Our life during the work camp. (Yuka)

Hello. I’m Yuka!

Today I want to tell you about our life during a work camp.

 

 

Work camp is one of the main projects which our organization, Wappiness, are conducting.

Students visit leprosy colonies and stay there twice a year.

 

Click here for details.

 

 

 

However, you can’t know how we spend our days there in the website.

So, I’ll show you our real life in the Bishnupur colony!

In fact, the facilities, the living environments and the life styles are a little different in each village.

 

 

 

・Room

 

 

 

During the work camp, all Japanese stay in one (or two) room.

This room is usually used as a classroom for elementary school students in the colony.

Children study in another place while we are staying there.

 

 

Japanese campers get along deeper and stronger because we spend all our time together in this room.

 

 

At night, we sleep under a mosquito net like this.

 

 

 

We lay a mat on the floor and sleep in a sleeping bag.

You may think this is uncomfortable. But you can sleep comfortably than you expect.

 

 

 

・How to cook meals

 

We make our meals by ourselves during the work camp.

We don’t eat much Indian food. We bring some Japanese food and seasonings from Japan and cook with vegetables.

 

 

Surprisingly, there is no gas facility and we use this type of oven made by mud.

 

 

 

We rarely experience this way of cooking in Japan!

 

 

The bottom of the pot will be stained with soot after cooking because we put it over the fire directly.

We remove stains  with sand and water.

 

 

 

This is also precious experience for us!

 

After we finish cooking, we eat our meal outside the room!

 

 

 

・How to bathe

 

In the village, there is no shower facility as well as gas.

Therefore, we and the villagers use well water for bathing.

 

It’s hard for women to bathe  with their clothes on.

However, I found that if I use a long skirt, bathing will get easier!

 

It is so much fun to bathe with the villagers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

・How to wash clothes

 

There is no washing machine in the village ,so we must wash our clothes with our hands.

We put water and laundry detergent into a bucket  and stir with clothes.

 

However, this is not enough to remove all dirt.

So, we press clothes against the ground and rub them.

 

It takes only two hours for  dry out the laundry in dry season.

On the other hand, in rainy season, it takes long.

 

 

・Daily schedule

 

we get up in the morning and practice some dancing.

We hold a farewell party on the last day of our stay and perform dancing!

 

After that we have breakfast.

We usually eat biscuits and breads, sometimes bananas or soup too, as a breakfast.

 

Our activities start after having breakfast.

The contents of activities vary from day to day. They include infrastructure building work, research, meeting, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes we go to  market with villagers.

 

 

Around noon, we have lunch.

After lunch, we take a rest for one or two hours.

 

 

During the break, we also bathe, wash clothes, take a nap and talk with the villagers.

The reason why we take a rest after having lunch is because it’s too hot  to do activities in the afternoon.

Taking a rest makes it possible that we live healthy without becoming sick in India!

 

 

After the break,  we start our activities again and work hard.

 

 

In the evening, we have dinner and after that we go back to the room to have a meeting.

We look back on what we did on the day and make sure what we will do on the next day.

Then, our all activities of the day are completed!

 

 

However, sometimes we don’t go to sleep immediately and play cards or have a chat with other members.

 

 

 

 

Today I told you about our life during the work camp.

Those who are interested in our activity,  please join us!

 

 

 

WORK CAMP

 

 

 

 

How to  overcome hot days in India. (Yagi)

Hello. I’m Sakura.

Recently I’ve bought a solid soap. so now I can spend a good bath time..

 

these days, Yuka and I often say “Today is hot” in our blog.

So today I want to tell you about how indian and we overcome those hot days.

 

①Use some household applications.

 

Air conditioner

　This is the best.But it’s too expensive to buy.

The air conditioner of Panasonic is 36,000 rupees($)

The cheapest one is 30,000 rupees in Amazon india.

Therefore, there is no air conditioner in our office…

 

 

Cold air machine

　We have it in our office!

It’s a little bit small so the wind comes partially. When the temperature reaches about 39 degrees, the wind just comes  but I don’t feel it’s cool very much. However, when I feel a little hot or at night, it works quite well. It’s cool.

The price is about 6,000 rupees ($).

 

 

Fan

 

 

　It’s a big fan.

Most of houses have fans in India!

I do not feel too cool because it  always sets on. but when the power goes off, I’m sweat well. So  surely it make us feel cool.

The price varies depends on the number of blades and the decorations, but normal one (One colour and 3 blades) is around 1,500 rupees (3,000 yen).

 

 

 

②Cookking a special  meal

 

We often make “chirashi sushi” on hot days.

