'Cause We're Like Adventurers...: Forgotten Field Trips: Mumbai!

Almost a month ago we were given a two day week, sent on our first train ride, and made our way to Mumbai. I cannot believe how quickly time has flown by! Although it had already been the second time we had been in the city, as we had all landed in Mumbai but had been sheltered from the city in our one over-night before heading to Durshet, I was excited to spend a few days out of Pune exploring the Commercial Capital of India. We were given lectures on Mumbai's transition from textile mills to malls, Dharavi (known as "Asia's Largest Slum"...until recently), got a tour of a Potters' village (where they made pots galore!), Dharavi's recycle center, a lesson on being visually impaired, and a Q&A on all things India....with some great lunches in between!

Here are some things I learned:

Indians aren't as crazy about Gandhi as you would think. Many of them feel that because he was of an upper caste he was sheltered from many of the realities lower castes such as Dalits faced. He was given a lot of credit for the same work many others, like Ambedkar, who we learned about in my Social Justice class, did. I have seen many houses decorated with a photo of Dr. Ambedkar as well as many necklaces in which he serves as the pendant.....but that didn't stop us from going to the Gandhi museum! There were some cool photos of artifacts such as his personal possessions as well as a letter he wrote to Hitler.
Throughout the years Mumbai has undergone a HUGE transition from a mill town to a thriving metropolis which has become a symbol of India's development to countries around the world
Potters can make a loooooooooot of pots
People can live with visual impairments and complete many of the same tasks we can...we just need to give them time. The onset of the technological era has brought about some great improvements to helping them adapt to the world around them and ease the difficulties they may face.
Sometimes, tea and cookies during a lecture saves you from falling asleep in a perfect nap-temperature room!

Of course, the most important part of any adventure I speak of are the pictures....here are a few!

When I first saw Mumbai in August: