Mumbai seems to be a very happening city but I have spent my day in my hotel room sick with a cold. I must say, however, that this hotel room is the coolest of the rooms we've had so far (and has an amazing shower that I have already used a couple of times today...I'm sure it is helping me to recover.) At the suggestion of one of the Fulbright leaders, I had a doctor check me out this morning. It cost Rs 800 for the hotel room visit...about $20. He also gave me medicine for my stuffy nose, cough, aches, etc, etc which totaled about Rs 350 (less than $10). Although it was more expensive than when one of my roommates got sick in another city, the fact that I got a "house call" and small arsenol of medicine for less than $30 is totally amazing to me.
Last night we visited one of the local teacher's colleges. The various pre-service teachers put on a great show linking various topics (environmental awareness, unity & diversity, health, etc) to music and dance. Some of the music they used was adapted from different Bollywood films (and based on the enthusiastic clapping and singing from audience members, they were very popular songs). I don't know if I have visited a country that has had so many links to music and dance. Every city we have visited has had at least 1 (in most cases, many more) dance performance. I think all of us in the group have played around with some of hand movements or eye movements that we have seen repeated in various performances.
As a group of Americans, we attract a lot of attention everywhere we go. We often see people staring at us and taking pictures of us. It is certainly a unique experience and an interesting glimpse into what famous people experience non-stop (at least we will get to go home in about a week and blend in with everyone else again unlike celebrities.) When we go to a school as a group, I am sure we disrupt the learning process for the rest of the day. Even though the teachers and students try to continue with their lessons, it is obvious that the students are more curious about the strange looking visitors. The private schools usually have more success than the government schools at keeping their students focused. At the government schools in particular, I am sure the teachers are glad when we leave because the students get very excited when they see our cameras and all try to be in every photo - it is like a magnet for the students.
Yesterday we added to the list of ways we have been disruptive for school kids. On our drive to Mumbai from the airport, we passed two buses filled with students on a school trip. Their first bus pulled up next to us and they saw we were not Indians and started waving. We waved back and then the whole group of students then seemed to rush towards the side of the bus closest to us and eagerly start waving. A couple of teachers wrote on a piece of paper with a marker that we were from the US and a group of teachers. We watched as the students gathered around one of the girls as she whipped out a pen and paper and wrote that they were from India and loved the US (too cute!) When they saw us react positively to it, they wrote something back to us but we couldn't read it (Where are their Sharpies?). They were totally adorable and I am sure their bus drivers and sponsors were happy when their lane picked up pace and they could get away from us.
Time to get some more rest. I know, I think I'll take a shower. ;)
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