tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65577319114281385442024-03-04T22:50:20.419-08:00Hollywood goes BollywoodWatch me as I live, learn, and work for a year in India. I may make mistakes, discover something new, or take a wild adventure. But at least I'll have fun!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-71329279633415085512011-07-26T14:15:00.000-07:002011-07-26T14:15:55.238-07:00Conclusion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, I’ve officially left. No just India, but a community, life, and home of which I have been a part of for the past 11 months. The past year has been an adventure filled with challenges and successes that have pushed me throughout this experience. However, when I reflect back on my time in India, and Andur specifically, I’m struck by the level of joy and satisfaction that my memories bring back. And I think I can say that the impact has been mutual – my work in Andur as a part of the larger social improvement made by my organization along with the transformation and maturity I have undergone by overcoming an innumerable number of “unknowns” in a place very far from home. I came to India to learn more about the grunt work of international development. And I come away truly impressed by the strength and determination with which these communities approach their work. But I have also learned and grown immensely, with a better understanding of the world around me and appreciation for the opportunities I have. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, I don’t want to make it sound like my life here was easy. As many of you know, there were a number of times that the obstacles seemed insurmountable. Whether it be an unfamiliar, dare I say Indian, work environment straining against my efficiency-Americanized mind frame. Or crowds of people attempting to fit into a finite space on a ST bus. It seems as if I was constantly fighting – fighting against my preconceptions of what I wanted from this project/person/phone call/experience against the reality of an India that is far larger and more complex than myself. And there were times when the fight seemed too difficult, that the obstacles were an unnecessary diversion against my real objective or future. But, at the end of the day, I also fought back tears as my car left the NGO campus for the final time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I look back on my experience, it is not the frustrations or screaming matches I remember most; it is the community, the holidays (oh yes there were many), the meals that shine brightest. I can sum it up with a small story: I remember a time during summer vacation in May. Everyone had left, except for 5 of us remaining on the NGO campus: three nursing students, one village health worker, and me. At night we made dinner, then sat together on the mess floor to enjoy the fruits of our…well mostly their…labor. We ate, chatted, made jokes, and relaxed. Although the NGO complex was almost entirely empty, I felt a deep and committed sense of “place” – that I was somewhere I was accepted and belonged. That, aside from the obstacles of language and culture, I had formed a community that accepted me within its fold. My language skills improved. I got accustomed to the food. And my sense of “otherness” slowly faded away against the backdrop of community and friends. Is my time best remembered by the huge impact I made in rural primary health and women’s empowerment? Well, that is still to be determined. Instead, I look back at my coworkers, at the peanut farm, at the mangoes, at my poorly conceived idea of jokes (something about 4 wives) and I remember the laughs and meals, the conservations that I took part in or attempted to understand. To everyone in Andur, I will always be grateful. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, yes it is a bittersweet ending. If you had asked me 10 months ago, I would have been counting the days until my return home (not to say I didn’t). Yet I am also reflecting back on an experience that is not just another blog post. It is a year of my life that has impacted me and will have profound ripples throughout my future. And I leave, not sad about what is left behind (emotional yes, sad no), but prepared to tackle the future with the same strength and resilience…and hesitation and fear… with which I came to Andur. </span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-9552993925318602272011-06-21T09:07:00.000-07:002011-06-21T09:07:39.162-07:00The Beginning of the End....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life right now is…pretty great. I am at a place where I enjoy going to work, where I’m busy with tasks that I feel keep me on my toes, my relationships with staff and friends has evolved to a place where I can talk and joke and laugh (my improving language skills might help here), and the realization that my time here is (dare I say it) almost over makes me appreciate every day even more.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every day, right around sunset, I go for a walk through the farmland adjacent to our campus -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> time alone for my thoughts and reflection. And I am consistently awestruck by the beauty of where I live.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d1RKHqguR2U/TgB_asGWCGI/AAAAAAAAAsE/n1psOYZ9auE/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d1RKHqguR2U/TgB_asGWCGI/AAAAAAAAAsE/n1psOYZ9auE/s400/160.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, another picture of the sunset. I just can't get enough of them.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJeyJufTcTqoT3mUwxbH7nPZeF47qpbwZyPJ7EYmnoJpsgX8Xhq1NvhFVbgT_EDVkirNXugz_6PmrX7GEm3iKvNx6Te8bJjWTB9bZwjsEc9fVEdPFIXYVwAZ7Bmw1zTG29Q0jP2naASy1/s1600/IMG_0658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJeyJufTcTqoT3mUwxbH7nPZeF47qpbwZyPJ7EYmnoJpsgX8Xhq1NvhFVbgT_EDVkirNXugz_6PmrX7GEm3iKvNx6Te8bJjWTB9bZwjsEc9fVEdPFIXYVwAZ7Bmw1zTG29Q0jP2naASy1/s400/IMG_0658.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It looks fake, right? But this is the real deal.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, I also think part of the reason that I’m so happy is that….it’s mango season. Your mood entirely changes when you can go outside, reach up, and pluck a nice, ripe mango from the tree outside your door. Or head down to the market, where 1 kilo will set you back a good 20 rupees…or about $0.40. That comes to about $0.10 per mango. Yes, I have gotten a bit carried away at times – my current record is 9 in one day. But, you just gotta pick yourself up the next day and put things in perspective. I never realized how many different kinds of mangoes there are, or ways in which you can eat them. From slicing, to sucking, to peeling - each mango offers it's own challenge and rewards. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSOP0i4K6yY/TgB94tCYB3I/AAAAAAAAAr8/BFYrMkvJ_Jw/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSOP0i4K6yY/TgB94tCYB3I/AAAAAAAAAr8/BFYrMkvJ_Jw/s400/063.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first mangoes of the season, back in early May.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of my favorite days to date: spending an afternoon with one of our village health workers in her farm sitting under a mango tree. One of the most relaxing, enjoyable, stress-free days I've had with fantastic company and...mangoes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tj7vvaaWtp8/TgCJaCQjt3I/AAAAAAAAAtE/GpdtchA55vo/s1600/May++%2528142%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tj7vvaaWtp8/TgCJaCQjt3I/AAAAAAAAAtE/GpdtchA55vo/s400/May++%2528142%2529.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At the village health workers farm....words cannot describe <br />
the joy this brought me. All mangoes, ready for eating.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wd1ZycuVhHc/TgCIcn7oqCI/AAAAAAAAAs8/slTxeoTRT_I/s1600/May++%2528125%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wd1ZycuVhHc/TgCIcn7oqCI/AAAAAAAAAs8/slTxeoTRT_I/s400/May++%2528125%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's us, in action. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Work recently has come to a place where I feel that I’m no longer just going through the motions, but am able to add value and hopefully leaving some kind of impact on the organization. I’ve been doing a lot of grant writing. And although not as exciting as it may seem, I’ve been given a lot of responsibility and leadership to work with the community, staff and managers to devise proposals that can potentially be extremely meaningful here at work. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We’ve also held a series of trainings that have allowed me to spend more time out in the villages and interacting with the communities we work with. One training in Maternal and Newborn Health brought 15 resource persons from Solapur (the big city) and fanned them out over 3 days to reach 28 villages. Village by village we sat down with Self Help Group members and discussed the ways they can improve outcomes for pregnancies and deliveries. In some villages, outcomes are very good. But in others, over half of deliveries occur in the home without oversight by medically trained personnel. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ezz74GNL7QA/TgCG8OKBf6I/AAAAAAAAAsw/OBO0N2d03FY/s1600/May++%252873%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ezz74GNL7QA/TgCG8OKBf6I/AAAAAAAAAsw/OBO0N2d03FY/s400/May++%252873%2529.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the village मेसाई जवळगा (Mesai Jewalga) training on Maternal and <br />
Newborn Health, specifically proper antenatal care and nutrition.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VeIZDm2Le54/TgCHqYZQs3I/AAAAAAAAAs0/5hTg9IZjwWQ/s1600/May++%252896%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VeIZDm2Le54/TgCHqYZQs3I/AAAAAAAAAs0/5hTg9IZjwWQ/s400/May++%252896%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In कस्ती खु (Kasti Khu) for a similar MNH training.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SSjZ-DUALbM/TgCAeUJSZGI/AAAAAAAAAsM/ZwVD63gDXU4/s1600/IMG_0434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SSjZ-DUALbM/TgCAeUJSZGI/AAAAAAAAAsM/ZwVD63gDXU4/s400/IMG_0434.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In केरूर (Kerur) for a training on the Government rationing system. <br />
The government rations goods like sugar, wheat, and kerosene. <br />
People need to know their rights! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yV7uGdgDCQ/TgCBSIGZjKI/AAAAAAAAAsU/fxqY6oOxino/s1600/IMG_0450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yV7uGdgDCQ/TgCBSIGZjKI/AAAAAAAAAsU/fxqY6oOxino/s400/IMG_0450.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another training in लोहारा (Lohara) regarding the rationing system.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My language skills have come to a point where I can have full-fledged conversations….with the 6 year old daughter of one of our staff members. Granted, half of our conversations are me teaching her English. Well, and the other half are her asking me for chocolate because I taught her English. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sGReLVlHBdY/TgB-5fiHghI/AAAAAAAAAsA/nz7KXEc3oLM/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sGReLVlHBdY/TgB-5fiHghI/AAAAAAAAAsA/nz7KXEc3oLM/s400/110.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My six year old buddy. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But that aside, my language skills have also allowed me to become a lot closer to the staff. Language has never been a barrier to me getting to know my community, and it’s powerful to realize how little you need words to find affection and trust. But my growing language ability has allowed me to significantly bridge the gap from guest to close knit community member. To be able to talk with our village health workers and hear their stories, their struggles, and their bravery is truly empowering. For example, talking with one worker who was married at the age of 9, went to live with her husband at 17 – is now 27 with three children. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But she is a commanding force in her village, unafraid to speak up against patriarchal hierarchies and works hard to improve the conditions for her family and her community. I don’t even try to compare myself against these women, whose motivation and determination is truly inspiring.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J3BSH7wcjBY/TgCF5Howc3I/AAAAAAAAAso/XLMOjha2VIM/s1600/IMG_0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J3BSH7wcjBY/TgCF5Howc3I/AAAAAAAAAso/XLMOjha2VIM/s400/IMG_0978.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A traditional baby naming ceremony, or बारस (Baaras). One of our<br />
employee's daughter had a child, and we all attended the </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ceremony about 2 weeks after the birth. As a part of the </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ceremony, guests come to the baby and whisper in its ear the</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">name </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">you think it should have. And, as you're bending over, </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">everyone crowded around slaps you on the back.<br />
Why? I'm not so sure.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-djLPFWA1rF0/TgCGFGUqHNI/AAAAAAAAAss/Xz7o1Tk355Q/s1600/IMG_1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-djLPFWA1rF0/TgCGFGUqHNI/AAAAAAAAAss/Xz7o1Tk355Q/s400/IMG_1005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And of course, the ultimate cultural similarity:<br />
the presence of food.<br />
Of course a meal is served afterwards.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I go into my final month of work (yes, final month), it’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly where I’ve made my big impact or what my huge legacy will be. But right now, I’m thoroughly enjoying the relationships that I’ve made, my responsibilities at work, and the respect I have for the community surrounding me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XRRTb6A1OMg/TgCFowdEhgI/AAAAAAAAAsk/24Lsoa7pp4k/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XRRTb6A1OMg/TgCFowdEhgI/AAAAAAAAAsk/24Lsoa7pp4k/s400/IMG_0701.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's play 'Where's Andrew?'<br />
Not so hard...<br />
Me disturbing the nursing students as they're trying to study. <br />
I just wanted a picture.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh, but I do have to say one negative thing going on recently. I have a rat…..infestation. It’s been going on for a few weeks now, and I see their squeaky little faces at night right before I’m about to lay down. They crawl in and out…to my utmost disgust. Yes, I’ve laid out poison and plan out their demise. But once I shut off the lights, I can only close my eyes, cross my fingers, and realize that they are probably more afraid of me than I am of them. Hopefully….</span><o:p></o:p></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-87701079621604858562011-05-20T10:21:00.000-07:002011-05-20T10:21:24.711-07:00God's Own Country<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Disclaimer: The following blog post and pictures do not do justice to the events of which you are about to read.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Passover, we were allowed to take a few days off from work to celebrate with the other fellows. So, 6 of us decided to make our way down to the southern state of Kerala. I wish you all had been there, because the following words are like the movie Avatar 3D watched as a silent black and white film…just not the same. Kerala is beautiful: lush green forests, lakes, backwaters, (seemingly) clean ocean, mountains. The people are friendly. And literacy hovers around 95%. (Kerala is probably the most advanced state in India in terms of development). And English widespread. There was not one person that we spoke to during the trip that could not understand us Americans (at least partially). In fact, English and Malayalam (the local Keralan language) are both more prevalent than Hindi (the national language of India). Kerala’s nickname is “God’s own country” I think because it is blessed with the beauty of nature and is extremely diverse (comparatively) in terms of religion.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskiRvqE7SDjs9Yli9HfiGU24IgC5SvNH_AbXODkHRZESBy1uxcaBlfIBNO9TQXUC0nlAMWZl40qnu0idnrANNujdbwKPaXi2uuYj5ZGGvE4-X2XCadu6gdrbQWF8dL0dsQoBOLC7__gpP/s1600/Kerala+trip+map.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskiRvqE7SDjs9Yli9HfiGU24IgC5SvNH_AbXODkHRZESBy1uxcaBlfIBNO9TQXUC0nlAMWZl40qnu0idnrANNujdbwKPaXi2uuYj5ZGGvE4-X2XCadu6gdrbQWF8dL0dsQoBOLC7__gpP/s400/Kerala+trip+map.gif" width="372" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To keep you oriented, a map of our travels.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, we made our way down to Kerala (with a pit-stop in Mumbai to say goodbye to Sami, a fellow who needs to return home early from the program…miss ya Sami!) and were greeted by perfect weather, beautiful sunsets, and an overall sense of relaxation. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D1ue_SGc5hF5qa1gMTXcRvcO7UNHZjaPOq90Kmd3xea12tCZMMfNjLU0kDLkWcXPRA3GQF0GFYblHRwRZAT-11S7wIh-WEeGf5PFxMEVm2fpqS4I7xzubsbDOaFgPsog_6SBxhDPRmfi/s1600/DSC_2086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D1ue_SGc5hF5qa1gMTXcRvcO7UNHZjaPOq90Kmd3xea12tCZMMfNjLU0kDLkWcXPRA3GQF0GFYblHRwRZAT-11S7wIh-WEeGf5PFxMEVm2fpqS4I7xzubsbDOaFgPsog_6SBxhDPRmfi/s400/DSC_2086.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Train: our main form of transportation from city to city. </span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our first stop was Varkala, a beachside town that offers little more than a relaxing respite from the hustle and bustle of nearby tourist towns. We arrived in the morning (after catching a 6am train), dropped our bags at the hotel, threw on some trunks, and made our way down to the beach. For the next two days, we proceeded to burn ourselves under the scorching sun (some of us WAY more than others – not me though). However, mid-April starts the beginning of monsoon season in Kerala. So about 5pm every day, heavy rains would begin to fall…forcing us to turn indoors. Even still, the thundering rain and striking lightening against the ocean (we had an oceanfront hotel) made the scenic views breathtaking – ribbons of lightening that strike the ocean, quickly lighting up the skyline. During periodic breaks in the rain, we would make our way out to explore the few shops and restaurants along the water. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2rS7q8PC17wRw4UX1U7o0qshlEcxHPfJLwfKBXYVAw_88TPZPUwCnfwS1RPkFVICQK3rjAI0CSFngSl-exCDGMKEw0DBVpKz69FO_GD1-Sowv24tWAEiyz2wfx_3gE0wTlVxeMa4D4Ky/s1600/DSC_2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2rS7q8PC17wRw4UX1U7o0qshlEcxHPfJLwfKBXYVAw_88TPZPUwCnfwS1RPkFVICQK3rjAI0CSFngSl-exCDGMKEw0DBVpKz69FO_GD1-Sowv24tWAEiyz2wfx_3gE0wTlVxeMa4D4Ky/s400/DSC_2114.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Imagine having to look/sit at this all day for 2 days. <br />
Torture I know...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LBy7Wzb0n-Y/TdaGlWKPRrI/AAAAAAAAAp4/kLfaSBDDdro/s1600/DSC_2089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LBy7Wzb0n-Y/TdaGlWKPRrI/AAAAAAAAAp4/kLfaSBDDdro/s400/DSC_2089.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our group relaxing at one of the restaurants alongside the water. <br />
Our first breakfast. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our second night in Kerala marked the first night of Passover (Passover is an 8-day Jewish celebration marking the Hebrews escape from slavery in Egypt and commemorating our freedom). During the first two nights, Jews celebrate by holding a Seder, an ordered set of prayers and a ceremonial meal. So, the 6 of us decided to cook our own meal and have our own Seder for this evening. So Monday April 18 we spent the afternoon shopping for local groceries in town: fresh fish, 5 pounds of mangos (which came out to about $2 USD), pineapple, coconut milk, etc. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gRCDhI3rpgA/TdaJY33OghI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/fJ2DtHUj_3I/s1600/DSC_2147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gRCDhI3rpgA/TdaJY33OghI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/fJ2DtHUj_3I/s400/DSC_2147.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ahhh..Mangos! Probably one of the best reasons to come to India. <br />
I mean, aside from the warmth, culture, diversity...etc. <br />
But mangos!! and when they average 10 Rupees ($0.25 USD) a pound, <br />
what could be better</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That evening, we each were parceled off by the two master chefs (Fellows David and Arielle) into various tasks. My job: peeling garlic (ok, not so exciting, but still very important for Indian cooking). Because of the thunderstorms the power would go out occasionally – forcing us to work by candlelight. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i7sPjvezDoM/TdaIX9pjsOI/AAAAAAAAAqI/FwovniH2CNE/s1600/DSC_2138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i7sPjvezDoM/TdaIX9pjsOI/AAAAAAAAAqI/FwovniH2CNE/s400/DSC_2138.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, that's yours truly getting his job done!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span>But nonetheless, the meal was incredible. Our menu: cooked butterfish, mango salsa, quinoa salad with beets, charoset (a traditional Passover component made from nuts and apples), and desert of bananas in coconut milk.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Seder ceremony was probably one of the most memorable I have ever had. We went through the traditional order, but diverged every so often when someone had their own traditions they wanted to share, stories from past Seders, or different tunes for the songs. In essence, we truly made it our own. Plus, we had the 4 cups of wine to keep us going (a part of the Seder is to drink 4 cups of wine throughout the ceremony – of course we had to abide by this rule). Unfortunately we didn’t have matzah to eat (traditional unleavened bread), but we substituted banana chips instead. Overall, we had an amazing time together, sharing memories, and making new ones together.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JRCJBWqlsPs/TdaKMX4inII/AAAAAAAAAqU/xV0PjM7J0RQ/s1600/DSC_2148.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JRCJBWqlsPs/TdaKMX4inII/AAAAAAAAAqU/xV0PjM7J0RQ/s320/DSC_2148.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Everyone loves themselves a Seder!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pCHCSPc1fyk/TdaKtyFFuTI/AAAAAAAAAqY/p1zcrNndNWw/s1600/DSC_2149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pCHCSPc1fyk/TdaKtyFFuTI/AAAAAAAAAqY/p1zcrNndNWw/s400/DSC_2149.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our Seder plate. A little improvised. A Seder plate is a ceremonial <br />
dish that holds symbolic items for the meal. Something different <br />
here is the orange, which represents the importance of women.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After Varkala we made up way up north about an hour to Alleppey and jumped on a houseboat for our tour of the Keralan backwaters. The backwaters are lakes and lagoons that run parallel to the Arabian Sea. They’re beautiful, lined both sides with lush green. Although we often passed other boats on their way down with Indian and foreign tourists alike, I felt a complete sense of serenity as we slowly made our way up the backwaters. Our package was the Honeymoon Cruise, perfect for the 3 men and women that constituted our group of 6. We ate wonderfuly on the boat with food prepared by our own hired chef. Slept the night on the rocking waters of the backwaters. And made our way back to the city the next day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-daQARHDIOR8/TdaLedHCooI/AAAAAAAAAqc/mmIz05Do_8Q/s1600/DSC_2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-daQARHDIOR8/TdaLedHCooI/AAAAAAAAAqc/mmIz05Do_8Q/s400/DSC_2182.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A view of the backwaters.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtX8dEPR7grj2qcAUvVCOv8-aD0tyd8aXLxHh0cU__YsGiOjp29kl1uEog_FnRyae5tChp2Gn8YErh4izKr6w9PulPmXDGmYD3yxgDTpTGma7Posib_kQYt_YcBBIojeK61l2ZexxtLRd/s1600/DSC_2211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtX8dEPR7grj2qcAUvVCOv8-aD0tyd8aXLxHh0cU__YsGiOjp29kl1uEog_FnRyae5tChp2Gn8YErh4izKr6w9PulPmXDGmYD3yxgDTpTGma7Posib_kQYt_YcBBIojeK61l2ZexxtLRd/s400/DSC_2211.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A houseboat, very similar to ours. <br />
One of the many making its way down the waters.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ws61Sm2UKDk/TdaM2yOuRTI/AAAAAAAAAqk/peFkWjjE9NM/s1600/DSC_2248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ws61Sm2UKDk/TdaM2yOuRTI/AAAAAAAAAqk/peFkWjjE9NM/s400/DSC_2248.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's like you can't take a bad picture of a sunset here in India. <br />
This one from our boat.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XJULCTxBl4Q/TdaNd-R_ajI/AAAAAAAAAqo/AVWbqH1IDtA/s1600/DSC_2257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XJULCTxBl4Q/TdaNd-R_ajI/AAAAAAAAAqo/AVWbqH1IDtA/s400/DSC_2257.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The local people do most of their <br />
traveling by....boat. </span> </td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From there, back to Fort Kochin, one of the largest cities of Kerala and the main hub for most tourists. It’s a beautiful city. And, strangely enough, very few roaming cows. Kerala has less of a British colonial influence because it is so far south and was more populated by Christian missionaries that were predominate the area. Thus, there is a strong Christian presence in the state – as seen by the large number of churches throughout the city (and state really). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wzL5Apx6fs/TdaOXTachrI/AAAAAAAAAqs/PXO74KbMudg/s1600/DSC_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wzL5Apx6fs/TdaOXTachrI/AAAAAAAAAqs/PXO74KbMudg/s400/DSC_2289.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fishing nets line the water in Fort Kochi. They were once a part of <br />
the booming fishing industry (which still exists), but are now <br />
mostly for show.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-Do2Gpa3Dc/TdaPMSoirsI/AAAAAAAAAq0/7ohqjJPOs4M/s1600/DSC_2299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-Do2Gpa3Dc/TdaPMSoirsI/AAAAAAAAAq0/7ohqjJPOs4M/s400/DSC_2299.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lots-o-fish.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our daylong jaunt through the city inevitably brought us to…Jew town. Yes, Fort Kochin has an area of the city called Jew Town. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XtxTPbABHkY/TdaQFIleSMI/AAAAAAAAAq8/phuwjQPGeDc/s1600/DSC_2312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XtxTPbABHkY/TdaQFIleSMI/AAAAAAAAAq8/phuwjQPGeDc/s400/DSC_2312.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well look what we have here...</span></td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In fact, there used to be a large Jewish population in the city – people who immigrated here over 2000 years ago, with a second wave during the Spanish inquisition. Today, only 10 Jews remain in the city. However, the area of town is famous for the Paradesi Synagogue, built over 400 years ago and maintained currently by international donations. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unfortunately, the Synagogue was closed due to the holiday (major bummer), but we were able to check it out a few days later. We also had the opportunity to meet some of the community members (you’ll have to read on to hear about that).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qb1Fmx3clP4/TdaSn5kqRmI/AAAAAAAAArE/aP_oGrD3ax4/s1600/DSC_2751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qb1Fmx3clP4/TdaSn5kqRmI/AAAAAAAAArE/aP_oGrD3ax4/s400/DSC_2751.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Synagogue is the blue building on the left. <br />
Unfortunately no pictures inside.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From here, we said goodbye to three of our crew (who had to get back to…work), and the three boys headed off to Munnar, a hill station about 5 hours east of Fort Kochin. As described in earlier posts, a hill station is usually on the top of a mountain and serves as a weekend getaway vacation spot for city folk. Well, Munnar stands at the top of a mountain and is surrounded by tea plantations. The views: gorgeous. Possibly the most beautiful place I have ever been to. And the journey there, just breathtaking. As you zigzag up the mountainside in a state bus, you’re surrounded by beautiful forests and green hillsides. With thundering classical music in my ears, I felt like I was smack dab in the opening scenes of Jurassic Park.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I9VsuiFR8Kc/TdaTaYwgLQI/AAAAAAAAArI/KHGzioejhUI/s1600/DSC_2800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I9VsuiFR8Kc/TdaTaYwgLQI/AAAAAAAAArI/KHGzioejhUI/s400/DSC_2800.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The mist rolling through the hills of Munar.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Munnar was gorgeous and pristine. I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking here, but the first day we did some of our own exploring, and the next day rented a guide for the morning who took us to the top of a mountain. Thank you to Seth for choosing our hotel (I’ll spare you the details…let’s just say David gave us all a hard time about it). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lP4pQeisCX4/TdaTz2HkQKI/AAAAAAAAArQ/hyYsK8yJ2FQ/s1600/DSC_2831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lP4pQeisCX4/TdaTz2HkQKI/AAAAAAAAArQ/hyYsK8yJ2FQ/s400/DSC_2831.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Us three fellows atop a mountain, <br />
everything beneath covered in fog.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo1V8_TidS8/TdaUfQHU3BI/AAAAAAAAArU/Hi5OWmkk7i4/s1600/DSC_2853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo1V8_TidS8/TdaUfQHU3BI/AAAAAAAAArU/Hi5OWmkk7i4/s400/DSC_2853.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tea plantations. Beautiful</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From there, back to Fort Kochi. We had one last night in the city, and decided to make our way back to the Synagogue to join Chabad for Friday night Shabbat services at the Paradesi Synagogue in Kochi (Chabad is an orthodox community of Jews that has houses around the world as gathering points for Jews to find a community). After services, walking back from the temple, we were able to stop at the homes of some of the Jewish community in Fort Kerala. There are only 10 people left (from a population that at one point numbered almost 10,000), 9 of whom are over the age of 80. Most Jews in Kerala left once the state of Israel was formed. We sat in their homes, were offered food and drink, and spoke to them about the community that once existed. After wishing them a "<i>Chag Samayach</i>” (Happy Holiday in Hebrew – it was still Passover), we made our way back to our side of the city.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And then it was back to Mumbai. I had an extra day layover in Mumbai and so was able to explore parts of the city I hadn’t yet been to (I’ve mostly traveled through Mumbai as a transit point to various other parts of the country). <o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kPdvvAeFu9s/Tdab79AvVkI/AAAAAAAAArc/w-4N2J_E9oc/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kPdvvAeFu9s/Tdab79AvVkI/AAAAAAAAArc/w-4N2J_E9oc/s400/011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where the final dance sequence of Slumbdog Millionaire was filmed. <br />
I thought it was really cool. <br />
I couldn't help but listen to"Jai Ho" on my iPod.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ie0lFPNgwYM/TdagqW8bLGI/AAAAAAAAAr0/8gsSxmPXfxY/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ie0lFPNgwYM/TdagqW8bLGI/AAAAAAAAAr0/8gsSxmPXfxY/s400/016.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chhatrapati Shivaji Termins (or more commonly referred to <br />
as Victoria Terminus), the main local metro hub of Mumbai. <br />
