Today was a perfect day in Delhi. Nancy and I slept in until noon, and I'm sure the Spendloves' had been awake for hours doing crossword puzzles and working out, but they apparently didn't mind waiting for us. We decided to hit up Khan Market again and see if we could be more successful in finding some "can't live without it" steals. And...low and behold, we found them! In fact, I was able to purchase enough home decor to vamp up my kitchen, living room AND bedroom. (Just what I needed...more bedding!) Poor Jonny was dragged along all day with the girls. (Secretly, I think he enjoyed himself though) Lunch was delicious...we went to The Big Chill-a restaurant specifically designed to attract Westerners. Old Hollywood movie posters were framed on the walls and the entire menu was catered to our delicate digestive systems. I was thoroughly disappointed with the ice cream...and I RARELY complain about ice cream. C'est la vie...
This evening we got home and ate dinner and then watched Best in Show. It was Nancy and Jenny's first time witnessing the sheer brilliance.
Also, I got to talk to Colin tonight and wish him luck on his big adventure for the summer. He's off to Chile for a study abroad. He'll be taking intensive Spanish Language courses, and enjoying the beautiful country.
More later. Peace.
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Obama fo' yo Mama!
SO, i know this blog is supposed to be about my travel experiences this summer, and I really hate to go off on a tangent....BUT can I just take a quick moment to express my complete and utter excitement concerning the brand new and super fresh democratic presidential nominee. Yeah. I'm pretty stoked. That's all.
Peace.
Peace.
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
What I miss, Rotary Club & Art Class
Colin and I were talking the other day and he asked me what I missed most about home (besides him and Tiffany of course) and I really couldn’t answer him very well. I love traveling. And when I’m on-the-go, I don’t really miss much. When I’m traveling, I get this sense of complete freedom. Even though I’m here to work, I have no other commitments and besides, work isn’t work like at home. I’m doing something I actually believe in and I’m contributing to making a difference.
However, after contemplating this question for a while, I realized that I will definitely miss my personal monthly ritual…one of my most favorite things to do in the whole wide world. It goes something like this: every time that I get my subscription in the mail to my favorite home décor magazine, Domino, I will go in my room, crawl in bed, light a candle, turn on some Ella Fitzgerald and read the whole thing back to front and then read it all again. Then, after I’m done with this, I’ll drive to 9th and 9th and get a cocoa from Coffee Garden and then wander up to Hip and Humble to do some inspirational shopping. I miss that day of the month that I can completely devote to ME.
Last night, after work we were invited to go to a Rotary Club meeting to listen to a guest speaker discussing safe injections. The evening began with delicious “snacks” to tide me over until dinner. When I say “snacks”, I mean…wonderful crispy veggies and paneer (cheese), sliced melon, pineapple, mangos, coconut, and kiwi, sweet swirl and oatmeal cookies and last but not least…ICE CREAM. Just a couple words about the ice cream here….it’s not like your typical vanilla. It’s more like eating spoonfuls of coolwhip, which I’m completely okay with. It’s creamy and light and hits the spot on a Wednesday evening after work. And these "snacks" are all presented to me before dinner. Oh how spoiled I am here! The meeting was interesting, but I kept getting irritated at the lack of respect towards the presenter. Cell phones were ringing off the hook, people were chatting away with side conversations, and if someone disagreed with the expert doctor, they would just stand up and say so. And then I wonder, is it just a cultural difference? Am I just an arrogant Westerner that thinks my way is the only way? I hate these moments, when I think I’m advocating for respect and then realize that maybe I need to be more aware of Indian culture and just respect the differences myself.
Today, I get to teach the art class. I’m totally thrilled…especially after a slow week at the office. I came up with the whole art and health curriculum for all three levels of students and NOW I get to teach it! Initially, I was not even slightly excited to teach (not really sure why this is....but I just had no desire to teach), but now I think it will be a great way to break up my day. So, level 1 is learning how to color in the lines, level 2 is learning how to draw a monkey and a lion, and level 3 is learning how to draw the human body. We’ll see how it goes. Now, if I were a better artist, I’m sure it would be much better, as I think I will be learning along with the kids. Oh well…
More later. Peace.
