The organization we are working with is found at http://www.timbaktu.org/.
Hello there!! Today is our third to last day at Timbaktu. This morning most people woke up around 7 and we all got up and out of the house by 8 we walked the long walk to breakfast at 8. Today is dosa day, which is like a large crepe made of rice and white lentill. Dosa day is really interesting because Sunday is the only day that they relax and the entire India decided to take a nap. We gather outside this morning, and see the entire village gathered together, a social breakfast. People are laughing, children are running amok, and Krishna is cooking. He creates dosas in a pancake/crepe fashion. He grabs a small little bucket of a liquid and pours it on a hot. flat surface. He spreads it into a circle shape, adds oil and water on top and then takes care of it. Turns out he was a chef among all the other things he could do. After breakfast we went back to the Hexagon as we do most days and sat around and played games.
Games ended at around 10 and we slowly made our way up to the temple. It was probably around a 3 km walk, about half on paved roads, half on rocks and sand. We were climbing up the hill and realized that when we turned around we had an amazing view of the valley below. We got to the temple area and two of the buildings were colored while one was completely white (maybe they will paint it soon). Maddie told us a few basics of Hinduism: the idea that there is a creator, destroyer, and protector all working together. Also each main deity has multiple forms or persons and many gods have sprung up as elements are extremely important. Think of a number of gods and add about 10,000 gods and you should only begin to understand the possibilities. The temples were very pretty, and we were allowed to take pictures all throughout the area. We went into the temple of Shiva and we allowed to take part in the ritual. A small little candle was passed around and we cupped our hands over it then brought it to our forehead. After the flame was passed around by the priest, he brought a small basin of water mixed with some leaves. He had a small spoon and spooned some water and a leaf into our cupped hands (always right hand on top of left) and we dumped the mixture on our heads. After this was completed Krishna was standing at a side of the temple and we lined up and got a Kum Kum (red dot that lies in-between the eyebrows) place on us. As we were walking outside the temple Maddy first rang the bell before we crossed the door to go outside. As we were walking out a family wanted to take a picture with all of us, apparently we are an attraction. As we were leaving an old man also was waving his hands and praying at us, Maddy said that he was worshiping his gods through us, maybe seeing us as a persona or vessel for gods.
Everyone walked back in a generally good mood, especially since we had some free time until about 1 (it was about 11:40). Most of the girls went back to their own house, which I cannot speak to but a small group of us went to go to the Hexagon and we were relaxing there for quite a while. It was very nice, as interestingly the Hexagon has one of the best breezes (ironically enough I feel like there are the most mango flies in that area).
After, we had lunch at 1, and a few of us Hayden, Sam, Ms. Doza, Maddy and I went into a village and searched for some snacks for everyone. The village had a bunch of very small stores and we had to go to all of them to find everything everyone wanted. I think we cleared out a few of the stores… But during our snack search, we stopped in a bakery and got to try some tasty sweets and brought some back for people to try. After we found what we were looking for, the 5 of us headed back to camp and brought all of the goodies to the hexagon for people to choose what they wanted.
Everyone showed up at around 4 for yoga and games. People who were not interested in the game decided to learn how to play; they ended up loving the game the most, go figure. I personally also had a first yoga class in India. Writing this the next day, I can honestly say that I feel so much better; sleeping was so easy and when I woke up I felt so refreshed. Yoga in India, does it get any better than that? The yoga class was really quite interesting. Near the end there was a little bit of rain and I know that a little bit of rain splashed on my face as I was relaxing on my back. The cold water felt so nice, since it is always scorching here.
Lastly we watched some documentaries about Timbaktu learning more about the different collectives and what they did. It was interesting to see a lll the organizations that stung up from the Timbaktu Collective. They do so many different things and help all sorts of people. After the documentaries and dinner, we started watching a Bollywood movie with the children of the village. We left after a short while because it is pretty hard to follow a movie that you cannot understand with no help from subtitles.
-Marco and Maggie Franck
P.S. I miss you mom and dad and can't wait to see you!!! (: <3 - Maggie
P.S. Happy Birthday Emma, I tried to time it so that you would read this on the 29th. Marco <3. (Also shoutout to Morgan for wanting to use a rock to hammer nails in instead of a hammer)
SO hello al!!!!!! We're all somewhat okay, everyone has had their ups and downs here and it has been fun, such as a few people have been a little sick but they soon jumped back. (Shout out to Katherine for returning to 100%) It's a lot hotter here in Timbuktu compared to the nice cool-ish breezes of Bangalore, but that hasn't been a major issue yet, and I don't think it will be. The lack of A.C. and technology have been ironically refreshing, it's humbling in a sense as you become more aware of the earth and become generally in tune with everything. Today we learned a little bit about the agricultural side of Timbuktu, virtually everything they grow and produce is organic and I've noticed as I haven't felt this good body-wise in a while (and my skin couldn't look better). In a way I envy these kids (after learning about the harmful effects of GMOs and chemical pesticides at a few days back at Annadana) because if they remain here they will only know this organic food and will grow to be healthy adult without worry of chemical effects of the toxic company controlled food. Well now that I've ranted about the things I've learned, I want to also say that its been fun getting to know everyone on this trip, not only students, but also teachers. I believe that most of these relationships will last too. So let's move past this little check up and stream of consciousness to what we actually did today.
SO today was our R&R day ( time is relative was our motto of the day), and after waking up late I moseyed my way to the magic kitchen to eat Breakfast( DOSA DAY). We soon went to go to have our morning meeting after thirty minutes of nothing. We played where the wind blows( a physical game) to prepare the sleepy students for our 25 minute hike to the Timbuktu Temple. Upon our arrival Maddy and Krishna gave us a basic breakdown of Hinduism and the different ways people worship. Then we entered the temple with storm of taking pictures. After the storm subsided we entered one of the temples to observe what a ceremony looked like (everyone even got a red dot on their head). We then returned home for an hour break (nap). After which was lunch then free time, and then a small elite group of students and teacher (Maddy, Ms. Doza, Hayden, Maggie, and myself) went out to replenish our snack supply, while everyone had ANOTHER nap-break. We then braced our selves for the herd of people coming for the 25 packs of oreos we bought( and other things as well). After everyone received what they pleased. Maddy taught some of us how to play and Indian board game, where I eliminated my competition of Greg, Christine, and Maddy, Later was yoga pt.2, then we watched a few documentaries about Timbuktu to soon after have dinner. Then we were supposed to have surprised all the non-leaders with a Bollywood movie (of which apparently the rumor was leaked that morning). After several attempts to figure out what was happening we all left after 20 minutes to go to bed. So in conclusion it was a relaxing, enjoyable day.
-Sam
Ps. I don't miss you parents and Jake but I miss Happy, Louie, Saki, Roko, and Saffire.
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