CCNFE II

Aqui teniu la segona part:

"Dr. Makino va fundar fa 30 anys el Centre of Continuing and Non-Formal Education (CCNFE). El CCNFE forma part del Allahabad Agricultural University, i el seu objectiu ha sigut sempre promoure el desenvolupament sostenible a les arees rurals.

A l’actualitat, una vintena de persones treballen en diversos programmes de desenvolupament a nivell rural. Aquest se centren en la formacio de liders rurals, serveis extensius vers l’agricultura organica, formacio i organitzacio de grups a les comunitats, millora de les infraestructures, educacio per als infants i promocio del paper de la dona. Aquests es concentren en les necessitats de la poblacio rural. CCNFE anima als membres de les comunitats a ajudar-se mes els uns als altres i a aprofitar els recursos de que disposen. Els objectius del CCNFE son: mes desenvolupament integral i sostenible, mes participacio de la dona i mes educacio per tal d’assegurar un futur mes esperencador per als nens.

Una de les activitats principals del centre es el Curs Especial en Agricultura Sostenible (SCSA). Dia a dia durant els deu mesos que dura, el curs intenta transmetre la visio i els ideals de CCNFE a un grup de liders rurals. Els seus continguts se centren al l’agricultura integrada a traves de teoria practica. Aquests homes i dones enviats per ONG’s aprenen tecniques d’agricultura organica, cultiu de vegetals, silvicultura, cria a d’aus de corral i porcs, lleteres, tractament dels aliments, moviltizacio de comunitats i altres asignatures. L’objectiu es dotar-los d’eines perque puguin transmetre aquests coneixements als membres de la seva comunitat a la tornada.

CCNFE tambe ofereix cursos d’agricultura organica per a dones per tal que puguin generar ingresos de manera sostenible. Dones de zones rurals tenen l’oportunitat d’apuntarse a un curs de costura i aprendre a fer uniformes escolars i d’altres productes com ara bosetes de salts de bany, produides pels grups de joves dels pobles.

El centre tambe ha organitzat cooperatives per tal d’enfortir i millorar la situacio dels pagesos que practiquen agricultura organica. Ells mateixos dirigeixen les cooperatives, i CCNFE els ajuda en la promocio i marqueting dels seus productes.

El dret a l’educacio dels infants es esencial per al futur de la societat. Pero avui en dia a Allahabad gairebe la meitat dels nens no tenen acces a una educacio basica. A mes a mes, l’alfabetitzacio entre les noies es un 10% mes baix que entre els nois. Actualment CCNFE ja ha obert 10 escoles per a 500 nens I nenes a arees remotes on l’educacio no es massa accesible. Les escoles s’anomenen “Asha Vidyalaya”, escola d’esperanca. Educar els nens tambe aporta esperanca a les seves families.

Als pobles no hi ha gaire estructures sanitaries. La gent encara true l’aigua de pous i rius. Com a consequencia a vegades pateixen enfermetats greus com el colera, la febre tifoidea o la disenteria. Per tal de prevenir aquestes enfermetats I millorar les condicions sanitaries el CCNFE ha anat instalant bombes manuals I lavabos a centenars de pobles.

El nostre camp
Our field
Allahabad, India, 09/07

Pollets i nens
Chicks and children
Allahabad, India, 08/07

Here you have the second part:

"Dr. Makino founded this CCNFE 30 years ago. CCNFE is officially a department of Allahabad Agricultural University, and its mission has always been to promote sustainable rural development.

At present, twenty staff are working in a variety of development programmes at grass-roots level which focus on rural leaders training, extension services for organic farming, formation and organization of community-groups, improvement of village infrastructure, child-education and women empowerment.

These programs focuse on the needs of rural people. CCNFE tries to empower communities, and encourage them to help one-another and maximize their resources.

The mission of CCNFE aims: more sustainable holistic development, more participation for women, more education, providing a more hopeful future for children.

One of the main activities of the centre is the Special Course on Sustainable Agriculture. Every year this 10 month course tries to pass our vision and ideals to a group of rural leaders.

