Yesterday the jet lag hit me like a ton of bricks. I woke up at 4:30 in the morning, wide awake and laid in bed staring at the ceiling, willing myself to go back to sleep. Eventually, I rolled out and stepped out onto my balcony. Cars were already zooming by, the chaos of Indian traffic just beginning. I devoured the book “Cutting for Stone” for a few hours by the light of sunrise until it was a decent hour to go downstairs and eat breakfast-Cornflakes with creamy, sweet milk. Not like the kind that you get at home.
Jessie, from the office came to pick me up in an auto rickshaw about an hour later. She is a plump Indian woman with a large bindi and reminds me of a mother hen. Someone in the office called her “my adopted guardian.” I suppose that is right.
The neighborhood around my office is nothing less than swanky. Around the corner is a three story marble shopping mall filled with stores like Louis Vuitton and Jimmy Choo. Upstairs there are quaint cafes, of which I’m sure I’ll end up spending most of my time in. There is a salon nearby that looks NYC-worthy, and Range Rovers cruise around amongst the rickshaws. It’s nothing that I would have imagined.
My firm is located on the second floor of a large, glass building. A Tyson Food corporation is on the first floor. I can tell that this agency is immaculate for Indian standards, although it pales in comparison to the glamorous downtown firms in US cities. You walk in and two receptionists greet you (one is Jessie). My cubicle is right outside of the Senior Partner’s corner office which looks out onto the hustle and bustle below. I realize I didn’t even need to bring my laptop because there is a computer here provided for me. The legal library on our floor is run-down and filled with texts that look extremely outdated. I wonder if the law is still relevant.
My first assignment was to edit down a presentation on cross-cultural negotiation tactics into a 3,000-3,500 word article, suitable for a US audience. I was immediately struck by how many politically incorrect references there are and the lack of citations. Different standards I suppose. I started on it at about 10:00 and by 1:00 I was starving and starting to get tired and had just cracked the surface.
I went to lunch with a few other interns. One is a girl from the Netherlands named Feline. She’s tall, lanky and absolutely stunning. The way she converses with the locals reminds me that she’s been here for 4 months already. She has a relaxed demeanor and makes me feel like a deer in the headlights. I suppose by the time I leave, I’ll feel more comfortable, but for now, everything is new and different.
We ate at a small café called Mocha. I demolished a Thai Satay Panini and bottled water. Nothing has ever tasted so good. By then, I truly felt like I was ready for bed. But by the time I got back to the office it was only 2:00 and I still had to finish my assignment. Apparently, in this office you have to finish all of your work before you leave. There is nothing that can be left unfinished for the next day. So often, interns stay late into the night in order to finish up. I am not looking forward to those nights.
I left the office at about 7:00 and spent about 40 minutes in a rainstorm trying to find an auto rickshaw to take me home. Apparently they are hard to come by in this part of town. By the time I walked through the front door of my home, I was drenched, had a sore throat from the pollution and was ready to collapse. So this is what being a grown-up is all about?!
Dinner consisted of idli, a rice cake smothered in a spicy Indian curry sauce. It was delicious. And my host-mama made me a salad…sensing that I was in need of something fresh and not-so-spicy.
I went upstairs after dinner and collapsed on my bed. Day one. Check.
peace. love. sleep.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Monday, 23 May 2011
in the land of bangalore.
well, it's my first day in bangalore. getting here felt like a lifetime.
i left my house in salt lake city at about 4:00 in the morning and arrived at the airport about 15 minutes later. i felt prepared. sad to leave, but prepared. i had all my ducks in a row: packed days before, had $100 in foreign currency, remembered to pack all of my chargers and a converter/adapter.
when i got to the airport, much to my dismay to realize that my new debit cards don't work. that's right...i realized i have no access to my bank. no way to get any money out of my account. so, i left the airport (after already having gone through security), colin picked me up, and we hurried around downtown trying desperately to find an atm so that he could loan me money for the trip. unfortunately, all he could take out is $500 at a time. so, let's just put it this way....money is going to be really tight this summer. hopefully, i am able to get it figured out and if worse comes to worse, i have to option of a western union transfer...but this was not a great way to start the trip. (in fact, it included lots of tears and cursing).
