Halloween Weekend

So this weekend we went on a field trip! Such an eventful weekend, although it was great to get away nonetheless. First, we went just outside of Almora to go to Panchuchuli, a women’s weaving center where we saw the whole process of imported Tibetan pashmina wool being made into scarves, shawls, etc. The cleaning, the spinning, the weaving; all by hand. Afterwards, we continued up north to Kausani where Lakshmi Ashram is, an all girls Gandhian basic education boarding school. The hotel we stayed at had a beautiful view of the mountains we see from Sonapani, except two hours closer. Breathtaking. The following day we went to Lakshmi Ashram and did morning chores with the girls. I helped sort rice. I never felt so intimate with rice before. Then we had down time when they had free time or shower time and then it was lunch. Maresa and I walked around and were guided by one of the girls. She turned out to be a great photographer too! After lunch, we had a question and answer time with the students and then more down time while they had class. It was then time for performances where we sang a few songs, and were presented with various plays, songs and dances from the Lakshmi girls. Then it was a late dinner and back to our hotel! After a lazy morning, where I got a great hand spun and hand woven sweater, we headed to Jageshwar, a Hindu religious pilgrimage site. We arrived just in time to go to a temple near our hotel before dark. The holy forest was beautiful and reminded me a lot of the northwest! In the morning we walked around some more and saw the archeological museum before heading to Almora for lunch, then getting back to Sonapani in the evening. It was a spectacular weekend! Very much different than any Halloween I have ever experienced! Ohh and I got through a lot of the book I’m reading; The God of Small Things.

This week we are down to class twice a week, and bumping up our time in our internship. My primary internship is helping develop an agricultural insurance scheme that can be supplemental to the present government insurance scheme after identifying gaps, etc. I am likely going to Almora early in the week for a meeting. Exciting! My secondary internship will be interviewing individuals in the community regarding perceptions of community leadership, from either side of the power spectrum. Should be interesting! I will continue my volunteer work at the Simayal school, Reetha campus, CHIRAG farm and school.

Pictures
Panchachuli
Kausani
Lakshmi Ashram
Jageschwar