January 2010

Gumallapaddu, Wandanamuru! - Erin Morioka's Volunteer Blog

Unpublished
Jan27
By shawnrubin
Our first car ride to Gumallapaddu Village was the perfect formula for paradise: the sun shining overhead, a gentle breeze flowing through the window, and the kind of vast landscape that you’d imagine when listening to Toto’s “Africa.”  Every so often a holy cow would roam casually into the path of our jeep, which coming from Los Angeles, never ceased to amaze me.  As we neared Gumallapaddu, the car suddenly came to a stop—the entire village had come out to greet us!

Longitude Volunteers Return to Japan - Andrea Merrigan's Blog Entry

Unpublished
Jan19
By shawnrubin
It is my first day back in Japan after a truly amazing time in India and as I pore over the many photographs I took in GP village I am transported back there by the children’s beaming smiles, the warmth of which I can physically feel despite the cold of my office!  As I gaze at each photo I ponder a little sadly what my friends are up to now that the volunteers have left but can imagine them playing cricket and volleyball and running barefoot around the village chasing the puppy to their delight.

Longitude Staff Members' Trip

Unpublished
Jan14
By emilyhaydock
in
  • From the Field
  • Uncaste India
In early December 2009, Emily Haydock and Michelle Hua (both previous volunteers) returned to Andhra Pradesh to spend time helping Ravi Kumar and ARV. Their aim was to learn more about the life-altering projects being done, to assist in whatever ways they could and to report back to Longitude. During their two and half months in India, Emily and Michelle helped ARV assess its current operations and continue planning for the future.

LONGITUDE STAFF MEMBERS’ TRIP UPDATE

Claire Goodman's Blog Entry - Feeling at home in Andhra Pradesh

Unpublished
Jan01
By shawnrubin
The fish farm-lined road to Gummallapadu holds a healthy bit of traffic this morning. The car bumping along it is blasting Bollywood tunes as it winds through the bustling crowd: a few nervous goats pick at the grass; a lazy water buffalo stubbornly refuses to move off the path; a chicken crosses the road (why? The other side looks quite nice). A cow-pulled cart laden with hay lumbers by, leaning treacherously close to the water where the bathing beauties are all buffalo. The man on the radio sings “Baby, you’re so sexy, baby, you’re one in the galaxy!” to a dance hall rhythm.

Longitude Volunteer Kim Wells Blogging About her Time in the GP Village

Unpublished
Jan01
By shawnrubin
Although it was only yesterday that we received what I believe to be the world's warmest welcome, I can easily say that this won't be my last visit to GP village.  As I write this, I'm sitting with Prasanthi, the woman with the very important job of tutoring the village children and keeping track of their school attendance. As she helps me pronounce "Gummallapadu" for the millionth time to the soundtrack of children shouting and plaster being flung onto walls, I already feel like we know each other.

Melissa La Bouff Blogs About Delhi Belly and House Building

Unpublished
Jan01
By shawnrubin
The morning started out with promise of a  full healthy group, but sadly, two of our group members, Michelle and Claire, had to go to the hospital for stomach problems.  It isn't truly a trip to India until you have some form of Delhi Belly. Upon our arrival at the work site, we divided up into much smaller groups.  After two days of laying bricks and cement, the walls of the house next to the community center needed to dry before proceeding to the next stage.
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