because there are far less being brought in from the boats, which was a major employment opportunity for women from the communities. However, I was amazed at how quickly the women managed to peel them and equally shocked at the conditions they squatted in for 8 hours at a time. I had a go and it was not easy especially as their hands get regularly cut up by the work. There was such a buzz and Kumar seemed to know everyone as his parents worked at the market and so had he. He took us to a restaurant just outside the entrance and we had a typical southern Indian breakfast which was delicious!
It is lovely having a touch of family in Mumbai, and that was heightened last night when we all went for supper with my cousins at their apartment. It was such an enjoyable evening and I can't thank them enough for how generous they have been in our time here, to all of us not only me. It was so nice being in a home and not a hostel or a restaurant for an evening. Makes me miss my home!
bye for now,
Phoebe
Tick. I have ridden on the back of a motorbike through the streets of Mumbai. Sorry Mum and Dad (actually Dad you would probably be proud of me - maybe mum too? let me know x). It was so much fun and ended far too quickly - it is definitely the way to go if you want to get around an outrageously overcrowded city quickly especially when there are no rules of the road.. (keeping my sailing terms ticking over for the summer) That same evening we went to a market in Bhulashwar to look for a Kurta for the boys and a blouse for my Saree. Kumar, Sunita and Fardiin came with us and introduced us to various street foods along the way. I have learnt to trust the local knowledge because I haven't been especially sick off anything they have suggested yet (touch wood)! The boys found some swanky but not too extravagant Kurtas for roughly 600 rupees, similar to the price of my cotton saree I had bought earlier on in the day, not that I have a clue how I am going to put it on.. Sunita suggested I get a blouse hand made out of the extra fabric from my Saree as we could not find one that matched in the market. The next day I met her at 6:30pm at the hostel and we walked together into the community and into a room that was about 2m by 2m with colourful materials strewn about the place and 4 seamstresses with rickety sewing machines, but there were people flowing in and out. The man in charge took about 10 different measurements and waited until the end to write all them down, I know he probably does this day in day out but I was super impressed with his memory. My receipt was a cutting of my saree stapled onto a piece of paper. It is going to cost 320 rupees, I am super excited to see it, but trying to figure out how I can get it back to the UK after the party because I'm not sure I can sustain carrying it around with me - I already have too much stuff!
For the last three days I have been assigned to following the Manchester City Cityzens giving Young Leaders programme. Two representatives from Man. City have come over to train roughly 35 18-22 year olds (don't quote me) on how to be leaders in their communities. They are learning skills that they can take forward and share. It has been really special to be a part of and I loved meeting some of the inspiring young adults that are a part of OSCAR.
We had a unique experience of being shown round Sassoon dock, one of the largest fishing markets in Mumbai, by Kumar. He took us through the maze of people all eager to get to the quality fish for the best prices which meant there was a fair amount of argy bargy, everywhere you looked there were baskets of fish being distributed, chopped or carried. There has been a drop in jobs for women who are prawn peelers because there are far less being brought in from the boats, which was a major employment opportunity for women from the communities. However, I was amazed at how quickly the women managed to peel them and equally shocked at the conditions they squatted in for 8 hours at a time. I had a go and it was not easy especially as their hands get regularly cut up by the work. There was such a buzz and Kumar seemed to know everyone as his parents worked at the market and so had he. He took us to a restaurant just outside the entrance and we had a typical southern Indian breakfast which was delicious!
It is lovely having a touch of family in Mumbai, and that was heightened last night when we all went for supper with my cousins at their apartment. It was such an enjoyable evening and I can't thank them enough for how generous they have been in our time here, to all of us not only me. It was so nice being in a home and not a hostel or a restaurant for an evening. Makes me miss my home!
bye for now,
Phoebe
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