However, after contemplating this question for a while, I realized that I will definitely miss my personal monthly ritual…one of my most favorite things to do in the whole wide world. It goes something like this: every time that I get my subscription in the mail to my favorite home décor magazine, Domino, I will go in my room, crawl in bed, light a candle, turn on some Ella Fitzgerald and read the whole thing back to front and then read it all again. Then, after I’m done with this, I’ll drive to 9th and 9th and get a cocoa from Coffee Garden and then wander up to Hip and Humble to do some inspirational shopping. I miss that day of the month that I can completely devote to ME.
Last night, after work we were invited to go to a Rotary Club meeting to listen to a guest speaker discussing safe injections. The evening began with delicious “snacks” to tide me over until dinner. When I say “snacks”, I mean…wonderful crispy veggies and paneer (cheese), sliced melon, pineapple, mangos, coconut, and kiwi, sweet swirl and oatmeal cookies and last but not least…ICE CREAM. Just a couple words about the ice cream here….it’s not like your typical vanilla. It’s more like eating spoonfuls of coolwhip, which I’m completely okay with. It’s creamy and light and hits the spot on a Wednesday evening after work. And these "snacks" are all presented to me before dinner. Oh how spoiled I am here! The meeting was interesting, but I kept getting irritated at the lack of respect towards the presenter. Cell phones were ringing off the hook, people were chatting away with side conversations, and if someone disagreed with the expert doctor, they would just stand up and say so. And then I wonder, is it just a cultural difference? Am I just an arrogant Westerner that thinks my way is the only way? I hate these moments, when I think I’m advocating for respect and then realize that maybe I need to be more aware of Indian culture and just respect the differences myself.
Today, I get to teach the art class. I’m totally thrilled…especially after a slow week at the office. I came up with the whole art and health curriculum for all three levels of students and NOW I get to teach it! Initially, I was not even slightly excited to teach (not really sure why this is....but I just had no desire to teach), but now I think it will be a great way to break up my day. So, level 1 is learning how to color in the lines, level 2 is learning how to draw a monkey and a lion, and level 3 is learning how to draw the human body. We’ll see how it goes. Now, if I were a better artist, I’m sure it would be much better, as I think I will be learning along with the kids. Oh well…
More later. Peace.
Monday, 2 June 2008
V for Varanasi
After a week of working, we decided to get outta town for the weekend and head to Varanasi. A little history on this city...
"The Ganges is not a river, it is an aspect of the divine." -Raghubir Singh
Varanasi claims to be one of the oldest cities in the world. It rose in prominence when Shiva worshiping was established-it is now the City of Shiva (Hindu God)and as a result, it is the Hindu's holiest place on earth. Pilgrims travel to the city to wash away their sins in the Ganges River which is considered to be a river of healing powers. Also along the river, cremation of loved ones are performed constantly. Those who die in Varanasi are liberated by completing the cycle of life. The Lonely Planet book states, "The magical but sometimes overwhelming city is where the most intimate rituals of life and death take place in public on the city's ghats. The accessibility to the practices of an ancient but still living religious tradition is what captivates many visitors."
Needless to say, it's a must-see.
We bought our train tickets very last minute and were thankful to be able to score tickets at all. The way there, we rode in a sleeper car with no air conditioning, which was...an experience. Here are some observations that I noted along the way...
1. Again, feeling ripped off and being frustrated by language barriers
2. At the station, people get comfortable on flattened cardboard boxes as flies get comfortable on their faces.
3. Sick dogs roam freely, limping, emaciated and broken.
4. On the train, the sleeper car resembles an old elementary school bus-complete with florescent lights, smells and germs. Don't forget, 3 to a seat!
5. The smells literally make me want to vomit that filter in from outside.
7. I now see real slums-there is a greater population in a much smaller area than in Africa. In the middle of nowhere, a hot pink stucco temple, the size of a couple outhouses sticks out against a dusty composition.
