Chilling in the heat at Goa

Just arrived here at Agonda beach in Goa with the goal of updating this blog (about 10 entries to do going backwards from this one), then completing the required Fulbright survey (34 questions eek!), writing the 15 page report on the Fulbright DAT experience itself (not something I want to have to do when I get home in a week) and packaging something to encapsulate the Fulbright project itself. In other words, a lot of work. Somehow I have to psyche myself into believing this work is fun and something I intrinsically want to do. So, be at a beach where it’s hard to complain. If the work gets done, then I’ll tourist about and leave the bubble. That is the carrot. My bubble is beautiful but very hot and humid, thermometer says 96F and it “feels like” 107 with the 48% humidity. I don’t really understand meteorology. I get what humidity is but as soon as it gets humid I have a hard time thinking. Fortunately science is not limited by our senses.

Much respect for so many Indian students who try to learn in classrooms despite incredible environmental challenges, like no AC,  no tech, high-pressure exams that derail any notion of creativity etc.  The good news is that everyone wants to change it, and I’m privileged to have some strategies and resources to help. So I’ve had a way in the door if given a chance.

My mind is on work but my body is dealing with the heat and humidity. Fortunately there is an occasional sea breeze and when I open my eyes I see things like this:

When I wake up in the morning I just travel a few steps barefoot in the sand and within minutes I’m looking at this.

And my cottage is a unique accommodation as you can see here.

The bathroom is open air which is really nice.

And the bedroom is simple with a good net (although I haven’t noticed any mosquitos) and a very inconsistent AC unit that seems to be on, sort of works but doesn’t really accomplish its mission. Not the first time that’s happened to me in India. But then at night I got cold and had to turn it off.

When I wrote my original Fulbright application I sequestered myself onto a beach in Montana D’Oro and attacked the essays one by one, weeks before school started and away from any distractions (except of course the entire internet, a fact of modern life but don’t ever take my phonething away!) There is something to be said for putting yourself in a beautiful place and releasing the creativity and inspiration sometimes slightly dormant and contained by the busy world’s pressure.

My intention now is to close out this Fulbright blessing in similar manner, so when I get back to Los Angeles and am immediately  back in my classroom picking up whatever fragments of instruction are left …  I can dedicate 100% of my energies to my long missed students. I imagined I’d be monitoring my classes through Google Classroom,  FaceTiming and video chatting everyday, but it didn’t happen. If we are out of sight or earshot, are we out of mind?  Seems like it.

If I was with you in person right now, yapping away and changing topics and interrupting you in  your thoughts (as I know that I do but can hardly control)…  there would be no doubt that real life was happening. So here’s a virtual toast to real life. It’s the best!

When I was picked up at the airport in Goa, the driver had a great sign. I was amused by the original that he had corrected. Put that on your epic failure board.