“Chirashi Sushi”  is a Japanese dish where there’s rice topped with sashimi and other ingredients like eggs and cucumbers.

We can eat a lot even if it’s hot!

In addition, we always keep cold water bottles in a refrigerator.

 

In the case of Indian people, they eat “water rice”. It’s a literally   boiled rice with water. Someone eats it with vegetables.

Recently I’ve  often seen such people.

I have not eaten it yet, because I have never eaten such a meal.

If I get tired of eating”Chirashi Sushi”, I’ll try to eat it!

 

 

 

③Taking a shower

 

I take a shower in the morning and evening, because I sweat while I’m sleeping.

Recently I have been taking a water without using a water heater. I feel so good! !

I’m so refreshed after the shower in the morning and evening!

 

In hot season, my indian friends take showers three times  a day.

The timing is in the morning, noon (afternoon) and at night.

It is often said that India is a little dirty, but some people care of their appearance such as taking showers 3 times  a day, using perfume and sticking to soap and so on!

 

 

 

④Other way

 

 

Some Indians are half-naked.

I don’t think this is cool…

And we often see people eating watermelon and cucumbers!

It is delicious and contains a lot of water, so it seems like it is eaten in many countries in summer.

I also eat watermelon everyday.

 

 

Indians and we are getting over the hot days with these four ways!

There are same things in Japan and India, such as increasing the time of showers and making special food.

 

 

 

When you come to India in April, May and June, please be careful not to  a sick because of the high temperature. Enjoy your trip! ! !

 

Seasons in India. (Yuka)

Hello. I’m Yuka!

It’ so hot that I can’t stop sweating when I go out.

 

 

Today’s topic is “Seasons in India”.

 

 

I guess that many people think it’s hot throughout the year in India.

 

 

In fact, climates vary from region to region in India because the land is very large.

However,  seasons in India can be roughly divided into 3  as follows:

 

1. Summer Season
2. Monsoon Rainy Season
3. Dry Season

 

 

 

 

Summer season

 

 

 

It is from March to June or July.

 

 

During this season, the temperature goes up to around 40 ℃.

Surprisingly, it may reach 50 ℃ in some areas!

Now, even during the night, it is above 25℃ and we can’t sleep well.

 

 

You must be careful not to get heatstroke and a sunburn in this season.

 

 

 

Monsoon rainy season

 

 

 

It is from June or July to October.

 

 

In this season, heavy rain falls in short time period. It happens several times a day.

Compared to the summer season, the temperature goes down but it’s more humid because of rain.

 

 

The number of mosquitoes increases and infectious diseases transmitted by them prevail in rainy season.

You should bring mosquito repellent  if you come to India during it.

 

And you should put raincoat or umbrella into your bag, too.

 

 

 

Dry season

 

 

 

It is from November to February or March.

 

 

It is little rain and the temperature is not so high in this season.

It’s a comfortable climate.

Therefore, I recommend  you to come to India in this season!

 

 

However, on December and January, the temperature sometimes falls to about 10℃.

So you need to wear warm clothes.

 

 

 

This is my 5th time coming to India.

However, I have never experienced cold season in India.

I’m looking forward to it!

 

 

 

 

Why is a Joychandi famous? (Yagi)

Hello. This is Sakura.

Recently, summer has come in india! And the temperature is over 39 degrees everyday.

For the first time I will spend time in April, June, and July in India.

So I’m worried that it will be more hot from now on …

 

Yesterday I went to the Manipur colony after a long time.

I got a lot of energy from the villagers, so I can do my best again from now on !

 

Yesterday’s highlight was a session time.

Lakshman Grandpa was playing the Duruk Bage (drum) and I was playing the lamcutchi (a kind of tambourine)

 

These are the traditional Indian musical instruments  used in pooja (festivals).

 

 

Today,I will introduce “Joychandi”!  

It is near the Manipur leprosy colony.

 

Joychandi is a hindu temple to enshrine Siva and Hanuman.

And it’s two hills located in the village of Laghunathpur.

There are resorts, food courts and parks around it.

Children who are living in the colony also visit as school  and village events.

 

 

 

It was in March,2018 that I first climbed Joychandi.

At that time, there were shops at the foot of the hill, but at the top there was only a temple and a Hindu goods store. because there is  no dustbin, trash was scattered everywhere.

When I looked around, there were only a few people, and I did not have the impression that there were too many tourists.

 

 

But now the Joychandi has been changed!!

 

 

The stairs were painted beautifully, and several dustbins were installed at the top.

There are shops not only at the foot of the hill, but also at the top! ! !

I can drink  the hot chai (tea) at the shop. It’s so delicious. .