8. As dusk settles, I'm reminded of the semi-sheer curtain used to separate scenes in ballets. It acts as a mere separation(both figuratively and literally) from the world I peer upon.
9. Enormous bulls that are so dark and shiny they look like they were smothered in tar, relax in dirt and look as comfortable as pimps in a hot tub.
10. Mass amounts of trash peek out of streams and rivers.
The journey was over 3 hours delayed (making the total train ride-one way-16 hours) but we finally made it.
When you get out of the train station, there is now way to know where to go, as all signs are in Hindi. We just followed a crowd and miraculously made it out with few hassles. We got into a taxi and it was apparent that we were all eager to make it to our final destination. There was no chitchat with the driver, despite his persistent attempts. We got out of the taxi and wandered down the Ghats and peered into shops until we found our quaint guest-house (Guest-house Ganges View)filled with antiques, relics and personality. Paintings and masks of Hindu Gods lined the walls and flowing curtains framed the large windows that looked out onto the Ganges. Though we expected a room with 2 beds, when we got in there was only 1- which made for a crowded night as we all crammed onto the bed horizontally (our feet dangling off the edge). Despite the discomfort, the room was beautiful with random antique lights and gold trim...and most importantly- AIR CONDITIONING!
Shopping in Varanasi is fantastic! A stones toss from our hotel I got these hippie-chic pants, two scarves, a wrap, a hot pink bed cover and 2 postcards for less than 30 BUCKS!!! SCORE!
At 6:00 pm we took a boat up the river to view the various ghats. I even got to paddle...in the freakin' Ganges! which was a struggle with the makeshift oars. The real master of paddles was our boatman-who was only 15 years old. We made it to Harishchandra Ghat which was were the ritual cremation was being held. We watched a group of men carry one body down to the shore to be drenched in the river, the grandson saying his final goodbye, and other bodies stiff and smoldering in a firepit. As night swept over the sky, bats the size of eagles circled above us. It was eerie and a bit morbid to say the least...as they say though, "when in Rome..."
The next morning we forced ourselves to wake up at 5:00AM (the earliest I've been awake since...?) and watched the sun rise and paint the sky. Devotees bathed in the river, others practiced yoga, Aghori's decorated in white facemasks meditated and chanted...it was unlike anything that I have ever witnessed.
At 7:00AM we took a private yoga class at our guest-house. It felt so good to stretch and exercise again. It ended with a short chanting session-which I surprisingly enjoyed quite a bit! I'm glad that we got to take the class...it was something that I'll look back on and think, "Remember that time I did yoga in Varanasi??"
After an eventful morning, the sun began to roast the city and I felt like I was literally melting into the earth. As we wandered through back alleys, crowded with vendors selling trinkets, silver, fabric, etc etc etc, I zoned out and tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. We got totally lost in our attempt to find a particular temple, gave up, and when we finally made it out, we decided to take a rickshaw to the train station and get out of the heat. It was just too unbearable.
The journey back to Delhi was a dream compared to the first train. We actually scored the A/C car and all of my fantasies of riding the Hogwart Express were fulfilled. People walked by selling juice and treats, and we even got pillows and blankets! We made it home by 11:00AM and as I look back on the weekend, I am filled with a sense of utter ecstasy. My feelings of desire towards some sort of spirituality have been reaffirmed by this mystical, charismatic, lively, Woodstock-meets-God kind of town.
Enough rambling...I'll try to put up some photos soon!
Peace.
"The Ganges is not a river, it is an aspect of the divine." -Raghubir Singh
Varanasi claims to be one of the oldest cities in the world. It rose in prominence when Shiva worshiping was established-it is now the City of Shiva (Hindu God)and as a result, it is the Hindu's holiest place on earth. Pilgrims travel to the city to wash away their sins in the Ganges River which is considered to be a river of healing powers. Also along the river, cremation of loved ones are performed constantly. Those who die in Varanasi are liberated by completing the cycle of life. The Lonely Planet book states, "The magical but sometimes overwhelming city is where the most intimate rituals of life and death take place in public on the city's ghats. The accessibility to the practices of an ancient but still living religious tradition is what captivates many visitors."
