Amritapuri Part 2

In early July, I returned to Amritapuri, Kollam to reorient myself for the next few months.

Despite several efforts and requests to work in surrounding schools, unfortunately there was no opportunity at that time.

However, soon after that, I started two very interesting work projects:

Firstly, I worked for almost 3 months for the ashram's internal Waste Management in the recycling field. Here, together with my recycling team, I sorted all the accumulated waste from the ashram.

At first, I was a bit reluctant to do this work, but after a short time, I managed to overcome it and saw its significance and importance.

I already worked with the recycling team during Amma's tour in April, and I gained first impressions and experiences during that work.
You should know that recycling and waste management in India has unfortunately been insufficient or non-existent so far. Therefore, it was important for me to engage for two hours every morning in sorting waste.

In the afternoons, I worked two more hours for an ashram project called 'Saukyam'.

There, I helped with the production and marketing of reusable cloth menstrual pads filled with banana fibers, for women in the surrounding villages.

The use of disposable pads by the majority of women and teenagers living here creates a massive environmental burden and also represents a huge health risk for women due to the toxins they contain.

Due to this issue, my interest and motivation to participate in the project emerged.

My supervisor assigned me the role of team coordinator for a team consisting of Western women from the ashram. My Indian friend Meenakshy was responsible for coordinating the Indian project workers.

I found the intercultural collaboration very enriching, and I also saw a strong occupational therapy-related aspect in the work.

The goal was to enable meaningful and relevant daily activities for the female villagers, such as sewing and plucking banana fibers, while also allowing them to participate in their daily lives.

In addition to these projects, I enjoyed spending time with a 5-year-old Indian boy from a friendly family in the ashram. We met for the first time at the beach, and from that moment on, we immediately had a strong connection to each other.

In addition to various shared play activities, I also playfully helped him improve his spoken English. So I was able to apply a bit of playful didactics, which I had wished for. 😊

In my free time, I also gave simple violin lessons to a Belgian ashram resident friend, which were personally supervised by my mother both in person and remotely.😁 It was amazing to see the progress she made in a short time and how enthusiastically she attended the lessons.

In August, the time finally came, and my mother came to visit me in Amritapuri with her 'foster child' Ananda from Haiti. 🥰

We enjoyed our time together very much, even though it was a small adjustment after 4 months of being on my own. 😉

After our short trip to the Maldives, we enjoyed our time together in Amritapuri and went on punttooth tours on the backwaters, visited temples, and much more. We also celebrated Independence Day in India together.🇮🇳

It was a great feeling to pick up where we left off on our vacation in Amritapuri last year in August. :)

..During my time at the ashram, I participated in a meditation course and finally started to incorporate a 45-minute meditation into my daily routine early in the morning. Honestly, it's difficult for me to maintain this structure, as my inner self sometimes resists. 

But I know where to find my meditation cushion and the practice guide when I feel the need to calm my thoughts. .😋😁

Especially in the last few weeks at the ashram, I consciously absorbed the impressions deeply within me.

I particularly enjoyed spending time alone on the beach or on the backwaters, having quiet moments with myself. But I also had the freedom to decide when I wanted to see my Western and Indian friends.

I will always associate this absolute feeling of happiness and inner freedom with the ashram, and I will remember all the people who enriched my stay with a smile. 🧡

---

At the beginning of July, I returned to Amritapuri, Kollam to reorient myself for the next few months.

Despite several efforts and requests to work in surrounding schools, there was unfortunately no possibility at the time.

However, soon afterwards I started two very interesting work projects:

On the one hand, I worked almost 3 months for the Waste Management in the field of recycling within the ashram. Here I sorted together with my recycling team all accumulating garbage from the ashram.

At first I was bit averse to this work, but after a short time I was able to overcome it and saw the sense and importance in it.

I already worked in April with the recycling team on the tour with Amma and was able to gain first impressions and experiences during this work.

You have to know that recycling and waste management in India has so far been insufficiently or not started at all. Therefore, it was important to me to get involved every day for two hours early in the morning.

In the afternoon, I worked for another two hours on an ashram project called Saukyam.

I helped with the production and marketing of reusable sanitary napkins stuffed with banana fibers for women in the surrounding villages.

The use of disposable sanitary napkins by the majority of women and teenagers living here creates a massive environmental burden and also represents a huge health risk for women due to the toxins it contains.