The contents of the SCSA course are focused on integrated farming through practical theory. These selected NGO men and women learn about organic farming techniques, vegetable farming, agroforestry, small-scale poultry and pig raising using fermented floors, dairy farming, food processing, community mobilization, and a number of other key subjects to equip these leaders to be trainers of their own communities.

CCNFE also offers organic famring training short-courses for rural women, with goals of to empower them, through sustainable, appropriate, income-generating activities. Women coming from rural areas have the chance to join a stitching training course and learn how to make school uniforms and other saleable cloth products, such as kilt bags used for bath salts, produced by village youth groups.

CCNFe has organized cooperatives to strengthen and improve the situation of farmers practicing sustainable, organic agriculture. The farmers manage the cooperatives, and CCNFE assists in the promotion and marketing of their foods.

The children’s right of receiving an education is essential for the future. But in today’s Allahabad district, basic education is still not accessible to nearly half of the kids. Furthermore, literacy among girls is 10% lower than among boys. Now CCNFE is running 10 schools for 500 children in remote areas where little alternative education is available. The schools are named Asha Vidyalaya, which means “school of hope”. Educating the village-children will also bring hope for the children’s families.

In rural areas there are seldom any sanitary structures set up. People are still taking water from rivers or open wells. Because of this they sometimes suffer from serious diseases like cholera, typhoid fever and dysentery. In order to prevent these diseases and improve health conditions, CCNFE has been installing hand pumps and toilets in hundreds of villages.·"

CCNFE I

CCNFE es el centre on treballo, el Centre of Continuing and Non-Formal Education. Una de les tasques que he dut a terme darrerament es la traduccio d'un video sobre el centre. L'original estava en japones. I no, la traduccio del japones al angles no l'he fet jo, que mes voldria. Jo m'he encarregat de l'adaptacio al angles i la grabacio de les veus dels narradors (ho hem doblat en comptes de posar subtitiols).

El penjo aqui perque crec que algu podria tenir curiositat per saber que fem. M'hi incloc perque vull formar part d'aquest lloc, encara que la meva aportacio hagi estat petita i la meva estada curta. A mi treballar-hi m'ha ajudat a entendre mes les motivacions de les activitats que fem i el perque de tot plegat. Encara queden molts caps per lligar. I la gran pregunta: "Es util tot plegat?" El text es una mica llarg, per aixo l'he dividit en dues parts.

"El 70% de la poblacio India es viu al camp. Avui en dia a les arees rurals homes i dones es desesperen al veure com disminueix el seu poder adquisitiu i augmenten les diferencies economiques vers la gent de la ciutat.

La dona del camp pateix des de fa molt de temps una forta discriminacio a causa del seu baix estatus social. A les families pobres les noies han de fer les feines de la casa, cuidar dels seus germans i germanes petits aixi com del bestiar, sobretot de les vaques. Les antigues tradicions matrimonials continuen fortament arrelades. Tot i que algunes costums estan perdent forca, casarse als 14 anys no es estrany. De resultes d’aquestes perjudicials diferencies, moltes no poden anar a l’escola i acaben sent analfabetes. A Allahabad mes de la meitat de la poblacio femenina es incapac de llegir o escriure. Aixi es com les tradicions accentuen i perpetuen la discriminacio de la dona i la baixa posicio social.

Pel que fa als nenes, 57 milions de menors de 5 anys tenen un pes inferior als minim recomanat. Pateixen malnutricio. Un de cada cinc nens no menja prou com per garantir un creixement saludable.

Per tal d’incrementar la productivitat, cada vegada mes pagesos dependen de fertilitzats quimics i pesticides. Les consequencies negatives d’aquest us intensiu no paren d’apareixer: el sol s’empobreix, la produccio s’estanca i els beneficis disminueixen. Cultius que abans resistien les plagues ara no suporten l’atac dels insectes, ja que estan perdent la seva resistencia a enfermetats i plagues. A mes, molts predadors han estat eliminats pels productes quimics. Molts pagesos temen per la supervivencia de les seves granjes i el nombre de suicidis entre ells augmenta.

A la India hi ha cent milions de vaques. Cada dia es produeixen muntanyes de fems. La majoria d’aquest adob s’usa a les cuines com a combustible, en comptes de ser aprofitat al camp com a fertilitzant organic. Si es vol assolir un desenvolupament sostenible es molt important trobar un combustible alternatiu als fems per al les cuines indies."

Lletra a lletra
Letter by letter
Allahabad, India, 08/07

Tornada de l'escola
Comeback from school
Allahabad, India, 09/07

El meu camp, la meva suor
My field, my sweat
Allahabad, India, 09/07

CCNFE is the place where I am working, the Centre of Continuing and Non-Formal Education. One of the works that I have been doing lately is the translation of a promotional video about this place. The original was in japanese. Sorry to let you down but no, the translation is not mine. I did the adaptation to english and the recording of the narrators voices (we dubbed the interviews instead of using subtitles).

I am posting this here because I thought somebody may want to know about what we are doing here. I am including myself as a part of this places, even if my contribution was small and my stay too short. Working in the video made me understand more the motivations of the activities we are doing. There are still a lot of open questions. And the big question: "Is all this useful?"

The text is a little bit long, that's why I divided it in two parts.

"70% of Indian population is rural, and now, these villagers are becoming more and more desperate as the economic gap between them and the urban citizen widen, and their purchasing power decreases.

Women in rural areas have long suffered from their low status in Indian society. In low-income families girls have to do the housework, look after their younger brothers and sisters and manage the livestock such as cows. Ancient marriage traditions still remain strong. Although some customs are loosing power, marrying at 14 years old is not uncommon. As a result of this gender bias which disadvantages girls, many cannot attend school and end up being illiterate. In Allahabad more than a half of the female population is not able to read or write. This is how traditions accentuate and perpetrate female discrimination and works towards maintaining their low social status.

The weight of 57 million Indian children under 5 years old is below the minimum requirements line. They are suffering from malnutrition. One in five children in India does not have enough food for healthy development. That’s a third of the world’s malnourished population.

In order to increase productivity, farmers for the past generation have become more dependent on agrochemicals. The bad consequences of this practice are showing one after another: soil is becoming poorer, production is stagnant and profit is declining. Crops which were once resistant to pests now perish under the attack of insects, as they are losing their natural disease and pest resistance qualities, and as good predators have been killed by the agrochemicals. Suicide-rates of farmers increase as they fear for the survival of their farms.

In India there are a hundred million cows. Everyday a huge amount of dung is being produced all over the country. Most of this manure is used as fuel in the kitchen, and not as organic fertilizer in the field. To achieve sustainable development it is very important to find an alternative fuel to replace manure in Indian kitchens."

Dixit: "Inconvenience makes us realize the importance of small things"

Sabun

Fem sabo!!

A mes a mes de fer de "teacher", paparazzi i secre, aqui a Allahabad he apres a fer sabo casola. El proces es senzill pero una mica perillos. Es interessant de probar i totalment recomanable, pero cal prendre algunes precaucions. La sosa caustica no es de fiar, mes val tenir-li respecte. A continuacio teniu parell de receptes senzilles per familiaritzar-vos amb el proces. No he posat les quantitats, si voleu mes informacio us recomano consultar les fonts que adjunto al final.