Needless to say, it's a must-see.
We bought our train tickets very last minute and were thankful to be able to score tickets at all. The way there, we rode in a sleeper car with no air conditioning, which was...an experience. Here are some observations that I noted along the way...
1. Again, feeling ripped off and being frustrated by language barriers
2. At the station, people get comfortable on flattened cardboard boxes as flies get comfortable on their faces.
3. Sick dogs roam freely, limping, emaciated and broken.
4. On the train, the sleeper car resembles an old elementary school bus-complete with florescent lights, smells and germs. Don't forget, 3 to a seat!
5. The smells literally make me want to vomit that filter in from outside.
7. I now see real slums-there is a greater population in a much smaller area than in Africa. In the middle of nowhere, a hot pink stucco temple, the size of a couple outhouses sticks out against a dusty composition.
8. As dusk settles, I'm reminded of the semi-sheer curtain used to separate scenes in ballets. It acts as a mere separation(both figuratively and literally) from the world I peer upon.
9. Enormous bulls that are so dark and shiny they look like they were smothered in tar, relax in dirt and look as comfortable as pimps in a hot tub.
10. Mass amounts of trash peek out of streams and rivers.
The journey was over 3 hours delayed (making the total train ride-one way-16 hours) but we finally made it.
When you get out of the train station, there is now way to know where to go, as all signs are in Hindi. We just followed a crowd and miraculously made it out with few hassles. We got into a taxi and it was apparent that we were all eager to make it to our final destination. There was no chitchat with the driver, despite his persistent attempts. We got out of the taxi and wandered down the Ghats and peered into shops until we found our quaint guest-house (Guest-house Ganges View)filled with antiques, relics and personality. Paintings and masks of Hindu Gods lined the walls and flowing curtains framed the large windows that looked out onto the Ganges. Though we expected a room with 2 beds, when we got in there was only 1- which made for a crowded night as we all crammed onto the bed horizontally (our feet dangling off the edge). Despite the discomfort, the room was beautiful with random antique lights and gold trim...and most importantly- AIR CONDITIONING!
Shopping in Varanasi is fantastic! A stones toss from our hotel I got these hippie-chic pants, two scarves, a wrap, a hot pink bed cover and 2 postcards for less than 30 BUCKS!!! SCORE!
At 6:00 pm we took a boat up the river to view the various ghats. I even got to paddle...in the freakin' Ganges! which was a struggle with the makeshift oars. The real master of paddles was our boatman-who was only 15 years old. We made it to Harishchandra Ghat which was were the ritual cremation was being held. We watched a group of men carry one body down to the shore to be drenched in the river, the grandson saying his final goodbye, and other bodies stiff and smoldering in a firepit. As night swept over the sky, bats the size of eagles circled above us. It was eerie and a bit morbid to say the least...as they say though, "when in Rome..."
The next morning we forced ourselves to wake up at 5:00AM (the earliest I've been awake since...?) and watched the sun rise and paint the sky. Devotees bathed in the river, others practiced yoga, Aghori's decorated in white facemasks meditated and chanted...it was unlike anything that I have ever witnessed.
At 7:00AM we took a private yoga class at our guest-house. It felt so good to stretch and exercise again. It ended with a short chanting session-which I surprisingly enjoyed quite a bit! I'm glad that we got to take the class...it was something that I'll look back on and think, "Remember that time I did yoga in Varanasi??"
After an eventful morning, the sun began to roast the city and I felt like I was literally melting into the earth. As we wandered through back alleys, crowded with vendors selling trinkets, silver, fabric, etc etc etc, I zoned out and tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. We got totally lost in our attempt to find a particular temple, gave up, and when we finally made it out, we decided to take a rickshaw to the train station and get out of the heat. It was just too unbearable.
The journey back to Delhi was a dream compared to the first train. We actually scored the A/C car and all of my fantasies of riding the Hogwart Express were fulfilled. People walked by selling juice and treats, and we even got pillows and blankets! We made it home by 11:00AM and as I look back on the weekend, I am filled with a sense of utter ecstasy. My feelings of desire towards some sort of spirituality have been reaffirmed by this mystical, charismatic, lively, Woodstock-meets-God kind of town.