i proceeded to take a 2 1/2 hour flight to chicago, had a 3 1/2 hour layover, then went from chicago to delhi which was a 14 hour flight with a 3 hour layover, and then from delhi to bangalore which was a 2 1/2 hour flight. my driver picked me up and drove for about 40 minutes to my final destination, only to realize that neither of us knew which flat i was to stay in. so, after frantically calling a million numbers in the middle of the night, i finally was able to walk through the door that i will call home for the next 6 weeks. all in all, it took me about 33 hours to get here.
but...what a nice surprise it was to walk into this charming little flat. it is probably one of the nicest places i've ever stayed overseas.
office in my room
my bed
door to my private balcony
the view from my balcony (i actually look out onto a cemetary to the right)
shower/bathroom
outside of the building
so...after a nice long sleep, i woke up this morning, had some cornflakes, and just relaxed. i took a stroll around my neighborhood and had a pretty gross meal at a cafe across the street. i'll probably frequent the cafe quite a bit because it is conveniently close-by and ultra cheap, but i'm going to have to find a different meal.
one of my favorite things about being in another country is that it inspires me to take more photos. i hope you find these inspirational too!
that's all for now. keep checking in for more photos of this little adventure. since i have a computer in my room with constant internet, i will probably be updating often!
peace, love, and a pretty balcony.
xxoo.
i left my house in salt lake city at about 4:00 in the morning and arrived at the airport about 15 minutes later. i felt prepared. sad to leave, but prepared. i had all my ducks in a row: packed days before, had $100 in foreign currency, remembered to pack all of my chargers and a converter/adapter.
when i got to the airport, much to my dismay to realize that my new debit cards don't work. that's right...i realized i have no access to my bank. no way to get any money out of my account. so, i left the airport (after already having gone through security), colin picked me up, and we hurried around downtown trying desperately to find an atm so that he could loan me money for the trip. unfortunately, all he could take out is $500 at a time. so, let's just put it this way....money is going to be really tight this summer. hopefully, i am able to get it figured out and if worse comes to worse, i have to option of a western union transfer...but this was not a great way to start the trip. (in fact, it included lots of tears and cursing).
i proceeded to take a 2 1/2 hour flight to chicago, had a 3 1/2 hour layover, then went from chicago to delhi which was a 14 hour flight with a 3 hour layover, and then from delhi to bangalore which was a 2 1/2 hour flight. my driver picked me up and drove for about 40 minutes to my final destination, only to realize that neither of us knew which flat i was to stay in. so, after frantically calling a million numbers in the middle of the night, i finally was able to walk through the door that i will call home for the next 6 weeks. all in all, it took me about 33 hours to get here.
but...what a nice surprise it was to walk into this charming little flat. it is probably one of the nicest places i've ever stayed overseas.
so...after a nice long sleep, i woke up this morning, had some cornflakes, and just relaxed. i took a stroll around my neighborhood and had a pretty gross meal at a cafe across the street. i'll probably frequent the cafe quite a bit because it is conveniently close-by and ultra cheap, but i'm going to have to find a different meal.
one of my favorite things about being in another country is that it inspires me to take more photos. i hope you find these inspirational too!
that's all for now. keep checking in for more photos of this little adventure. since i have a computer in my room with constant internet, i will probably be updating often!
peace, love, and a pretty balcony.
xxoo.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
again, with the anticipation....
i'll be in india again on sunday. i'm worried. scared. about what? working at a firm, the loneliness, being without colin. i feel like i'm on the verge of tears every three hours. it's stupid, i know. i'm an adult. i can handle this. and i have done this all before. each time, i have an incredible, life-changing experience. but i can't help but feel like this time, i want a companion (namely, colin) to come along with me and experience things for the first time with me. what can i say, i'm a social traveler. and yes, i know i'll meet new people. but it's hard to think about that at the moment.