Fem Sabo

Ingredients
Greix animal (o qualsevol oli vegetal)
Sosa caustica
Aigua

1. Desfer el greix per separar-lo de qualsevol resta de carn o fibra.
2. Fer servir nomes el greix pur. Descartar la resta.
3. Preparar l'aigua, la sosa, el greix desfet o l'oli i una llauna gran d'estany.
4. Treballar a fora amb guants i mascareta, els fums que emet la sosa caustica son molt toxics. Abocar la sosa caustica a la llauna i afegir l'aigua. Afegir l'aigua a la sosa, i no al reves.
5. Remoure la barreja amb un pal de fusta fins que la sosa estigui completament disolta. Pujara la temperatura a la llauna per la reaccio quimica. Anar amb compte, evitar que la barreja toqui la pell o la roba.
6. Deixar que la sosa es refredi. Mentre es refreda es poden preparar els motlles. Afegir el greix o l'oli. Abocar-ho lentament, no tot a la vegada.
7. Remoure mentre s'aboca. Despres barrejar fins que esdevingui espes, durant uns 20 minuts o mitja hora. Si es triga mes els ingredients eren probablement massa calents. Cal anar amb compte de no respirar els fums toxics durant el proces.
8. Abocar la barreja ja mes espessa al motlle. Vigilar amb el material dels motlles, alguns materials reaccionen en contacte amb la sosa. Millor si son d'acer inoxidable.
   
9. El sabo esdeve estable en una o dues hores, pero sera completament dur al cap de 24 hores. Aleshores es pot tallar en barres.

Sabo d'oli de mostassa
Mustard oil soap
09/07, Allahabad, India

Let's make soap!

Appart from being a teacher, paparazzi and secretary, here in Allahabad I learned how to make homemade soap. The process is easy but a little bit dangerous. It's interesting to try and I totally recommend it, although you must be careful. Caustic sosa is not to be trusted, better be respecful. Here you have a simple recipe to become familiar with the process. I didn't write the amounts. If you want more information you can look in the resource list below.

Let's make soap

Ingredients
Animal fat (ex. Clean tallow)
Caustic soda or lye
Water

1. Melt the fat to separate it from any remaining flesh or fiber.
2. Use only the clear melted fat. You will need 3 Kg. Discard the rest.
3. Prepare 0.87 L of water, 450 g of caustic soda, 3 Kg of melted tallow and a large tin can.
4. Work outdoors and wear rubber globes. Pour 450 g of caustic soda, lye, into a large tin can. Add the water (0.87 L). Be sure to add the water to the caustic soda, not the other way round.
5. Stir with a wooden stick until the lye is completely dissolved. It will get hot from the chemical reaction. Be careful not to get this lye and water on your skin or clothing.
6. Let the lye cool to go for the next step. While it is cooling you can prepare your molds. Now add 3 Kg of clean melted tallow. Pour it slowly, not all at once.
7. Stir while you are pouring. Stir until it becomes thick. This may take from 20 minutes to half an hour. If it takes longer your ingredients were probably too hot when you began. Be careful with the toxic fumes, not to breath any of them. A squared can be difficult to stir in. A round tin is easier.
8. Pour the thicken stuff into the mould. Be careful with the material of your moulds. Some materials react when they are in contact with caustic soda. Its's better to use stainless steel moulds.
9. The soap will set up in 1 to 2 hours, but it will be completely hard in 24 hours. Then you can cut it into bars.

Links:

. Teach Soap
. TLC Soaps
. Soap Making
. Soap making basics in about.com

Dixit: "Please wear these gloves and mask..." "Is this cheese?"

Varanashi, varanashi, varanashi II

Si, Varanasi te un noseque que enganxa. Hi vaig tornar el cap de setmana passat amb un grup d'estudiants japonesos. Tot i visitar la mateixa ciutat, l'experiencia va ser molt diferent. Ni millor ni pitjor, diferent i definitivament enriquidora.

Al mati del diumenge varem anar a missa a Allahabad. La majoria dels assistens eren hindis, pero hi havia alguns (pocs) occidentals. El capella parlava en angles i al instant un altre pastor traduia al hindi. Despres ens varem encaminar cap a Varanasi i al arribar varem anar a veure Sarnath, a tres quilometres al nord de la ciutat. Sarnath es desti de peregrinacio budista perque aqui es on buddha va donar el seu primer sermo (sobre el "dharma chakra" pels curiosos). Vaig entendre la seva importancia quan vaig contemplar un grup de peregrins de Sri Lanka tots vestits de blanc pregant davant del lloc on se suposa que Buddha va donar el sermo. El punt en questio consisteix en un munt de pedres cobertes per papers d'or on la gent ha anat plantant fumejants barretes d'incens.

