The first thing that hits you when you get off the plane in Kerala: the air. Now well into Monsoon season, a warm mist hangs over the lush green landscape. It's 3 AM and I can still feel the heat of the day, but as the taxi starts to drive away, a cool breeze hits my face through the open window. The over-sized billboards cue my memory. This route is familiar; one I took for the first time three years ago.
The volunteer program coordinator for my year in Kerala (2007-08), Thomas John Achen, and his wife, Betty Kochamma, graciously welcomed me to their home after being rudely awakened by a bell at 4:30 AM. They have become second parents to many volunteers throughout their 12 years working with the program. Betty Kochamma's food still cannot be beat. Our volunteer group would joke about how she should start a business for homemade jams, cakes and ice creams. She would no doubt make a world-wide killing.
Almost all of the students from my volunteering stint have graduated and moved on. A few remain nearby, in Kochi or Ernakulam, working for IT companies. Most of them have married, and at least two are now mothers. The ladies I sang with in church are all still here, still singing every Sunday. In retrospect, one of the things that made my year-long stay worthwhile was the people I came to know. I look back and think about how many more people I could have met, if I had been a bit more determined. But hindsight is...well, you know.
On a lighter note....no one has said "You have become fat." Well, Achen and Betty Kochamma have probably heard so many complaints from Americans about this less-than-discrete insight that they refrain from saying anything whatsoever in reference to weight, but I take it as a good sign that there has been no mention of it from anyone else. But we'll see what happens after the Kerala food takes hold.
Malayalam Lesson:
Namaskaram = greeting, salutation
Sukam anno? = how are you?
Sukam = fine
Hello = Hello
Good Morning = Good Morning
Good Night = Good Night
Ta,Ta = Good Bye
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Hi Beth,
ReplyDeleteI just read your blog and found myself getting teary eyed. It's weird how missing Kerala will kind of sneak up on you . . . Please give Achen and Kochamma a hug for me, and "give my regards" to everyone at church (especially P.I. John and Kochamma). I hope you have a wonderful summer in India! Maybe we'll finally do coffee to this fall! =)
Peace,
Sudie
hey,beth..... went thru ur blog. it rly made me go bk thru d days v all spent tgthr in UC College..... those days turned to b d best pages in d Memory Book of tym.......
ReplyDeleteYou have not gotten fat! But that did make me laugh... out loud.
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