Thursday, 5 August 2010
stateside.
well, i officially slacked off at the end of the trip on this blog. but, i'm not sure anyone reads this anyway so hopefully no one is too distraught. but, a little update:
i'm back home in the U.S.A. the end of the trip was a whirlwind of emotion. i was so eager to get back to the comforts of home, and yet there was so much that i wanted to accomplish before i left.
the big news: james, justin and i officially started a non-profit (name is yet to be decided on) to provide the community in Boudanath a center for after-school tutoring and a monthly health clinic. after assessing the needs of the community and getting a great deal of input from residents themselves, we determined that education and health care were two of the things that they needed the most. we decided that by creating a community center, we could not only create a space to accomplish these goals, but also a space that they could call their own. we will raise money for the center by selling the photographs that we've taken during this journey. we have stunning portraits, and also photos that depict their every-day lives.
i am so thankful to be a part of this project. i'm thankful that i am able to make an impact on the lives of people who have so greatly impacted mylife. it has been so inspiring and has made me remember how important it is to engage in the things that you feel passionately about, rather than what looks good on paper. and not only is this something i am passionate about, i actually feel like i can contribute to the project in my own significant way. i've helped design a business plan, i've met with attorneys in nepal and have drafted a contract for building on the land. i cannot think of a more perfect project for me to be a part of. i am so grateful to be able to put my legal knowledge to use, while simultaneously providing for people in need AND being a part of a creative and artistic endeavor. what more could i ask for?!
also, i'd like to mention that toward the end of this journey, i grew quite fond of the family that i was living with. i was very sad to leave them-especially shila, my nepali mama. she was more like a friend to me and it was a very tearful goodbye.
there is plenty more that i could say about this trip and about the relationships that i've made along the way. but, i think that will have to wait for another time. i think it is sufficient to say that while it is great to be back home, part of my heart is still in nepal.
peace. love. nepal.
i'm back home in the U.S.A. the end of the trip was a whirlwind of emotion. i was so eager to get back to the comforts of home, and yet there was so much that i wanted to accomplish before i left.
the big news: james, justin and i officially started a non-profit (name is yet to be decided on) to provide the community in Boudanath a center for after-school tutoring and a monthly health clinic. after assessing the needs of the community and getting a great deal of input from residents themselves, we determined that education and health care were two of the things that they needed the most. we decided that by creating a community center, we could not only create a space to accomplish these goals, but also a space that they could call their own. we will raise money for the center by selling the photographs that we've taken during this journey. we have stunning portraits, and also photos that depict their every-day lives.
i am so thankful to be a part of this project. i'm thankful that i am able to make an impact on the lives of people who have so greatly impacted mylife. it has been so inspiring and has made me remember how important it is to engage in the things that you feel passionately about, rather than what looks good on paper. and not only is this something i am passionate about, i actually feel like i can contribute to the project in my own significant way. i've helped design a business plan, i've met with attorneys in nepal and have drafted a contract for building on the land. i cannot think of a more perfect project for me to be a part of. i am so grateful to be able to put my legal knowledge to use, while simultaneously providing for people in need AND being a part of a creative and artistic endeavor. what more could i ask for?!
also, i'd like to mention that toward the end of this journey, i grew quite fond of the family that i was living with. i was very sad to leave them-especially shila, my nepali mama. she was more like a friend to me and it was a very tearful goodbye.
there is plenty more that i could say about this trip and about the relationships that i've made along the way. but, i think that will have to wait for another time. i think it is sufficient to say that while it is great to be back home, part of my heart is still in nepal.
peace. love. nepal.
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Harry Knees, Yes Please!
for the past 4 days the family i've been living with have been out of town. it was so nice to have the freedom to do what i wanted: sleep in, stay out late, eat tacos, drink a beer, watch a movie in the office at night.
right before they left, another intern came from germany. the day he got here, the airlines lost his luggage and he got mugged on the way home-the two little nepali boys threatened him with a knife and took all of his money. talk about a rough day! he was completely traumatized and moved out the next day because he didn't feel safe in our neighborhood. that makes 2 interns who have moved out of the house before their time was up. i'm glad that i haven't had such a rough experience. although this trip has definitely had its ups and downs, it has, above all, been bearable.
yesterday i went to visit the slums again. i felt a lot more comfortable there this time and was able to interact with the kids more. they were adorable-running up to me and asking me to take their pictures. i think they felt like little movie stars.