Resumint, cristianisme al mati i budisme a la tarda, pero aixo no es tot. Anant cap al hotel varem passar per davant d'una mesquita enorme al mig de Varanasi. De fet aquell mateix mati havia descobert la petita mesquita que hi ha dins el campus a Allahabad. Ah, i m'havia oblidat de dir que aqui en comptes de sentir les campanades de l'esglesia ocasionalment sento la crida a la pregaria des de la meva habitacio , com una especie de llunyana cantarella.

L'endema al mati varem fer un vol amb barca pel Ganges (ganga pels indis). Molt relaxant. Varem complir amb la tradicio i varem oferir l'espelma al riu tot demanant un desig. Ganga tambe ens va ensenya la seva cara menys agradable. Tot i aixo, "Ganga is the lifeline of indian culture" (Ganga es el salvavides de la cultura india). Despres d'un esmorzar de reis, o de sultans, com volgueu, varem anar a visitar un temple hindu. No podia ser menys. Imatges de Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu i mandales al sostre pero en general no massa coloraines. Almenys al interior, l'exterior del temple es rosa. I be, es veritat que les escultures del interior eren tot menys discretes, daurades i cobertes de collarets de flors. Es podien llegir cites de les escriptures sagrades hindus, a vegades traduides.

La India es qualsevol cosa mes homogenea. Es impossible generalitzar en res, i menys en la fe. Crec que vaig llegir en alguna banda que viatjar serveix, entre altres coses, per superar els prejudicis i deixar enrera les preconcepcions. Viatjar es, com a minim, obrir la ment.

Ofrena i desig
Offering and wish
09/07, Varanasi, India

La veu de Ganga
Ganga's voice
09/07, Varanasi, India

Yes, Varanasi has something that grips you. I went there last weekend with a group of japanese students. Although I visited the same city, this second experience was very different. Not better or worse, just different, and definitely worth it.

On Sunday morning we went to church in Allahabad. Most of the people there were Indian, but I could see some westerns also. The priest talked in English and his word were translated into Hindi by a a second pastor next him. After that we went to Varanasi. When we arrived we went to Sarnath, located three kilometers north. Sarnath is a popular destination for Buddhist pilgrims because Buddha pronounced his first sermon here. I understood the importance of this place when I saw a group of pilgrims from Sri Lanka dressed in white praying in front of the place were it is said that Buddha talked. This point was mainly a group of stones covered with shiny golden papers where people had placed smoky incense sticks.

In brief, christianism in the morning and Buddhism in the afternoon. But that was not all. While going to the hotel I had the chance to see a huge mosque from the bus. Actually that same morning I discovered the small mosque in Allahabad's campus. An also, I forgot to say that here instead of the church bells I sometimes hear a voice like a distant tune announcing the praying time.

Next morning we made a boat trip in the Ganges (ganga for the Indians). Very relaxing. We followed the traditions and offered a candle to the river and made a wish. But Ganga sometimes shows his unpleasant face. Anyway, "Ganga is the lifeline of Indian culture". After a luxurious breakfast we visited a Hindu temple. It couldn't be any other way. Images of Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu and mandalas on the ceiling but not so colorful in general. At least when it comes to the interiors, because the exterior of the temple was mostly pink. And also it must be said that the statues inside couldn't be called discrete: golden and covered with flower necklaces. Quotes from the sacred Hindu scriptures could be read all over the walls, sometimes translated.

India is not that's for sure, especially when it comes to faith. I read somewhere that traveling can make us overcome prejudices and leave preconceptions behind. Traveling is opening your mind, at least.

Dixit: "Are you with them?"