Furthermore, in winter, some groups  visit there for a rock climbing.

 

Why is it so popular now…?

 

I think the answer is

 

1.Photogenicity.

2.uniqueness.

 

1. Photogenicity

 

As you know, Indians like to take a photo.

As a result, at Joychandi you can see many people taking a selfie quite often.

 

 

2. uniqueness.

 

As you can see in the picture, around the Joychandi is full of rice fields.

Joychonley is outstanding in such a plain.

Therefore, it’s perfect when you want to go up the mountain or go out somewhere.

 

When you are tired of people in India, how about going to heal your mind with Joychandi?

 

Joychandi

・ Climbing free

・ The nearest station is Joychandi Station / Adra Station

・ From Adra station by tuktuk (electric three-wheeled vehicle) about 100 rupees one way

・Nearly 4pm is recommended because there are not many people, and a little cool.

・Climbing time would be 10 to 15 minutes.

 

Thank you for reading! See you again!

 

What my friends asked me when I went back from India. (Yagi)

Hello.I’m Sakura.

Today,I will answer some questions that people often ask me.

 

First,

“Do Indian people  really eat curry every day?”

 

The answer is “almost right”.

 

In fact, villagers often ask me what curry will you eat today?

 

Also, if you ask the villager what you eat today, the answer would be “Bhat (rice), Ruti (thin naan)”.

 

In other words, they will not even say “I ate curry” because it is obvious for them  the matter is whether you eat rice or ruchi with curry.

 

But that’s not everything !

Wealthier Indian people  eat Kichuri (stew with rice on a cold day)

and a little sweet rice (I forgot the name ….) with nuts and dried fruits for dinner on a festival day!

 

 

Therefore, Indian do not always eat curry .

 

in Japan we use soy sauce and soup stock instead of masala every time.

If you are Chinese, you use “Hanakosyo” or “Hakkaku”, and if Italian, you use”Olive”.

There are some things that determine the  culture and ingredients and seasoning that match the people’s taste preferences .

 

By chance it’s just “curry taste” for Indian, there is no big difference between India and other countries!

 

So the answer to “Do Indian really eat curry every day?” is

 

“Indian eat curry  as Japanese eat Japanese food (Sushi,Miso soup and so on )”!

 

Next question is

”Have you ever had a stomach ache in India?”

 

I have suffered from the ache only once in India.

 

I would like to give you tips on not having a stomach problem

 

1. Wash your hands well.

In India, air pollution is awful. And when you travel in india, you may touch a lot of things.

So it is important to wash carefully.

 

2. Do not eat raw fruits and vegetables  at the street stall.

This is no problem with the fruit, but because presumably there are germs on the cutting knife t. Nobody knows what it cut before it cuts the fruit.

 

3. Cook Eggs and Meat well.

Eggs and meat are all stored out of the  refrigerator. So Those are not fresh, and if you eat those as raw and will get in a stomach trouble.

 

4. Eat meat only in places where you trust.

Although I wrote a little, I recommend that you eat meat, especially in places you trust, such as restaurants and homes.

 

5 drink only mineral water in plastic bottles .

Tap water in India contains a lot of iron . The filter of our washing machine  turns to red after washing(because of iron)!

Make sure to use mineral water for drinking water and cooking.

 

Also, when you purchase bottles of water, please make sure that the plastic bottle lid is in place. Tap water may be put in an empty plastic bottle.

 

6 Avoid spicy food

This is a little bit difficult if you are in India.

However, spicy food is not good for your stomach and it is easy to have stomach trouble.

How about having a few days in travel schedule, “Let’s go to a Chinese restaurant” or “Let’s have a non-spicy Indian meal” today?

There are a lot of non-spicy Indian food in india. So please ask at some store!

 

So my answer to “Don’t you have stomach trouble in India?” is

 

“If you follow these advices  you will not have stomach trouble.”

 

I think you can’t understand these tips unless go to india, so please come to India!

 

Thank you for reading! See you again!

 

Useful Items that make our life better in India. Yuka

Hello. I’m Yuka.

Now I feel a little bit lonely because one of our members have returned to Japan.

 

By the way, I guess that many people think living in India is not easy because it’s hot everyday, the air is not clean and the food is very spicy and so on.

 

 

Actually, Our office is comfortable to live in.

I’m enjoying living a life in India!

Today, I will introduce very useful items that make my life better in India!

 

 

・Refrigerator

 

 

 

If there were no refrigerator, the food would go bad easily.

And if we keep food out of it, many ants would swarm to the food!

 

Moreover, we’re dying for cold food and a drink because it’s so hot everyday in India now…!