It also houses the above said dance set.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Overall, a fantastic week’s vacation that made me ready to come back to work and get started on the …last…2.5 months of my Fellowship. I can’t believe it’s almost over, and that I have to start thinking about what’s coming next.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">**I would like to thank Ava and David for allowing their photos to grace this blog post. Unfortunately I had a camera mishap (ok, i lost it), and was therefore left photo-less. Plus, these are 10x better than anything I could have taken.</span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-66869231412833146622011-05-09T09:44:00.000-07:002011-05-09T10:03:19.164-07:00Success!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dhoni steps up to the pitch. It’s the 49<sup>th</sup> over, only 12 more balls before the match is over. He tests out his bat. All seems well. The bowler comes fast from afar. Dhoni swings. The ball flies up and over boundary for 6! And with that, India wins the match. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aXT4JybWoEg/TcgdWuayHTI/AAAAAAAAApU/68M0zjRKcfo/s1600/India-captain-Mahendra-dhoni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aXT4JybWoEg/TcgdWuayHTI/AAAAAAAAApU/68M0zjRKcfo/s1600/India-captain-Mahendra-dhoni.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The final shot of the match. MS Dhoni (the Indian cricket team captain) <br />
with Sri Lankan keeper behind.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you didn’t understand any of that, don’t worry (I was a novice once too). But that is a play-by-play of the winning pitch of the Cricket World Cup. India faced off with Sri Lanka in a grand South Asian battle to prove once and again that it has one of the strongest cricket teams around the world. In case you didn’t know, cricket is to India what football (the American one) is to the US. Indians go wild over cricket matches, some varieties of which can last 5 days. And when India hasn’t won the world cup in 28 years, it’s a huge cause for celebration</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Throughout March, the furor for India to take home the win gained momentum as they beat team after team, including cricket powerhouses West Indies and Australia. During the semi-final match, India played Pakistan. For those of you who don’t know, India and Pakistan have had a long history of animosity – 3 wars, religious tension, disputed territory…etc etc. Thus, India and Pakistan do not play each other. The only chance is a venue like this, when the teams (both of whom are excellent) make it to the semi-final match. Needless to say, India won. And let me tell you….the streets went wild. I had been in Solapur to watch the match, and during the entirety of the match the city had shut down. Everyone was hunkered down in front of a TV watching. As soon as the final ball was hit, the fireworks began and everyone went to the streets. People were wild, screaming and yelling with national pride like there was no tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--84zopTt7yk/TcgZS5qnFGI/AAAAAAAAApM/zwXZJm7bexc/s1600/IMG_1703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--84zopTt7yk/TcgZS5qnFGI/AAAAAAAAApM/zwXZJm7bexc/s400/IMG_1703.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Watching the match with coworkers.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udO8Xf2tTg0/TcgMxf3V5xI/AAAAAAAAAog/x8_oV3kKFX4/s1600/IMG_1709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udO8Xf2tTg0/TcgMxf3V5xI/AAAAAAAAAog/x8_oV3kKFX4/s400/IMG_1709.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Motorcycles whizzing by our street in Solapur. I apologize <br />
it's not too descriptive, but it was only/best picture I could <br />
get at the time.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And the same could be said for the final match. For the weekend, I went to Pune to visit Seth, a fellow “Fellow’, to watch the match. We decided to take the match-watching part low-key, eating and watching at a deserted restaurant above the city. But, when Dhoni (the team captain) hit that final ball, we ran down the street toward his apartment. Cue: huge dance party. We stayed out for hours, dancing in the streets and celebrating with our fellow Indians. People rode by in cars and motorcycles, waving huge Indian flags. Speakers blared with music. And everyone reveled in the joy of the day. It was fascinating to think that this was happening all over the country!! (Un)fortunately I didn’t bring my camera along, so I don’t have any pictures to document the event.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of course that weekend had been a holiday weekend (Guddy Parwa…the Hindu New Year) meaning we had an extra day on our hands. On a rash decision, we decided to make our way up to Mahabaleshwar, a hill station 4 hours outside of Pune. A hill station is usually situated on a…hill (or mountain)…and is a weekend getaway for city folk (because it’s up high it usually has cooler weather). Mahabaleshwar receives not so great reviews on Lonely Planet (the ubiquitous traveling guide) - actually scathing comments telling travelers to avoid the place at all costs. But instead, we decided to go off some local advice about berries (yum!) and head up for a night. Boy what a smart decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It turns out, the weekend of April 1 was the Mapro Gardens Strawberry Festival in Mahabaleshwar. After the 4 hour bus ride, we dropped our bags at a hotel and made our way to the main road. Walking down among the throng of other weekend getaway-ers, we suddenly began to hear a reverberating pounding. A little further…and we find ourselves in the midst of a huge drum circle with dancers in the streets and women holding out baskets of strawberries. It was pure joy. Mapro, a corporate berry farming enterprise, sponsors a yearly strawberry festival. It was amazing. A slow-moving, drumming, dancing crowd down the main road giving out free strawberries. What more could you ask for. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1l-_wmCCmMk/TcgNYxedsGI/AAAAAAAAAoo/GUQEd45UKms/s1600/IMG_1751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1l-_wmCCmMk/TcgNYxedsGI/AAAAAAAAAoo/GUQEd45UKms/s400/IMG_1751.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Free strawberries being handed out by the strawberry women!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KI6PjhMDNQY/TcgNo-mjeeI/AAAAAAAAAos/6rfJg3seSOk/s1600/IMG_1753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KI6PjhMDNQY/TcgNo-mjeeI/AAAAAAAAAos/6rfJg3seSOk/s400/IMG_1753.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Drum circle!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mx-LNjx9yGQ/TcgN8JjydYI/AAAAAAAAAow/UcMAV8QWd2o/s1600/IMG_1763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mx-LNjx9yGQ/TcgN8JjydYI/AAAAAAAAAow/UcMAV8QWd2o/s400/IMG_1763.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The parade moving down the main street of Mahabaleshwar.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The next day, we of course had to make our way down to the Mapro Gardens Farm to check out what this was all about. The Farm is approximately 10 kilometers away from the city. Seth and I decided the best form of transportation was…horseback. After debating our way through horse vendors, we finally settled on a price we liked (Rs. 900…or about $20 USD total) and had a lovely 1.5 hour jaunt through the Maharashtran mountains. When I say lovely, I actually mean somewhat painful. But we made it to the Farm and were greeted by free samples, fresh strawberry ice cream, more dancing and drum circles. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OMX5Ek89xIg/TcgOdlS511I/AAAAAAAAAo0/Ug1o7QA7hIY/s1600/IMG_1783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OMX5Ek89xIg/TcgOdlS511I/AAAAAAAAAo0/Ug1o7QA7hIY/s400/IMG_1783.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My not-so-favorite mode of transporation, <br />
but at least our horses like each other</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WPaSueJtNWE/TcgO2Qc8kwI/AAAAAAAAAo4/CGU195Kh7Jg/s1600/IMG_1787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WPaSueJtNWE/TcgO2Qc8kwI/AAAAAAAAAo4/CGU195Kh7Jg/s400/IMG_1787.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yum yum! Fresh strawberry ice cream!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On a side note, it was fascinating to see the crowd of people who come to Mahabaleshwar: middle to upper class Indians dressed in American Eagle and Abercrombie and Fitch. Aside from the color of people’s skin, I could have been in any US city (that had strawberries of course). Living in rural India, I sometimes forget that there is a very large, urban middle class that is strong and powerful.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The following weekend I made my way to…an Indian Water Park. Now, in the US I usually try to avoid these at all costs. But when in India… A friend on campus was going with a few buddies of his, and so I decided to go along. It was a small water park, about 5 rides, but a fantastic reprieve in the middle of the grueling heat. As you enter the park, you are given a bathing suit. I decided to use my own. The gender difference between a man’s bathing suit (short, tight nylon skivvies) and a woman’s suit (nylon long-sleeve shirt and pants). But overall, I had a great time – making a fool of myself in the water and trying to best the other guys in our group. Who needs lifeguards and chlorinated water. It was nice to let my guard down and not have to worry about work for a while.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nV7kL2fzzo0/TcgMSQSwBvI/AAAAAAAAAoY/vaCn2XTSia8/s1600/IMG_1683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nV7kL2fzzo0/TcgMSQSwBvI/AAAAAAAAAoY/vaCn2XTSia8/s400/IMG_1683.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Water Park!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E9qKV6KkoHA/TcgMExnYKuI/AAAAAAAAAoU/Xe8F4SC20Dg/s1600/IMG_1626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E9qKV6KkoHA/TcgMExnYKuI/AAAAAAAAAoU/Xe8F4SC20Dg/s400/IMG_1626.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just a couple of guys...who were up to no good!</span></td></tr>
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</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1scs4qVCK50/TcgLzXDKWgI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/iZhAPRERqeo/s1600/IMG_1587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1scs4qVCK50/TcgLzXDKWgI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/iZhAPRERqeo/s400/IMG_1587.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Did someone say slide?!?!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so our weekend ended and I made my way back to Andur. Fortunately, the fun didn’t stop. As a part of my work, I had to make a series of field visits in Solapur and to villages around Andur. This was fantastic because, aside from my work, it gave me the opportunity to speak with community members about the problems they face and their ownership of the work they’re doing. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R5QcqbxDbwo/TcgMjR7myHI/AAAAAAAAAoc/YudRc0lcsB8/s1600/IMG_1701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R5QcqbxDbwo/TcgMjR7myHI/AAAAAAAAAoc/YudRc0lcsB8/s400/IMG_1701.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A predominately Muslim slum in Solapur.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyUR1PwG74vrF3PJysEQi2CTXxA9fC8R36tHQGOWcrFr2N2pDn2ulUQluG2KGrD0exATpq5l6_MpzgLepuAdC93u3ZoNRHNsQys2EkjAO5weLif02lWO1zxtawKN9jkRfUSOvUWk79qdt/s1600/IMG_1711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyUR1PwG74vrF3PJysEQi2CTXxA9fC8R36tHQGOWcrFr2N2pDn2ulUQluG2KGrD0exATpq5l6_MpzgLepuAdC93u3ZoNRHNsQys2EkjAO5weLif02lWO1zxtawKN9jkRfUSOvUWk79qdt/s400/IMG_1711.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Community Volunteer of one slum with her two sons, <br />
who were competing for who could write to 100 in English the fastest.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, for 3 days I visited a number of villages far from my NGO campus, requiring me to stay at a coworkers house in his village. Living amongst the community, I was surprised at how little they made me feel out of place. I wasn’t gawked at or huddled around. But was able to walk through the village and get a face-to-face view of how 60% of India really lives. To let you know: many houses had satellite TV, cows do roam the streets at will, almost everyone has a cell phone, and the monthly electricity bill comes out to 200 rupees (about $4). But even more so, my site visits showed me that my consumerist culture in the US isn’t the only path to happiness. That even without the luxuries I take for granted, people can be very content with their lives. Yes, there is hardship. But that is also qualified against the happiness of a good harvest, your children, a good community. Everything is relative. It puts things in perspective and makes me appreciate even more the opportunities and comforts I have merely because I was born in a certain place.</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zecvbVSmIzo/TcgPNnCAk2I/AAAAAAAAAo8/liAecyAuVaM/s1600/IMG_1794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zecvbVSmIzo/TcgPNnCAk2I/AAAAAAAAAo8/liAecyAuVaM/s400/IMG_1794.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A group of adolescent girls in Dhangarwadi village discussing <br />
reproductive health.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W1oqtpUcjFg/TcgPnNKzNiI/AAAAAAAAApA/ErkaHnyNbmA/s1600/IMG_1815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W1oqtpUcjFg/TcgPnNKzNiI/AAAAAAAAApA/ErkaHnyNbmA/s400/IMG_1815.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The sari shop a microfinance group member <br />
had opened with the help of a loan from our NGO</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9x8YC5b3QCA/TcgP4qTxhFI/AAAAAAAAApE/CPPMuNJAimM/s1600/IMG_1830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9x8YC5b3QCA/TcgP4qTxhFI/AAAAAAAAApE/CPPMuNJAimM/s400/IMG_1830.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Grinding lentils with the Village Health Worker from Keshegaon.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-24427451733675518872011-04-01T19:53:00.000-07:002011-04-01T20:16:50.031-07:00A Series of Reflections<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, we’re finally on the backend of this whole India trip. Officially 4 months left at my work place. It is really strange to think about how quickly this whole experience has flown by, especially given the hesitancy with which I approached the whole idea of living in India for 11 months. But overall, it’s been a rollercoaster…complete with life changing moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life, new friends with whom I have shared some...for lack of a better word… “interesting” times, and moments when all I wished for was a cup of black coffee and air conditioning. But alas, I guess that’s why you come here…to put things into perspective.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This was all set up by the Midpoint Retreat a few weeks back. Coordinated by AJWS (the NGO that sent me here), we spent a week in south India in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu for a week to refresh, reenergize, and rejuvenate for the rest of our fellowship. Now, of course I had to sign up to be a part of the planning committee…so that means I was a part of the 5 member crew the put together the daily activities and planned the various sessions. Given that our hotel was on the beach with its own partially-private shoreline, we made sure to include PLENTY of free time in our schedule. Overall, it was fantastic to spend time with the other 10 fellows on the program and forget about the daily frustrations of work and a professional career (ha…I talk about it like I really know what that means). To eat meat and share a drink. Celebrate Shabbat together. Be able to understand all the words that were said during a conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGnjkCeN0ekdyT5LAAdHr13W7SI8du-og4vCr3tX8yIEvdPrEUt0NDBAkY6kRQH7dG-ELHfkU_dn0w1ZluhiJS2wZort-MtmrAtIBQxs8psL99_7QhBblwHtI0pnWU4-oOddPnnZ2fjEG/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGnjkCeN0ekdyT5LAAdHr13W7SI8du-og4vCr3tX8yIEvdPrEUt0NDBAkY6kRQH7dG-ELHfkU_dn0w1ZluhiJS2wZort-MtmrAtIBQxs8psL99_7QhBblwHtI0pnWU4-oOddPnnZ2fjEG/s400/IMG_1125.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All of us during one of the sessions. Topics ranged from "impact"<br />
to "power and privilege", the theories of development <br />
and challenges at work. All sessions were fellow-led.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsjXN1tIm_A/TZXhz9U62OI/AAAAAAAAAmY/SYoj_ivRwoU/s1600/IMG_1192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsjXN1tIm_A/TZXhz9U62OI/AAAAAAAAAmY/SYoj_ivRwoU/s1600/IMG_1192.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well don't we look good. Preparing to celebrate Shabbat together.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5y_a2RE2ppg/TZXiARik7nI/AAAAAAAAAmc/U0dtUnVQju8/s1600/IMG_1201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5y_a2RE2ppg/TZXiARik7nI/AAAAAAAAAmc/U0dtUnVQju8/s1600/IMG_1201.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Havdallah </i>(the closing Shabbat prayers on Saturday night) was<br />
always my favorite part of the service. </span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so I came back to Andur…partially wishing I could spend the rest of my time among such creature comforts. But, the other part, mentally prepared to tackle the rest of this experience and make something of my time here. I came back right in time for International Women’s Day, March 8, during which my NGO had a big rally in Solapur and a program for about 600 community volunteers and Self-Help Group members in the city. Complete with inspiring speeches and testimonials about the importance of women and gender equality. And yes, I was thrown on stage and was told to give a speech…in Marathi. 1 Point for Andrew. I gave a speech in Marathi to about 600 women. I might have babbled a bit, but generally spoke about the significance that empowering women has in empowering an entire village. (I’m surprised I even knew the words to say that). Although I was really nervous before and during, I felt really proud of myself…to be able to string together words into somewhat understandable sentences (key word: somewhat). <o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7aQcJZ2Zt4/TZXiYaFweVI/AAAAAAAAAmg/VgawynOpiZk/s1600/IMG_1218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7aQcJZ2Zt4/TZXiYaFweVI/AAAAAAAAAmg/VgawynOpiZk/s1600/IMG_1218.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The rally for International Women's Day through the streets <br />
of Solapur.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MLt8TKCnPvI/TZXizVfJLYI/AAAAAAAAAmk/hoPxUI4zeZ4/s1600/IMG_1312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MLt8TKCnPvI/TZXizVfJLYI/AAAAAAAAAmk/hoPxUI4zeZ4/s1600/IMG_1312.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A free Cancer Diagnostic Camp held the weekend <br />
after at the NGO hospital.</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And then it was Holi. I missed the religious part of the holiday on March 19, during which a fire pit of dried cow dung is burned and sang/danced around. But I was able to take part in Rung Panch Mein…the color festival which happens five days later (on March 25). In cities, this part of the holiday occurs the day after. In the village though…the 5 days are awaited and the color is thrown. Holi celebrates a victory of a large battle in the Hindu holy book. And thus the people are able to “celebrate” by throwing colored powder at each other. On Rung Panch Mein (which literally translates to “Color in 5 Days”) all civil order is suspended. It’s usually a boys/men thing…people drink and dance in the streets. Motorcycles are driven with 3/4/5 people on them. It can get wild. And usually at some point in the afternoon the police will step in and all things will turn back to normal. It was at about this point that I had made my way to Andur (the village). My friend and I went through a few of the major intersections (or <i>chowks) </i>and got soaked with water and color. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jpMGLizw15c/TZXjpLkj7CI/AAAAAAAAAmw/MQQkB8TxEQQ/s1600/IMG_1509-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jpMGLizw15c/TZXjpLkj7CI/AAAAAAAAAmw/MQQkB8TxEQQ/s400/IMG_1509-2.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After returning from Andur. What a mess!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the best part was when we came back to the NGO campus. Although today was a work holiday, the hospital was still open. And a few of the hospital employees had brought color. And so, we went to war. Teamed up trying to get people with color. It was a no bar game…anything goes as long as we were outside (….wouldn’t want to get in trouble in the hospital). Overall, loads of fun. A great way to spend time with coworkers. And interesting social comment…to see how gender constructs drifted away. I am usually very conservative with women…especially because I’m living in rural India and to save my own ass and not get myself into a cultural war for doing who knows what. But for Holi, I could take a handful of color and smack it straight across the face of a female coworker. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HWeczf2Bx6Y/TZXj8gQxl5I/AAAAAAAAAm0/0qbO-CZIDwc/s1600/IMG_1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HWeczf2Bx6Y/TZXj8gQxl5I/AAAAAAAAAm0/0qbO-CZIDwc/s400/IMG_1516.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some of the girl strategizing their next moves. <br />
Little did they know I snapped a picture.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aKuN4wT28xU/TZXkQrtiMTI/AAAAAAAAAm4/2B3wq-YKrLU/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aKuN4wT28xU/TZXkQrtiMTI/AAAAAAAAAm4/2B3wq-YKrLU/s400/IMG_1522.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Even the puppies got in on the action. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the midpoint retreat and the experience these past few weeks have made me think about what exactly keeps me here…why I haven’t jumped on a plane back home. Some of the things I’ve reflected on…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Impact: well, not necessarily of myself being here (still contemplating that one). But the organization I’m working with. It’s extremely empowering to hear the stories of the people I meet backdropped against the work of my organization. To put it in perspective: one village health worker who has been with our organization for many years. My boss recently asked her during a personal conversation (which was later repeated to me), “What are you afraid of?” Her answer, “Nothing.” Not the patriarchal community of her village, domestic violence, speaking in public, being active in conversations (rather than passive…women’s traditional roles), or leaving her home for days at a time to attend a Gender Equity conference. To me, she has become an emblem of the work that individuals can do at the most basic level to transform a community through the actions of even a single woman. It really is profound.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The warmth: The community I live with has truly taken me in as one of their own…even if they can’t understand me half the time (I say half because now for some of the time I can actually talk with them too!). It didn’t matter that I didn’t speak the language initially or know many (if any) of the cultural customs. I was here, and they were ready to make sure I knew what Maharashtran hospitality was all about. Whether it be a holiday (like Holi) or around lunch, it’s great to be a part of a community that I can talk and laugh with.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ3HmR-aFy4/TZXjMGtZoLI/AAAAAAAAAmo/3wafkv9_PYA/s1600/IMG_1347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ3HmR-aFy4/TZXjMGtZoLI/AAAAAAAAAmo/3wafkv9_PYA/s1600/IMG_1347.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With some coworkers. A village health worker on the left,<br />
Community Facilitator and his son on the right.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Time Alone: Both literally and figuratively, I spend a lot of time by myself. And to tell you the truth, it’s fantastic. During college, life was hectic and party-crazed (just kidding mom), not leaving me with a lot of time to relax and think…well…about nothing. I get a lot of time to do that now, either lost in thought or drifting off in my own mind, reading on the NGO roof with acres of farm patchworked beneath me, walking along the highway with a beautiful sunset in tow. It’s nice. Really nice. And sometimes, at the office, when conversations are happening around me in Marathi (either ones I’m participating or not), I tune out and can get lost in my own thoughts. Well…usually not intentionally. But attempting to translate the conversation takes a lot of effort that I sometimes don’t have.</span></li>
</ul><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UBZtyKjQ5hg/TZXjcHiHzeI/AAAAAAAAAms/jsDCH4Ikl9A/s1600/IMG_1489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UBZtyKjQ5hg/TZXjcHiHzeI/AAAAAAAAAms/jsDCH4Ikl9A/s400/IMG_1489.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not at all related, but....my first CHAPPATI!. <br />
Yes, the two chappati's in my hand were made by yours truly.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>The Stars: I have a vivid memory as a child going to a wedding at Lake Tahoe. We were staying at a cabin along the lake. I went outside at night and looked up. I was awestruck – thousands of stars above me, overwhelming me by the sheer magnitude with which they overtook the night sky. Here, I get that every night. After dinner, what I originally reasoned as a way to “digest” dinner, I take a stroll along the one path on my NGO campus. What was once an excuse to stretch my legs is now a much anticipated event. Either alone or with friends, I stroll the path…eyes glued to the sky. Thousands of stars stare back, uninhibited by city lights or smog, spread out in ways that only someone else knows. I only wish I knew the constellations so I could have something more to do than just stare at them (yes, I do know Orion’s belt…but that’s about it). But again, I could get lost in the seemingly endless collage of twinkling lights.</span></li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O7texbPQk3s/TZXguFzHf6I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/iwjB2ugcifE/s1600/IMG_1055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O7texbPQk3s/TZXguFzHf6I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/iwjB2ugcifE/s400/IMG_1055.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unfortunately stars don't take too well on my camera.<br />
But here's a lovely picture of the moon instead. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But there is a flipside, things that haven’t worked so well during my time here in India.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Things I have not quiet learned to cope with:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The nature: Now, don’t get me wrong. I love myself some nature (some of you may disagree with me on this, but it’s true). Maybe just not…all the time. There comes a point when the 3 ant colonies in your room and the swarm of mosquitos in the corner gets to be a bit…tiring. Or when you have to take out frogs from your bathroom a few times a week (and always look in the toilet bowl to make sure there are none there before you sit). The first time one such “friend” came into my room, I shouted – more out of surprise than fear – and continued to shout until I had gotten it out the door. Sitting back at my computer, I thought nothing of it. Then, about 30 minutes later, I get a frantic knocking at my door. I open to find half the night staff crowded around my room. My boss’s son is in front and asks “Andrew Andrew, are you ok? We thought you had epilepsy or someone was trying to break in!” Now, why they would specifically come to those two conclusions is beyond my line of reasoning. But in the end, all was settled (I’m now the butt end of any frog joke on campus). And I make sure to “quietly” dispense of any future friends.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Time: If you were unaware, India runs by it’s own…standard time. There is no rhyme or reason to this system, just a few…hours…later than planned. Now, I very much try to be timely (to the contrary of what many of you might think) and am not always successful. But the same cannot be said when an event or activity starts 3 hours from when it was said it would. At the beginning, I didn’t understand when I was ready to start a project at 9:30am (when the office opens), only to have my boss come at 12:30pm prepared to start. Or when a huge training is scheduled to start at 11:00am..only to have participants start showing up at 11:30am and have it officially start at 1pm. I have now realized that people plan events to strategically galvanize this huge vaccum of time. Surprisingly though, events will always end when they say they will. But alas, it gets frustrating when I am told to be ready by a certain time, only to have some come rushing at me 2 hours after that asking “Where are you? We have to go!” and get pushed into a car to whichever destination. At least from now on maybe I can use this as an excuse....</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The people singing...all the time: I'm definitely one to understand the irresistibility of a good song, the need to belt out the words (whether or not you know them) when the moment feels right. But then again, there is a limit. However here, I've found there is no limit. Such that at any point in time I can hear humming, quiet singing, or raucous solos at any part of the day. It's not that I don't enjoy it...at the beginning at least. But it gets a bit tiring when the same five songs get played on loudspeakers and are sung tirelessly by coworkers and friends. Maybe I should try to introduce some American music in here....Rebecca Black's "Friday" song as an educational tool?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Multiplier Effect: I think there is a theory among most/all Indians that the more people you add participating in an activity, the faster and better it will be accomplished. Now, to a degree this is very true: lifting heavy objects, building a large structure, etc. But even here, the law of diminishing marginal returns holds. Such that every additional person you include adds a little less advantage, until you reach a point where adding one more person is negligible, and then adding even more becomes negative. Case in point: turning on computers (maybe 2 people needed), simultaneous people dictating while you’re typing (max 1 person), fixing a non-working projector (maybe 3…not 10). I have encountered many situations, very similar to the above and more so, where far more people than needed are assigned to a task because it is assumed that it will be accomplished better and faster. Thus, the multiplier effect. Unfortunately, this is false. Only 1 person may dictate to me while I type at a time. If the computer can’t turn on, give me 5 minutes -- not 5 people -- to help. By now, during such situations, I’ve learned to take a few deep breaths or just step away instead of getting angry or frustrated. It’s all a learning process.</span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And thus is my experience. There is good. There is bad. In the end, it's important to take it all in stride and recognize that the benefits of my time here have FAR outweighed any of the "negative" perceptions I may have. It can be frustrating, but it wouldn't be India any other way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hope all is well and missing you all!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Andrew</span></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-9646915542578187292011-02-25T01:10:00.000-08:002011-02-25T01:10:57.143-08:00How Bazaar!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No, not a throwback to the ‘90s OMC song, but rather a weekly occurrence here in Andur. Every Thursday, is in fact bazaar (market) day. On this day, vegetable, grain, clothing, and all other vendors come to Andur to hawk their wares amidst the residents of Andur and neighboring villagers. You’d think in my 5 months here I would be a regular visitor at bazaar day. But, this past week was my first time! (Staff members go weekly because this is where we stock up on our stock of vegetables in the mess here at the campus).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, I rode the bus down to the village with some other coworkers and became prepared for the onslaught. Stepping down in Andur, I was greeted by rows and rows of vegetable and fruit sellers – anything from cauliflower to eggplant to tomatoes and bananas. With lines and crowds of people milling through stocking up as well. Seeing as Andur is a fairly small village (population around 10,000), and I’m the only American in a 50 km radius, I was bound to attract some attention and run into people I knew. It was a really gratifying feeling to be able to walk the paths and greet friends and acquaintances I have made over the past few months. It made me feel as if I have created a semblance of a community here.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xu5hyw0nKLE/TWaVkRLj2NI/AAAAAAAAAlA/pwjfRR0V7DY/s1600/IMG_0915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xu5hyw0nKLE/TWaVkRLj2NI/AAAAAAAAAlA/pwjfRR0V7DY/s400/IMG_0915.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some coworkers "candidly" purchasing tomatoes from a<br />
