Leaving Lonavala...

  Mumbai, India
Sunday, November 5, 2006

Day 5 and the last work day of the Build! - Crew members scrambled around frantically, competition to finish first heated up - cheers erupting as the last tile was laid, country flags fluttered from completed roofs, sinks and kitchen counter tops had to be installed, human chains handed up tiles as the roofs were laid at a blistering pace, cleaning, painting touch-ups...everything had to be perfect!!

Decorating!

President Jimmy Carter and his wife along with the CEO of Habitat visited every house, inspecting progress and gracing pictures...the excitement was palpable!

Proud home-owners got ready for house dedications and after the biggest lunch of the week, the Build took on a more serious note. This was what we had been waiting for...I was told by my more experienced Habitat friends that for most people house dedications were emotional but nothing prepared me for what happened. Our home-owners brought with them offerings of flowers, rice, tumeric, sugar, sweets, coconuts and incense to perform a simple Indian house-warming ritual.

coconut breaking ceremony

Beautiful colourful 'kolams' or drawings in rice paste and chalk powder were drawn at the entrance of the house. After walking in and out of the house with dirty work boots for the entire week we respectfully removed our shoes and walked into the new homes to offer our prayers and congratulations.

a new beginning

Speeches and words of thanks followed...In a sudden and unexpected display of gratitude, Sundarabai (our home owner) insisted on touching the feet of all the crew members...some couldn't told back the tears - a simple pledge of time and money had made such a difference!
Houses 27 and 28 became a home to two families - thanks to the 2 Japanese, 3 Americans, 1 Singaporeans, 1 Bangladeshi, 3 Canadians and 13-14 Indians: my 'house-mates' for the week!

home owners and me - all done!

Leaving Lonavala -

Old friendships were renewed, new friendships forged, a hundred homes built and a little town called Malvali was changed forever! Leaving JWCP 2006 was hard...saying goodbyes, hunting for friends in the thronging crowd, promises to meet again on other Habitat Builds...exchanging email addresses and phone numbers, making plans...the scene was more like Graduation Day! Its hard for such events to leave a person un-changed. The perspective this week has given me is invaluable and I'm a happier and strangely more contented person. People say that this sort of thing is organic, self-sustaining, almost addictive...and the natural high and sense of satisfaction you feel will last...till the next build!!

JWCP 2007, anyone?

Proud home owner