Enough rambling...I'll try to put up some photos soon!
Peace.
Thursday, 29 May 2008
Work related blog
This week has been jumbled, confusing and stressful at work. It is our first week all together, working as a team, and it's going great. We each have very specific specialties that the Maitri staff can utilize which is useful because there is not a whole lot of overlapping of assignments. While our specific tasks were initially confusing and up-in-the-air, we have finally been given some clarity and detail. It feels good to know exactly what my assignment is, but also somewhat intimidating, as I feel like my project is huge...much larger that I had originally thought.
I am putting together the entire Punjab police workshop on HIV prevention. This will target women and children who's husbands/fathers are in the police force. Similar to the problems that the armed forces face, police officers are often stationed near areas where prostitutes frequent, and they often engage in unsafe sex. It is my job to come up with the three phases which should be conducted over a period of one month. The first phase is a survey of demographics and basic knowledge, as well as an educational presentation on HIV. I've put together a powerpoint presentation and a skit for this portion of the workshop. The second phase will be conducted in small groups of women over the course of two days. It is my goal to create a support group for women who may be suffering. Because many of the women and children who are affected with HIV are judged and discriminated against, I am also implementing activities to promote self-esteem and teaching these people their rights as human beings so that they can live in dignity. I have also written two skits and included plenty of group discussion time during this phase. We will also be hiring counselors who have expertise in this sort of training. The third and final phase I have yet to put together, but the purpose is to come up with some sort of analytical findings to measure the effectiveness of the workshop. I'm happy that they have confidence in me and that they are willing to give me such a large bulk of work, I just hope that I can live up to/exceed any expectations that they have. It is intimidating that my original design will be judged by the specialists involved in phase two and that the effectiveness will be measured in phase three. Luckily, I feel like I have support from the other interns and they are being helpful in brainstorming different ideas and topics to discuss.
I also found out that I am going to be working in the classroom quite a bit. Today we worked on a permanent schedule that the students can rely on and a curriculum that will be taught according to the level of student. I think that the structure and organization will do wonders for these kids. Their eagerness to learn astounds me and I realize what a privileged life I have lived. Despite the fact that I faced my own barriers and had challenges to overcome, these children make me realize just how luck I have been .
Time to sleep. Early morning tomorrow. We may be going out of town this weekend, but we have to go to the train station at 7:30 to see if we can get last minute tickets. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but it would be great to get out of the city and check out another part of India.
Peace.
I am putting together the entire Punjab police workshop on HIV prevention. This will target women and children who's husbands/fathers are in the police force. Similar to the problems that the armed forces face, police officers are often stationed near areas where prostitutes frequent, and they often engage in unsafe sex. It is my job to come up with the three phases which should be conducted over a period of one month. The first phase is a survey of demographics and basic knowledge, as well as an educational presentation on HIV. I've put together a powerpoint presentation and a skit for this portion of the workshop. The second phase will be conducted in small groups of women over the course of two days. It is my goal to create a support group for women who may be suffering. Because many of the women and children who are affected with HIV are judged and discriminated against, I am also implementing activities to promote self-esteem and teaching these people their rights as human beings so that they can live in dignity. I have also written two skits and included plenty of group discussion time during this phase. We will also be hiring counselors who have expertise in this sort of training. The third and final phase I have yet to put together, but the purpose is to come up with some sort of analytical findings to measure the effectiveness of the workshop. I'm happy that they have confidence in me and that they are willing to give me such a large bulk of work, I just hope that I can live up to/exceed any expectations that they have. It is intimidating that my original design will be judged by the specialists involved in phase two and that the effectiveness will be measured in phase three. Luckily, I feel like I have support from the other interns and they are being helpful in brainstorming different ideas and topics to discuss.
I also found out that I am going to be working in the classroom quite a bit. Today we worked on a permanent schedule that the students can rely on and a curriculum that will be taught according to the level of student. I think that the structure and organization will do wonders for these kids. Their eagerness to learn astounds me and I realize what a privileged life I have lived. Despite the fact that I faced my own barriers and had challenges to overcome, these children make me realize just how luck I have been .
