Cold, waking up, stiff, tired, sleeping, cold, waking up.

The night, off course, was one without much sleep, not too bad, it was just one night. The cold did not allow any periods of sleep lasting longer than about an hour. It’s presance was painfully emphasised by the lack of insulation of our hovel and the size of my blanket.

The morning –finally, the night ends- silence broken by footsteps of employees of the faculty, starteled by our presence. “I do hope you will clean this all up” - a lady of the direction. After explanation there is more interest and understanding for the project, but the response to our somewhat dirty looks is obvious, even after one night, even being a student to the university; it is clear we don’t fit in. The evening before even more; security wants to know under who’s authority we are opperating (spending the night on faculty terrain) and advising that when the police may come, we sould leave the property.

After a short breafast in the cafeteria, I go home to clean up, before going to work. When I arrive in my room I suddenly stop; looking around, seeing a wide variety of books, scetches, all kinds of markers, a television, decorations. All seems só insignificant; all I needed extra last night was maybe an extra blanket and an extra pair of socks, nothing else. Suddenly, finaly I had the strongest awareness of the gigantic gap existing between our filthy rich society and de absolute pooreness other societies are faced with. The unimaginable creativity existing to be able to stay alive in this conditions and moreover; the disgusting reluctance I and many people with me have on our richness, always wanting more, worrieing about “if we will ever become happy”, “will we find the love of our life”, “will we go out or pas the exam”.

Imagine the people in Dharavi; seeing a bunch of students wandering around in their living area, wrighting and drawing what they see; such unimportant ways of spending time! Can we call this reaction a superficial one? The denial of usefullness of planning. Do we actually know better?

A preparation on a Dharavi workshop.