Varanashi, varanashi, varanashi I

Vaig anar a Varanasi (o Benares pels nostalgics) fa dues setmanes amb en Takaya, un amic japones gracies a qui estic aqui a Allahabad. Nomes son tres hores de trajecte per carretera, perfecte per una escapada de cap de setmana. Varem agafar un bus a l'estacio de Civil Lines i dues hores i mitja mes tard estavem negociant el preu de l'autorickshaw davant l'estacio de tren de Varanasi.

De sobte haviem canviat l'ambient tranquil i provincia d'Allahabad pel bullicios i asfixiant Varanasi. Asfixiant no nomes per la temperatura i la humitat, sino sobretot pel personal huma. Nomes baixar del bus ens varem topar amb una marabunta de rickshaw wallahs que ens oferien els seus serveis a dreta i esquerra. Despres al chowk (barri vell) vaig descobrir que aixo nomes era l'aperitiu. Caminant pels carrerons continuament ens abordaven venedors, captaires, xerraires, guies, massatgistes, barquers, sadhus, mistics... Tots ens intentaven vendre alguna cosa: travesies pel Ganges, massatges, visites per "nomes mirar" a la botiga de seda de turno, bindis, pintures, espelmes per llancar al ganga, postals plastificades (la ultima novetat en postals!!!), pulseres... de tot i mes.

Tot i aixo, l'ambient em va encantar. Varem trobar un hostalillo forca decent amb una terrassa fantastica. Des d'alla varem poder observar una altra cara de la ciutat, la vida als terrats. Mentres esperavem la posta de sol el cel es va anar omplint d'estels. No vaig aconseguir fer una foto que plasmes el moment. A baix, les veines petant la xerrada de balco en balco, els nens jugant a criket o fent volar els estels i les mones grimpant de barana a balco, reines i senyores d'aquesta part alta de la ciutat. I a dalt, mentrestant, la llum minvant entre puntets dansaires i bandades de coloms volant ordenadament a les ordres del domador. A vegades nomes cal canviar el punt de vista.

Si, un es posa forca mistic a Varanasi. pero tampoc es pot escapar de la realitat, i la realitat India conte una bona quantitat de vaques. I els carrerons del chowk tambe. Es com estar al barri gotic de Barcelona, amb mes bruticia i rumiants. L'endema, mentre passejavem unes vaques van decidir que volien fer una mica de exercici i es van posat a correr. Tothom s'anava apartant com podia, arrambant-se a les parets o amagant-se darrera les cantonades. Em va recordar als San Fermines.

Quantes cares te Varanasi?

La part alta al capvespre
The high place at dusk

09/07, Varanasi, India

La xafardera i el voyeur
The gossipy and the voyeur

09/07, Varanasi, India

I went to Varanasi (or Benares for the nostalgics) two weeks ago with Takaya, a japanese friend thanks to whom I am here in Allahabad. It's only three hours away from here, perfect for a weekend trip. We took a bus from Civil Lines bus station and two and a half hours later we were negotiating the price of the autorickshaw in front of Varanasi train station.

Suddenly we switched the quiet and still Allahabad for bustling and suffocating Varanasi. Suffocating not only because of the temperature and humidity, but also because of the people. Just a second after getting off from the bus we came across a crowd of rickshaw wallahs who kept offering us a ride non-stop. Later in the chowk I found out that was just the beginning. While walking its streets we were approached by beggars, salesmen, chatterboxes, boatmen, guides, masseurs, sadhus, mystics... All them were trying to sell something: boat trips in the Ganges, massages, "just looking" visits to their silk factory, bindis, paints, candles to be thrown in the river, plastic postcards (last novelty from a kind sadhu), bracelets... anything you want.

On the other hand, I loved the atmosphere. We found a small hostel pretty decent with a great terrace. From there we had the chance to see the other face of the city, life in the flat roofs. While we where waiting for the sun to set kites started to fill the sky. I couldn't take a picture capturing the moment. Below, neighbors chatting from one balcony to another, kids playing cricket or flying kites and monkeys leaping here and there. While above the light kept diminishing between dancing dots and flocks of pigeons guided by the tamer. Sometimes it's only about changing the point of view.

