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Steve's June Newsletter from Mumbai (2004)….

I've been here in India for 3 months now, 1/4 of a year. It's hard to believe the time has gone so quickly. I have a month to go before returning back to the U.K. The rest of the team are making final preparations to fly out on the 4th July.


Clockwise from bottom left… Esther, Sarah, Helen, Amanda, Me, Katie

It's going to be strange without them. I couldn't have wished for a better bunch… They have accepted me as part of the team and I hope I've brought as much to them as they have given me. Their commitment and maturity both spiritually and practically is fantastic. The way they have worked together and supported each other (and me) is a testament to their team sprit. When I consider what I was doing at their ages it's humbling to see them giving themselves to help those less fortunate. Heartfelt thanks to you all and well done is in order I think, especially for the T shirt "Indian railways, 150 years of bringing people closer". You have to have been here to really get the joke.

Time for a train story I think. I wrote last month about the Vocational Training Centre, I was invited to an open day and exhibition. Being the independent traveller I am I duly set off from home (Grant Road) heading North on the Western line to Mira Road. Having remembered the salt flats to the West I made my way to the door… only to find the train didn't stop. Not only did it not stop at Mira Road it didn't stop at the next station, or the next. It crossed bridges over estuaries and headed out through greenery 'til reaching towns again and finally coming to rest in Vasi Road… miles past my destination.

View from the tracks 1

 

As I tried to get off to figure out what to do next I was met by a torrent of people piling onto the train… after several minutes I fought my way off. I tried to call the Training Centre to tell them I'd be late and not to worry… and my phone battery expired. Isn't that always the way. I walked towards the front of the train and realised there were buffers. This train wasn't going any further. I surmised it must be going back. In the meantime several thousand passengers had boarded filling every available inch of space. I checked with a guy "does this train stop at Mira Road?" "Yes, yes, come" was his instant reply. I looked at the mass of people and thought not a chance… but in true Indian tradition, there is always room for one more. I pulled, pushed, jostled, elbowed my way on board… "Stand there, don't go inside" my new found friend told me. This is India up close and personal, it's no wonder the women have separate compartments. 

View from the tracks 2                     

Random guy on the train

The train jerked away from the station and the station and set off back towards Mumbai. As it rattled on to the next station even more people got on. I thought it was full before, how wrong I was. As we got close to Mira Road my new friend explained " the public get on at that side"…(pointing to the far side of the train)… "You will have to get out of this side"… (Pointing to the train tracks). I think my face said more than my words could as he quickly added "don't worry, we'll help you"… with that the strange chess game of Indian guys swapping places in order to move me closer to the door began. I had somehow become a project for this half of the carriage. "Stand here, hold on there, give me your bag" the guidance continued from every side… the train slowed up… "Wait, don't jump yet"… As the train stopped so did another train on the opposite line… "Now, jump down, be careful"… Recklessness couldn't have been further from my mind! I had nowhere to go but in between 2 trains. My bag was handed to me. "Stand still, don't step back"… the advice was still coming thick and fast. I shook hands with the guys who had helped me and thanked them in my best Hindi, this brought even bigger smiles to their faces. The train behind me started to move off and almost at the same time so did my train full of new friends. I waved and they all waved back and wished me a good day. I was now stood between 2 moving trains… This didn't get to me as the carriage behind picked up on the farewell from the carriage in front. 500 more random guys continued the waving. The train opposite picked up on this and they started waving! 

 Thousands of people must have waved in the few moments I stood on the tracks. I'll be a story in many workplaces in Mumbai today at least. As both trains sped away I ran across the tracks and jumped up onto the platform. I half expected to get in trouble. Now none of this would ever happen in the U.K.

Off and over the bridge, into the Autoricshaw (ric) and away to the training centre, grinning from ear to ear.

At the Training Centre we had a time of thanksgiving and praise before the festivities began.   There were games, stalls, food, drinks and everyone was encouraged to take part. Great concentration on the hoop-la stall was evident, I think it was the chance of winning an ice-cold coke that spurred people on!
     Hoop-la

…and then there's the food, there's another complete newsletter there.

                                                                                                                                       Snacks