This issue created my interest and motivation to participate in the project.

My supervisor gave me the role of a team coordinator for the team of western ashram women. My Indian friend Meenakshy was the project coordinator for the Indian project workers.

The intercultural cooperation was very enriching and in the work I saw a strong occupational therapy reference.

The aim was to enable a meaningful and relevant everyday activity for the female villagers, such as the sewing and plucking of banana fibers, while at the same time they were engaged and empowered to participate in their everyday lives.

In addition to these projects, I also enjoyed spending my time with an Indian 5-year-old boy of a family from the ashram family. We met for the first time on the beach and from that moment on we immediately had a strong connection to each other.

In addition to varied joyful games, I also playfully supported him in improving his spoken english. So I was able to use didactics a little bit playfully, which I had wished for. 😊

In my free time, I also gave simple violin lessons to a friendly Belgian ashram host, who was 'supervised' by my mother personally as well as remotely.😁 It was great to see her progress in a short time and how enthusiastic she was attended the lessons.

In August it was finally time and my mother came to visit me with her 'foster child' Ananda from Haiti in Amritapuri. 🥰

We enjoyed the time together, even if it was a small change after 4 months, which I was on my own. 😉

After our short trip to the Maldives, we enjoyed the time together in Amritapuri and made punttooth tours on the backwaters, temple visits and much more. We also celebrated the Independence Day in India together

It was a great feeling to continue our holiday in Amritapuri last year in August. :)

..In my time at the Ashram, I participated in a meditation class and finally started to incorporate a 45 minutes meditation into my daily routine early in the morning. Honestly, I find it difficult to maintain this structure, as my inner 🐷🐕 at times quite resist.

But I know where to find my meditation cushion and practice guide when I feel the need to quench my thoughts. .😋😁

The impressions especially in the last weeks in the ashram, I have consciously and deeply absorbed in me.

I especially enjoyed spending time alone on the beach, or on the backwaters, to have quiet moments with me alone. But I also had the freedom to decide for myself if I wanted to see my western and indian friends.

I will always associate this absolute happiness and inner freedom with the Ashram and with a smile I will remember all the people who enriched my stay so much. 🧡

---

At the beginning of July, I returned to Amritapuri, Kollam to reorient myself for the next few months.

Despite several efforts and requests to work in surrounding schools, there was unfortunately no possibility at the time.

However, soon afterwards I started two very interesting work projects:

On the one hand, I worked almost 3 months for the Waste Management in the field of recycling within the ashram. Here I sorted together with my recycling team all accumulating garbage from the ashram.

At first I was bit averse to this work, but after a short time I was able to overcome it and saw the sense and importance in it.

I already worked in April with the recycling team on the tour with Amma and was able to gain first impressions and experiences during this work.

You have to know that recycling and waste management in India has so far been insufficiently or not started at all. Therefore, it was important to me to get involved every day for two hours early in the morning.

In the afternoon, I worked for another two hours on an ashram project called Saukyam.

I helped with the production and marketing of reusable sanitary napkins stuffed with banana fibers for women in the surrounding villages.

The use of disposable sanitary napkins by the majority of women and teenagers living here creates a massive environmental burden and also represents a huge health risk for women due to the toxins it contains.

This issue created my interest and motivation to participate in the project.

My supervisor gave me the role of a team coordinator for the team of western ashram women. My Indian friend Meenakshy was the project coordinator for the Indian project workers.

The intercultural cooperation was very enriching and in the work I saw a strong occupational therapy reference.

The aim was to enable a meaningful and relevant everyday activity for the female villagers, such as the sewing and plucking of banana fibers, while at the same time they were engaged and empowered to participate in their everyday lives.

In addition to these projects, I also enjoyed spending my time with an Indian 5-year-old boy of a family from the ashram family. We met for the first time on the beach and from that moment on we immediately had a strong connection to each other.

In addition to varied joyful games, I also playfully supported him in improving his spoken english. So I was able to use didactics a little bit playfully, which I had wished for. 😊

In my free time, I also gave simple violin lessons to a friendly Belgian ashram host, who was 'supervised' by my mother personally as well as remotely.😁 It was great to see her progress in a short time and how enthusiastic she was attended the lessons.

