chartandwaters

This was unfortunately something of a common state for Gandhirajan--working while I played with the kids. Because he spoke the language AND knew how to administer, I was often more free, and, by the end of a workshop, more relaxed. So it was his fault for knowing what was going on. (Yes of course I also administered.) These children were some of our main crew--they participated in both the first workshop and the second.



Mangayai's kolam nears completion.



Next to this fire engine is a very large field that's home to a government-run Industrial Training Institute. There is also an open-air shelter used for various activities such as making nets. The field is used for sports such as cricket during the day and sleeping, for some people, at night. Since the shelters are perhaps 16x12 feet and may fit eight or more family members, some people choose to sleep outside. Many of them are fisherman who, when they lived at their homes, often preferred to sleep on the beach.

I didn't realize people slept here until the last night, when we left especially late. First I detected the forms of goats I needed to step around, and then I made out the people. I was startled and expressed surprise. It wasn't judgment, but Gandhirajan bristled at first, sensitive to any lack of understanding about the way the locals live.

Beyond the field is the main road leading from Nagapattinam to the town of Nagoor and several smaller coastal villages.

All the houses are thatch-roofed and most everyone cooks with an open flame, hence the need for the fire engine.