45. Report - The usefulness of a glitch

On the way to the meaningful region of Hampi, a detour via Chitradurga is recommended because of it`s important fortress. Around the city lie mighty boulder mountains; several study faculties are lined up at the south-eastern entrance to the city.

It is late afternoon when I arrive. Finding an internet café is not easy here either; they send me well meaning back and forth. As the sun goes down, I prioritize and arrange a place to stay for the night. There is a covered driveway in front of the Pre-University of Education. A couple of serious men are standing there and they think it is possible to stay overnight. Thanks them. Since they work at this school, I suggest that I can be available as an interview partner on the subject of "education" the next day, since I not only worked as a teacher for 20 years, but before that also as an educator. Therefore an information exchange with a suitable class could be interesting. The idea seems to please; I was to propose them to the principal the next morning.

Since it's still early to sleep and my cell phone battery is empty, I look for a trustworthy store where I can charge my cell phone overnight. The druggist across the street agrees, but suddenly he says the shop will be closed tomorrow for a holiday. A few steps further in a pharmacy the same problem, but at least it's open until 10 - maybe that's enough time for a full charge.

Back at the pre-university building, two motorcyclists with their blinding headlights suddenly come close to me and stop. They had previously heard my question about the sleeping place. The first hands me a bag with hot dinner, the other two bottles of water. They say goodbye very politely. The food is delicious. I devour it. I think sometimes I don't realize my body can handle more food.

Shortly before 10 pm I am at the pharmacy. The mobile phone is only at 81%. Since it's also closed tomorrow, I take my cell phone with me and look in a cross street for another shop that's open tomorrow. A small grocery store is still open and one can tell by looking at the retailer that he too is a good person that I can trust with my mobile phone. I can pick it up the next morning at 10; however, someone else from his family will be in the store.

- The first disappointment the next morning: At the pre-university I was told that exams were taking place this week and that a professional exchange would not be possible until the following week. Then the next problem: In the cross street I have trouble finding the shop with my mobile phone. There is a grocery store in what feels like the right place, but the older man behind it doesn't understand English and doesn't seem to know anything about my cell phone. Well, that's another story now... but I observe that there are no knots in my stomach because of it. A younger man who speaks a little English comes out of the next building. He immediately calls his colleague who understands my problem without a problem. As she explains to the shopkeeper in the Kannada language, a middle-aged woman comes out of the house across the street. In her hands she carries a mobile phone and charger. I say thanks to her with a smile ... I knew that this problem surely has to end well. But the good ending is only just beginning. The young interpreter and her colleague invite me to the office for tea. It is actually a NGO-Office for the advancement of disabled people.

Their leader, Nagaraj, is a busy and good man with a wonderful human attitude: “The way I look at another person, he will behave towards me: If I look at him with mistrust, he will meet me with mistrust; if I look at him trustingly, he will trust me. The person opposite reflects my inner attitude like a mirror.” - Later we will talk about other pedagogical topics.

Of course, he and his three employees ask questions about this pilgrimage. “I strive for inner purification and to feel the presence of God within me” are words that usually give my listeners something to think about. Today, however, it results in a spontaneous invitation to accompany the team of therapists on a regular visit trip to three remote schools where the disabled children are also taught. Everywhere I experience warm friendliness and polite respect; the offer of a magic show is built in easily everywhere. At the secondary school I am amazed at the technical standard: There are computers and projectors in several classrooms.

When we return to the office in the late afternoon, I am also offered a laptop to update my visa extension. Later in the practice we have dinner together. I have the feeling that the colleagues here see each other like family.

In fact, two of them live next door to each other. Even Nagaraj comes the next morning and, like me, uses the warm water bath.

VIshrutha Hitha & Dr. Hemantharaju

They offer me to use the laptop again in the afternoon to write in the blog. In the meantime I can see the sights of the city. I get a full 300 meters, where one of yesterday's teachers from the pre-university speaks to me at a tea stand. He would like to try to organize an exchange. His very competent colleague supports the request with the principal.

An hour and a half later, 150 young adults are sitting in front of us. Some impress me with substantive questions: “What do I want to take away from India's spiritual wealth? And how do I want to reflect this later in Germany?"

“An intelligent man is known by his answers; a wise man is known by his questions.”