 

So, refrigerator is very important item for us.

 

 

・Washing machine

 

 

 

I used to wash my clothes with my hands during work camp.

But now, I can use washing machine in our office!

 

 

・Kitchenware

 

 

 

Thanks to a toaster oven, we can eat toasted bread and grilled vegetables!

And a electric kettle makes it possible to boil water instantly.

 

I wish there were a microwave in our office, too!

 

 

 

・Water heater

 

 

 

If there were no water heater, we should take a cold shower everyday.

And if we would do that in a cool day or winter, we might catch a cold.

 

Water heater is very important, too!

 

 

 

・Printer

 

 

 

We have bought this printer recently.

When we had no devices to print out, we had to go to print shop each time.

Now, we don’t have to spend our energy and time to go to the shop!

 

 

 

・Cold air machine

 

 

 

We bought this because we couldn’t stand the heat anymore.

If we pour water into this machine, cool air comes from it!.

We can feel cool!

 

 

Some people may think it’s normal to have these items in your house.

But in India, even those things which is nothing special in Japan or some other countries make me happy!

 

Japanese food is the most important thing for us to live in India.

We cannot live here without it!

Of course Indian food is delicious. However, sometimes we feel like eating Japanese food because we are Japanese!

 

 

We brought a lot of Japanese food to our office.

 

 

 

That’s a lot!

 

 

How was the today’s blog?

Even though sometimes I feel uncomfortable, I’m enjoying my life in India!

 

 

 

 

Why don’t you travel in India by train? How to book it is here.(Yagi)

Hello. I’m Sakura.

Recently, many insects come from window on every evening.

 

Today,I want to tell you how to get on train with “ixigo” in india.

 

“ixigo” is an application for travelling in india.

I often use it when I book a train ticket.

You can book not only trains but also buses, airplane and hotel with it.

Moreover, if you search the train number which you want to get on,you can know where the train is then.

 

Before you use “ixigo”, you have to make IRCTC account.

 

How to book trains with “ixigo”

1, Fill two station names which you will get on and get off train and research.

2, Choose the train class.

 

Sleeper trains

	Meals	Seats	Goods
1A	You can choose the meal vegetable or non vegetable.	Private room （Bunk bed）	AC ・blanket ・pillow
2A	prepared.	Divide with curtain （Two bunk beds）	AC ・blanket ・pillow
3A	prepared.	Not divide (3 bunk beds.) There is a bunk bed.On the other side of the isle,2 bunk bed.	AC ・blanket ・pillow
SL	No.	Not divide There is a triple bunk bed.On the other side of the isle,2 triple bunk bed.	No AC

 

Other trains

EC	prepared.	There are 2 seats. On the other side of the isle, also 2 seats.	AC
CC	You can choose whether you buy or not.	There are 2 seats. On the other side of the isle, 3 seats.	AC
2S	No.	There is a bench. On the other side of the isle, also a bench.	No AC

 

3, Go to station.

When you go to somewhere in india, please try to use “Uber”.

It’s an application for travelling in india.

It’s so useful and famous

in india.

 

4, Go to platform.

You can know the platform which you have to go with “ixigo”.

But I recommend asking to Indian.

Because I think it’s more quickly than search with an App.

 

5,Confirm the position you want to get on.

You have to look for the position because cars are different in different classes.

You can’t change cars when trains are running.

So you have to ask some indian.

 

⑥Get on the train!

Before you get on the train, please confirm that the car is what you want to get on.

 

⑦Sit on  your seat.

you look for your seat and sit there.

 

That’s all how to book and get on trains in india.

 

Please be careful a theft and lost items!

And enjoy the travelling in india!!

 

 

Thank you for reading! See you again!

 

My daily life as an intern student. (Yuka)

 

Hello. I’m Yuka!

 

I think some of you have such a question: “What do the intern students do every day in India?”

So, today I want to answer this question. I will introduce my daily life!

 

 

 

AM8:00 Good morning!

 

I usually get up around 8:00.

Then I take a shower because it’s hot and I sweat a lot at night.

By doing this, I can feel refreshed!

 

 

 

AM8:30 Working time

 

Before I have a breakfast, I do some work at my desk.

I can work more efficiently in morning because it’s not so hot.

I often do publicity activities like writing a blog and posting some tweets on Twitter in morning.

 

 

This is our office!

 

 

 

 

 

AM9:30 Breakfast

 

After I did a small amount of work, I have a breakfast.

I eat leftovers from dinner of day before, toasts, cornflakes or something.

There is little difference between the breakfast which I have in India and that in Japan.