before i went, i was considering how the experience fit into my summer research tasks and i wondered whether or not this community faced many of the human rights abuses that plague this country. were the kids getting a proper education? did domestic violence occur? were the children forced to work the streets? what was the prevalence of HIV/AIDS? some of my questions were answered, but i feel like i need to go back to get a clearer picture. things that i learned: 1.) there are 2 western volunteers who come visit and teach the students. they conduct the school in a small shack equip with a small selection of books, none of which look like they've ever been touched. about 20 kids participate, but i'm not sure how often they come, or how many kids are not participating. 2.) domestic violence is definitely present. i witnessed a man kick his wife and hit her many times, while she was carrying a baby. a couple minutes later, he was playing happily with the child. 3.)malaria is common there during the monsoon season. not all families can afford mosquito nets, and health care is inadequate.
james and justin have decided to start a project where they're going to visit marginalized communities and take photographs of the people and the surroundings. they'd like to sell the pictures back in the united states, and give the profits back to the community. i'm continually impressed with the people that i meet while i travel...the most incredible hearts, filled with compassion and commitment. it reminds me of the kind of person i want to be.
.JPG)
right before they left, another intern came from germany. the day he got here, the airlines lost his luggage and he got mugged on the way home-the two little nepali boys threatened him with a knife and took all of his money. talk about a rough day! he was completely traumatized and moved out the next day because he didn't feel safe in our neighborhood. that makes 2 interns who have moved out of the house before their time was up. i'm glad that i haven't had such a rough experience. although this trip has definitely had its ups and downs, it has, above all, been bearable.
yesterday i went to visit the slums again. i felt a lot more comfortable there this time and was able to interact with the kids more. they were adorable-running up to me and asking me to take their pictures. i think they felt like little movie stars.
before i went, i was considering how the experience fit into my summer research tasks and i wondered whether or not this community faced many of the human rights abuses that plague this country. were the kids getting a proper education? did domestic violence occur? were the children forced to work the streets? what was the prevalence of HIV/AIDS? some of my questions were answered, but i feel like i need to go back to get a clearer picture. things that i learned: 1.) there are 2 western volunteers who come visit and teach the students. they conduct the school in a small shack equip with a small selection of books, none of which look like they've ever been touched. about 20 kids participate, but i'm not sure how often they come, or how many kids are not participating. 2.) domestic violence is definitely present. i witnessed a man kick his wife and hit her many times, while she was carrying a baby. a couple minutes later, he was playing happily with the child. 3.)malaria is common there during the monsoon season. not all families can afford mosquito nets, and health care is inadequate.
james and justin have decided to start a project where they're going to visit marginalized communities and take photographs of the people and the surroundings. they'd like to sell the pictures back in the united states, and give the profits back to the community. i'm continually impressed with the people that i meet while i travel...the most incredible hearts, filled with compassion and commitment. it reminds me of the kind of person i want to be.
.JPG)
Monday, 28 June 2010
I Heart Pokhara
This past weekend James, Justin took the bus to Pokhara, a little town about 7 hours away from Kathmandu. It was so nice to get out of the polluted city and see the countryside. The rolling emerald hills and layers of cerulean mountains were picturesque against the gray cloudy sky. There is this beautiful lake in the center of the town filled with row boats, and lily pads. I was completely enchanted. On Saturday we spent about 4 hours cruising around the lake on kayaks and getting horrific sunburns. That night, the boys were able to play music at a local Blues Club. I also purchased 2 exquisitely detailed pillow cases which I’m ecstatic about. They’ll look fab on my couch!
The only downside of the trip was the hotels that we stayed in (yes, 2...because the first was so bad)…the first night there were lipstick stains on my sheets and questionable stains on the walls. It was critical that we only spend one night there, due to my own anxiety. So, the next night we found a seemingly better guesthouse, only to discover that it was filled with bugs. Lots and lots of bugs. Ants in the bed, spiders on the walls, cockroach in the bathroom-and not a little guy. This buddy was HUGE. I screamed as it skittered across the floor during my shower. Call me a baby, but this thing easily could have thrown a shoe at me.
On the way home we crushed our bodies into the local “mini-bus” which left a little later than the tourist bus. (The tourist bus left at 6:30 in the morning!) They aren’t kidding when they say this bus is mini! It was so hot, crowded, and speedy-it felt like we’d take a dive off of the cliffs at any moment.