tomato vendor (the leftmost guy). </span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But in fact, bazaar day is a true lesson in pure economics. Hello Supply, meet Demand. Here you have vendors selling identical products right next to each other, competing for rupees one buyer at a time. It’s a bit of a game, as you step up to a vendor asking the price of spinach. “6 rupees for 2 bunches” they say. You give a quizzical look and prepare to banter back. “Ok ok, 5 rupees.” Your face softens ever so slightly as you prepare to walk away, knowing you won’t pay a rupee above 4. “Fine fine, 4 rupees” the vendor surrenders. You hand over your 4 rupees (approximately $0.10 USD). You have forced the vendor to lower their price to meet your highest willingness to pay: the ultimate lesson in economics. Hopefully this doesn’t label me too much as an academic junkie, but it was fascinating to stand in the center of the market and watch this and similar transactions taking place all around me. Maybe some of what they were telling me at Berkeley might have been right…that is if I had been awake during class to hear it…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a0RgdfL72Hk/TWaVPX_9A5I/AAAAAAAAAk8/cpWpfPk6KC8/s1600/IMG_0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a0RgdfL72Hk/TWaVPX_9A5I/AAAAAAAAAk8/cpWpfPk6KC8/s400/IMG_0911.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A view of the Bazaar. One woman protecting <br />
herself from the sun. It was a scorcher this day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aside from Bazaar day, I took a great weekend trip to the caves of Ajanta and Ellora. I met up with two other fellows, Sami and Seth, to do a little sightseeing of historic Hindu, Buddist, and Jain caves dating back to the 2<sup>nd</sup> Century BC. It was a great two days, exploring some beautiful architecture. These caves were built by literally cutting into bare rock from top to bottom. I’ll let my pictures do most of the talking here, only because it’s hard to express the wonder of these sites in words.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PrRhj9E43pI/TWaWS6Xz9NI/AAAAAAAAAlI/HzFF-8ylRZ8/s1600/IMG_0948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PrRhj9E43pI/TWaWS6Xz9NI/AAAAAAAAAlI/HzFF-8ylRZ8/s400/IMG_0948.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kailasa Temple, the largest and grandest Hindu temple at Ellora, <br />
built in the 5th Century AD. This used to be complete mountain. <br />
Then the builders started carving in from the top. <br />
It is still a functioning temple.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75fsqid0mck/TWaWzeSuL5I/AAAAAAAAAlM/1ungNwT5f4Y/s400/IMG_0955.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sami and Seth posing in front of some of the Buddist <br />
temples at Ellora.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75fsqid0mck/TWaWzeSuL5I/AAAAAAAAAlM/1ungNwT5f4Y/s1600/IMG_0955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rxW2hJki3d0/TWaXigj-AJI/AAAAAAAAAlU/mT_Jqxh9Y7I/s400/IMG_1036.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A group of Buddist monks and Japanese tourists were <br />
also touring the Ajanta caves when we were there. <br />
As we were in one Buddist cave, the monks began to</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">lead a prayer. It was surreal as the reverberations of </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">their words bounced off the wall, making the </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">whole ceremony <br />
seem ethereal. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rxW2hJki3d0/TWaXigj-AJI/AAAAAAAAAlU/mT_Jqxh9Y7I/s1600/IMG_1036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0vrpOeeRAgU/TWaXQv8qcsI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/9uzEhc38up8/s400/IMG_1027.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ajanta is a series of 30 Buddist caves. Each one holds a large <br />
sculpture of....you guess it, Buddha. Here is Buddha in "peace" <br />
pose surrounded by his followers.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0vrpOeeRAgU/TWaXQv8qcsI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/9uzEhc38up8/s1600/IMG_1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, I finally made it out to my first wedding. A coworker got hitched and had a double wedding with his brother. Wedding ceremonies in India can last for days, and (un)fortunately I was only able to attend the last part: the official ceremony and reception. Weddings are a village affair…thus guests number by the hundreds to wish congratulations and get their hand on a good meal. The ceremony began in the center of the village at about 12:30 with a crowd of about…500. Although I couldn’t understand/hear most of the ceremony, I could still watch the cultural and ceremonial parts. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qyishqoJEkI/TWaY06G8QqI/AAAAAAAAAlk/lOHjhUINnrY/s400/IMG_1088.JPG" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A part of the ceremony requires the bride and<br />
groom to walk around a flame and place 7 stones<br />
on the little table. I'm unsure as to the<br />
significance. Here's my coworker and his bride.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XoW7QV8rgiw/TWaX4F0v37I/AAAAAAAAAlY/o_oGs8UkKtE/s1600/IMG_1071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a></span></div></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, I got myself into a bit of a jam. During the ceremony, rice is handed out with the intention that it be thrown at the bride and groom during particular parts of the ceremony. So, as the ceremony begins everyone begins to throw their rice. Thinking I’m just another one of the crowd, I take my handful and chuck it towards the stage. How wrong I was. Not only two minutes later, it’s round 2 of rice throwing... And here I am, riceless. So, I begin to frantically pick up grains of rice around me and throw the measly 20 or so pieces I can find. Turns out, there are about 6 or 7 times when rice needs to be thrown. You can imagine my stress level as I would frantically gather rice, throw it, and look for more rice again. I was much better prepared for the second wedding (more rice was given out and I rationed it). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XoW7QV8rgiw/TWaX4F0v37I/AAAAAAAAAlY/o_oGs8UkKtE/s400/IMG_1071.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The ceremony. A sheet is held between the bride and groom<br />
so they can't see each other. This was one of the </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">rice-throwing points of the ceremony.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the ceremony was quick. And afterwards, food. As soon as the ceremony was over, the men ran towards the dining hall to get a floor seat. People were guarding the door, only letting in a handful of people. Fortunately I was let in (it helps to be the foreigner sometimes). The room was packed with over 100 men, and plates and food were quickly distributed to the hungry guests. I sat to eat…and was told “<i>louker louker”</i> (fast fast in Marathi). We were only round one. It was a bit hectic as people hollered for more <i>chappati</i> or <i>bajji</i> (vegetable) to the servers from across the room. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMWPomKSoSLfcoyEPu8eyHj78yuJGGROVROhD9_eDLWpEqeOr7FQvY1EdPXHh4-XJJXTF7cA2AwCYqDxNx2lQvPyJmVAFEszxuZf-5bU79CYVKR4FYLzRYr5_hQHYPiBuZyA-3vXG1FRW/s1600/IMG_1072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMWPomKSoSLfcoyEPu8eyHj78yuJGGROVROhD9_eDLWpEqeOr7FQvY1EdPXHh4-XJJXTF7cA2AwCYqDxNx2lQvPyJmVAFEszxuZf-5bU79CYVKR4FYLzRYr5_hQHYPiBuZyA-3vXG1FRW/s400/IMG_1072.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">People sitting in the dining hall waiting to be fed. <br />
At this point, plates were being handed out. </span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The food was fantastic…a Karnatakan meal I was told (Karnataka is the Indian state directly south of me and has a huge cultural influence in the District I live in). As we left the food hall, another crowd of people took our seats. There were about 6 or 7 rounds of dining. First the men, then the women. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPFeUpFG704/TWaYeMOkRGI/AAAAAAAAAlg/6FSRzoHr0Ik/s400/IMG_1073.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The crowd outside waiting to be fed. This is probably round 3 or 4.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPFeUpFG704/TWaYeMOkRGI/AAAAAAAAAlg/6FSRzoHr0Ik/s1600/IMG_1073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After the ceremony and food, most people began to trickle back to their homes. There’s no big reception with music as is typical at “Western” weddings. But overall, I was extremely happy for my coworker and glad to be a guest at an Indian wedding.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xKvhqQvh27rGzkgqjxNwkBiDmXSzJFVXdAQFqpNM-ZobR4DjDjyBJGxcCiimMaFlAZ89GhS5-Su1_cx0u_V0XPAz2h4KcBtA8cYTLcp57R77isJrDtOun1JxPoRAKvbCu6fa1l5MEQHq/s400/IMG_1090.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The happy bride and groom! Congrats!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xKvhqQvh27rGzkgqjxNwkBiDmXSzJFVXdAQFqpNM-ZobR4DjDjyBJGxcCiimMaFlAZ89GhS5-Su1_cx0u_V0XPAz2h4KcBtA8cYTLcp57R77isJrDtOun1JxPoRAKvbCu6fa1l5MEQHq/s1600/IMG_1090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Little did I know that this wasn’t going to be my first wedding this week. I actually was brought along to a second wedding. While in Solapur for work with my boss, I was told that on our way home we were going to “stop by” the wedding reception of a former coworker. So, we went to ritzy “reception lawn” and paid our respects to the bride and groom (For the reception, it’s traditional for the bride and groom to stand at the head of the reception, while all guests come and congratulate them and their parents. They then stand for a formal picture. Given the hundreds of guests and “stop by”s that come, the bride and groom end up standing there for hours with smiles plastered on their faces). We grabbed some food and made our way out. A quick 45-minute…wedding crash.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And that’s a wrap. Today officially marks 6 months here in India. 5 more to go. It’s been a good ride so far, and I can only hope the second half is just as exciting. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--WSV8cuPQGc/TWcgFOtWXyI/AAAAAAAAAlw/nHqjWqs4FBQ/s1600/IMG_0918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--WSV8cuPQGc/TWcgFOtWXyI/AAAAAAAAAlw/nHqjWqs4FBQ/s400/IMG_0918.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Posing with 2 village health workers in the office. <br />
This was after I had handed out See's lollipops to the staff. <br />
You can see the happiness on their faces...smiles all around.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Andrew</span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-37437699967857821092011-02-04T07:56:00.000-08:002011-02-04T08:32:15.057-08:00Culture.....SHOCK!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, I think my complacency of living in India had reached a new high a few points these last weeks when culture came up to me and slapped me in the face a few times. From work experiences to new friendships and new travels, this past month has reassured me that India is a bit different from the comforts of Los Angeles…but also eerily similar to life back at home.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let me start from the beginning. January 15 was a big day: the monthly meeting for the project I was working on. This would cap the first month of data collection by the village health workers, as well as begin office consolidation of that same data. These women come to the office once a month as a part of this project to bring savings from their respective village microfinance groups, discuss issues/problems with the project, and hear updates from the office. So, as the health workers began to come into the office (most only get to the office once a month at this meeting because of the demands of their work and the distance our office is from their villages) I was excited to see the success of the data collection and begin to input it into the office computers. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Aside: This project uses village microfinance groups to help empower women in the village through: “adoption” of pregnant women by members for proper antenatal care, interventions in domestic violence cases, increasing women’s participation in local governance bodies, and improving the government rationing system. My project was intended to collect data on all these issues to help the office have a better handle on the impact/effect of the project within the villages.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BlKAO8N7-E6CrCCcXIDBI72Oq1CbvbJhb3ybuBUBCOwDPFJDeHXFTE3XN-DaKqFxkaMHJmyYv5LQgrHP8n-iPv_RuiD4RnVzjMYvxRXbpE4vjedPiX_5PRMn38pu8qG9I9LmXbOBcJsF/s1600/IMG_0518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BlKAO8N7-E6CrCCcXIDBI72Oq1CbvbJhb3ybuBUBCOwDPFJDeHXFTE3XN-DaKqFxkaMHJmyYv5LQgrHP8n-iPv_RuiD4RnVzjMYvxRXbpE4vjedPiX_5PRMn38pu8qG9I9LmXbOBcJsF/s400/IMG_0518.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">he village health workers in the conference room discussing<br />
with staff (the male members).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, I eagerly awaited Village Registers all neatly and correctly filled out, bursting with information for me and the rest of the office to type into the computers. How sorely I was disappointed. Yes, Village Registers were brought to the meeting. But not only were the registers incomplete or incorrect, but they were lacking crucial data on certain parts of the project. Additionally, I was VERY ill-prepared to handle an influx of 40 village data sets and had had HUGE miscommunication at the initial meeting on exactly how the data should be collected. One village took about one hour to input, given that it was the first day of data collection, erorrs in inputing, etc. So you can imagine how long 40 villages takes (40 villages x 1 hour per village = 40 hours). The work I thought would be neatly packaged into a one day activity was quickly turned into a hectic melee of data sets, registers, workers, and office staff packed into a cramped little office. I soon realized that my expectations of…orderly business… was merely my naiveté at the work environment I’m currently working in. By the end of the day, I had only inputs 5.5 data sets. It was quite a blow to my ego.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, over the course of the past 2 weeks I’ve had to re-organize my understanding and make sure that next month’s meeting goes…a little better. I’ve had some conversations with the project leadership to ensure that all village women are better prepared to handle the data collection, and have worked to registers to the office before the next meeting to deal with initial collection. Overall, a big reality check of my expectations and the reality of where I live. Lesson learned….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, of course during the following weekend there was a holiday, a day off from work. Of course there was a holiday….Makar Sankranti. Celebrated on the winter solstice, it’s the day with the longest period of darkness during the year. In Hindu culture, it is celebrated as a harvest festival. Special meals are made in all the homes, and people exchange sweets with the saying “<i>Til gul gya, gord gord bola”</i>(Accept these sweets, speak sweet words). I was invited along to my Director’s home to take part in a family celebration for the holiday. A great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And then, I found myself at the National Rural Youth Fest in Tuljapur. The Tata Institute for Social Sciences School for Rural Development (a satellite of the very prestigious Tata Institute in Mumbai) is located about an hour from where I live and held a 5 day festival starting January 15 to celebrate/discuss/contemplate issues of rural development. Due to connections between my boss and staff at the Tata Institute, I was able to attend for a few days. Attendance consisted of a collection of 300 students from all over India and a delegation from Nepal. I could go into all the details of the things that were discussed/presented, but that would be a bit dry.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwcigyGHLI/AAAAAAAAAkU/KgBRwe4BJPc/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwcigyGHLI/AAAAAAAAAkU/KgBRwe4BJPc/s400/IMG_0543.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The main stage for the event.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I would like to share is about the people I spent the majority of my time with. A group of Masters students at the Fest quickly took me into their circle of friends. I wasn’t only struck by their masterful command of English (one girl admitted that she knew her ABCs better than her A AA E EEs – the Hindi alphabet), but the ease with which I connected to among them. It was a group of urban, middle class, mid-20 somethings all interested in issues of development. Not only was I able to talk to them about pop culture / daily life issues (and spew some of the sarcasm I had been holding back – it doesn’t work so well in my elementary Marathi), but to critically engage with some of the development issues that I had been interacting with here in rural India. I left after three days really excited about these new friendships, not only as people to try and catch a movie with on the weekend, but to continue conversations about the fate of rural India, America's role in development, etc.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was also struck by the huge diversity this group offered. Although all from India, this group of students represented almost every major ethnic subdivision: students from the Northeast (where they look more like their Chinese neighbors), West, and way down South. Yet they were all India, could converse in Hindi along with knowing both English and the language of their respective state (i.e. Bengali for West Bengal in the East, Malayalam from Kerala in the South, Assamese from Assam in the Northeast). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwECRAQc9I/AAAAAAAAAjU/hPkbyuuxMEg/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwECRAQc9I/AAAAAAAAAjU/hPkbyuuxMEg/s400/IMG_0557.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">New friends! They're all currently spread around India <br />
for a month long field placement. But looking forward to <br />
reconnecting in March.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then I had to come back to work. But rest not…because we were gearing up for our big yearly event: <i>Mahila Melawa</i> (Women’s Gathering). This event on January 23 every year is held to celebrate the work of the village health workers and the microfinance groups in the villages. Women from all around the project area are brought to our NGO campus for a day long presentation. Awards are given out to the best performing groups, and rousing speeches are given about the importance of women and rural development. This year, almost 2000 women attended the event (in 2006 the <i>Melawa</i> had a high of 6000 people) with the Guest of Honor as the State Minister, an important political officer. Well, I couldn’t understand too much of the presentations given the Marathi, but it was exciting to be in the room full of so much energy. And seeing as I was the camera/video man, I have great documentary of the whole thing (and also had to pay attention to the whole thing…).</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwEd2zeDxI/AAAAAAAAAjY/crGgHdGCpUo/s1600/IMG_0680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwEd2zeDxI/AAAAAAAAAjY/crGgHdGCpUo/s400/IMG_0680.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The crowd at the <i>Melawa.</i> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwE2mHAz3I/AAAAAAAAAjc/gPmfEGW8Lw4/s1600/IMG_0687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwE2mHAz3I/AAAAAAAAAjc/gPmfEGW8Lw4/s400/IMG_0687.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Head speaker addressing the crowd. I could lie and tell you <br />
what he said was really interesting. But unfortunately I didn't <br />
understand it too much.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After this event, all of the staff needed a day of relaxation (read: day off of work). This plus another holiday the following week (Republic Day – the signing of the Indian constitution - on January 26), I was able to take 2 days and visit a fellow “fellow”, Sami, doing some work in Hyderabad, the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh (directly east of where I live). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwH1zTc3dI/AAAAAAAAAkM/0y3r4OkhURU/s1600/india_political2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwH1zTc3dI/AAAAAAAAAkM/0y3r4OkhURU/s400/india_political2.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hyderabad lies about 300 km east of me. When asking about how long the bus ride from my village to Hyderabad, I was told in the range of 7 to 10 hours. Therefore, I grabbed a 10:30pm bus Sunday evening thinking to arrive the following morning around 6 or 7am (the time Sami was supposed to arrive). What I didn’t expect was a speedy 5.5 hour drive, landing me at the main Hyderabad terminal at a bright 4:00am. You can imagine my anxiety as I was exhausted and alone at a very crowded bus terminal (not sure why there were so many people there that morning) in a state where Marathi is not used. Alas, in Andhra Pradesh, the main language is Telugu, a complex vernacular completely different from both Marathi and Hindi. Surprise Surprise…me in a place where I can't speak to anyone. Great! Fortunately, English is spoken sporadically and I was able to get a rickshaw to the hotel and take a little nap before Sami arrived (gotta love 24 hour check ins).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so we explored Hyderabad for a few days. Hyderabad has a distinct culture unto itself, heavily shaped by the large Muslim population in the city (approximately 40%, as compared to a national average of 16%). So that translates into a lot more meat (Islam provides for a much more meat –friendly culture than Hinduism). In fact, Hyderabad is famous for Hyderabadi byriani, a spiced rice dish containing your choice of meat (it can also be made vegetarian...but since when is that interesting). Think of it like a paella, but Indian style. So, of course we had to get our hands on some of the best byriani in town. At one restaurant we were told that the proper technique to determine good byriani is to throw some rice on the floor and see if the grains stick together. Yes, I was immature enough to do this at a fancy restaurant. No, there is no documentation of such.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwGIYNLsrI/AAAAAAAAAjw/avaOWjQai2M/s1600/IMG_0775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwGIYNLsrI/AAAAAAAAAjw/avaOWjQai2M/s400/IMG_0775.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Getting my hands on some Byriani! You don't have to remind <br />
me that I look extremely attractive here.</span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwGagB_VaI/AAAAAAAAAj0/22yqB1wP2rk/s1600/IMG_0776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwGagB_VaI/AAAAAAAAAj0/22yqB1wP2rk/s400/IMG_0776.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of course the restaurant's name was "Paradise". <br />
The perfection description of us as we were walking home, <br />
stomachs full of byriani. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But, we also got some sightseeing in as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An iconic focal point of the city is the Charminar, built by the former rulers of the Hyderabad empire in the 1500s. It serves as the center of the city and offers great views of surrounding area.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwFFZzFgYI/AAAAAAAAAjg/aV0qqrtFbW4/s1600/IMG_0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwFFZzFgYI/AAAAAAAAAjg/aV0qqrtFbW4/s400/IMG_0732.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Charminar: Photo taken walking toward it from <br />
Laad Bazaar, the marketplace surrounding <br />
the Charminar from the East.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hyderabad is also known as the City of Pearls. Can you guess why? It has made itself famous by the sale of natural pearls from the Indian Ocean. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwFs7kHPDI/AAAAAAAAAjo/6Vuk6GcTecw/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwFs7kHPDI/AAAAAAAAAjo/6Vuk6GcTecw/s400/IMG_0750.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sami trying on a few for size. Beautiful! I feel so much more <br />
qualified to evaluate pearls now. Thanks Sami. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can also find the largest statue of Buddha in India here in Hyderabad. It was placed on an island in a lake in the city in 1992. Funny enough, when they tried to put it here the first time, it sank to the bottom of the lake during transport. But, hope was not lost as they pulled it out and set it up 2 years later – no damage done.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeTC_gGkI5oM6DOQD-Wfg96MHglDVrTcwIIhy4MBK-yUNSntq1bEhaZq4hdHnuJuZ1A7snWxnlzpgaGxHgNUyU0Yg7JCIFmXEZjeCpRpkdh8oaze4ysGDnuB5NR6B25TlYiIeMiuYLNGs/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeTC_gGkI5oM6DOQD-Wfg96MHglDVrTcwIIhy4MBK-yUNSntq1bEhaZq4hdHnuJuZ1A7snWxnlzpgaGxHgNUyU0Yg7JCIFmXEZjeCpRpkdh8oaze4ysGDnuB5NR6B25TlYiIeMiuYLNGs/s400/IMG_0771.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's him. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The local buses in Hyderabad – hate to love ‘em. They are very frequent, but you have to risk you heart and soul as you rush against crowds of other people to board during the 10 seconds it stops at any bus stand. But, we braved the storm and made our way out to Golkanda Fort, a few kilometers outside of the city. It was built in the 1300s and was the capital of various empires since that time. Overall, it seemed like a family friendly weekend trip for groups to come, explore and bring picnics! Unfortunately we didn’t get the picnic memo beforehand, but it was a fun adventure and offered a views of the city of Hyderabad.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwGqCINLpI/AAAAAAAAAj4/BzFgpS5GunE/s1600/IMG_0784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwGqCINLpI/AAAAAAAAAj4/BzFgpS5GunE/s400/IMG_0784.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golkanda Fort! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwG9MAqOFI/AAAAAAAAAj8/MWdkXqLZE7Q/s1600/IMG_0785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwG9MAqOFI/AAAAAAAAAj8/MWdkXqLZE7Q/s400/IMG_0785.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Views of the city after trekking to the top.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And thus, a quick trip came to an end. I didn’t take a bus back (fearing that I wouldn’t find one if I went to the Hyderabad bus station – the whole language thing) and made my way back to Andur by train.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fortunately, I came back right in time for graduation! The nursing students here at my NGO have finally finished their 18 month course and examinations, and thus we had a send off event for them. The 20 girls were studying to work in village health centers and will now be moving on to bigger and better places. The event was great: crying girls, speeches by the staff, all the good stuff of a graduation. And, point for Andrew: I gave a 3 minute speech…in Marathi…during the event. Felt pretty good to be able to express myself…and have people understand me. This also made me realize how terrible my grammar is and that I still can’t speak in more than 1 tense (present).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwHfFOeH3I/AAAAAAAAAkE/DDm5Dwl9kjg/s1600/IMG_0889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwHfFOeH3I/AAAAAAAAAkE/DDm5Dwl9kjg/s400/IMG_0889.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Posing with all the graduates. My instructions for this photo <br />
were "Smile". As you can see, my instructions hold a lot of weight with them.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the students had been a large staple of my life here in Andur, so it’s weird to have them gone. I needn’t worry too much because the second batch of students arrived 2 days later. Meaning 20 new faces, friends, and conversations. Although I have to admit it will take me the first 2 months to remember their names. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwHNkZInyI/AAAAAAAAAkA/E8xt1nLNSh0/s1600/IMG_0851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwHNkZInyI/AAAAAAAAAkA/E8xt1nLNSh0/s400/IMG_0851.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The new batch. Can't wait!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so I must go. I have some conversations to start up, people to meet. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh, and a few badmittion games to catch up on. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We recently found a few rackets and shuttlecocks on the campus, so a few of us guys hit the cock around after work. I didn’t realize it could be so much of a workout. So far it’s been only a male activity, but I’ve been trying to bring some female coworkers into the melee. They don’t seem so excited.... The plan is to try to set up a proper court and all with net to make it official. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwH0qsyJ8I/AAAAAAAAAkI/BAeW5s3vfEk/s1600/IMG_0892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TUwH0qsyJ8I/AAAAAAAAAkI/BAeW5s3vfEk/s400/IMG_0892.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some guys playing around after work.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hope all is well stateside!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Andrew</span><o:p></o:p></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-88823659691517093842011-01-13T06:16:00.000-08:002011-01-13T07:27:09.795-08:00What are the rates?<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What do you get when you stick three Americans in India? (If bowel problems was your first thought…then you wouldn’t actually be wrong). But otherwise you get an awesome time exploring some of the greatest sights in the world.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I recently met up with Mr. Rahul Barwani, who traveled the long distance from Berkeley, California, and Mr. Josh Brown, a Fulbright-er currently teaching English in South Korea, for a two week bonanza through northern India. For me, it was a nice break from the routine here in Andur. And to be able to spend New Years in Mumbai…what more could I ask for.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I packed up and boarded a car, then bus, then rickshaw, then train to get over to Mumbai to meet up with Vickybhai, Rahul’s first cousin that lives in there. The two of us then boarded a quick flight and made our way up to Delhi, the capital of India and the beginning of our journey. We were soon accompanied by Rahul and Josh, arriving on flights from Kolkata and Seoul, respectively. And thus we began…the four of us (and Sushil…our driver). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First stop, <b>Delhi</b>. Delhi, as the capital of India and the recent host of the Commonwealth Games 2010 (an athletic competition between former colonies of the British Commonweath) had a lot to say for itself. As a little village bumpkin who has only really scene the chaos of Mumbai, I was amazed by the relative orderliness of the Delhi streets (people actually drove IN their LANES) and the cleanliness of the city. We spent a day exploring the different sites around the city, including the:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Qutb Minar – erected in the 12<sup>th</sup> Century, it is one of the most historical and prominent symbols of Delhi. It's a great example of Indo-Islamic architecture as it was built by an early Muslim ruler in India.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS3ggb0gIvI/AAAAAAAAAgw/JuEHvfe-ERs/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS3ggb0gIvI/AAAAAAAAAgw/JuEHvfe-ERs/s320/IMG_0186.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Qutb Minar.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lotus Temple – a holy site for people of the Bhai’i faith. They told us a bit about the religion there…unfortunately I don’t remember too much. What I do remember is that they believe in universal peace and equality between men and women. Also, interestingly enough, a tenant of the religion is obedience to one’s government.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS3hMDSatnI/AAAAAAAAAg0/S0ydnpvDR-4/s1600/IMG_0209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS3hMDSatnI/AAAAAAAAAg0/S0ydnpvDR-4/s400/IMG_0209.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lotus Temple...because it looks like a lotus. Get it? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Humayan’s Tomb. . A mausoleum for Humayan…some dead old ruler/conquerer. This was actually a model for the Taj Mahal, which was constructed in the same style but on a grander/more magnificent scale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS3iOc0FpyI/AAAAAAAAAg8/tQ4XFmv8ML8/s1600/IMG_0229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS3iOc0FpyI/AAAAAAAAAg8/tQ4XFmv8ML8/s400/IMG_0229.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Compare this against the Taj Mahal picture later in the blog. <br />
