Christmas time was very different this year to the usual cold December in Germany. But I have to say: I didn’t really miss the cold!
At the beginning of November, I was asked if I would like to take part in a Christmas choir. Even though I’m not really into singing, I thought it would be a great opportunity to meet new people. So from then on, choir practice was every Thursday. It was really a lot of fun! I met great new people and also learned new songs, even in Tamil.
We started singing in the church at the beginning of December. In general, the Christmas parties went on throughout December and there really were a lot of parties. There were also lots of celebrations at school. There I taught the girls a German Christmas carol (“Schneeflöckchen, Weißröckchen”), which we then sang together on stage.
At the beginning of January, I also had an interim seminar in Nagpur, which is further north in India. It was very exciting to hear how others were doing in certain situations and to get tips. I found many situations very similar and we discussed good solutions together.
In January, my mother and sister also came to visit. That was really nice because they were finally able to experience the situations I had talked about on the phone. It was also something very special for me. The girls at school were delighted to see the new faces and asked lots of questions.
At the same time, I was also glad to be back “home” after our trip. When I discovered new places with my mom and my sister, I missed the school and the people here. The usual everyday life with all its routines. My room, the food, the many “hellos” that are shouted at me on the way. Even showering from a bucket of not exactly warm water, which I had to get used to at the beginning, was suddenly normal again. I knew again where everything had its place and where I could find things. It’s just nice to be here again.
At the moment, almost every day looks the same again, but that also gives me a bit of peace after all the hustle and bustle. I am now trying to see more of Madurai and network with different people to get to know more of the local life here.
What I really miss, however, is my freedom from Germany. When I was out and about with my mom and sister, it wasn’t a problem. Now, and even before her visit, I was alone in the hostel, and I have to ask permission before every exit. That is very unusual for me. Of course, I also understand the concern behind it, but it remains a change.
However, the hospitality of the Indians has not changed. The diversity of the country also continues to impress me, even more so since I was able to visit a few more places in India. It’s really impressive how different the regions are here. The north in particular differs greatly from the south: in food, clothing, religion, climate, tuk-tuks, jewelry and even the people are different, both in appearance and in their cultural characteristics.
I am still impressed by India and amazed at how quickly time flies. In fact, more than half of my voluntary service is already over. I’m still really enjoying my time here and I’m excited to see what else awaits me in the coming months.
See you soon
Your Barbara
This text was automatically translated using an AI-powered translation system.
