Random Cow, because India
The week of Diwali I was in Vizag, while it is often oppressively hot and humid, I found my stay rather pleasant. Most days were spent indoors, but the evenings we went down to the Beach road. There I took in the sights and sounds of the bustling boardwalk.
Ocean Waves at a distance
Road Trip
Over the weekend I took a brief day trip to Kakinada to visit more relatives, and to tour an amazing school and eye hospital. Sankurathri Eye Hospital, started in the late 80s, provides free and affordable eye care to many of the residents of Andra Pradesh, the main tenet of the hospital, being that every is welcome, regardless of their ability to pay. The sheer scope of the project is amazing, and add to that a school, what the whole project is inspiring.
As a teacher, I most enjoyed seeing the school, where children as young as 1st grade learn to read and write in two languages. All of the notebooks displayed showed remarkably uniform penmanship in both English and Telugu (the regional language). As I walked through the school, I noticed that in many of the classrooms the children were diligently teaching each other. The school provides everything free of cost, from tuition, to food. I loved seeing children playing, and reciting poems, just like the students I work with.
Driving through rural India
Following a visit to the school, we were off to visit relatives. I tried my best to follow the conversation and contribute (in English mostly). I showed family photos and listened to a wide array of stories. While it is difficult to converse when you do not share a language, a smile and hug are universal!
Spectacular Views
One of my last evenings, I went to the top of Mount Kailasa. I took in the views of both the mountains and the ocean that border Vizag. I was unable to capture the beautiful sunset view. However the following photos give a sense of the stark difference between the city and the nature around it. It was the perfect way to conclude my trip to Vizag.