I already miss the freedom of not having to get home at any particular time and the ability to eat where ever I want! And, since I have my own fair share of bugs at the house, I’m already homesick for Pokhara.
Boats for rent.
View of the Peace Pagoda in the distance.
Father and son fishing while the storm rolls in.
Peace. Love. Sunburns.
The only downside of the trip was the hotels that we stayed in (yes, 2...because the first was so bad)…the first night there were lipstick stains on my sheets and questionable stains on the walls. It was critical that we only spend one night there, due to my own anxiety. So, the next night we found a seemingly better guesthouse, only to discover that it was filled with bugs. Lots and lots of bugs. Ants in the bed, spiders on the walls, cockroach in the bathroom-and not a little guy. This buddy was HUGE. I screamed as it skittered across the floor during my shower. Call me a baby, but this thing easily could have thrown a shoe at me.
On the way home we crushed our bodies into the local “mini-bus” which left a little later than the tourist bus. (The tourist bus left at 6:30 in the morning!) They aren’t kidding when they say this bus is mini! It was so hot, crowded, and speedy-it felt like we’d take a dive off of the cliffs at any moment.
I already miss the freedom of not having to get home at any particular time and the ability to eat where ever I want! And, since I have my own fair share of bugs at the house, I’m already homesick for Pokhara.
Boats for rent.
View of the Peace Pagoda in the distance.
Father and son fishing while the storm rolls in.
Peace. Love. Sunburns.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
uNaBLe To gEt thE WoRLd cUp sOnG oUt oF mY HeAD
Justin: "I got hit by a motorcycle today."
Kaitlyn: "I got slapped at work."
James: "An naked man chased after me."
Justin: "You win."
World Cup…”Oh oh oh oh oh……”
I have watched approximately 315 minutes of the World Cup while I’ve been in Nepal. This is 315 minutes more soccer than I’ve ever watched in my life (in fact, I was so clueless about it that I thought it was like the Super Bowl and just one championship game instead of a tournament). To be completely honest, I can’t say that I love it. It is such a frustrating game to watch! Barely any goals are scored, the players are ridiculously dramatic-throwing themselves on the ground and whining in agony, only to stand up and shake it off as soon as a yellow card is drawn, and the announcers are completely biased and a little mean. However, I think that watching it here, with people who actually care about soccer/football is just about the best way you can watch it. I was watching the Germany vs. Serbia game with a German the other day, and I honestly thought he was going to start crying at the end of the game. I think it’s also funny to be in an environment where it seems like everyone is against the U.S.A. winning. I watched 2 of the U.S. games and both times EVERYONE was cheering for the other team.
Ants in my Pants…I mean, my bread.
The other morning I was at breakfast and was about to bite into my peanut butter and jelly sandwich, looked down and saw that ants were crawling ALL OVER and INSIDE of the bread. Needless to say, I freaked out (luckily, I was eating alone), threw the bread away and didn’t end up eating anything for breakfast. Bummer.
Getting Slapped.
After a semi-dramatic...well, I guess it was pretty dramatic...facebook status update about getting slapped, I suppose I should explain myself. Here is the story: I got to work early the other day and was locked out of my office. After awhile, this dude came to unlock it for me and once he finally jiggled the lock open, he slapped me across the face and said, "Happy now?" I was so shocked, I didn't know what to say so I just looked at him and said, "Yeah, thanks!" That's right...I thanked him for slapping me. It was actually pretty hard, but I just figured it had to be culture thing, because it wasn't like he was mad at me or anything, and I remembered that my boss often grabs and squeezes my cheeks when he's talking to me, so...it had to be a infatuation with the face or something.
THEN, the next day, I was talking to my boss and at the end of our conversation, he slapped me across the face too!! (This time, it was more gentle though.) I have come the conclusion that this bizarre act must be like when you punch a friend in the arm jokingly in the USA. I've also come to the conclusion that I'm being so stupid, because here I am, doing research on Women's Rights Issues and becoming that submissive woman who just takes it. And finally, I've come to the conclusion that if it happens again, I'm going to ask them to stop touching me, slapping me, grabbing me, and squeezing me. I'm an American. I have a bubble. And no matter how much I want to immerse myself in Nepali culture, I need to preserve my bubble.
Killing Time.
