One of the highlights of our trip in Chennai was the fact that we were so close to the ocean. There were a few days in which I walked with others down to the beach, usually accompanied with fresh juices or milkshakes made right outside of our hotel. Chennai is known for the struggle of having to commute long distances to get anywhere that you would like to go which prove to be a frustration but also made some of our adventures all the more worthwhile in the end. I went with Tirsa and Lexi to a beach about a half and hour away from where we were staying. While walking along the water we stumbled upon a surf school. It was a beautiful building which included a gift shop, restaurant and rooms in which people could stay. We rented a kayak and surf board from the owner who gave us a tour, explaining how he was able to start his business, showing us his first surf board as well as countless trophies that he had won as well as those who had joined his team. We had originally been under the impression that we would not be allowed to swim while in Chennai but were able to do so while at that beach.
When it was our time to leave we ended up getting a ride from a few people who were on there way home and our hotel was on their way back. They were from Kerala and gave us a variety of suggestions of where to eat and shop while in Chennai. This simple act of kindness was much appreciated by us and echoed through in other situations that we had while in Chennai. However as it was the middle of the program I felt that my positive momentum of trying to get out and do as much as I could had slowed considerably. This was broken up though with chance happenings in which I have come to appreciate when looking back on this part of the program. Here is a list of some of the highlights I have had. I went on a fishing boat with a few other students and we were able to watch the men catch and cook the fish right on the boat. Lexi and I were invited into a mobile shop where a family was celebrating puja. They gave us food and were really welcoming to us, a simple but appreciated gesture that allowed us to get a taste of their lives. Although I was initially hesitant towards our Classical Indian dance class and complained about having to spend four hours a day on something that I have grown up knowing I was not flexible or coordinated enough for, it has become one of the best parts of my time in Chennai. It allowed for us to have a nice break from learning from lectures or outings in a way that pushed us physically but also taught us about the history of dance and a fighting style from Kerala in a way that I would not have been able to understand if we had only been reading or discussing it as a topic.