Time to sleep. Early morning tomorrow. We may be going out of town this weekend, but we have to go to the train station at 7:30 to see if we can get last minute tickets. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but it would be great to get out of the city and check out another part of India.
Peace.
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
I like to eat. eat. eat.
Today I had a series of oral orgasms. No joke.
FIRST, this morning I woke up and had half of a plain bagel with cream cheese. After a whole week of heavy Indian food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this simple piece of bread and cheese was like eating...well...a really good bagel and cream cheese. My "groggy-morning" self was able to wake up with satisfaction instead of being put back to sleep with a greasy potato and onion chapati and toast.
THEN, for lunch we had this cheese and tomato dish. I could write a novel about the way the cheese crumbled on my tongue and the creamy rich flavors sat in my mouth. I wanted to enjoy the flavor over and over again. The richness was just rich enough to give way to a lightness at the end-a true delight.
NEXT, after a long day at work, we came home and Janaki (our cook) was busy in the kitchen making dinner. Ugh. She wouldn't be done for another two hours and I WAS HUNGRY NOW! If only I could make my own meal....ALAS!!! She presents a huge glass bowl filled with sliced melon. Now, if I could rate this melon I would not hesitate to give it five HUGE stars. This melon was so sweet and soft, it dripped from my fork and into my drooling mouth. I'm pretty sure I gobbled up half of the bowl (much to my roommate's dismay, I'm sure.)
FINALLY, for dinner we had plain buttered chapati with this vegetarian yellow curry. Those of you who know me understand that I can eat with the best of 'em.....but you would have seriously been impressed with the way I took down four of these burrito sized portions. OHMYGOD it was SOOOGOOD!!!
Oh man. People curious about the food in India...it's JUST. THAT. GOOD.
And, the perfect discovery to be coupled with my day of eats....A GYM! Right next door to our apartment complex is a public school and apparently we can use their gym for free. Granted, their treadmills are falling apart and there are only two sets of free weights that match. However, exercise. I love to sit and relax, but my body gets restless-especially with the lack of dancing. Who knew I'd miss dancing?!?!? Peculiar.
FIRST, this morning I woke up and had half of a plain bagel with cream cheese. After a whole week of heavy Indian food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this simple piece of bread and cheese was like eating...well...a really good bagel and cream cheese. My "groggy-morning" self was able to wake up with satisfaction instead of being put back to sleep with a greasy potato and onion chapati and toast.
THEN, for lunch we had this cheese and tomato dish. I could write a novel about the way the cheese crumbled on my tongue and the creamy rich flavors sat in my mouth. I wanted to enjoy the flavor over and over again. The richness was just rich enough to give way to a lightness at the end-a true delight.
NEXT, after a long day at work, we came home and Janaki (our cook) was busy in the kitchen making dinner. Ugh. She wouldn't be done for another two hours and I WAS HUNGRY NOW! If only I could make my own meal....ALAS!!! She presents a huge glass bowl filled with sliced melon. Now, if I could rate this melon I would not hesitate to give it five HUGE stars. This melon was so sweet and soft, it dripped from my fork and into my drooling mouth. I'm pretty sure I gobbled up half of the bowl (much to my roommate's dismay, I'm sure.)
FINALLY, for dinner we had plain buttered chapati with this vegetarian yellow curry. Those of you who know me understand that I can eat with the best of 'em.....but you would have seriously been impressed with the way I took down four of these burrito sized portions. OHMYGOD it was SOOOGOOD!!!
Oh man. People curious about the food in India...it's JUST. THAT. GOOD.
And, the perfect discovery to be coupled with my day of eats....A GYM! Right next door to our apartment complex is a public school and apparently we can use their gym for free. Granted, their treadmills are falling apart and there are only two sets of free weights that match. However, exercise. I love to sit and relax, but my body gets restless-especially with the lack of dancing. Who knew I'd miss dancing?!?!? Peculiar.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)