While the sights, smells and sounds of India are captivating as ever, it’s difficult not to become a little blase when sunk into routine. Although life here seems a blur of festivals (especially now that we’re entering festival season) there are, in fact, days, even weeks, in which we face nothing but 6 days of classes with children that at times make one hoarse with yelling at them.

At these times we make our own fun and find greater significance than any sane person should, in the little things. For example, following months of gastronomic monotony, the sighting of a man selling fresh green leaf (I think it was spinach) can make ones day and the future promise of carrots, which will come into season in the next month, is utterly delightful. The occasional pleasure of finishing a day of work and catching a favourite movie on cable is enough to leave one smiling for the rest of the evening (or tearing-up with a little bit of homesickness).

We’ve slowly worked to control our sugar and junk food intake, which has made the occasional chocolate or sweet we do have all the better and even phone calls, textmessages or the use of a computer are a thrill, the connection with home an occasional, most enjoyable distraction.

Best of all, of course, are the opportunities to travel, when we make it outside of our school and the tiny town we inhabit and out into mystery of the country we have come to love. These quick jaunts into the unknown find us weaving adventures out of the small acts, which become so significant when alone, such as; the acquisition of cupboard-like hotel rooms (for $3AUD!), western style-food (never again) and making acquaintance of other tourists (an experience which is greatly desirable after months of language barriers).

The most interesting activity of travel, is the sourcing of transport, a feat which requires patience (things won’t leave or arrive at the time you were told they would…you get used to it), flexibility (ever tried fitting 12 people into a 1 x 1m box? Imagine said box travelling at 30km/h on a road with more pit-holes than flats and you’ve pretty much simulated a rides in a tempo) and logic (when your bus veers to the side of the road and pulls to a stop beacause the front windshield is smashed-in and the driver and front passengers are covered in glass shards, stay calm. Assess the damage to the driver and the bus and phone ahead to anyone you’re meeting. Add at least 1 hour to your ETA)

See, anything can brighten your day when you’re having this great a time!