Yes, one can get pretty "cosmic" in Varanasi. But we cannot escape from reality, and indian real life is full of cows. And so do the chowk alleys. It's like being in Barcelona's barri gotic, with more filth and ruminants. The day after, while we were taking a walk some cows decided to do some exercise and started running. Everybody kept moving out of the way, moving closer to the walls or hiding in corners. It reminded me of the San Fermines.

How many faces does Varanasi have?

Dixit: "Please come to my uncle's silk factory. "Miru dake".... Are you japanese?"

Matines

A vegades acompanyo als meus nens al camp a primera hora del mati. A les 6 i quart ja estan al camp seguint les directrius del "farm manager", un homenet fort i energic anomenat Santosh. Es l'hora de plantar, transplantar, treure males herbes, llaurar, abonar, sembrar... Tot i la mandra que fa enfilar-se al tractor a aquestes hores intempestives, el cert es que es la millor hora per treballar la terra. La temperatura es agradable, potser fins i tot fa fresqueta i es pot treballar sense acabar desfet en un bassal salat.

Darrerament no hi he anat tant perque m'he hagut de quedar fent feina a l'oficina, estava massa cansada o senzillament em feia mandra. M'he proposat tornar-hi a partir de dema. M'agrada i a mes a mes m'ofereix oportunitats fotografiques impagables. Els pobres ja s'han acostumat a la paparazzi que tenen per profe d'angles.

Un secret? Disfruto com una nena caminant descalca pel fang, sentint la terra humida contra la meva pell i el xof-xof-xof de cada passa. Tambe es veritat que mes val aparcar les sandalies si no vols passejar-te amb quilos i quilos enganxats a la sola.

De matines

In the early morning

08/07, Allahabad, India

Sometimes I join my students early in the morning in their work in the field. At quarter past 6 they are already there following the instructions of the farm manager, a small and strong man called Santosh. It's time to plant, transplant, weed, spread seeds, cut grass... You have to fight against lazyness to get on the tractor so early in the morning, but it is really the best time of the day to work the soil. The temperature is nice, maybe even cool and one can work without melting.

Lately I have missed it because I had to work in the office, I was too tired or simply lazy. I have the intention to start going again from tomorrow. I like it and it gives me the great photo opportunities. The poor guys must be tired of the paparazzi they have as an english teacher.

A secret? I enjoy walking barefoot on the mud, feeling the wet soil against my skin and the funny xof-xof-xof of my feet. You better take of your sandals if you don't want to carry kilos and kilos stick to your sole.

Dixit: "Gochisoosama"

Bona nit

La finestra de la meva habitacio esta protegida per una tela mosquitera. I sort que en tinc! Cada nit em trobo algun convidat inesperat enganxat a la tela. Sovint es tracta de llangardaixos o insectes mes grans com aquest que veieu a la foto. Amenaca tempesta, pero el bitxo esta de lo mes comode.

Les nits a Allahabad son caluroses. Dormo sota mosquitera i amb el ventilador donant voltes non-stop. Tot i aixi, a vegades costa adormir-se. Somio. Molt mes que a casa. Em pasa sovint quan dormo en un lloc estrany. No he buscat explicacions freudianes. Us les deixo a vosaltres.

Ens veiem en els meus somnis!

L'espia
The spy
08/07, Allahabad, India

My room's window is protected with an anti-mosquito net. I am lucky to have it! Every night I find an unexpected guest waiting for my return sticked on it. Usually it is a lizard or other insects like the one you can see in the picture. The sky is pretty cloudy, seems about to rain, but the bug likes the place.

Allahabad nights are warm. I sleep under the mosquito net, with the fan turning non-stop. Nevertheless, sometimes I find it hard to get asleep. I dream. Much more than at home. It happens to me a lot whenever I am not sleeping in a familiar place. I didn't look for Freudian explanations. I'll let them for you.

See you in my dreams!

Dixit: "small is beautiful"