Any similarities?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gateway of India – a remembrance for all fallen Indian soldiers. Interesting story: there were a group of African people visiting this site who attracted huge attention from domestic (Indian) tourists. As a white American, I get a lot of attention in the villages I visit. So it was interesting to be an outsider to that same experience and see the attention given to others. These people were loving it though.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Raj Gat – where the cremated remains of Mahatma Gandhi (the leader of the Indian freedom movement) lie. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS3jG7H7KEI/AAAAAAAAAhA/QJ17O_6Bh0c/s1600/IMG_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS3jG7H7KEI/AAAAAAAAAhA/QJ17O_6Bh0c/s400/IMG_0234.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Man himself.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jantar Mantar – an observatory in the middle of Delhi built in the 1600s. Although this place has some historical significance, it seemed to us more of a big playground than anything, complete with structures looking like a half-pipe and another like a gladiator pit (apparently they were used to track celestial bodies. How? Don’t ask)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOZ3N8GpD-goX_NwVNAjtKEvqAQWSKcuZ7xhAcMVb0SwzMeMWZ2j52CNpL1jNEkvpYVQfruvL0epYs56EwtL0y_PGzZc_GZxk4_xpOJloFiVne5cRQkj0m7FwZDe3r_8qKBi2NXacUXPi/s1600/IMG_0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOZ3N8GpD-goX_NwVNAjtKEvqAQWSKcuZ7xhAcMVb0SwzMeMWZ2j52CNpL1jNEkvpYVQfruvL0epYs56EwtL0y_PGzZc_GZxk4_xpOJloFiVne5cRQkj0m7FwZDe3r_8qKBi2NXacUXPi/s400/IMG_0238.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Colosseum-like structure. Rahul's expression says it all.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next stop, <b>Haridwar.</b> Haridwar is a city pretty far North in India where the Ganges starts flowing. Therefore, in Hindu culture, it’s an important place. The mythology behind the Ganges is that the river flows from the head of the Lord Shiva, an important God in Hinduism. As much as I’m sure you’re interested in the theological underpinnings of the city, I’m sure you’d be more happy to see…MONKEYS. Yes, Haridwar is also home to two temples, both of which many monkeys call home. Therefore, you can imagine the excitement of Rahul, Josh, and myself as we attempted to feed monkeys at the temples located on the hills surrounding the city. Unfortunately, the monkeys also bombarded Josh and the ice cream he was holding in his hand. You can correctly assume that he didn’t get to eat too much of it before he had to give it up to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5lLfPa1iI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/9WBP6V25dVs/s1600/IMG_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5lLfPa1iI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/9WBP6V25dVs/s400/IMG_0270.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Does anyone else see the resemblance here?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the magical part of Haridwar comes at night, when visitors throng the sides of the Ganges river and partake in the nightly <i>pooja, </i>or prayer, that happens. It really was a beautiful site, with thousands of candles lit up and hundreds of people following along to the prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5mqRAzd1I/AAAAAAAAAhc/sgJsaX3JWgg/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5mqRAzd1I/AAAAAAAAAhc/sgJsaX3JWgg/s400/IMG_0347.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's gorgeous. Add to this the voices of hundreds following <br />
along in prayer.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rahul, Josh, and I also were able to partake in the ceremonial prayer of the Ganges. It is composed of having prayers said over you by a religious leader on the side of the river, dunking in the water, and giving an offering to the river. Josh, thanks to his dearth of Hindi language, dumped the offering into the river PLUS the plate that was holding it (I think you had to be there, but Rahul and I really got a kick out of this one).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgeXnth-hryM7wwheAeCjZ8c0B7MPhnGIqSfLfbDp6HcAXVwOBTHl4dGqUZ8XU9GS0XGLR-tGGdRfVDQrgKlFdqRQGbnnAKOtfRNTg5yyAaC4y_DgL9Ge_qwqBgughrHfHYtLMVdnZaOu/s1600/IMG_0327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgeXnth-hryM7wwheAeCjZ8c0B7MPhnGIqSfLfbDp6HcAXVwOBTHl4dGqUZ8XU9GS0XGLR-tGGdRfVDQrgKlFdqRQGbnnAKOtfRNTg5yyAaC4y_DgL9Ge_qwqBgughrHfHYtLMVdnZaOu/s400/IMG_0327.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">The four us watching the pooja.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the great parts of being in Hardiwar was that I was actually able to impress some people with my Marathi skills. Sitting at a restaurant for lunch just as we’re about to leave the city, a group of women at the table behind us tapped our shoulder and asked “America?” We replied yes, and then asked them in Hindi where they were from. They replied “Maharashtra.” This got me going, and I asked, in Marathi, if they spoke Marathi (<i>Tumhi Marathi boltaka?)</i>. Surprised, they replied in the affirmative, and we had a brief conversation about where they were from and what I was doing speaking Marathi. It was great to be able to use my Marathi outside of the village of Andur, and really boosted my confidence in my speaking ability.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Moving on, a quick overnight stop in <b>Rishikesh</b>…an extremely spiritual place that is full of ashrams (similar to what I lived on during my orientation). The Beatles actually came here and composed a fair amount of music at one of the ashrams (now closed). I don’t’ know if I mentioned it, but it was FREEZING cold during this trip, with nights going down to 5/6 degrees Celsius (that’s about 40 Farenheight). I definitely didn’t sign up, or pack, for this kind of weather…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We then made our way up to Punjab and the city of <b>Amritsar</b>, a holy place for people of the Sikh religion. It was about this point that Josh and I were both overcome with…Delhi Belly. I’ll spare you the gory details, but let’s just say that a bathroom became an essential part of the rest of our journey. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Amritsar is way up in the North of India, right by the Pakistan-India border. Daily, a huge, nationalist ceremony is held at the border in which Indian and Pakistani soldiers parade fanatically in front of each other from across a small gate. Add to this hundreds of crowds (on both sides), flag waving, and chants and you have what looks like a Cal-Stanford football game. There is a lot of historical tension between Pakistan and India (more than I want to go into in this post), so it was interesting to see that play out before your own eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5nkvA8CkI/AAAAAAAAAhk/tH8uvQOf1UE/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5nkvA8CkI/AAAAAAAAAhk/tH8uvQOf1UE/s400/IMG_0392.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Down the road in the center of the picture past the gate is <br />
Pakistan. Spectators throng both sides to see the "show" <br />
every night at 5:30pm</span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Back to Amristar: This city is home to the Golden Temple, or the holiest place for people of the Sikh religion. The Sikh people traditionally wear turbans (it is a religious custom that men and women will not cut their hair). We went early in the morning, just as the sun was rising over the temple. It is surrounded by a body of water, making the whole place feel extremely calm and surreal. It was like an oasis in the middle of the city. Similar to all gurdwaras (Sikh temples), it is customary to offer food to all visitors. Therefore, we joined the line of other guests and worshipers and sat down for breakfast (a nice meal of dhaal, chickpeas, and chappati). Given the high tourist traffice, this place busts out 80,000 dishes per meal! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5obHazLAI/AAAAAAAAAhs/5wm4Jg3oJyc/s1600/IMG_0410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5obHazLAI/AAAAAAAAAhs/5wm4Jg3oJyc/s400/IMG_0410.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Posing in front of the Golden Temple. It's customary to cover<br />
your hair when entering a Gurdwara.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We then made our way back through Delhi (passing through a part of India that legitimately looked like the apocalypse: dark, foggy, ghost towns) and made our way to <b>Mathura</b> which is where the Lord Krishna (a main Hindu god) grew up. There is a large temple there dedicated to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5pDu1KvGI/AAAAAAAAAhw/WsK0A9GLGDI/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5pDu1KvGI/AAAAAAAAAhw/WsK0A9GLGDI/s400/IMG_0432.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A little American indulgance. Do we look excited?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And finally, what I know you’ve all been waiting for…</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Agra</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, home to the Taj Mahal. By this point, we travelers were so weary and exhausted that it’s no wonder we were excited by:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5pzFUDEgI/AAAAAAAAAh0/XZERFBUf3k4/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5pzFUDEgI/AAAAAAAAAh0/XZERFBUf3k4/s400/IMG_0459.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yep...the Taj Mahal. Although the most attractive part of<br />
the photo is in the foreground.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It truly is a masterwork of architecture, with gorgeous stonework and marble detailing. For those of you who are unfamiliar with its history, the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built by the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan in the 1600s for his wife, Mumtez. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And then, on to Bombay…and some relaxation. To put our previous trip into perspective, we traveled about 2500 km in 6 days. That’s a lot of car time, a lot of hotels, and a lot of sights. So coming to Bombay for a little rest was much needed by the end of our journey. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here’s where I want to take a brief pause and pay my deepest tribute and upmost respect to the Barwani family. Rahul’s family in Bombay greeted us weary travelers as members of their own, taking us within their arms and literally bringing us back to health. Through delicious, home-cooked, non-vegetarian meals, satellite TV, and a little TLC the three of us were able to recover from our hectic journey. We spent much of our time in Bombay relaxing, slowly venturing out into the suburbs of Khar and Bandera where we were staying. But mostly laying low and meeting up with different parts of Rahul’s family. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5qve-6pvI/AAAAAAAAAh8/eCDap8yh9A0/s1600/IMG_0481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5qve-6pvI/AAAAAAAAAh8/eCDap8yh9A0/s400/IMG_0481.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With part of the Barwani Family. again...THANK YOU!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5rHXPqkoI/AAAAAAAAAiA/4JyG-e0_JjM/s1600/IMG_0482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5rHXPqkoI/AAAAAAAAAiA/4JyG-e0_JjM/s400/IMG_0482.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Did I mention there was a bagel shop in Mumbai? Fellow <br />
"fellow" Sami posing in front. It's like a Jewish heaven.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">New Years was a blast. Maybe not the craziest one I’ve had, but definitely the most relaxed and mature. The three of us, along with Rahul’s cousin and another couple, went to an extremely gourmet, Pan-Asian, buffet restaurant. Well, right on Indian Standard Time, we got there at about 10pm. Didn’t eat until 1:00 a.m. And left around 3:00 am. Along with some great cuisine, we had fantastic conversation and were really able to bring in the New Year with style.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_fQD9rRPs6QczscieCc-MzO4cy4Wc6A9CcBIdWIlUZNvEa6dgzmNUxeMMNFG4B-7-ijuETVA53wJkTwmfy9ZJh9tm4w5qQ5I4qmCQlPRdEnqjMuKj_p00GZHn-I84hlwzkFhe2qOFs4s/s1600/IMG_0471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_fQD9rRPs6QczscieCc-MzO4cy4Wc6A9CcBIdWIlUZNvEa6dgzmNUxeMMNFG4B-7-ijuETVA53wJkTwmfy9ZJh9tm4w5qQ5I4qmCQlPRdEnqjMuKj_p00GZHn-I84hlwzkFhe2qOFs4s/s400/IMG_0471.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bringing in the New Year! The guy's end of the table.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now for some introspection. Right before we got into the restaurant, as we were waiting outside with other people all dressed to impress, I couldn’t help but notice the child that was going from person to person, hand out, asking for money. Being in India for a stint (and especially as a foreigner), you almost become immune to the endless people that come up asking for money. I have personal reasons for not giving money to people on the streets (it’s not a sustainable way to help people get into poverty, only further snowballs the effect of begging, etc.). But this time it really hit me…the blind eye that I usually turn to such things wasn’t so blind. We were standing there, getting ready to enter and gorge on a delicious buffet, dressed up and ready to celebrate the coming of a new year. And here was a little girl, maybe 7 years old, who might not have had a home, family, or meal. It really put things in perspective for me…that even when I’m in India and realizing all that I take for granted in the US (hot showers come to mind), I still stand in a very privileged place where I have so much to be thankful for. It also made me thankful to those who are continually work to help alleviate poverty in parts of the world where its a very common tragedy. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aside from that, we made our way to the Taj Mahal Hotel, probably the nicest hotel in all of India, but also one of the sites of the shooting on November 26, 2008 – an event in which Pakistani terrorists killed over 100 innocent people around the city of Mumbai. Similar to 9/11 in the US, it unified the Indian people . So the Hotel has stood as a testament to the vivacity of the nation. It has bounced back and really is a gorgeous hotel…if only we could have stayed there a few nights…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5rYXXmmII/AAAAAAAAAiE/dPlLmI688LQ/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5rYXXmmII/AAAAAAAAAiE/dPlLmI688LQ/s400/IMG_0488.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Taj Mahal Hotel. This picture doesn't do it justice</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And that marked the end of my vacation. I boarded a train and made my way…10 hours later…to my cozy home here in Andur. It was nice to be back, and to realize that the life I had left is still here and constant. Fortunately, I came back on a holiday (meaning no work), and was able to celebrate with some prayers and a special meal with all the residents here. The holiday is Yelvasmoushi (sp?) and celebrates the harvest and 5 god-like beings who defeated evil (not quite sure of their names or the story, but that’s all I remember). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5ryJRqmJI/AAAAAAAAAiI/5-v7noA-ex8/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS5ryJRqmJI/AAAAAAAAAiI/5-v7noA-ex8/s400/IMG_0512.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Celebrating Yelvasmoushi(?) in the NGO garden we have here.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Overall, my trip was a nice getaway from the relative calm here in Andur, and it was nice to meet up with some long-time friends. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS8NpIa34kI/AAAAAAAAAiY/pVGQ3tJEC_0/s1600/india_political.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TS8NpIa34kI/AAAAAAAAAiY/pVGQ3tJEC_0/s400/india_political.gif" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A map of our travels. Follow the dotted blue line to<br />
see my journey to Delhi (pit stop in Bombay),<br />
and the solid blue line is our trip together.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just putting it out there, if anyone else wants to make the journey, there is plenty to see in this big country!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope you all had a great new year! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Andrew</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-81301183156369866332010-12-12T09:11:00.000-08:002011-01-13T07:33:09.047-08:00Adventures!<div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">See…I thought I had done it…successfully integrated myself into life here so that I can carry on my days of working, eating, and sleeping. I have learned some of language, eat properly with my hands, and even throw on a <i>kurta </i>now and then (traditional Indian shirts). But how fooled I was. It turns out that a white, tall American in the middle of rural India can attract some attention.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQT7VPWY-II/AAAAAAAAAgU/rgHcmYI4rpE/s1600/IMG_4918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQT7VPWY-II/AAAAAAAAAgU/rgHcmYI4rpE/s400/IMG_4918.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me with some of my coworkers in Bokarwadi, a village of about </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">500 people. We're standing at the base of a dam which floods </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">hundreds of acres of land during the winter months.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For the last two weeks, the NGO has been running a <b>Gender Equity Campaign</b> in the next “county” over. Through 25 villages, a select group of staff and outside support had devised a skit, various songs, and discussions for the villages in order to promote the place of women in society. For communities that don’t get much entertainment, and whom mostly cannot afford televisions (although camera phones seemed to be extremely prevalent), a night of activities can bring out a fair number of people. And the campaign was dealing with some really important issues: child marriages (encouraging marriage after the age of 18), sex-selective abortion (currently illegal in India but widely practiced), and domestic violence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4HEUSh9xeIWEm2JX51mkYEBzb95BuXBPmUsH09NS2hsZJ-Qjy9mdRWmNeAacjiDDeLmam13NvpCTnyxYjfVldksRpKepwp3ICwDQpm1zilRQtbJ8FjPdAAu3s_7ddPrfYTahI_43toI1/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4HEUSh9xeIWEm2JX51mkYEBzb95BuXBPmUsH09NS2hsZJ-Qjy9mdRWmNeAacjiDDeLmam13NvpCTnyxYjfVldksRpKepwp3ICwDQpm1zilRQtbJ8FjPdAAu3s_7ddPrfYTahI_43toI1/s400/IMG_0130.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A rally through the streets of Akkolkot during the final day of the </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Campaign. About 150 people were a part of the rally at this point.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For a few days, I went along with the campaign to help out/video tape the work. The size of the villages varied, anywhere from 500 people to 2500. But the reactions were…similar. Turns out, an American showing up can be pretty exciting for…well…almost everyone in the community. If I had a nickel for the number of times my hand was shaken, autograph asked for, or tea drank I would be a very rich man right now. For me, it was amazing to be taken in by these communities and really shown the heart of Indian hospitality. For my coworkers, I could tell that some were frustrated that my presence sometimes caused excess disruption. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But overall, I came away with an deep appreciation for the work that my NGO is doing. In the US we often take for granted that people can choose whom they want to marry and that cases of domestic violence can be swiftly reported. In India (and especially in rural communities), options aren’t as easy for women. I can’t speak from experience, but from what I’ve seen husbands and mother-in-laws can be brutal to a woman (upon marriage, a woman goes to live with her husband’s family). Domestic violence is common, and cases are usually resolved in having the family come back together rather than through options of divorce or criminal proceedings. Through this campaign, my NGO was not only combating outdated social norms, but helping to empower women in all aspects of village life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQSxvfoKM4I/AAAAAAAAAfY/JGjwyaRbN_0/s1600/IMG_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQSxvfoKM4I/AAAAAAAAAfY/JGjwyaRbN_0/s400/IMG_0071.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The women audience from one village watching the program.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, my NGO would enter a villages and hold rallies through the streets with children shouting slogans like “</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Eksaman Eksaman Moulga Moulgi Eksamam” </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Equality Equality Boys and Girls are Equal). This would then be followed by a public performance of songs and speeches about the importance of women. Finally, a serious and humorous skit to show the reality of the situation. They then brought in the community by holding a discussion with everyone present about what the village can realistically do to encourage equality between men and women. People spoke up, both men and women, emphatically declaring that they would stop such practices and work towards are more equal community. I was motivated by the seemingly empowering work of the NGO. But I was also left questioning: yes this work is great, but what happens when we pack up and leave. Are there any real changes made in the community? Will these lessons be taken to heart? I guess only time will tell.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmKemOBBxrvD8w0HmJG8WKtADIyAxhjtSXnp0DCqlEui11vU8VRAROvTpBZpoCn2hPhckKPTOgdMirDnRKZLXHuLk8v84Mx4inHo-j53TE4u_Q1FyePiz4JgMSxrJ4R557R3qVTftGYbS/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmKemOBBxrvD8w0HmJG8WKtADIyAxhjtSXnp0DCqlEui11vU8VRAROvTpBZpoCn2hPhckKPTOgdMirDnRKZLXHuLk8v84Mx4inHo-j53TE4u_Q1FyePiz4JgMSxrJ4R557R3qVTftGYbS/s400/IMG_0001.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A children's rally through the streets of Dershegao.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQTxqKRUwZI/AAAAAAAAAgI/9kd0j2LhFBI/s1600/IMG_4873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQTxqKRUwZI/AAAAAAAAAgI/9kd0j2LhFBI/s400/IMG_4873.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A snapshot of the skit. At this point the the mother-in-law (in the middle)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is beating the new bride (on the right) because of unclean plates.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On another note, winter has officially set in. Precisely on December 1, the weather changed, turning nice, breezy 70/80 degree weather in the day to bone-chilling 50 degree weather at night. I can definitely tell that the infrastructure here was made for hot summers – that includes the people who bundle up under loads of extra layers during the nights. So needless to say the one sweatshirt I brought has been getting a lot of use the past few days.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In terms of work, my NGO held a ceremony a few weeks back to culminate an <b>Essay Competition</b> that was held back in September. The Competition is a part of the Rural Science Center, one aspect of the NGO which provides science education to local schools that lack modern science tools and equipment. To complement their work, they hold an essay competition every September for grades 7, 9, and 11. This year, almost 1000 students participated. The themes for the essays dealt with topics like HIV/AIDS solutions and village health infrastructure. It was a great ceremony, and it was exciting to see the enthusiasm of the students as they received their awards.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQTwu-vnIyI/AAAAAAAAAgE/cCGUgyPOdjc/s1600/IMG_4842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQTwu-vnIyI/AAAAAAAAAgE/cCGUgyPOdjc/s400/IMG_4842.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At the awards ceremony. About 200 students were packed in </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">this hall.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Other than work trips, I’ve been able to take another venture away from the village of Andur. For a weekend, I dared the crossing into another state, Karnataka, which borders Maharashtra to the south. Destination: <b>Bidar</b>. A small, quiet town boasting some historic sights and GREAT chicken biryani (I was more than happy to indulge). The reason, my boss’ son needed to go to his college to grab a transcript. So I packed my bag and left for an excursion. It was nice to get away, but one little snag: in Karnataka they speak Kannada, a language completely different from Marathi. So I was again forced to be the out-of-place foreigner.. I think that’s going to be a theme of my time here. Some activities of the weekend:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQS1-SDUssI/AAAAAAAAAf4/lXKZw8y6cFA/s1600/IMG_4817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQS1-SDUssI/AAAAAAAAAf4/lXKZw8y6cFA/s400/IMG_4817.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bidar is famous for its local artwork, Bidari. Objects (including </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">plates, figurines, chotchkies, etc.) made of iron ore are burned so </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that they become black. Then, pure silver is hammered into the </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pliable metal in intricate designs. The plate above is a work in</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> progress. They even let me, with absolutely no hand-eye </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">coordination, give it a try. But don't worry, I bought a few </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">things to bring home.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQS2pEnu38I/AAAAAAAAAf8/pmiuqlqWPko/s1600/IMG_4822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQS2pEnu38I/AAAAAAAAAf8/pmiuqlqWPko/s400/IMG_4822.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Bidar Fort. Pretty cool. Built in the 1600s.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQT_G-S6L5I/AAAAAAAAAgg/OIOSRDlcfQk/s1600/IMG_4810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQT_G-S6L5I/AAAAAAAAAgg/OIOSRDlcfQk/s400/IMG_4810.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Posing in front of a Gurdwara, a temple for people of </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the Sikh community (the community that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">typically </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">wears turbans - hence </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">why my head is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">covered)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the 3rd holiest Gurdwara of the Sikh faith.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In case some of you forgot (or didn’t know), it was <b>Hannukah</b> this past week. Fortunately, I had a staff of dedicated individuals to help me light the candles and say the prayers each of the 8 nights. I transliterated the prayers from Hebrew into Marathi (actually a pretty difficult task) so that the students of the Nursing School who live here could follow along. They were extremely interested in learning about my heritage, making me tremendously proud of being able to share a piece of my culture with them. They had never heard of Jewish people or Judaism, so I was able to really start from the beginning. I likened Hannukah, the Jewish festival of lights, to Diwali (celebrated at the beginning of November), the Hindi festival of lights. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQT6ilcEv8I/AAAAAAAAAgQ/lcz3U-fOIJE/s1600/IMG_4882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQT6ilcEv8I/AAAAAAAAAgQ/lcz3U-fOIJE/s400/IMG_4882.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Celebrating the second night. As you can tell, people were really excited. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQSzNqeUFFI/AAAAAAAAAfk/wZfy_HHPB0Y/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQSzNqeUFFI/AAAAAAAAAfk/wZfy_HHPB0Y/s400/IMG_0082.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By the eighth night, we had a crowd going. I'm really </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">happy that I got to share a piece of my culture with </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">everyone.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Coincidentally enough, the last day of Hannukah marked the beginning of a Hindi holiday (wait, another holiday…yep). This one is for the goddess </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Lakshmi</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, goddess of wealth. A pooja (prayer) is said on the evening of December 8 and then another pooja is said 8 days later – are you seeing the same similarities I am? So, as my holiday ended, theirs began. It’s like it was meant to be!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQSz6Bt_V5I/AAAAAAAAAfo/d2wC0YLLtX8/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQSz6Bt_V5I/AAAAAAAAAfo/d2wC0YLLtX8/s400/IMG_0093.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One student giving pooja to Lakshmi. After this photo, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">EVERYONE wanted a picture giving pooja. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This turned into a 30 minute photo shoot. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQT-i1V8HcI/AAAAAAAAAgc/URcGbipNRJc/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQT-i1V8HcI/AAAAAAAAAgc/URcGbipNRJc/s400/IMG_0119.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A picture with some colleagues during the </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">above said photo shoot. Apparently no one</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> else got the cue to smile...</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, I’m off. The great Rahul Barwani and Joshua Brown are coming to join me in India for a fantastic adventure! I bid you adieu and hope that I come back in one piece (you never know these two). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Andrew</span></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQSyprGZr5I/AAAAAAAAAfg/jVN87EvfwRE/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TQSyprGZr5I/AAAAAAAAAfg/jVN87EvfwRE/s400/IMG_0078.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Did I forget to mention...puppies! (Ok, they kind of look like rats, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but they're adorable in person.) Yes, those dogs which continue</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to incessantly bark at 6:30am every morning have given birth</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to a set of 6 puppies. These guys are about 4 days old -- haven't </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">even opened their eyes yet.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></o:p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-31733546451142629192010-11-23T08:42:00.000-08:002011-01-13T07:35:41.336-08:00The Many Faces of India<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Well, as the title suggests and as can easily be assumed, India is not a one-sided coin and presents a mirage of different experiences, places, peoples, cultures....you name it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">However, in the past few weeks I have been witness to some of the starkest extremes in Indian living: megacity and rural village. I was able to do some traveling give the Diwali holiday (read below), and conducted some field visits for work in the visits around my NGO. The differences between the two showed me how people living in the same country can lead completely different lives.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">November 5 marked Diwalli – basically the most awesome celebration in all of India. I’m not sure of the religious significance (and neither are most of my companions here), but it is the Indian New Year and the “Festival of Lights”. For me, that means 5 glorious days off from work and the opportunity to explore! So, I packed my bags and made my way to Pune and Mumbai, crashing at the apartments of my fellow “fellows” with almost the entire group of us meeting up in Mumbai to celebrate the holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><b>Pune</b><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">I got to spend 3 days in this city, and boy was it a treat! Pune is definitely a middle-class city that lives up to its reputation as a cosmopolitan hub. The streets are wide and clean, the people are generally metropolitan, and the culture is very lively and upbeat. And, not to mention, there were WHITE PEOPLE. Now, I can’t express to you my surprise when I realized that I was in fact NOT the only foreigner in India. I think my seclusion in the depths of Anadur had caused me to forget this little fact. To tell you the truth I couldn’t help but stare. It took a few days for the awe to wear off....<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Pune isn’t the most historic of places, but had a good selection of restaurants, tree-lined college streets, and coffee shops. Plus I got to spend time with three fellows whom I hadn't seen in over a month. It was a nice, relaxing break. To tell my story through pictures…<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOqMp5M_Z_I/AAAAAAAAAc4/jeJTAhwEjmk/s1600/IMG_4652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOqMp5M_Z_I/AAAAAAAAAc4/jeJTAhwEjmk/s400/IMG_4652.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A view of the Pune skyline. Notice anything different? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No, because it looks like any other American city.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-97DKeJH_W_ojvMPJd_cOj1G3LN5xptrLYV0IarW0yC4BlCL9-hTpKYo2kMWKOpF54wzIkwkUBa09akJQ4lTQ-Cs8wS065LlWEl-fHfXy5vHrYLloVXnHJxy-nHmRiQVABiI81puvUf0/s1600/IMG_4656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-97DKeJH_W_ojvMPJd_cOj1G3LN5xptrLYV0IarW0yC4BlCL9-hTpKYo2kMWKOpF54wzIkwkUBa09akJQ4lTQ-Cs8wS065LlWEl-fHfXy5vHrYLloVXnHJxy-nHmRiQVABiI81puvUf0/s400/IMG_4656.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Akash Devies: These are sold on the streets during </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Diwali season. They're hung outside the home </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with a lit candle inside. Thus, the Festival of Lights!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOqOHp03_qI/AAAAAAAAAdA/-1N3EH0DaO4/s1600/IMG_4661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOqOHp03_qI/AAAAAAAAAdA/-1N3EH0DaO4/s400/IMG_4661.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shaniwar Wada, the one historic place in India. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a small fort in the middle of the city </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dating back to the 1600s. We attempted</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to get in at the Indian cost (5 Rupees as opposed to</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 100 for foreigners), but were quickly spotted </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as...well...not Indian. So, we had to shell out </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the 100 Rupees. What a shame....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOqOwQz4QMI/AAAAAAAAAdE/63vRFY7QchA/s1600/IMG_4671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOqOwQz4QMI/AAAAAAAAAdE/63vRFY7QchA/s400/IMG_4671.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The three other "fellows" that met up </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in Pune. Seth, on the left, lives in Pune and we </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">are so grateful for him allowing us to crash his floor</span>!</td></tr>
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Mumbai</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, let’s get it straight. This is a BIG city, and the description of my 2 day visit will not do it justice. As the second most populous city in the world with over 14 million people, Mumbai is a collage of globalization, poverty, and consumerism. Mumbai is home to the third largest slum in the world, as well as upper-class neighborhoods that could rival any Bel Air has to offer. Our friends lived closer to the latter of those options, which is also were we spend the majority of our weekend. But the squatter slums are easily seen from the local train (the heartbeat of the city). However, I was th</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">ere when our President was there! We did lunch….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But let me just explain to you. I arrived in Mumbai on November 5, the day of Diwali. The favorite pastime of all Indians during this holiday is to: light fireworks. Not the harmless sparklers that we think of, but the explosives that one could illegally buy in Chinatown: firepower<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span>that sounds like bombs, huge fireworks Independence Day-style, bottle rockets, etc. And not to mention that these are lit at all hours of the day. Meaning that explosions could be heard at 2 am, 4 am, 6 am…. I hope you get my point. But there was an upside: sitting on the roof of a friend-of-a-friend’s apartment at night and being able to watch the whole city light up. It was beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOqUJH4pLZI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/0U91p7KBoRU/s1600/IMG_4681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOqUJH4pLZI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/0U91p7KBoRU/s400/IMG_4681.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some kids preparing to set off a firework... </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This one in particular made my ears ring for about </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3 minutes afterwards.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOvt0EdV-9I/AAAAAAAAAec/HsZ_0ep8IJI/s1600/IMG_4721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOvt0EdV-9I/AAAAAAAAAec/HsZ_0ep8IJI/s400/IMG_4721.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chowpatty Beach. A family friendly place to </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">gather at sunset. Not necessarily safe for swimming (sewage can </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">be seen spilling into it), but pretty nonetheless.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtGDv1VuWA2RzvH2_oxg_pRyuSda6Th72q-n-GDt09QqoSZmYt9L8c0ICNiA4k8PXxI8ZQYnN_eam5u26FnKrZs7J1_qntHIc7F7GGdUIJ0lYP8_EP59VNJRtYtnNsanJhXOU96HYeK7Z/s1600/IMG_4703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtGDv1VuWA2RzvH2_oxg_pRyuSda6Th72q-n-GDt09QqoSZmYt9L8c0ICNiA4k8PXxI8ZQYnN_eam5u26FnKrZs7J1_qntHIc7F7GGdUIJ0lYP8_EP59VNJRtYtnNsanJhXOU96HYeK7Z/s400/IMG_4703.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A street in Bandera, an upper-class neighborhood</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> in Mumbai. Further up this street is the...BAGEL </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">shop (no, i didn't type that wrong)! Yes, there is a bagel</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> shop in India. Unfortunately I don't have pictures (of the shop</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> or the 2 bagels that I ate). Next time...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOqVtN2tVBI/AAAAAAAAAdc/bSFp4AFGP2A/s1600/IMG_4705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOqVtN2tVBI/AAAAAAAAAdc/bSFp4AFGP2A/s400/IMG_4705.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The train station at Bandera. The local trains are the heart of this </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">huge city. Think of it like the New York City subway, but only much </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">more intense. The train passes through some of the largest </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">slums of the city, giving me some great perspective of where I am.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSz6W-_ENIgdO6dm3CWnglmcj8sawtmS6e49kLrcvlPveS3rSvPmL6OJr1IL1zmcCbaWD_SsNtWnfOtYZdk07gVSJN8dmc95owr9a8TL3fn2XszJV6Jn_l8pwbKGsNazSbT8JyvU3LnAJ/s1600/IMG_4728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSz6W-_ENIgdO6dm3CWnglmcj8sawtmS6e49kLrcvlPveS3rSvPmL6OJr1IL1zmcCbaWD_SsNtWnfOtYZdk07gVSJN8dmc95owr9a8TL3fn2XszJV6Jn_l8pwbKGsNazSbT8JyvU3LnAJ/s400/IMG_4728.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yep, a tribute to Mr. Obama. I think someone might have forgot</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to check their grammar though....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOvckS89WsI/AAAAAAAAAds/h5dXHtl1BGI/s1600/IMG_4730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOvckS89WsI/AAAAAAAAAds/h5dXHtl1BGI/s400/IMG_4730.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WADA PAV! (also known as the Bombay Hamburger...no meat though). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The most popular snack food in Mumbai. It is basically a ball of </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">mashed potatoes that is deep fried and served in a bun </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with tamarind sauce. Yum Yum!</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><b>Field Visits</b></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now let me provide some contrast to the above experience. This week, as a part of my work, I had the opportunity to do some field visits to seven surrounding villages. The main reason for my visit was to analyze the work of the Women’s Microfinance Groups. (for those of you unfamiliar, a microfinance group is a small group of 10-15 ...usually women... who save small amounts of money each month and are able to take out loans at low interest rates. In our case, 2% interest). So I was able to sit in small groups to discuss their work, and the efforts they had made to help empower women within the village to tackle larger issues in their communities. What I didn’t expect was the warmth and openness with which these women received me – candidly telling me their stories, worries, and actions in order to help me better understand their plight. It was….eye-opening. I heard stories of domestic violence, one in which a woman braved her abusive husband who would lock in her room for days on end without food and beat her for no apparent reason – other than the alcohol he spent all the family’s money on. Or the discussion among women of one village who were complaining about the deleterious effects of alcohol (and it’s subsequent abuse) and their plan to rally the rest of the women in the village to stop the illegal sale of it in the village. I was amazed by the confidence these women had in tackling the issues of the community. And I hear it’s partly thanks to the work that my NGO has been doing here over the past 10-20 years. Apparently before, these women would be timid to speak in front of (male) visitors, and were unwilling/unable to discuss village issues on a group level. But now, not only are they confident, but they are ready to take a stand for these issues and help transform the lives of themselves and futures for their children. Needless to say, I left extremely impressed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOvhSAWSH5I/AAAAAAAAAeA/bvXZdJZ2Ep8/s1600/IMG_4784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOvhSAWSH5I/AAAAAAAAAeA/bvXZdJZ2Ep8/s400/IMG_4784.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Speaking with the women of a microfinance gorup in Hipparga, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">population 4000. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWu-KZiFi4LxrSRhvanQ_Ro6GD2jsuvnqKTag-6feFlh6yx8lTiNRJjlfGcbsHCquf0LPRmOmZo7gyEbqA-U4NXbIANBfwKvdRxkutvIExvj-itP7g2bA2JsDfX2mzZXkZVQdqlY9RKvx/s1600/IMG_4788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWu-KZiFi4LxrSRhvanQ_Ro6GD2jsuvnqKTag-6feFlh6yx8lTiNRJjlfGcbsHCquf0LPRmOmZo7gyEbqA-U4NXbIANBfwKvdRxkutvIExvj-itP7g2bA2JsDfX2mzZXkZVQdqlY9RKvx/s400/IMG_4788.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The central "square" of Hipparga. Ahead on the right is the primary </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">school for the village.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOvjGEUiFlI/AAAAAAAAAeM/8rFASs1TNbA/s1600/IMG_4791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOvjGEUiFlI/AAAAAAAAAeM/8rFASs1TNbA/s400/IMG_4791.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Representatives of a microfinance group in Bhatagali. We're sitting </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in the courtyard of one woman's home. The floor is made of a special </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">material which helps to conserve heat: dried cow dung.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOvj04_8e_I/AAAAAAAAAeQ/_uHfj2aDGmc/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOvj04_8e_I/AAAAAAAAAeQ/_uHfj2aDGmc/s400/IMG_4794.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A women's microfinace group in Keshegaon, population 6000.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Food</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And of course I know you're interested in what I'm eating. Thus, I was able to snap a picture of a typical meal. Here we have, staring counter-clockwise from the top: sambar (liquid lentils with spices), green bell peppers cooked with chillis, chappatti, and rice. This type of meal is served almost every lunch and dinner with only the vegetable changing. For some reason, I still haven't tired of it....</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOvgeOJciRI/AAAAAAAAAd8/kdB0EsAh604/s1600/IMG_4768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TOvgeOJciRI/AAAAAAAAAd8/kdB0EsAh604/s400/IMG_4768.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Directions on how to eat: using ONLY your right hand, you tear a piece of the chappatti and scoop up some of the vegetable. If you feel like it, you may dip in the sambar (in the bowl). Once chappatti and vegetable are finished, you pour the remaining sambar over the rice and eat, again ONLY with your right hand.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hope you all enjoyed! Have a fantastic Thanksgiving!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Andrew</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-1323878392360675792010-11-09T09:25:00.000-08:002011-01-13T07:37:17.476-08:00A little bit of culture...<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, I thought that this blog around I’d give you all some useful tips about living India. I’m going to start with the basics – not because I don’t think you can’t handle it all – but because I don’t want to scare you off too quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Tip 1: Crossing the Street</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, I want you to imagine that old arcade game Frogger (the one where a little frog has to jump back and forth between open spaces to get to the other side of the screen) Well, add in a few motorcycles and a cow or two and then you might have an illustration of the streets of India. I’m not going to lie, the streets here are a bit dangerous. You have to walk straight into on-coming traffic searching for empty spots between rickshaws, motorcycles, and cars to continue your journey to the other side – all the while being careful not to run into a cow, a herd of cows, or some cow dung (I’ve had a few missteps with the last of those). Instead of fearing for my life, I try to just take a deep breath and jump into the action. Fortunately, rural streets are not this terrible and it’s only in cities that you have to deal with this onslaught.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNlT6g-rTFI/AAAAAAAAAcE/iShcDwKAbx8/s1600/IMG_4643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNlT6g-rTFI/AAAAAAAAAcE/iShcDwKAbx8/s400/IMG_4643.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the traffic circles in Solapur. It looks calm right now, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but you have no idea how fierce it can get. This picture doesn't </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">do justice to the cow population of the city.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Speaking of which, I’d like to add a little description of Solapur, the closest city to where I’m living. It’s about 40km away from my NGO campus, or about a 1 hour bus ride (more on this later). Although Solapur is the 3</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><sup>rd</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> or 4</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><sup>th</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> largest city in Maharashtra (the state I’m in), I think “rural city” is its best description. I have heard that this was once a booming, prosperous city with a large textile industry, but given the advent of globalization and cheaper products elsewhere (cough…China…) its economy has dwindled. With a population of about 1.4 million people, the city is a large collection of universities, restaurants, and shops. Fortunately for me, it is the home of non-vegetarian food and accessible routes to other large cities throughout India. I’ve been back and forth for work (we have an office there), and explored the city a bit on weekends. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNlTQj93v3I/AAAAAAAAAcA/TYP58BoGJSo/s1600/IMG_4632+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNlTQj93v3I/AAAAAAAAAcA/TYP58BoGJSo/s400/IMG_4632+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Navipeth Street: the main market of Solapur. This place is </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">CROWDED on Sundays (this picture is taken on a Sunday), </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">especially because at this time people are preparing</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> for Diwali - the Indian New Year on November 5.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also took a trip to Tuljapur, the “capital” of the “county” that I live in. I say capital, only because it is that in name only. Tuljapur is a small city of about 400,000 that is famous for a temple (<i>mandir</i>) that people make pilgrimage to during the holiday of Dasserah (read back to previous post). People will walk anywhere from 30 to 100 km to this temple during the holiday season. This temple is for the deity <i>Jaya Bauwani</i>. Now, I didn’t go for religious reasons, but rather because the nursing students at my NGO were participating in a Polio Eradication Program in Tuljapur giving Polio Immunization to children. (Quick Note: Polio has a vaccine and has been completely eradicated in the “Western” world. However, India and many developing countries continue to struggle to universally provide the vaccine and continues to have incidences of the disease – last year 39 cases in India. The international health community wants Polio gone from the planet). So, I was able to check out another rural town, another great temple, and another chance for non-veg food.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNlXvYkre7I/AAAAAAAAAcM/eZjB80wZn90/s1600/IMG_4610+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNlXvYkre7I/AAAAAAAAAcM/eZjB80wZn90/s400/IMG_4610+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some of the nursing students giving out the Polio vaccine at the </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">temple.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNlYYmt2uFI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/0qOjG_Ra_8w/s1600/IMG_4611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNlYYmt2uFI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/0qOjG_Ra_8w/s400/IMG_4611.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A view of the temple. No pictures were allowed inside, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but this place had everything from vending </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">stalls to baths. It's not only just a place to pray.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Tip 2: Taking the Bus</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, the form of transportation between Anadur and Solapur is by public bus. Let me tell you, never has an hour felt so long. Once the bus pulls up to the station, there is a frantic rush as people run toward the small door. Pushing and shoving, you make room as the bus empties out and then battle your way inside to find a seat. Sometimes the bus isn’t that crowded and a seat is easily found. Other days, a bus that should seat maybe 50 can be packed with anywhere up to 100 people, requiring most people to stand in cramped conditions for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Not the most ideal conditions. Add to this the stress of being stuck between a crying baby and someone who might not have showered recently, and you’ll have not so quite a happy camper by the end of the ride. <o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNlcqc7YNbI/AAAAAAAAAcY/cwBZoheN5ag/s1600/IMG_4633+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNlcqc7YNbI/AAAAAAAAAcY/cwBZoheN5ag/s320/IMG_4633+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The bus stand in Solapur. Imagine all these people</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> running and pushing (women and children included) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to get onto the bus. It's brutal.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But aside from that, I really have been learning a lot here. I’d love to share every conversation/ tidbit that I’ve learned, but I realize you all have normal lives to get to…so I’ll try to be succinct. Maybe because the community here at the NGO is more educated, or that the standard in India is much higher, but I’ve found my present company to be very educated about their country. From state and national politics, to economics and culture, there are very few questions that I can throw at my colleagues without receiving some kind of response. And there is definitely a sense of national pride, with most answers starting with “In our India…”. Interesting topics that I’ve been able to discuss are:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Relations with China.. definitely on the rocks. Imagine global powers battling it out. Not that strong yet, but there are tensions.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cricket – life or death. Either you love it, or you die loving it. Cricket games can last anywhere from 1 to 5 days depending on the type. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Joint Families: Newly married women move into their husband’s home (who currently and will continue to live in his parent’s home). Now comes the interesting part: the mother-in-law. This family figure holds a VERY esteemed position in a very patriarchal society and has a ferocious grip over the lives of this couple. I’ve heard stories: a mother-in-law who after her daughter-in-law gave birth to her first child (a boy) forcing the doctor to sterilize the daughter (without the daughter’s knowledge and consent). Medical ethics aside, I think this is a step too far. Who ever though family politics could be so daunting. (For those of you interested, a good book which fictionally looks at this is: <u>The Spaces Between Us</u> by Thrity Umrigar). </span></li>
</ol><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, me asking all these questions requires a bit of quid pro quo. I’ve been asked my fair share in return. And I do my best to answer questions about American life. I can get by on most pop-culture and political related questions (the recent election in the US has given me so fodder to talk about). But there are a few that have really have left me dumbfounded… and I am usually not someone who cannot provide an answer. Some of the more difficult ones:</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>What does a mushroom taste like? – Mushrooms aren’t used too much here in rural Maharahstra. Any advice on describing the umami flavor?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>How many hectacres of corn are grown in the US? -- I don’t think these people realize that I have never been to a farm before<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>How much does 1 kg of ground nuts cost? -- First, I don’t know. Second, what’s a ground nut? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Turns out, through later investigation, a “ground nut” is actually a peanut. Once I explained that they were asking me about peanuts, a fierce debate ensued in which I was told that no, “peas” were not “nuts” and that they were referring to “ground nuts”. I tried my best to explain that a “peanut” and a “pea” were different in American English. I think it may be a lost cause.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNlekR9L-bI/AAAAAAAAAcg/YTC97lrkMCM/s1600/IMG_4593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNlekR9L-bI/AAAAAAAAAcg/YTC97lrkMCM/s400/IMG_4593.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The sugarcane farm behind my NGO. One day a few coworkers </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and I decided to take a walk back here. Here, a friend is </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">grabbing a piece of grown sugarcane. We later stripped and ate </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the raw sugarcane. I had a "WTF? moment as I realized </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I really was living in rural India.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNle_YlAWYI/AAAAAAAAAck/FcCTemcQKzE/s1600/IMG_4599+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNle_YlAWYI/AAAAAAAAAck/FcCTemcQKzE/s400/IMG_4599+-+Copy.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The main street of Anadur. Sorry not the greatest </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">picture, but it was sunset and it was the best I could get. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">More to come.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRMrCPD9hg4pcPltezQYDnjoxkleevUo8W6dVrIFbuTuxS6c-V26mXPW4OHZmzAPMWyt6Ife1o7MMg_hdCB2a1xZKbEkqkhcKuAJxk1Hng4sSQyV1Cfti5N46CWhdUgEWCIqDCArdpkAB/s1600/IMG_4639+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRMrCPD9hg4pcPltezQYDnjoxkleevUo8W6dVrIFbuTuxS6c-V26mXPW4OHZmzAPMWyt6Ife1o7MMg_hdCB2a1xZKbEkqkhcKuAJxk1Hng4sSQyV1Cfti5N46CWhdUgEWCIqDCArdpkAB/s400/IMG_4639+-+Copy.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Auntie: the cook in the mess. Here she is posing in </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">front of Ladu (a sweet eaten year-round), which is </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">being made specifically for the upcoming Diwali holiday.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Tip 3: Yes…or No. The Indian Bobble Head </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I fully blame the Barwani family for not educating me around this bit of Indian culture before arriving in India. For those of you watching “Outsourced”, you may be familiar with this. For everyone else, I’ll do my best to explain. The Indian Bobble Head is a facial gesture to any question that requires a yes/no answer (or anything in between). Now, it looks like a “no” head nod from side-to-side, but in fact requires a soft “figure 8” movement of the chin. In effect, it makes one look like their head is similar to that of a bobble head doll. The meaning of such movements: Well, I had originally learned that it meant a solid “Yes” (which is confusing given the side-to-side motion similar to our “No”). However, my time here in Anadur has shown me that this simple head gesture is far more complex. It can be interpreted to mean anything from a simple “Yes” to an “I Understand” or an Indian “Yes” (which means that I might know the answer, just not exactly to the question you’re asking), to a “Maybe”. I have not yet seen it mean a solid “No”, but I’m not holding that out as an option. So, in other words, I have to do my best to interpret this head gesture ON TOP of the whole new language thing. I guess it never ends. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think that may be enough cultural immersion for now. But next update, be prepared. Diwali is coming November 5 (the Indian version of Christmas/Hanukah) and I have a trip to Pune and Mumbai planned! Definite excursions ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Andrew</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNmAMFutAsI/AAAAAAAAAcw/c_lYLFUlvfA/s1600/IMG_4629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TNmAMFutAsI/AAAAAAAAAcw/c_lYLFUlvfA/s320/IMG_4629.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And just in case you forgot how your far-away </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">friend looked. Here's me posing in front of the </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fort in Solapur.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-1568061151148954852010-10-20T21:03:00.000-07:002011-01-13T07:39:22.073-08:00One Month in....<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Welcome Back!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve officially completed my fourth week here in Anadur, India. And to tell you the truth, I’m loving it. Now, I can’t say that I don’t miss the conveniences that city life brings – especially one in the US. But it has been fantastic to get away and become more in tune to life without things I often take for granted: TV, air conditioning, forks... You know.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve finally gotten settled, got together a bit of a routine, and have started to make this little campus my home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL8h0lTh0oI/AAAAAAAAAZY/K9ujs2KPaaE/s1600/IMG_4431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL8h0lTh0oI/AAAAAAAAAZY/K9ujs2KPaaE/s400/IMG_4431.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'll start you off with a beautiful picture taken from</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> the balcony at work. This looks onto the front "lawn" of my NGO.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>My Daily Schedule</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 6:30am: The natural alarm clock of 3 barking dogs RIGHT outside my window begin. If only other things in my life could be so constant. I attempt to fall back asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 7:30am: My electronic alarm clock goes off. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 7:45am: I finish hitting the snooze button. