So far, I have been 5 months living in India. In this time, I had the chance to live in an Indian family, an experience that I love specially for the time spent with my host brother and sister, as well as for the conversations with my host parents.

I am working in the Youth Development Project, and I am enjoying a lot visiting schools on a weekly basis, and facilitating non-formal education sessions. My favourite part of this project is to see the Indian youth enjoying the activities and reaching interesting reflections and personal growth. I also love to do other things such as supporting the FSL-India staff in anything they need – because it means spending beautiful time with all of them, doing mural paintings in schools, helping the work camp volunteers or improving the CEL’s sustainability.

Regarding my free time, I enjoy travelling whenever I have free time. Last month, I visited Arambol (Goa), Kochi (Kerala) and also Hampi for the second time. Anywhere I go, I always end up meeting very nice local people that share many things with me, and I also discover new, wonderful places.

Moreover, during weekdays I join the early morning yoga sessions in the temple. Even though I didn’t use to be a morning person, I feel great waking up early and starting the day with such a good energy and full of power and peace.

BOn the 18^th of January, the volunteers Nina and Paul (Germany), Francesca and Linda (Italy), Hanan (Sweden) and Carlota (Spain) together with the FSL-staff Dinesh and Mayur attended the Bayake/Seemantha (pregnancy) function of Reshma (Dinesh’s sister).

In the morning, everyone met in Kundapura and we went together to Dinesh’s house, where they met some members of the family who were getting ready for the function: dressing up, packing sweets, helping each other. Once everything was ready, everyone got into a bus that drove them to where the function took place, which was the Shivakrupa Hall. It is located in Sathan, near Udupi.

Dinesh and Mayur took all the volunteers to the nearby temple dedicated to Shiva, and they explained several curiosities about it. The volunteers could learn about some practices going on in the temple, such as a funeral pooja, as well as they could ask many questions.

After that, they all went to the main hall where they could see Reshma sitting in a beautiful chair. As it is done traditionally in the pregnancy functions, there was a huge amount of sweets in front of her, which had been prepared by her family during the previous days. Some of the varieties included ellu unde (sesame seeds balls), modaka, karjikai and orange and yellow chakkuli. The closest women were bringing all these sweets onto the stage where Reshma was sitting, in order to make her happy.

The meaning of “Bayeke” is that every wish of the pregnant woman will be fulfilled, and it is done to welcome the new member into the family. This function is done only for the first pregnancy.

Afterwards, every woman attending the function lined up to give their blessings and love to the future mum and baby. It is done by applying kumkum powder on the forehead and turmeric powder on the cheeks of Reshma, as well as by throwing some rice on her head. Some pictures were taken, and then lunch took place. It was served on a banana leaf and it included many delicious types of vegetarian food. Some sweets were distributed to all the attendants.

In conclusion, it was a lovely event and everybody enjoyed themselves a lot.