January 24, 2024

Clown Car

After three weeks of long days filled with exploration and unpredictable adventures, we have entered week four, kicking off our work with our partner organizations. Today, my teammates and I working with Biome had the opportunity to visit some of their project sites. Our day got off to a bit of a rough start when Uber decided it wouldn’t drop us off near the first school we were meeting at, leading to a brisk 15-minute walk/jog from the closest allowable drop-off spot. Despite this minor hiccup, we made good time and were limbered up for the day ahead.

Upon arriving at the first school, we received a warm welcome from Bhavani (bha-vani) and Shivananda (shiv-anan-da), two members of the Biome team. They guided us through the school, sharing insights into the various components of one of the completed rainwater harvesting systems they’ve implemented in government schools. While the collection of pipes, sumps, and water filters that make up the system may not seem extravagant, they represent a practical and eco-friendly solution to address the water scarcity issue in Bangalore. After numerous questions and some delightful interactions with the school kids, we headed out to see an in-progress project at another school.

As we left, we encountered our second transportation issue of the day. We couldn’t Uber and the car Bhavani and Shivananda were driving was quite small. So with really only one option, all four of us GCIL members got nice and cozy in the back of the little car. I was surprisingly comfortable, but I’m not sure all my group members would agree. At the next school, we observed a system in the construction phase. What stood out to me wasn’t just the construction itself but how all the kids were actively involved. Barefoot kids scrambled around, helping with the concrete curing process, leaving us quite impressed. Their infectious enthusiasm quickly turned our visit into a series of bubbly introductions and intense games of stone, paper, and scissors. Unfortunately, we had more sites to visit, so we couldn’t stay long. We climbed back into our clown car and were on our way.

The rest of our day consisted of a couple more brief school visits and stops at open wells around the area, all broken up with some toasty team bonding in the back of the little Suzuki. Amidst the informative discussion, I found myself absorbing an abundance of knowledge about rainwater harvesting, but I think the most important thing I learned today was to just order a cab. As the weeks continue, I am excited to see what new challenges we face, both in our collaborative efforts with Biome and our lives in Bangalore.

By Ridgely