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 7:45 – 9:00am: Wake up, throw on some clothes, and run to the hot water tap with my two buckets: one for shower and one for laundry. Cross my fingers that we have hot water today.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 9:00am SHARP: Whether I want to or not, I will get a fierce knocking on my door forcing me to breakfast. It doesn’t matter that I’m in the middle of a Skype conversation, or need another five minutes to finish my shower, breakfast is currently being served and I need to be there.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-toh35szI/AAAAAAAAAa8/aWuo8b_Pj1A/s1600/IMG_4580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-toh35szI/AAAAAAAAAa8/aWuo8b_Pj1A/s400/IMG_4580.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Breakfast! This dish is </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sushila</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, a puffed rice dish cooked </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with onions, chilis, peanuts, and turmeric. Some lime on the side. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 9:30am-ish – 1:00pm: Work. I say 9:30 ish only because…by the time I get downstairs to the office and people actually start to show up. What’s the difference, 9:30/10:00. The Indian working environment is DEFINITELY different from the high-pressure, high-stress American one. I have never felt so relaxed and at ease (the most stressed I’ve been is when I accidently misplaced my phone). Some days are more productive than others. Other days you might find me catching a few ZZZs in a corner chair.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-tFUiHUgI/AAAAAAAAAa4/8YoL1EHoedc/s1600/IMG_4572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-tFUiHUgI/AAAAAAAAAa4/8YoL1EHoedc/s400/IMG_4572.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The office! As you can see, it's crowded at 10:00am.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 1:00pm: LUNCH…which I’m usually starving for. And I have recently discovered probably the most ingenious thing: the afternoon nap. By 1:30, I am sprawled on my bed, fast asleep for a nice 30 minute snooze.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 2:00 – 5:30pm: Let’s finish up this day! Chit chat with the colleagues, get some work done. All in a day’s work.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 5:30pm: TEA TIME. A great afternoon break. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 6:00 – 8:00pm: Relax from the day. Usually I’ll hang around the campus, go for a walk, grab some personal internet time, or relax with my new friends on the campus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 8:00pm: Dinner. Same rules for breakfast apply here. If I’m not at the mess by 8:00pm, someone’s coming for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 9:00pm: Back to my room, unwind, and get ready for bed. Many of you have utilized this time to pester me with your Skype calls (actually, keep at it. It might be the only thing keeping me sane). I’ll grab a book, get some reading in, and just relax from the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- 11:00 – 12:00am: Put up the mosquito net. Turn on the electronic mosquito repellant coils. Take my malaria pills. (Do I sound paranoid yet). And sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And it all starts over again. Monday through Saturday, you’ll find me with the above routine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>My work</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I’m sure you are all very interested in learning what I’m actually doing here in India. Well, I’ve just recently figured that one out myself (whew…) and I’m really looking forward to it. My task (at least right now): to create a data management system so that my NGO can accurately/reliably track one of its programs. In layman’s terms: create a monster excel spreadsheet that can store a lot of info. In professional jargon, create a Management Information System (MIS). The program I’m currently working on is a health/microfinance program, called “Women’s Empowerment”. The idea is that women’s microfinance groups within villages can help empower women to better take charge of their health, local governance, domestic violence, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, in order to learn more about current MIS systems in place, I traveled to Solapur (the closest city – 40 km away) to shadow coworkers in a project that works in the city’s slums. The project encourages women’s microfinance groups within the slum to “adopt” pregnant women and ensure that they get proper prenatal and postnatal care. I have to say, this has been one of the most sobering and fascinating experiences in my life. Every person I met was happy to see/meet me and proud to show me the work that they had been doing. Aside from the conditions of their homes or the depth of their bank accounts (which wasn't much), I felt a genuine sense of warmth from the community. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, I want you to forget Slumdog Millionaire. This isn’t Mumbai. The slums that I went to were not as destitute as the ones you are thinking of. Many of Mumbai slums are illegal communities that spring up around the city. Solapur's slums are legal (oxymoronic...I know). And maybe it was because Solapur isn’t as poor (maybe?) or that I wasn’t taken to those slums specifically. Most homes were concrete, or were mostly concrete with some corrugated metal roof/walls. Main features were that: people were poor. And people were lower caste. I didn’t realize it, but caste is SUCH a major player here in India. In one slum, the entire slum community was </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dalit</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (or community below the entire caste structure). Interesting tidbit, they were mostly Buddhist. Why? My guess is that back in the 1950s, a very famous </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dalit</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> leader Dr. Ambedkar (who actually wrote the Indian Constitution) converted to Buddhism. This prompted a lot of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dalit </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">communities to convert as well, hoping to leave the caste system behind. Unfortunately, it didn’t work, and a lot of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dalits</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> still find themselves poor and excluded from most social/public roles.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I went with coworkers, meeting the contact people within the slums, and doing some home visits to pregnant women and recently delivered mothers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL8wABymcqI/AAAAAAAAAaE/VCYEktZH5PY/s1600/IMG_4518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL8wABymcqI/AAAAAAAAAaE/VCYEktZH5PY/s400/IMG_4518.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A "candid" photo with members of the Ragwarda slum in Solapur. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These women are a part of the local women's microfinance group. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-kgJKxLlI/AAAAAAAAAac/zgr0fQbqDzc/s1600/IMG_4534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-kgJKxLlI/AAAAAAAAAac/zgr0fQbqDzc/s400/IMG_4534.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Grabbing some tea at a community volunteer's house in </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the Municipal Corporation slum before heading off to another </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bachat Gat, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or microfinance meeting.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-lQFcb9vI/AAAAAAAAAak/yQZLPRZuAkA/s400/IMG_4538.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A microfinance meeting at the Municipal Corporation slum. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Here, they are showing me how they explain to pregnant mothers</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> about the need for good nutrition during pregnancy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As you can see, these meetings become a family affair.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-lQFcb9vI/AAAAAAAAAak/yQZLPRZuAkA/s1600/IMG_4538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-lQFcb9vI/AAAAAAAAAak/yQZLPRZuAkA/s1600/IMG_4538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-mIqlL-XI/AAAAAAAAAao/WHDzRv5NF8Q/s1600/IMG_4554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-mIqlL-XI/AAAAAAAAAao/WHDzRv5NF8Q/s400/IMG_4554.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Drinking some tea at the home of a recently delivered </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">mother who had been "adopted" by the local microfinance </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">group. In this house, about 4 families live together. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think this stop was my 7th cup of tea for the afternoon. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Each house would offer me a glass of water (which I would politely </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">refuse - gotta play safe) and then boil me up some tea. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had to accept, otherwise it would have been impolite.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-oAdwciQI/AAAAAAAAAaw/W58WjEhkF_g/s1600/IMG_4565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-oAdwciQI/AAAAAAAAAaw/W58WjEhkF_g/s400/IMG_4565.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At another slum, a majority of the women generate income </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">by making </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">biddis</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, which are homemade cigarettes. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A woman can make approximately 80 Rupees a day in such activities, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">approximately $1.60 USD. Definitely not enough to cover the </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">expenses of a home and family. But this is one of the only </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">professions limited to members of the community. </span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Language</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, I can carry on a simple conversation: ask about the village, your farm, questions about your marriage and kids. I would consider this a HUGE success on my part, especially because I’m not receiving any real formal training in the language. In the official NGO office, no one speaks fluent English. So I need to learn Marathi out of necessity. Fortunately, what I’ve found with Marathi (and I think this runs with Hindi too), is that about 5-10% of words are actually English crossovers (i.e. office, tension, project, etc). So this makes things A LOT simpler. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last week, I went to a monthly meeting in Lohara (a neighboring county) with leaders of women’s microfinance groups of about 15 surrounding villages. I went with the NGO’s accountant, who does speak English. The meeting was in a city about 40km away. However, it took over 2 hours to get there – by way of 2 buses and a stop for tea. We arrived at the meeting site. I gave my “Namaste”s around the room and sat on the floor. During the course of the meeting, I mainly sat aside and watched as women discussed (in Marathi) issues in their villages with regards to local governing bodies, a health insurance scheme run by the NGO, microfinance issues, etc. The accountant occasionally turned to me and translated so I understood the gist of what was going on. As the meeting wound to a close and financial matters were being taken care of, the accountant looked at me and said “It’s your turn.” I looked at him, “For what?” “To speak.” I think as punishment for being silent during the meeting, I was forced to speak to the group of 20 women before me…in Marathi. Well, here I go.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL8jIEnDsaI/AAAAAAAAAZg/7TUr1LSjJaI/s1600/IMG_4491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL8jIEnDsaI/AAAAAAAAAZg/7TUr1LSjJaI/s400/IMG_4491.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The group of women village leaders during the meeting. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So now, everyone in the Lohara area knows I come from America, am not married (I use my age as an excuse…but that usually doesn’t fly with most people. Marriage is early here), have an older brother who works in IT (sorry, closest I could get to what you actually do) and is also NOT married (a big shocker here), a father in IT, and a teacher mother who is now retired. Yes, the Adelman life history has spread all across the Anadur/Lohara region. And this is actually the course of most conversation I have, so I wouldn’t be surprised if all of Maharashtra knows by now.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so the trip back to Anadur, I must share, took approximately 3 hours by way of 3 forms of transportation: shared jeep, shared rickshaw, private rickshaw. Shared vehicles attempt to pack as many living bodies (notice I say living bodies and not people) into one transportation device as possible. In the shared jeep we took, which should comfortably fit about 10 people, we had squeezed 19 people (4 of them being children), 5 crates of eggs, and a sack of potatoes. On other vehicles I had seen goats and chickens as well. I WISH I had a picture to share with you, put seeing as I had one leg out the back of the car and half a butt-cheek on a seat, I wasn’t able to reach my camera. But I thought the mental picture might be enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Holidays</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And just in case you were wondering, we’ve just finished celebrating two holidays here in India: Navratri and Dasserha. Now, Navratri is actually a really really fun holiday filled with huge dance parties late into the night for 9 days straight. However, it’s celebrated mainly in Gujarat (the state I had my orientation in) and major cities. So, I wasn’t celebrated out here in rural Anadur. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We did celebrate Dasserah, which is the same 9 days of Navratri plus one – 10 days total. Now, I didn’t understand too much of why it’s celebrated, but most/some women fast for the 10 days. On the 10</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> day, everyone exchanges a certain kind of leaf and exchanges a Hindi greeting “Gold and Silver,” meaning our relationship will be like gold and silver (I think). And on the 10</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> day we ate some sweeter than usual food. Here's a link to the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassera#Maharashtra">Wikipedia post</a> for more info if you're interested...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDZgtIDmzj4TUt_HctybDNKOWCSzGBaLpZ-__XTrQzNEN9w22LLNR_NDbsvryTDWSX3OQ9bDONRXBhsQSO5A9SWcUCXtkSUeoY3cHcYMms6dB11pwcOTct213cWzi3Z4CS9Oba6N55RHV/s1600/IMG_4535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDZgtIDmzj4TUt_HctybDNKOWCSzGBaLpZ-__XTrQzNEN9w22LLNR_NDbsvryTDWSX3OQ9bDONRXBhsQSO5A9SWcUCXtkSUeoY3cHcYMms6dB11pwcOTct213cWzi3Z4CS9Oba6N55RHV/s400/IMG_4535.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A Dassera <i>Pooja</i>, or place for prayer, in the home of a </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">community volunteer at Municipal Corporation slum.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so I’m sure you’ve read enough by now. So I’ll cut it here. But thanks for reading! Some final pictures to leave you with...</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-vN2ImGxI/AAAAAAAAAbI/RsgIW1_aHh4/s1600/IMG_4581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-vN2ImGxI/AAAAAAAAAbI/RsgIW1_aHh4/s400/IMG_4581.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I really do see some gorgeous sunsets here. On my evening walk.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-vq2ueWOI/AAAAAAAAAbM/T2o6wQuryok/s1600/IMG_4584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-vq2ueWOI/AAAAAAAAAbM/T2o6wQuryok/s400/IMG_4584.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A picturesque view of the sky and farms.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Andrew</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-zlNv8wfI/AAAAAAAAAbU/xCDyrLgkKmM/s1600/IMG_4524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TL-zlNv8wfI/AAAAAAAAAbU/xCDyrLgkKmM/s320/IMG_4524.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I thought I'd leave you with this happy picture. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sons of some of the volunteers of the Ragwarda </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">slum. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the left, Abizek aged 8 and on the right </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Saheb aged 6. It was Saheb's birthday!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-33701153189725127362010-10-03T02:45:00.000-07:002011-01-13T07:41:05.259-08:00Adventures in Anadur<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so I’ve survived my first week here in Anadur. I don’t think survive is quite the right word… I’ve lived my first week here in Anadur. It has truly been a fantastic journey for me to acquaint myself to living in rural India. I tell you, it’s a bit different than living in Los Angeles. </span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJpI-gKtVRD2iX473IM86NttfCsODv2-7GDDIz7CSySDrqXP9YCg6DH2GCmnaz23x9aiYFV-pNS38UoAWYfictnmteSOOSkmseS7YSv3qtY6WLe2xJJR6ndN_PPpUuA_sHNpK3TSVCFfL/s1600/IMG_4291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJpI-gKtVRD2iX473IM86NttfCsODv2-7GDDIz7CSySDrqXP9YCg6DH2GCmnaz23x9aiYFV-pNS38UoAWYfictnmteSOOSkmseS7YSv3qtY6WLe2xJJR6ndN_PPpUuA_sHNpK3TSVCFfL/s320/IMG_4291.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You have to love an Indian sunset. Picture taken in Anadur.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So first, my accommodations. My work is located on a campus about 2km outside of the village of Anadur. The closest city is Solapur, which is located about 1 hour away by bus. I’ve visited twice for work and to get myself some personal things (toiletries, sheets, etc.). It is a pretty standard city, population about 3 million it seems. I’m planning on “exploring” it at some point in the next few weeks, so I’ll update with some more info then. The same goes with Anadur, population 10,000. I haven’t really had the chance to explore the village too well because the only way for me to get there is by own two feet, and I haven’t felt quite so motivated yet.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TKhNQ_wTB_I/AAAAAAAAAY4/wwAMxvd6pr8/s1600/IMG_4296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TKhNQ_wTB_I/AAAAAAAAAY4/wwAMxvd6pr8/s320/IMG_4296.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Part of the vegetable market in Solapur. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was able to see it as we were going to fix </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the company car. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Definitely more to come about Solapur.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The “campus” of the organization that I’m working with consists of 2 buildings located off of a main highway (one of which is a hospital, so I’m safe…..), but is completely surrounded by land and farms. It’s gorgeous here. At night I can look up into the sky and see thousands of stars (not something we can really do in LA). Peacocks, cows, and stray dogs roam the fields. I’m starting to get in tune with nature. Although I have to admit that I have a small fear that anything with more than two legs has the ability to completely devour me…insects included (although the mosquitos have already taken advantage of that one). I know I can get over this fear, but I think it may take me some time…</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TKhO8CBuyDI/AAAAAAAAAZM/hohuONR1LH0/s1600/IMG_4325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TKhO8CBuyDI/AAAAAAAAAZM/hohuONR1LH0/s320/IMG_4325.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The campus! To the left is the hospital. To the right </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is the office and guest house (where I sleep). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In front is one of the MANY stray dogs of India. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Read on for further information about them.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TKhMx4gRmHI/AAAAAAAAAYo/OyTTLP3GXUU/s1600/IMG_4281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TKhMx4gRmHI/AAAAAAAAAYo/OyTTLP3GXUU/s320/IMG_4281.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The view from my window. In the foreground is the </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">small garden planted by the organization </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(completely organic). </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am living in a guest room, pretty standard. But, exciting news, it comes complete with…a flushing toilet. Oh yes, no more squatting here. So only positivity on my end. The best part is that the organization runs a nursing school to train Auxiliary Nurse-Midwives (ANMs), who work in the villages as a part of government health centers. So the school consists of 19 village girls ranging from age 18 to 29 (some are married with children back at home). So they roam the “halls”. I’m still attempting to learn their names: 8 down, 11 more to go. The only issue is: none of them really speak English. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKUW-MEQzLQu9ZxrVB2DcFcJvDG8JHKZU_VGq7VfYadatp7AZYEyxcyDNjp3bhg6bSaok3Lp-8gxqpaj7FnvTLmdpZ4IUitjUDmvmzUFbpc0TH7B1VYyCxgr2YhbEEePLoOj9iEN2icZl/s1600/IMG_4286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKUW-MEQzLQu9ZxrVB2DcFcJvDG8JHKZU_VGq7VfYadatp7AZYEyxcyDNjp3bhg6bSaok3Lp-8gxqpaj7FnvTLmdpZ4IUitjUDmvmzUFbpc0TH7B1VYyCxgr2YhbEEePLoOj9iEN2icZl/s320/IMG_4286.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My room! Nothing to get too excited about though.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Which comes to obstacle number 1: language. Yes, I am currently one week into learning yet another language: Marathi. Marathi is the regional language of the state of Maharashtra (which is where I’m located). Although close to Hindi (which I was learning in Ahmedabad), it is different enough that my 3 weeks of Hindi classes don’t help much. Well, I’ve started learning this language. However, I can currently only speak in singular first person present tense, which limits me to sentences like “I want food” and “I dance with my feet”. Some other basics I’ve learned are: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maza nau Andrew ahe</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (My name is Andrew), and a good one: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tumza gau kotay ahe?</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (Where is your village?). But then again, I’m only one week in. We’ll see where I stand a few months from now.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The food, as I’m sure you all want to know, is pretty standard fare. I eat in the mess with all the other students (although they usually eat at different times than me). Breakfast will usually consist of some sort of grain dish with roasted peanuts and onions and chillis. Such dishes are called: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">poha</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> or </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sushila</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Lunch and dinner are the same: a vegetable (which varies from meal to meal. Examples include: bitter gourd, cabbage, or potato), chapatti (toasted flat bread), rice, and a watery lentil dish (called </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">warad</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">). So although it seems like I’m carbo-loading, there is no planned marathon in sight. I can only hope that I’m getting enough protein….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the people here have been really warm and welcoming. I’m currently in this position where I’m still very much considered a visitor at some points, where at others I’m just another employee. The students have taken to calling me “Andrew Sir”, which flies really weird with me. But then again, it’s not like I can tell them to stop (seeing as I can’t form that kind of sentence yet). The NGO employees are again very nice and welcoming. I’m trying to learn everyone’s name, but then again that’s a challenge because it isn’t American names I’m trying to learn, but Indian names that are really unfamiliar to me. And Obstacle 2: none of the employees really speak too much English. So…I guess that’ll force me to learn Marathi? Or have no substantial conversations for the next 10 months. I think I’m going to go for the former. Fortunately, the teachers of the Nursing School are three guys aged 24/25 and speak very fluent English. Hence, 3 new friends! It’s very exciting. They’re from Karnataka, a bordering state to Maharashtra, and speak Kannada (no, not Canadian...), with only varying degrees of Marathi. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TKhM7-JclZI/AAAAAAAAAYs/zU1G42eL6rQ/s1600/IMG_4283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TKhM7-JclZI/AAAAAAAAAYs/zU1G42eL6rQ/s400/IMG_4283.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first day I arrived in Anadur was the last day of the holiday of </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ganpati, which celebrates the god Ganesh. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It lasts 10 days, and on the last day a statue of Ganesh </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is thrown into a lake. Here, all the people of the </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">organization are preparing to throw the statue </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in the lake. To the left are the girls of the Nursing School.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The work…oh the work. I’m still figuring out my place here at work and what exactly I’m to be doing. I know they want me to be creating information management systems, but I’m trying to figure out exactly what that means. So for this week, I am merely trying to orient myself into the organization, finding out more about their programs and projects, and mentally coordinating the structure of the organization. Pretty soon I have to develop a workplan, so hopefully I’ll be better situated to do that. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so my week ends. I try to walk around the campus after dinner each day. I’ve spent a fair amount of time reading. And I am woken every morning at about 6:00am by 3 stray dogs barking their guts outside my window…why? I’m not entirely sure. But I have no desire to get in the middle of it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TKhNaE3BVUI/AAAAAAAAAY8/4c5ckyTB4jc/s1600/IMG_4311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TKhNaE3BVUI/AAAAAAAAAY8/4c5ckyTB4jc/s320/IMG_4311.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One morning the head of the organization (who also</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> lives on the campus) woke me up at 7:00am - yeah, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that's early - to go to Naldurg, a city about 5km away, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">which has an impressive fort that was built </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in the 1500s. Here's a view of the fort.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TKhNf3-z8bI/AAAAAAAAAZA/fh-9n47wsF0/s1600/IMG_4321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TKhNf3-z8bI/AAAAAAAAAZA/fh-9n47wsF0/s320/IMG_4321.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Certain years when there is enough rain, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the fort forms these waterfalls. This year, there was </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">enough rain (actually a lot in India). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here I am sitting in a room underneath one waterfall </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and looking out to another. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was gorgeous. Again, this is about 7:30am.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve heard LA had some scorching temperatures. But luckily monsoon season is coming to an end here and weather is really evening out. So I can’t really relate to the heat anymore. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stay cool!</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Andrew</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-74303613538835155542010-09-22T05:04:00.000-07:002011-01-13T07:41:15.560-08:00Reporting Live from Anadur<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just wanted to post a quick note that I've arrived in Anadur! By way of plane, train, and automobile, I've finally made it! It is a weird feeling to be separated from the rest of the fellows now that we've all split up to our different placements. But then again that gives us each the opportunity to grow and form a community here in India. I don't have too much to report, but just want to let everyone know that I'm safe and still alive. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'll let you all know how I do settling in and getting started with work!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Missing you all!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Andrew</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-29885080552973486962010-09-22T04:12:00.000-07:002010-09-22T04:12:05.965-07:00Orientation Ends<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And so orientation is drawing to a close. On Sunday evening, our work counterparts from our partner NGOs will arrive to spend our last few days together, and then we all depart our separate way for the next 5 months. It’s ridiculous to think how quickly the past four weeks have gone by, and that only makes me more nervous about the next 10 months. But, day by day I continue to tell myself. No need to freak out too early…<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">I had my last evening with my host family a a week and a half ago. They are probably the nicest couple I have ever met! In order to better accommodate all of our schedules, we decided it would be best for me to spend the night at their house. Well, for dinner I had CHICKEN biryani. Yes, chicken! I slept in a room that had not only a fan, but AC! I had company in the form of their 70lb Doberman sleep with me throughout the night. And they took me to their gym the next morning where I went for a swim! As you can tell, I was pretty excited by the whole experience. The greatest part is, they're a a genuinely warm and open couple. I asked about their relationship, which they said was accepted wholeheartedly by both their parents. Overall, this has been a fantastic part of the orientation.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TJnhfiDsoLI/AAAAAAAAAXg/mOFqEal4GHs/s1600/IMG_4261%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TJnhfiDsoLI/AAAAAAAAAXg/mOFqEal4GHs/s320/IMG_4261%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My host mom, host dad, and me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The past few weeks have really allowed us to delve into some serious subjects about Indian society: Hindu/Muslim relations and the Caste system. We’ve had some amazing guest speakers at the ashram and trips related to these issues. Some highlights:</div><ul style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><li><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Hindu/Muslim Relations: After the creation of Pakistan as an Islamic state in 1947, many Muslims in India left. Now, Hindu’s make up about 80% of the Indian population, with Muslims coming in second at about 15%. In 2002, Gujarat (the state I’m currently living in) was the site of a huge riot against Muslims by Hindu nationalists. The attacks are extremely politically controversial, with many claiming them to be supported by the political elite. Whatever the case, it means that there are some major tensions that continue to impede progress toward reconciliation between the two religious groups. This has huge implications for politics and cricket (the Pakistan v. India cricket match is supposed to be epic!). But a fantastic movie if you have some time: Parzania. It’s a fictional movie based on real events about the riots. <br />