 

 

After having my breakfast, I start my work again.

If I get a little bit hungry, I go to fried food shop near our office.

 

 

 

 

 

I buy an Alu Chop(chopped and fried potatoes) there. It’s so good and I love it very much!

 

 

 

 

 

The people work in the shop are very charming and kindly say hello to me when I pass by the shop.

 

 

I like this old man the most among them. He is so cute!

His smile always makes me happy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

PM0:00 Lunch

We usually make our lunch at office by ourselves.

 

 

 

PM2:00 Meeting

After finishing lunch, I take a little bit rest and then have meeting with Sakura (another intern student).

In that day, we talked about publicity activities and annual report of our organization.

 

 

 

PM5:00 Going to colony

 

In evening, I go to colony to take pictures for the SNS and the blog and to talk with villagers.

We often look in on the colony even if there is nothing to do

I can work hard thanks to their smile and a happy time that I spend with them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PM7:30 Dinner

 

I cook dinner with other members and eat together.

After dinner, I spend my time working or taking a shower or talking with other members and so on.

 

 

 

PM11:00 Good night!

 

Around PM11:00 I go to bed.

Recently it’s too hot to sleep at every night…

 

 

 

This is my daily life.

How was it?

Every day is very fulfilling for me!

 

 

 

Fruits production in india. (Yagi)

Hello! I’m Sakura.

 

Today, I want to tell you about “Fruits Production” in india!

 

Actually, just now, we can buy muscuts for 10 Rupees per 100g ! ($0.14)

 

Moreover,a head of watermelon is 14 Rupees.($0.20)

And mangos are 20 rupees per 100g.($0.29)

 

 

Those are so cheap! And taste are sooo good!

 

Why are those so cheap?

 

 

↓↓I think there is one of the answer. ↓↓

 

The production amount about some fruits in the world.

 

2016：Lemons and limes produced 1,978,000 ton. It’s the best in the world!

2016：Grapes produced 2,590,000 ton.It’s best 8 in the world.

2016：Pineapples produced 1,964,000 ton. It’s best 4 in the world.

 

 

And The production amount of mangos have been the best in the world from 2007 to 2016.

The lowest amount was 13,734,000 ton. The best was18,779,000ton.

 

The second place, China, produced it 4,665,000ton.(2016)

It’s the best amount in the world from 2007 to 2016.

So the mago production of India was 4 times that of China in 10 years.

 

 

BANANA!

The production amount of Bananas have been best in the world from 2005 to 2014!

It was also 2 times that of China in 10 years.

 

 

Moreover,Papaya…

It also has been the best in the world from 2007 to 2016.

The second place  was Brazil.

 

 

You can see how india is good for fruits production..

If you visit to India, why don’t you try those fruits!

 

Thank you for reading! See you again!

 

The system of parliament and election of India (Yuka)

 

Hello.I’m Yuka.

It has been 1 month since I came to India. Time flies.

 

In India, general election is being conducted now.

 

I looked up the system of parliament and election of india on the Internet because I didn’t know well about that although this is my 5th visit to India.

So, today I want to introduce that to you!

 

 

 

The system of parliament of India

 

Parliament of India is a bicameral legislature composed of a President and 2 houses: the Raija Sabha(upper house) and the Lok Sabha(lower house). A parliamentary cabinet system has been adopted in India and Prime Minister is elected from the ruling party of Lok Sabha.

 

India has both Prime Minister and President. But only Prime Minister holds political power.

 

The Raija Sabha has 245 members and they hold their seats for 6  years.

One third of the members are re-elected every 2 years.

 

The Lok Sabha has 545 members and they hold their seats for 5 years or until the parliament  is dissolved.

It is more powerful than the Raija Sabha when the parliament makes some decisions.

Now ruling party of it is Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) and the Prime Minister is Narendra Damodardas Modi.

 

 

 

What is the general election?

 

The election of the Lok Sabha is going on now in India.

This is called the general election.

 

It is one of the biggest scale election in the world.

The number of voter is about 900 million! That’s a lot!

 

General election is very important because the result of it has a big impact on future direction of politics and economy of India.

 

2019 Indian general election is being held in seven phases from 11 April to 19 May.

And the counting of votes will be conducted on 23 May.

 

 

 

About 2019 Indian general election

 

The thing which people are concerned with is whether BJP can keep their seats and Mr.Modi continue to be a Prime Minister.

 

In 2014 Indian general election, BJP won a majority of seats and became a ruling party.

Mr.Modi conducted a lot of reformation after he became a Prime Minister.

 

Public opinion toward over the past five years will be cleared after this election.