Mumbai – First Impressions

Dharavi Slums leather smoothing operation

People, trucks, cars, bikes, and water buffalo

Sewing children’s clothes

Potters in Dharavi working clay

Recycling efforts= great, work conditions = not so great

Schoolyard of a public school (pinkish building) in Dharavi

Laneway in Dharavi, Mumbai

Our Dharavi guide’s parents and twin daughters

Arrived in Mumbai yesterday and just the ride from the airport to our hotel gave us the feeling we’re not in Kansas any more. When we, in our North American way, think of slums, we somehow think of them as somewhat localized, but here you see slum dwellings scattered all over. Well, not all over – definitely not around our hotel. We’re in the Bandra Kurla Complex, a business type area full of either tall office towers or huge holes about to be foundations for tall office towers. This is the up-and-coming area of Mumbai, filled with offices of companies that couldn’t afford to expand in downtown Mumbai – too costly. Apparently there are lots of great restaurants here – a very happening place. But not right around our hotel.

The hotel is great – only open a few months, so sparkling clean and with potable water (a concern of ours). Madison and I were a bit surprised to see that the bathroom has glass walls, one frosted, one clear. I think that’s a bit more openness than I was seeking. Fortunately, there is a privacy blind that we can lower, so Madison and I don’t have to share absolutely every moment of our trip.

Our second day here we did a tour of the Dharavi Slums, the largest slum in Asia (or, at least, one of the 2 largest). Madison has written an eloquent description of our tour (http://www.madisonq2.wordpress.com) It would be difficult to add to that, other than it has given us so many things to talk and think about. Most of our time now has been at the conference and hotel – vastly different. Madison has been participating in a Flat Classroom workshop, collaborating with teenagers from around the world (China, Korea, Germany – even someone from Manitoba, once he wakes up!).  Breaks down school walls. I’m looking forward to hearing her reaction to this process.

I think Madison’s blog, as a record of her journey, is getting better and better – more reflective, talking about a broader range of ideas and reactions. Interesting change….

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