</li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><li><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Caste System: We were fortunate enough to be able to go on a few community visits to talk with people of the dalit community. Dalits are at the bottom of the caste system and were traditionally limited to work dealing with human excrement and animal skins. The caste system is ingrained into the Hindu religion and all people are put into this social hierarchy. It goes, from top to bottom: <br />
</li>
</ul><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Brahmin (typically priests)</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Kshatriya (the warrior caste)</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Vaisyas (merchants and farmers)</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Sudras (unskilled workers)</div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Dalits (the bottom of the social food chain)</div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Fortunately, there are some fantastic NGOs in India working with Dalit communities to help empower men and women to expand their public and social roles. We were able to have a few roundtables with men and women from different villages and hear about their experiences. Unfortunately, no pictures here. But I’m sure with my NGO I’ll be able to do similar work and I can share it with you then. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in;">Field Trip! Yes, we had a field trip this week. We were headed to Politana, a pilgrimage site of temples for people of the Jain religion. Jainism is an off-shot of Hinduism whose most orthodox participants are stricter than vegans: they don’t eat meat, dairy, root vegetables, or after dark (for fear that they might accidentally eat an insect). </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So let me tell you how this field trip went. Our day began at 6am, at which the 11 of us fellows boarded a bus. What we thought was a 3 hour bus ride turned into a 6 hour journey…in a cramped, Indian charter bus. We arrived at Polytana and were confronted by 3200 steps leading to the peak of a mountain. It turns out Polytana is actually at the top of the mountain. Well, I thought to myself, it must be worth it right? Shortly after we began the ascent, it began to monsoon rain for about 1.5 hours. So, soaking wet and sore, we finally arrived at the top of this mountain. And I have to tell you, these temples are gorgeous (you’ll notice from the pictures). Was the trek worth it? Definitely. We then made the journey back down the mountain (no rain this time) and the 6 hour bus ride back to the ashram. I came away with an immense appreciate for the work it took to make those temples...and a cold, which has caused me to skip the past 3 days of scheduled programming here at orientation. </div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TJniAcbIzOI/AAAAAAAAAX4/jYCbQjXaR5w/s1600/IMG_4212%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TJniAcbIzOI/AAAAAAAAAX4/jYCbQjXaR5w/s320/IMG_4212%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the stairs leading up to Politana. You can see a couple of people walking up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TJnjo9eKKGI/AAAAAAAAAYM/0-iG_VaXRzY/s1600/IMG_4219%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TJnjo9eKKGI/AAAAAAAAAYM/0-iG_VaXRzY/s320/IMG_4219%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few from the peak of teh mountain. And yours truly!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TJnkTh2RelI/AAAAAAAAAYc/2lqHZSzUEno/s1600/IMG_4235%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TJnkTh2RelI/AAAAAAAAAYc/2lqHZSzUEno/s320/IMG_4235%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to Politana. We have Sami and Jamie posing in front!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtkO22ek8TKabdcgLJznZtQv35FVDAiAB1QWz5wwSyue5qt1V8sucB3A_IhDqosyQa5KZzrjvyE8wZRK7nNyAwbfuVgo9NGbbV7x6M_XwxQn0HZh_9eRvzWQL4bk8Ok72w5O1zT4gnVvp/s1600/IMG_4233%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtkO22ek8TKabdcgLJznZtQv35FVDAiAB1QWz5wwSyue5qt1V8sucB3A_IhDqosyQa5KZzrjvyE8wZRK7nNyAwbfuVgo9NGbbV7x6M_XwxQn0HZh_9eRvzWQL4bk8Ok72w5O1zT4gnVvp/s320/IMG_4233%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the beautiful architecture of the temples.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But on a better note, for breaking the fast on Yom Kippur we’re having bagels and lox!! As you can probably imagine, we’re pretty excited about this! </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYTctfUkzhyphenhyphenHfTm_7Zj1F89oXreYPwmQImxBtHi5JWkUmPOfZhzlXcHTdnZYWermCF9yxjImepNCU4FnaLevj20QLv27niov9wU6oYwkYgrYOMTUTwEJdLIWCZCI_3dv2bdxj-0P9SjHr/s1600/IMG_4250%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYTctfUkzhyphenhyphenHfTm_7Zj1F89oXreYPwmQImxBtHi5JWkUmPOfZhzlXcHTdnZYWermCF9yxjImepNCU4FnaLevj20QLv27niov9wU6oYwkYgrYOMTUTwEJdLIWCZCI_3dv2bdxj-0P9SjHr/s320/IMG_4250%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, that's lox and bagels...in India! Not exactly the same as home, but good enough!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFipA_vXpEPtufUL_vpcRrDISZN_ZeoS5yLpgt-yU0plgzYxFgYVGOu0KIn3aENj5UsnQgp_x0QezCBKjHz6mN1DkNAtoH2yCkPYO44Uf5n2bt4ysBvVxIR8KCa0jBdLlc17g4aVZ1ps-/s1600/IMG_4174%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFipA_vXpEPtufUL_vpcRrDISZN_ZeoS5yLpgt-yU0plgzYxFgYVGOu0KIn3aENj5UsnQgp_x0QezCBKjHz6mN1DkNAtoH2yCkPYO44Uf5n2bt4ysBvVxIR8KCa0jBdLlc17g4aVZ1ps-/s320/IMG_4174%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you couldn't guess, this is a McDonald's here in India. Menu complete with: McVeggie, McRaja Mac, and Paneer Salsa Wrap. And what could be better than some McDonald's French Fries. Um Um good!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well, the next time I update I’ll be in Anadur! Hope all is well stateside!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Andrew</div></div><img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYTctfUkzhyphenhyphenHfTm_7Zj1F89oXreYPwmQImxBtHi5JWkUmPOfZhzlXcHTdnZYWermCF9yxjImepNCU4FnaLevj20QLv27niov9wU6oYwkYgrYOMTUTwEJdLIWCZCI_3dv2bdxj-0P9SjHr/s320/IMG_4250%5B1%5D.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 467px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 2165px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-47889552983708832142010-09-06T07:00:00.001-07:002010-09-06T07:01:57.792-07:00Doing it Indian Style...<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><style>
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Picture this: 5 young 20-somethings rocking out to Justin Bieber while washing clothes with a bucket and spicket. And thus began my Thursday afternoon. I think the Justin Bieber was our small longing for American culture, but I will not deny my utter enjoyment from the experience. But, all aside, I officially completed my first attempt at laundry. 7 buckets worth of clothing and 5 hours over 2 days, I was able to successfully clean my first set of dirty clothes. I think I’m going to reform how I wear/wash clothes… as in reduce, reuse, recycle. However, overall it is an extremely grueling process that I need to get used to because I will have to continue to repeat it over the next 11 months. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TITy8jaiIuI/AAAAAAAAAXU/6YrnXbOrAIs/s1600/IMG_4042%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TITy8jaiIuI/AAAAAAAAAXU/6YrnXbOrAIs/s320/IMG_4042%5B1%5D" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The laundry crew, clothes in the background. Success!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Well, overall this has been a fantastic week. Prior, we really had been secluded to our ashram and hadn’t really seen too much of the city of Ahmedabad. It was as if we were in a bubble, shielded from many of the realities of our city and the opportunities that existed past its gates. But, fortunately, this week we began to explore. Some of the activities of the week:</span></div><ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Homestay Family: We have all been broken up and given “homestay” families. Every Sunday night, we spread out to our homestay families for dinner and cultural immersion. My family is fantastic. They are a couple, married within the past year, and recently returned from Toronto, Canada where they completed their Masters in architecture. The husband is Rajasthani(a northern Indian state) and the wife is Iranian. They’re young, hip, and are excited about their new architecture business here in Ahmedabad. Best part of the evening, I was served eggs (which are almost considered black market here) and beer (which you need a special permit to buy in the state of Gujarat). I can tell you all the other fellows were jealous about the above two. I’m really interested in learning about the acceptance of their international/racial relationship, but I think I’ll ask that at our second meeting on Sunday…save the sensitive subjects for later.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">HINDI CLASS: So, I’m finally fluent in Hindi. JUST kidding. But we have started to take our language classes. We are being thrown into the language from the beginning and have immediately begun learning to speak. Who needs the alphabet…. But I have begun to pick up some essentials, like the numbers and some basic greetings and questions. (Un)fortunately, I’m going to have to learn another language when I get to my placement, Marathi, which is very close to Hindi and shares the same alphabet, but is slightly different. Taking it one by one though…</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Scavenger Hunt: WOW. What a way to spend the afternoon! Last Tuesday, as a part of our programming, we were split into pairs and given a list of tasks/places to visit around the city. My partner (Shaina) and I were determined to get through the entire list. However, all the clues were “coded” and, with our minimal Hindi, provided some difficulty in figuring out where to go. We got through most of the tasks, and had a great time exploring the city. Some pictures of where we went:</span></li>
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</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TITwSN-7s1I/AAAAAAAAAWw/2pLEa2o8bTQ/s1600/IMG_0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TITwSN-7s1I/AAAAAAAAAWw/2pLEa2o8bTQ/s320/IMG_0204.JPG" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Find Pani Puri, an Indian street food.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TITwX1o20VI/AAAAAAAAAW4/dQyUh3ZX6hY/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TITwX1o20VI/AAAAAAAAAW4/dQyUh3ZX6hY/s320/IMG_0219.JPG" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Find a live chicken. Not so easy in a city that is mostly vegetarian.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TITwel_b7dI/AAAAAAAAAXA/vCO1v93P6Us/s1600/IMG_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TITwel_b7dI/AAAAAAAAAXA/vCO1v93P6Us/s320/IMG_0234.JPG" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Find Gandhi's 3 friends. This is located on the famous Gandhi ashram (not the one we're staying on, but another). We added a couple of our own as well...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">An Indian Jewish community?: Believe it or not, we went to synagogue this week. Wednesday marked the 76<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the synagogue here in Ahmedabad. The bustling Jewish community here in the state of Gujarat boasts a staggering 125 members. So, needless to say, this community and building really is a testament to their faith and dedication. The entire experience was surreal. Indian people, praying in Hebrew and doing the HavaNegilah, with names like “Elijah Jacobson”. The community was really excited to have us, and are looking forward to have us as a part of their high holiday services (which are next week and the week after – Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur). I think the feelings are mutual, as many of us are just as interested in seeing how this community celebrates these holidays.</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TITywMFMT-I/AAAAAAAAAXM/OpepGHDDOQs/s1600/IMG_4017%5B7%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/TITywMFMT-I/AAAAAAAAAXM/OpepGHDDOQs/s320/IMG_4017%5B7%5D" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A processional around the synagogue with their Torah. What a sight</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Holidays…Indian style: So, I would have to guesstimate that about every other week in India there is a holiday. Since I’ve been here, there have been 2. Please forgive me if I get some of the details wrong in describing them, but I’ll give it my best try</span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">o</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Raksha Bandan: This is the brother-sister holiday, where sisters tie a “rahki”, usually a red string, around their brothers as a sign of protection and loyalty to each other. Celebrated the day of our arrival last Tuesday, each of the men in our group was tied by Sunitaji, the AJWS in-country representative, and continue to wear the red rahki around our wrists. And we really have been taken under Sunitaji’s wing, more like a mother than a sister. She has been an amazing guide to the city and life here in India.</span></div><div class="ListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">o</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Janama Ashtami: Thursday was the Lord Krishna’s birthday (one of the Hindu gods). Throughout the day (and during the middle of one of our sessions here on the ashram), people in cars and floats go down the street with music and drums to celebrate the birth of Krishna. This goes on until midnight (the exact time of his birth) where everyone gathers in the middle of the city, at which point there is a big celebration in the streets. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go to the celebration, but we were able to see fireworks from our ashram.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And thus was my last week here in India. I’m going to start a Word/Phrase of the Week, where I’d like to teach you all a little something from my life here in India. This week, it will be: <i>bahut sundar</i>: very beautiful<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.do" name="_GoBack"></a>. I’m going to tell you, this one has come in handy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Have a great week you all!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Andrew </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-17879401371174759662010-08-30T06:18:00.000-07:002010-08-30T06:45:11.063-07:00New Thoughts, New Masala!<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><style>
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">I want to set a few things straight first. Yes, cows do roam the streets at will. Yes, you do call them chaiwallas (the men who make/bring chai) and drink it at least 3 times a day. Yes, poverty is very apparent and children will often come up to you asking for money or food. Shoes are taken off before you enter a house. My hands are my main and only utensil. And yes, there are probably about 20 spices that go into every single dish. But then again, it wouldn’t be India any other way. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">You can correctly assume that I’ve arrived in India safe and in one piece. The program so far has been fantastic, and the fellow “fellows” have made this a great learning experience: a pluralistic community of people from many different backgrounds both religious and not. Ranging from orthodox to agnostic, business majors to artists, it is a great group of young adults who are really interested in issues of development and social justice. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">We are living on Kochrab Ashram, the first ashram that Gandhi started in India. An ashram is a community for spiritual and personal growth. Our accommodations, I’m sure you all want to know about, are very…spartan. Yes, squat toilets, bucket showers, and no internet. It’s a great escape to actually be disconnected to the world and finally reconnected to yourself and your immediate community. And in case you were wondering, I have successfully used a squat toilet.…not that bad. The entire ashram is also vegetarian. So that means no meat or eggs. In fact, the entire state of Gujarat for the most part is entirely vegetarian...and dry (alcohol-wise). I do have to say, the food has been fantastic. I'm definitely not starving over here. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THusCpI8zHI/AAAAAAAAAVc/bi4Czh5LZ40/s1600/IMG_3927%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THusCpI8zHI/AAAAAAAAAVc/bi4Czh5LZ40/s320/IMG_3927%5B1%5D" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kochrab Ashram.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THusM3gkDCI/AAAAAAAAAVk/3q3kA5OYndA/s1600/IMG_3970%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THusM3gkDCI/AAAAAAAAAVk/3q3kA5OYndA/s320/IMG_3970%5B1%5D" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our bathroom facilities. Toilet on the Left, and shower on the right (complete with bucket).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">The ashram is located in Ahmedabad, the largest city in the state of Gujarat. Unfortunately, we haven’t had too much of a chance to explore the city of Ahmedabad given our schedule. However, I can tell you the temperature has been about a steady 85 degrees with probably 85% humidity. Which means that I constantly have a layer of sweat and dirt covering my body 24 hours a day. It is something I’m trying to get used to, but is really frustrating when you never get a reprieve (read down to the movie part and you’ll understand how fantastic that was). Also, many of your ideas or stereotypes about India are true to a degree. Extreme poverty is a blatant occurrence, with children coming to you in rags asking for money. Yes, cows do roam the streets at will and cars swerve /stop/avoid them to the best of their abilities. Traffic is terrible, and I am truly amazed by the ability of rickshaws and motorcycles to dodge between large trucks, other cars, cows, people, and the occasional elephant and camel. But at the end of the day, all these make India a much more dynamic and interesting place.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THur1syMuVI/AAAAAAAAAVU/VB6W_I3hIZU/s1600/IMG_3908%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THur1syMuVI/AAAAAAAAAVU/VB6W_I3hIZU/s320/IMG_3908%5B1%5D" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty self explanatory</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THuriyYl_2I/AAAAAAAAAVE/TNtERbrkUJw/s1600/IMG_3902%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THuriyYl_2I/AAAAAAAAAVE/TNtERbrkUJw/s320/IMG_3902%5B1%5D" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a little rickshaw race. Greeting some of our fellows during our ride.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">This past week, most of our programming centered around Judaism. I’ve never really engaged with Judaism in the way that I have this week. India is a country filled with religions and religious complexities (Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddism, Jainism, Judiasm, etc), and it is a really exciting backdrop to think and discuss about issues of Judaism, social justice, and faith. We had our first Shabbat together this past Friday night/Saturday, and held services together in the ashram. It was almost…magical…in having everyone come together, each with this common thread, celebrating the Sabbath. We celebrated in a way that made everyone able to participate no matter their religious background.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">A highlight. We went to FabIndia: THE place to go to buy your typical Indian clothing. For men, that means kurtas (or longer shirts with a distinct collar), and for women that means either a sari or salway kameez. We spent hours there, and I did buy myself a few Indian clothes. Before we went however, we had a quick fashion show using some borrowed clothing from Sunitaji (the in-country representative from AJWS, a wonderful woman that is helping us navigate our time here in India).</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THuruHk55dI/AAAAAAAAAVM/mIqZZVj92GE/s1600/IMG_3891%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THuruHk55dI/AAAAAAAAAVM/mIqZZVj92GE/s320/IMG_3891%5B1%5D" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group of us fellows. Don't we look dashing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"> We also went to our first Bollywood movie the other day (bollywood is the Indian film industry), a terrible film called “Hello Darling” about a chauvinistic male boss in a Mumbai office. But I have to say that it was amazing to sit in these theaters…about the level of an Arclight in Hollywood with plush, reclining seats, <b>AC (</b>now you know why this was so fantastic)<b>,</b> and caramel popcorn. I have never so much appreciated AC as I did this past Saturday night. Although the movie was completely in Hindi, we were able to follow the plot. And every now and then they would throw in an English sentence that would help keep things in context (although it would mostly be them swearing).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"> And so here I am. Learning and living in India. We start language classes this week, so I’ll make sure to let you know when I’m fluent in Hindi. Hopefully the weather will start to cool down soon….</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">(and if you’re interested in learning more about my flight here, keep reading)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THusM3gkDCI/AAAAAAAAAVk/3q3kA5OYndA/s1600/IMG_3970%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THurOJ5UCsI/AAAAAAAAAU0/JPDFAB-oa40/s1600/IMG_3863%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/THurOJ5UCsI/AAAAAAAAAU0/JPDFAB-oa40/s320/IMG_3863%5B1%5D" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oxford Street in London.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">The trip here was fairly uneventful: 20 hours on a plane, 7 hours in an airport, 6 hours in London, and 5 hours of sleep. During our 10 hour layover in London, my flight-mate (Katie) and I decided to trek into London. We arrived at Paddington Station (on the Central London express), explored Oxford Street and the Marble Arch. (Laurie, things are looking good for you here.) After our journey and a final stop at Starbucks, we went back to Heathrow and found some of our new fellows. A burger, shot of jack, and beer later (my last of all these for while…), and we made our way to Mumbai. As soon as we stepped off the airplane, a layer of sweat appeared over my entire body. And it has yet to leave. To be completely honest, I have sweated constantly over the past 5 days. The humidity does not help. But, another 4 hour layover and 1 hour flight and we made it to Ahmedabad. We finally made it! An exhausted group of 11 Americans ready for the experience of their life. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-30173296867017539682010-08-19T17:21:00.000-07:002010-08-19T17:21:14.024-07:00Well here I go again...For those of you who have been here before, thanks for stopping by. For those of you who haven't, welcome. Below you will find a detailed account of my study abroad experience in Jordan, so if you have some spare time it's a pretty interesting read (if I do say so myself).<br />
<br />
But to come: 11 months in India. Yes, I leave on Sunday for the experience of a lifetime. By way of Los Angeles, London, and Mumbai, I will land in Ahmedabad on Tuesday to begin the AJWS World Partner's Fellowship. An eleven month, hands-on exposure to development and social justice, I hope to come away with a better understanding of what these terms mean and how I can help impact them. And maybe some good recipe ideas.....<br />
<br />
Please, share your thoughts and opinions. But more importantly, keep in touch! Just because I'm on another continent does NOT mean that our relationship ends.<br />
<br />
See you next year!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-35559870483567533822009-05-06T03:35:00.000-07:002009-05-06T10:55:19.752-07:00One Fish, Two Fish...<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">The colors were unreal. Reds, blues, greens, pinks, oranges. And I'm not just talking about my last Acid trip (just kidding mom!). Nope, that was just my last trip down to Aqaba scuba diving in the Coral Reefs of the Red Sea. Yep, that was my weekend. I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous about it. But it was definitely worth it.</p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">Well, our weekend that was supposed to start at 6 o'clock am on Friday morning didn't really get rolling until Noon, at which time we began our way down to Petra. Me, two friends of mine, and a friend's brother that was visiting Jordan for a few days. We finally make it down to Petra around 4:00pm and..at last...begin what we came for. <br /></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">It was great.<span style=""> </span>This time we were the only four people on the trail.<span style=""> </span>Well, not the only four.<span style=""> </span>There was a Bedouin guy that was walking about 40 feet ahead of us.<span style=""> </span>Good thing to, because the trail we were walking barely existed and had he not been there we would have for sure gotten lost.<span style=""> </span>We went through <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>, saw the sites.<span style=""> </span>We finally got to the Treasury just as it was getting dark, and made the final trek to the entrance in pitch black.</p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">We then made our way down to Aqaba, where we grabbed some grub and slept on a hotel’s roof.<span style=""> </span>Yep, slept on a roof.<span style=""> </span>It was pretty awesome, the view of the city, the Red Sea, and Eilat, Israel on the other side.<span style=""> </span>That was until 6 o’clock in the morning when a bird made it his duty to croak like he was dying until we were all awake.<span style=""> </span>But overall, a great (cheap) night’s sleep.</p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">Then, we went to the dive shop.<span style=""> </span>Not that I was scared, because that definitely wasn’t the case.<span style=""> </span>I was just nervous.<span style=""> </span>Who knew what could happen.<span style=""> </span>I finally decided to do it.<span style=""> </span>To go ahead, risk my life against the raging forces of nature.<span style=""> </span>We got on the boat and went out to the water.<span style=""> </span>From there, people started to go under.<span style=""> </span>I thought we were going to get some kind of orientation, maybe a lesson or two.<span style=""> </span>Not so much.</p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">It was finally my turn.<span style=""> </span>I put on my wetsuit, got on my flippers, and strapped on my tank.<span style=""> </span>Taking that first step off the boat and into the ocean is like walking the plank (with 20 pounds of oxygen strapped to your back).<span style=""> </span>The dive instructor swam up to me and we both began to swim away from the boat.<span style=""> </span>About 30 feet away, we stopped.<span style=""> </span>He told me to prepare myself.<span style=""> </span>We went through some quick breathing exercises and he told me the signals: an OK sign for…OK, and a shaking of your hand for…Get me out of here.<span style=""> </span>He slowly let the air out of my vest (which was keeping me buoyant) and we began to descend.<span style=""> </span>I struggled at first.<span style=""> </span>You have to breathe in and out through your mouth and equalize the pressure from your ears by holding your nose and breathing (like on a plane).<span style=""> </span>But once I got over this struggle, it was gorgeous.<span style=""> </span>The fish and coral and ocean life was out of this world (actually, it is in this world…just a world we never see).<span style=""> </span>However, the reef we went to, King Abdullah Reef, was located right off a public beach, which meant that I also saw Amstel Draft cans and plastic bags.<span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">Well, 20 minutes later, I was out of the water, alive in one piece.<span style=""> </span>I am so glad that I did it.<span style=""> </span>Although, I didn’t really get the equalizing pressure thing right because I didn’t hold my nose all the way.<span style=""> </span>So my ears were killing from the pressure and when I took off my face mask back on the boat, my face was covered in snot.<span style=""> </span>A little disgusting, but I think well worth the price.<span style=""> </span>We spent the rest of the day on the boat, and headed back home that night.</p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">A great weekend was capped off by the host-family dinner that was held this past Monday evening.<span style=""> </span>All the families that have host students were invited to a dinner at a top-end restaurant in the city.<span style=""> </span>Turns out, my entire extended host family is in on this whole hosting students thing.<span style=""> And the invitation only inviting 2 members of each family translated into Jordanian terms means bring as many people as possible. </span><xml><w:worddocument><w:punctuationkerning><w:validateagainstschemas><w:compatibility><w:breakwrappedtables><w:snaptogridincell><w:wraptextwithpunct><w:useasianbreakrules> </w:useasianbreakrules> </w:wraptextwithpunct><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]-->They were all there, taking up about 4 tables of around 15 people each.<span style=""> </span>We had the cousins, and the second cousins, and the aunts and uncles.<span style=""> </span>Everyone.<span style=""> </span>Our family hosts about 8 students in our program.<span style=""> </span>Who woulda thought.<span style=""> </span> <o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--></w:snaptogridincell></w:breakwrappedtables></w:compatibility></w:validateagainstschemas></w:punctuationkerning></w:worddocument></xml></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">But the best part of the dinner was the entertainment.<span style=""> </span>A group of us had been practicing the Dubkah, a traditional Arabic dance, for this ceremony we hold for our program next week.<span style=""> </span>Well, we did it at the dinner, only our second time running through the whole thing.<span style=""> </span>And it was a hit.<span style=""> </span>Everyone loved it.<span style=""> </span>And my host mom was so proud of my host brother and I being in the dance.<span style=""> </span>It was really great!<span style=""> </span>(there might be some video footage, but I don’t have my hands on it yet).<span style=""> </span>Lots of fun!</p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;"></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;"></p><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >Well, I might as well get started on my ten page paper due next week. But, when you have the options of scuba diving and dancing, the decision is so hard!</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SgHJh19YZmI/AAAAAAAAALg/QgD2jnfLBPk/s1600-h/Petra,+Aqaba,+Family+Dinner+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SgHJh19YZmI/AAAAAAAAALg/QgD2jnfLBPk/s320/Petra,+Aqaba,+Family+Dinner+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332765017040774754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Our Bedouin "guide" looking of into the distance at Petra.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SgHJiKKS3hI/AAAAAAAAALo/zOax3rutCII/s1600-h/Petra,+Aqaba,+Family+Dinner+028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SgHJiKKS3hI/AAAAAAAAALo/zOax3rutCII/s320/Petra,+Aqaba,+Family+Dinner+028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332765022463647250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Sunset at Petra.