In August it was finally time and my mother came to visit me with her 'foster child' Ananda from Haiti in Amritapuri. 🥰

We enjoyed the time together, even if it was a small change after 4 months, which I was on my own. 😉

After our short trip to the Maldives, we enjoyed the time together in Amritapuri and made punttooth tours on the backwaters, temple visits and much more. We also celebrated the Independence Day in India together

It was a great feeling to continue our holiday in Amritapuri last year in August. :)

..In my time at the Ashram, I participated in a meditation class and finally started to incorporate a 45 minutes meditation into my daily routine early in the morning. Honestly, I find it difficult to maintain this structure, as my inner 🐷🐕 at times quite resist.

But I know where to find my meditation cushion and practice guide when I feel the need to quench my thoughts. .😋😁

The impressions especially in the last weeks in the ashram, I have consciously and deeply absorbed in me.

I especially enjoyed spending time alone on the beach, or on the backwaters, to have quiet moments with me alone. But I also had the freedom to decide for myself if I wanted to see my western and indian friends.

I will always associate this absolute happiness and inner freedom with the Ashram and with a smile I will remember all the people who enriched my stay so much. 🧡

---

At the beginning of July, I returned to Amritapuri, Kollam to reorient myself for the next few months.

Despite several efforts and requests to work in surrounding schools, there was unfortunately no possibility at the time.

However, soon afterwards I started two very interesting work projects:

On the one hand, I worked almost 3 months for the Waste Management in the field of recycling within the ashram. Here I sorted together with my recycling team all accumulating garbage from the ashram.

At first I was bit averse to this work, but after a short time I was able to overcome it and saw the sense and importance in it.

I already worked in April with the recycling team on the tour with Amma and was able to gain first impressions and experiences during this work.

You have to know that recycling and waste management in India has so far been insufficiently or not started at all. Therefore, it was important to me to get involved every day for two hours early in the morning.

In the afternoon, I worked for another two hours on an ashram project called Saukyam.

I helped with the production and marketing of reusable sanitary napkins stuffed with banana fibers for women in the surrounding villages.

The use of disposable sanitary napkins by the majority of women and teenagers living here creates a massive environmental burden and also represents a huge health risk for women due to the toxins it contains.

This issue created my interest and motivation to participate in the project.

My supervisor gave me the role of a team coordinator for the team of western ashram women. My Indian friend Meenakshy was the project coordinator for the Indian project workers.

The intercultural cooperation was very enriching and in the work I saw a strong occupational therapy reference.

The aim was to enable a meaningful and relevant everyday activity for the female villagers, such as the sewing and plucking of banana fibers, while at the same time they were engaged and empowered to participate in their everyday lives.

In addition to these projects, I also enjoyed spending my time with an Indian 5-year-old boy of a family from the ashram family. We met for the first time on the beach and from that moment on we immediately had a strong connection to each other.

In addition to varied joyful games, I also playfully supported him in improving his spoken english. So I was able to use didactics a little bit playfully, which I had wished for. 😊

In my free time, I also gave simple violin lessons to a friendly Belgian ashram host, who was 'supervised' by my mother personally as well as remotely.😁 It was great to see her progress in a short time and how enthusiastic she was attended the lessons.

In August it was finally time and my mother came to visit me with her 'foster child' Ananda from Haiti in Amritapuri. 🥰

We enjoyed the time together, even if it was a small change after 4 months, which I was on my own. 😉

After our short trip to the Maldives, we enjoyed the time together in Amritapuri and made punttooth tours on the backwaters, temple visits and much more. We also celebrated the Independence Day in India together

It was a great feeling to continue our holiday in Amritapuri last year in August. :)

..In my time at the Ashram, I participated in a meditation class and finally started to incorporate a 45 minutes meditation into my daily routine early in the morning. Honestly, I find it difficult to maintain this structure, as my inner 🐷🐕 at times quite resist.

But I know where to find my meditation cushion and practice guide when I feel the need to quench my thoughts. .😋😁

The impressions especially in the last weeks in the ashram, I have consciously and deeply absorbed in me.

I especially enjoyed spending time alone on the beach, or on the backwaters, to have quiet moments with me alone. But I also had the freedom to decide for myself if I wanted to see my western and indian friends.

I will always associate this absolute happiness and inner freedom with the Ashram and with a smile I will remember all the people who enriched my stay so much. 🧡