Besides watching the World Cup, almost eating ants, and being slapped, there isn’t a whole lot going on here. I’m not much a clubber (no matter how enticing the "Teen Dance Club with Shower" signs are) and I’m trying desperately not to shop too much. So James, Justin and I are often stuck twiddling our thumbs and trying to think of things to do. We usually end up at OR2K sipping on fantas and eating humus. And last night I splurrged and bought five new movies (including Sex & the City 2!!!) for a mere $5...so hopefully that proves to be a source of entertainment for a little while.
But the point is, I’m ready to go on a weekend getaway. I think next week we are going to venture to Pokhara which is a town with a lake about 6 hours away from Kathmandu. I’m absolutely thrilled.
So, with that, I’m signing off…because really….not a lot is new.
Peace. Love. Boredom.
Kaitlyn: "I got slapped at work."
James: "An naked man chased after me."
Justin: "You win."
World Cup…”Oh oh oh oh oh……”
I have watched approximately 315 minutes of the World Cup while I’ve been in Nepal. This is 315 minutes more soccer than I’ve ever watched in my life (in fact, I was so clueless about it that I thought it was like the Super Bowl and just one championship game instead of a tournament). To be completely honest, I can’t say that I love it. It is such a frustrating game to watch! Barely any goals are scored, the players are ridiculously dramatic-throwing themselves on the ground and whining in agony, only to stand up and shake it off as soon as a yellow card is drawn, and the announcers are completely biased and a little mean. However, I think that watching it here, with people who actually care about soccer/football is just about the best way you can watch it. I was watching the Germany vs. Serbia game with a German the other day, and I honestly thought he was going to start crying at the end of the game. I think it’s also funny to be in an environment where it seems like everyone is against the U.S.A. winning. I watched 2 of the U.S. games and both times EVERYONE was cheering for the other team.
Ants in my Pants…I mean, my bread.
The other morning I was at breakfast and was about to bite into my peanut butter and jelly sandwich, looked down and saw that ants were crawling ALL OVER and INSIDE of the bread. Needless to say, I freaked out (luckily, I was eating alone), threw the bread away and didn’t end up eating anything for breakfast. Bummer.
Getting Slapped.
After a semi-dramatic...well, I guess it was pretty dramatic...facebook status update about getting slapped, I suppose I should explain myself. Here is the story: I got to work early the other day and was locked out of my office. After awhile, this dude came to unlock it for me and once he finally jiggled the lock open, he slapped me across the face and said, "Happy now?" I was so shocked, I didn't know what to say so I just looked at him and said, "Yeah, thanks!" That's right...I thanked him for slapping me. It was actually pretty hard, but I just figured it had to be culture thing, because it wasn't like he was mad at me or anything, and I remembered that my boss often grabs and squeezes my cheeks when he's talking to me, so...it had to be a infatuation with the face or something.
THEN, the next day, I was talking to my boss and at the end of our conversation, he slapped me across the face too!! (This time, it was more gentle though.) I have come the conclusion that this bizarre act must be like when you punch a friend in the arm jokingly in the USA. I've also come to the conclusion that I'm being so stupid, because here I am, doing research on Women's Rights Issues and becoming that submissive woman who just takes it. And finally, I've come to the conclusion that if it happens again, I'm going to ask them to stop touching me, slapping me, grabbing me, and squeezing me. I'm an American. I have a bubble. And no matter how much I want to immerse myself in Nepali culture, I need to preserve my bubble.
Killing Time.
Besides watching the World Cup, almost eating ants, and being slapped, there isn’t a whole lot going on here. I’m not much a clubber (no matter how enticing the "Teen Dance Club with Shower" signs are) and I’m trying desperately not to shop too much. So James, Justin and I are often stuck twiddling our thumbs and trying to think of things to do. We usually end up at OR2K sipping on fantas and eating humus. And last night I splurrged and bought five new movies (including Sex & the City 2!!!) for a mere $5...so hopefully that proves to be a source of entertainment for a little while.
But the point is, I’m ready to go on a weekend getaway. I think next week we are going to venture to Pokhara which is a town with a lake about 6 hours away from Kathmandu. I’m absolutely thrilled.
So, with that, I’m signing off…because really….not a lot is new.
Peace. Love. Boredom.
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