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SgHJiX3bMZI/AAAAAAAAALw/17zcKDsjRzE/s1600-h/Petra,+Aqaba,+Family+Dinner+058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SgHJiX3bMZI/AAAAAAAAALw/17zcKDsjRzE/s320/Petra,+Aqaba,+Family+Dinner+058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332765026142597522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">One of the guys in our gruop getting ready to dive (on the right).</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SgHJij9gMcI/AAAAAAAAAL4/TFzEblVcr9k/s1600-h/Petra,+Aqaba,+Family+Dinner+085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SgHJij9gMcI/AAAAAAAAAL4/TFzEblVcr9k/s320/Petra,+Aqaba,+Family+Dinner+085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332765029389316546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Doin the Dabkah. We're wearing dishdashis, traditional Arabic robes.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SgHJjOeAGYI/AAAAAAAAAMA/bM96t-2xblY/s1600-h/Petra,+Aqaba,+Family+Dinner+094.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SgHJjOeAGYI/AAAAAAAAAMA/bM96t-2xblY/s320/Petra,+Aqaba,+Family+Dinner+094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332765040799914370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Just part of the family. We had a few more tables like this.</span><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-19870501860247347402009-04-24T09:26:00.000-07:002009-05-03T12:04:46.469-07:00took a little trip...<span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >So, it's taken me about 6 or 7 days to recover, although my stomach wouldn't say that it's back to normal (i think a little bit of pharaoh's revenge). But on the whole, I'd have to say that my trip to Egypt last week was amazing. 9 days in a country that has really scene the birth of our civilization and culture. It was surreal: the pyramids, the temples, the Nile, the Souqs. Granted, I may be ruin-ed out for a little bit, but it was worth it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >I won't bore you with all the details, but I'll give you an overview of the highlights:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >Cairo - the largest and most populated city in Africa, this city is bustling with life at all hours of the day. With a population of 16 million people, it's huge! We stayed right by the downtown area (Talat Harb), which is a street lined on both sides by clothing stores. Egyptians think that the best marketing strategy is to stick as many mannequins as possible in the windows. These weren't just normal mannequins, but were out of control and had the oddest expressions. It was ridiculous, but really entertaining at the same time. Traffic sucks, the city is dirty, and there are people everywhere. But it was awesome, especially in contrast to Amman.</span><br /><br /><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: lucida grande;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: lucida grande;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: lucida grande;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Giza</st1:place></st1:city>: Yep, took a stroll around the Pyramids of Giza. 2 Wonders of the World down. <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Giza</st1:place></st1:city> is really incredible, really touristy though. The sphinx is spectacular as well. It's so fascinating to see these structures which were built over 4000 years ago still standing. Yes, it's a complete tourist trap, as well. Fortunately, we didn't fall into any...many...of the traps set for tourists because of our <i>fluent</i> arabic. Hahaha...i make myself laugh. But, we had gotten a driver through our hostel to take us to the pyramids, who then proceeded to take us to a bunch of tourist-trap places to buy rugs, or perfumes, or papyrus scrolls.<span style=""> </span>It seemed like a big scheme, so we were fairly successful at not giving in.</p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Western Desert: Probably my favorite part of the trip. We took at 2 day/1 night camping trip out to the Western Desert and saw the Black Desert and White Desert. The views were stunning, surreal, (insert adjective here). We slept out underneath the stars. Gorgeous. Probably the best part was the Italian couple that was on our tour with us. They spoke little English, but provided for some ridiculously awkward moments.<br /></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" face="lucida grande" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" face="lucida grande" class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on">Luxor</st1:city>:<span style=""> </span>Located in the south of <st1:country-region st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> (or <st1:place st="on">Upper Egypt</st1:place>), a lot of the ruins are located here.<span style=""> </span>That’s after the 12-hour train ride to get there of course.<span style=""> </span><span style="">Luxor is the Ancient city of Thebes and used to be the capital of Egypt. Hence why there are so many ruins there: The Valley of the Kings, The Valley of the Queens, Queen Hatshetput's Temple, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple. The Valley of the Kings is incredible because the tombs still have the original paint in them (unfortunately we weren't allowed to take pictures).</span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" face="lucida grande" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""></span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" face="lucida grande" class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Aswan: A really relaxing town further south ofLuxor. Saw the Aswan Dam (a huge bone of contention during the Cold War), the Phillae Temple (a temple that had been flooded by the dam and then relocated to another site). Sunset on the Nile.</span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" face="lucida grande" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""></span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Alexandria: A Mediterranean coast town. We wanted to go swimming but the weather was too cold. Still, a relaxing day towards the end of our trip hanging out by the water.</span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""></span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Culture: You'd think all of the Middle East would be the same. But I've found out that this stereotype is in no way true. Egyptian culture, at least towards tourists, is completely different than Jordan. Not to say that we didn't have a great time, but it was different. Whereas in Jordan you'll get a "Welcome to Jordan" or "Let me help you", in Egypt you're more likely to get hasseled than anything. Despite the fact that then language is DIFFERENT in Egypt (which completely discourages me from ever thinking I'll learn the language), we were able to pick up a little of the colloquial and get by. But even so, shopowners will yell at you from across the street to come into their stores, only to get mad at you for not buying anything when you never intended to in the first place. And baksheesh, or tips, is a huge part of the way people operate. They'll ask for it after any "service" they provide, even for something as small as giving directions. Egyptians also have a fascination with foreign women. The 4 girls that I was with got at least a couple undying love confessions and marriage proposals while we were there. And walking down the street, I got a couple "Cassanova" or "4 wives...lucky man" or my favorite "Spicy". It takes a little getting used to.</span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""></span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">So at the end of the day, I am so glad to be back in Jordan. I've realized what a great place it is to study here. But..only a month left. It's scary to think how quickly this time has gone by. I think it might be time to actually...study? Although, who said studying was part of a study abroad experience....</span><br /></span></p> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHrlNT4C9I/AAAAAAAAAKY/kE4PlXtP95w/s1600-h/Egypt+053+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHrlNT4C9I/AAAAAAAAAKY/kE4PlXtP95w/s320/Egypt+053+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328298858616720338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >You know, the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx...</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrHNJO_MKeyygVjXR3qlmKTZcfBWSp_bpTk6NsA3pfVoxtHc-9EUGqrXTGFiIZKZYv9dBweqBzR04oPjYjlPx2MVQeapchbfMSetw_zpkN57lcNtElf06ApemGcOr1T39R4Yu-LrUA9pC/s1600-h/Egypt+250+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrHNJO_MKeyygVjXR3qlmKTZcfBWSp_bpTk6NsA3pfVoxtHc-9EUGqrXTGFiIZKZYv9dBweqBzR04oPjYjlPx2MVQeapchbfMSetw_zpkN57lcNtElf06ApemGcOr1T39R4Yu-LrUA9pC/s320/Egypt+250+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328298868269356866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >The White Desert. Can you guess why this one is called The Chick?</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHrlu4h1HI/AAAAAAAAAKo/vIVnqGq6V7I/s1600-h/Egypt+234+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHrlu4h1HI/AAAAAAAAAKo/vIVnqGq6V7I/s320/Egypt+234+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328298867628823666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >Sunrise over the White Desert. Stunning.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHrlSFPFUI/AAAAAAAAAKg/-JwifDHwIlI/s1600-h/Egypt+175+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHrlSFPFUI/AAAAAAAAAKg/-JwifDHwIlI/s320/Egypt+175+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328298859897492802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >The Black Desert.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHrl8El3qI/AAAAAAAAAK4/dWOwGvHnuXg/s1600-h/Egypt+369+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHrl8El3qI/AAAAAAAAAK4/dWOwGvHnuXg/s320/Egypt+369+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328298871169080994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >Luxor Temple.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHv5K-fwHI/AAAAAAAAALA/0MM3AIsqWeE/s1600-h/Egypt+404+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHv5K-fwHI/AAAAAAAAALA/0MM3AIsqWeE/s320/Egypt+404+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328303599634071666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >Luxor's "motto". Made me laugh.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHv5QJPPlI/AAAAAAAAALI/edxV_8t9UG8/s1600-h/Egypt+476+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHv5QJPPlI/AAAAAAAAALI/edxV_8t9UG8/s320/Egypt+476+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328303601021304402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >The carvings at the Phillae Temple. Still in great condition.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrsniN7ER7fMmOBsBhUInDkWRQ-C6nDphhZVtO8IOOFXfbDsv6szw63zNmTBlu3c5NI7XYQvGXHVhEW2oCNjPbK8wSaC5M7156B95Fh_9L6r6dSHLNyqNJNxdTvwJ7smprAP5FHIhreuO/s1600-h/Egypt+509+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrsniN7ER7fMmOBsBhUInDkWRQ-C6nDphhZVtO8IOOFXfbDsv6szw63zNmTBlu3c5NI7XYQvGXHVhEW2oCNjPbK8wSaC5M7156B95Fh_9L6r6dSHLNyqNJNxdTvwJ7smprAP5FHIhreuO/s320/Egypt+509+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328303605327760770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >Sunset over the Nile in Aswan.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHv51CEd9I/AAAAAAAAALY/b60zC3D1lyE/s1600-h/Egypt+577+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SfHv51CEd9I/AAAAAAAAALY/b60zC3D1lyE/s320/Egypt+577+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328303610923349970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" >We went to this Sufi Dance Festival. Sufiism is a mystical sect of Islam that has its own traditions and customs. The music and dancing was really interesting. The guy in the middle here had been twirling for about 25 minutes when I took this picture...gotta give him props!</span><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-55557932356906607332009-04-08T02:32:00.000-07:002009-04-18T12:03:28.684-07:001 down, 6 to goS<span style="font-family:lucida grande;">eeing one of the wonders of the world is....pretty awesome. Yeah, so I hit one of those up this past weekend. Recently chosen as one of the newest wonders of the world, Petra is an gorgeous display of ancient craftmanship and artistry dating thousands of years old. It is a spectacular site that shows both the history and the culture of the ancient Nabataeans. So it was pretty cool. And the 7 hour hike to get there didn't hurt much either. </span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />Well, backing up a bit, I went on a trip with my program do</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">wn t</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">o the south of Jordan to visit Petra this past weekend. We made a stop at Karak Castle, a 2000 year old</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> castle that is one of the largest and best Crusader castles in the region. So, basically, lots of history, lots of informatio</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">n. Some pretty cool photos.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Then we headed on down to Petra. We made camp at the only Bedouin camp inside Petra. Sat by the camp fire, drank some tea, climbed some rocks, slept in some tents...all the usual. The next morning is when all the fun stuff began. Waking up at 6 am, we began our hike an hour later. The sun began beating down our backs at about 7:30am. </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">We took a back route through Petra, so not the normal route through the Siq and to the Treasury (the Treasury is the most famous part of Petra). We saw the Monestary, so c</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">a</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">lled because a cross was found carved into the facade. It's actually a tomb for some important person.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> Most of the monuments in Petra are carved into the sandstone and mainly tombs, funerary halls, temples, etc. A little mo</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">rbid, but on the whole some pretty stunning sights. </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /><br />We ended up at the Treasury (see picture below). It's out of this world. The architecture and artistry is stunning. This building isn't actually a treasury, but is believed to be either a tomb or a temple. It was a great end to a really fantastic hike.</span> <span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Well, the walk ended around 4 (with an hour break in the middle), but a nice little jaunt through the sandstone. But Petra is gorgeous and deserves a second visit....in shah allah I'll be able to go back. </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Actually headed out to Egypt in less than 24 hours for Spring Break! 9 days vi</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">siting some</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> of t</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">he most amazing sites on Earth...gotta love it. Oh, and I'll</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> be able to knock off another Wonder of the World</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> too w</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">hile I'm at it. </span><br /></div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SeofbrO_8KI/AAAAAAAAAJU/_m0j5QA7k08/s1600-h/Petra%21+004+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SeofbrO_8KI/AAAAAAAAAJU/_m0j5QA7k08/s320/Petra%21+004+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326104069641597090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Karak Temple, one of the best preserved Crusador forts in the world...i think.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SeofcLhd0lI/AAAAAAAAAJk/3usRbowqsW0/s1600-h/Petra%21+099+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SeofcLhd0lI/AAAAAAAAAJk/3usRbowqsW0/s320/Petra%21+099+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326104078308987474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The blazing sun. Gotta love it.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4Wpk7dVmaLCWJMr0B1mxMEeY_kcOH-xeAuA6Jub7Vv6Ig6W71cLgJsNcAso-W968q-IZNFZhLhIefrWkiwD__wAskCwmE0Cec5xUQqS2uP06GoQSbzWhUOQEQlKLckL7pgE0BfyYncNr/s1600-h/Petra!+127+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4Wpk7dVmaLCWJMr0B1mxMEeY_kcOH-xeAuA6Jub7Vv6Ig6W71cLgJsNcAso-W968q-IZNFZhLhIefrWkiwD__wAskCwmE0Cec5xUQqS2uP06GoQSbzWhUOQEQlKLckL7pgE0BfyYncNr/s320/Petra!+127+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326104079874456978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The walk to the sites. Some stunning views.</span><br /></div><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> </span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322285130118562322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SdyOII4PghI/AAAAAAAAAIs/CeHOTgy4oDU/s320/Petra%21+172+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">A picture of the Monestary. Almost as cool as the Treasury,<br /></span></p><p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/Seofc7a4epI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/bj5nzN3_2hw/s1600-h/Petra%21+215+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/Seofc7a4epI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/bj5nzN3_2hw/s320/Petra%21+215+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326104091166276242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">and finally...the Treasury! Probably the most famous part of Petra. It's stunning...you really do have to see it. </span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-32172517978630496732009-04-01T02:49:00.000-07:002009-04-01T03:50:33.598-07:00effin cool!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>AR-SA</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> 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mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;">And off we go.<span style=""> </span>So, I never really thought it would happen.<span style=""> </span>That’s until my friend began the conversation: world’s tallest building, rotating floors, indoor ski resort.<span style=""> </span>How could I resist?<span style=""> </span>Well, if you’re wondering what I’m talking about, then shame on you.<span style=""> </span>That would be the one and only: DUBAI!<span style=""> </span>And Yes, I went there this past weekend!<span style=""> </span>Talk about one of the most ridiculous experiences I have ever had.<span style=""> </span>Dubai is a city seeking to become the “-est” of the world: biggest, tallest, richest…anything you’d like.<span style=""> </span>And frankly, I think they’re doing a damn good job of it too.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;">So we arrived late Wednesday night in Dubai after a 3 hour flight on Qatar Airways, probably the nicest airlines I’ve been on. <span style=""> </span>Fun fact, the only pets allowed on board are seeing eye dogs and Falcons.<span style=""> </span>Yes, Falcons!<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately, we didn’t see any Falcons on board why we were flying.<span style=""> </span>But, arrival in Dubai, get to our 4 Star Hotel (the cheapest place we were able to find), and tried to get out to see the town.<span style=""> </span>Well, unbeknownst to us, Dubai night life closes around 2/3 am.<span style=""> </span>It was about 2:30am, and in our attempts to find something to do we landed right in the middle of the Dubai red light district.<span style=""> </span>I have absolutely no doubt that this was the red light district….believe you me, absolutely none.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;">Well, the next day, we decided to take a trek of “old Dubai,” or the parts of the city that actually date back to before the newest wave of “-est” (which really only goes back to about 20 years ago).<span style=""> </span>We took a look at the Dubai Museum, walked along the Old Souq, Gold Souq, Spice Souq, and Textile Souq.<span style=""> </span>Took an abra across the Dubai Creek.<span style=""> </span>All very touristy stuff.<span style=""> </span>The greatest part was that our attempts to speak Arabic were hindered by the fact that NO one in Dubai actually speaks Arabic.<span style=""> </span>There are so few native “Emiratians,” with most people hailing from India, Pakistan, the Phillipines, or Africa.<span style=""> </span>And European tourists as well.<span style=""> </span>In fact, we actually got strange looks when we tried to speak to people in Arabic.<span style=""> </span>At night, went to this great Pakistani restaurant, ate some Mater Paneer (no worries Rahul, you can tell Harsha that her’s is the best)!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;">The next day was time for New Dubai.<span style=""> </span>After joining forces with our Australian friend (a guy we met at the hotel), we headed over to the public beach on the Persian Gulf right next to the Burj Al-Arab, the world’s only 7 star hotel (why 7 stars? Because the owner felt like it deserved 7 stars and so he gave it 7 stars).<span style=""> </span>Seeing as it costs $100 to even visit the hotel, we decided that views from the beach were good enough.<span style=""> </span>After that, we grabbed a taxi and headed out to the Camel Race Track (awesome, I know!!).<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately, these plans were thwarted by the fact that there were no races that day…<span style=""> </span>So instead, we went on over to the Atlantis Palm Hotel, located on a man-made island in the shape of a Palm Tree.<span style=""> </span>Well…a pretty nice hotel I’d say.<span style=""> </span>Legend has it that the hotel has underwater rooms…but I’m not sure.<span style=""> </span>We then proceeded over to the Mall of the Emirates, the largest mall outside of North American.<span style=""> </span>This mall is complete with 3 Starbucks, a 500-seat community theater, and yes, an indoor Ski Resort…in the middle of the DESERT!.<span style=""> </span>We didn’t plan our time well or else we would have gone skiing,but it was pretty ridiculous.<span style=""> </span>The on over to the Burj Dubai, the world’s largest building.<span style=""> </span>It currently stands 100m taller than the previous tallest building in the world and still has 200m to go.<span style=""> </span>The downtown area is still under construction and at night you can see the lights of all the cranes popping off the buildings.<span style=""> </span>Another fun fact, Dubai has 25% of the world’s tall cranes.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;">Well, instead of spending more money on a hotel that night, we decided that it’d be a great decision to head to the airport after our night out and get an early morning flight.<span style=""> </span>So, 4am we show up at the airport for our 6am flight.<span style=""> </span>However, instead of going straight back to Amman, we planned a 6 hour layover in Doha, Qatar.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></p> <p face="lucida grande" class="MsoNormal">Doha is a really interesting city.<span style=""> </span>Still under construction, the city center seems more like a ghost town than a commercial complex.<span style=""> </span>I think that Doha is going for a “Dubai’s little sister” reputation.<span style=""> </span>We saw the Museum of Islamic Arts, walked around one of the old Souqs, ate some more Pakistani food for breakfast, hitch-hiked with an Irish guy down to the City Center (downtown area).<span style=""> </span>You know, all in a day’s work.</p><p face="lucida grande" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p face="lucida grande" class="MsoNormal">Then back to the airport and back to Amman.<span style=""> </span>Overall, an incredible experience.<span style=""> </span>Yes, Dubai is extremely opulent and offers some of the most outrageous things you could ever ask for.<span style=""> </span>But then again, it’s Dubai!<span style=""> </span>Could you ask for anything less?<span style=""> </span></p><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SdM-POmh8PI/AAAAAAAAAH8/4puDFBjuO2A/s1600-h/DUBAI%21%21+and+ibtisam+053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SdM-POmh8PI/AAAAAAAAAH8/4puDFBjuO2A/s320/DUBAI%21%21+and+ibtisam+053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319664016193351922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">One of the shops at the Gold Souq. Imagine blocks and blocks filled with 22kt gold like this.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SdM-PG_MCyI/AAAAAAAAAIE/yj9JQ7BTlr0/s1600-h/DUBAI%21%21+and+ibtisam+060+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SdM-PG_MCyI/AAAAAAAAAIE/yj9JQ7BTlr0/s320/DUBAI%21%21+and+ibtisam+060+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319664014149290786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">My group with the Dubai skyline in the background. The tall building all the way to the right is the Burj Dubai (world's tallest building). A stunning skyline if I do say so myself.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SdM-PhkPlPI/AAAAAAAAAIM/i_80vYxIgu0/s1600-h/DUBAI%21%21+and+ibtisam+102+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SdM-PhkPlPI/AAAAAAAAAIM/i_80vYxIgu0/s320/DUBAI%21%21+and+ibtisam+102+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319664021284033778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Burj Al-Arab, world's only 7 star hotel. Complete with helicopter landing pad (all the way on the top left).</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SdM-PkqYclI/AAAAAAAAAIU/u43KtP7i97Y/s1600-h/DUBAI%21%21+and+ibtisam+141+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SdM-PkqYclI/AAAAAAAAAIU/u43KtP7i97Y/s320/DUBAI%21%21+and+ibtisam+141+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319664022115086930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Atlantis Palm Hotel out on the Palm Islands. Looks pretty cool at night.</span> <span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Us and Australian friend posing down at the bottom if you can see.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOhYM2kFc7qKYaNNHZ1LFCxseb2NGWzm7jkAyH8wbZ4eefjUhUaj1BOSDgluWGmUzGhhq_zE1d3kecg5CXHVnE6zszGb5JngnaMQN3q-TGsHDS3hhBCHRCqSag5GVFoy1nZYS7fhDg43I/s1600-h/DUBAI!!+and+ibtisam+150+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOhYM2kFc7qKYaNNHZ1LFCxseb2NGWzm7jkAyH8wbZ4eefjUhUaj1BOSDgluWGmUzGhhq_zE1d3kecg5CXHVnE6zszGb5JngnaMQN3q-TGsHDS3hhBCHRCqSag5GVFoy1nZYS7fhDg43I/s320/DUBAI!!+and+ibtisam+150+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319664027117419810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Can someone say Indoor Ski Resort?</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPKvP1_JZwykgHSPyyQMof7130GmLwyiOLrcHFACnYiQ4e_IMGQ3dWLJ6GhuMCu85CEs1275ThUMEo1pLi60Bj1IgFEfa1UuiQd1r3COtUDcH_TcD4-W4tS3Wgkkn1I39mDad8g1zkRun/s1600-h/DUBAI!!+and+ibtisam+251+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPKvP1_JZwykgHSPyyQMof7130GmLwyiOLrcHFACnYiQ4e_IMGQ3dWLJ6GhuMCu85CEs1275ThUMEo1pLi60Bj1IgFEfa1UuiQd1r3COtUDcH_TcD4-W4tS3Wgkkn1I39mDad8g1zkRun/s320/DUBAI!!+and+ibtisam+251+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319665900607997506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Doha City Center. (A Canadian friend we picked up along the way on the left)</span><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-81258051019392688382009-03-24T07:49:00.000-07:002009-03-24T10:29:21.944-07:00going places...<span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Yes, that's me. I am going places. Well, more in the literal sense than anything. This past Thursday a group of us packed our bags and headed down to Aqaba, the resort city on the Red Sea, for the weekend. A four hour bus ride later and we were relaxing like the best of them, strolling the streets surrounded by expats and Saudis. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> All right, so Aqaba may not be the typical Jordanian vacation spot (hence why it is geared almost exclusively toward Americans and Europeans), but it's a great place for us Americans to get away from Amman for a weekend and relax on the beach. Which is exactly what I did the entire weekend. Well, I was only there for a day, but a day spent laying out on the beach staring at the opp</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">osite shore -- depending on the direction you're looking at could either be Egypt or Israel -- is definitely a day well spent. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> Well, a little breakdown of how that trip went. Arrived in Aqaba, grabbed in a room at probably the cheapest hotel in the city (5 dinars per bed or ~$7), grabbed some grub, hu</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">ng out at a cafe. At about 1am, a few of us wanted to walk along the beach before heading back to the hotel. We </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">tried asking directions from a taxi driver, who attempted to rip us off of all our money. Fortunately we we</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">re saved by a local scuba instructor, who took us out to the local beach and treated us to some nargileh (that's hookah for you folks back in the states). Well, 2am rolls around, and most of our group decides to head back to the hotel. My friend and I (along with our scuba instructor), decide to wait it out and try to catch the sunrise on th</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">e beach. In </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">case you were wondering, Aqaba is really not as interesting at 3am in the morning. But, we did get the sunrise over the Red Sea, which was really nice.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> The next morning (well, i guess it technically was morning by this time..</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">.but after 2 hours of sleep I should say), our group split up with most people going off scuba diving in the Red Sea. As much as I wanted to go, the lure of sitting out on the beach and doing absolutely nothing all day wo</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">n out in the end. And ...that's exactly what I did. We went to a private beach (all beaches are private...sucks tha</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">t you have to pay, but it means it's actually clean as opposed to the ones back in California), and I proceeded to get 3rd degree burns on my back. Yes, thanks to horrible application of suntan lotion and a 30 minute nap in the sun, I know have red map on the United States burnt into my back. The beach was beautiful, the Red Sea was awesome to swim in, and the Saudis with whom we hitch-hiked back to our hotel were really nice. O</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">verall, a pretty sweet da</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">y. That night, I headed back to Amman because I had a trip organized through my program the next day. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> The trip was a tour of the major Roman ruins in Jordan. Truly a sp</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">ectacular s</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">et of sights. Its amazing to walk the streets of cities that were built over 2000 years ago and were still intact today. We went first to Um Qais, a set of ruins in the far north of the country, an ancient city overlooking the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights of Israel. It turns out, over 75% of the city is still unearthed, meaning that there is a treasure trove of wealth buried beneath. What struck me the most about this city was the amount of green EVERYWHERE. I'm used to living in Amman, where trees are coveted sites. This place had rolling hills of grass and flowers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> After that, we went to the most coveted ruins in Jordan: Jerash. Thi</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">s city is</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> just as old as Um Qais, but far more extensive and intact. Walking around and seeing the beauty of lore and history, it was hard not to be overwhelmed with the history and age of the city. Granted</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">, I can only take seeing old stone buildings for so long, but it really was fascinating to see the old temples and churches, theaters and roads, that still cling to the past.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> Yes, that was my extensive weekend. I'd love to tell you all about the week, and if anything actually happens, you'll be the first to know. School continues on. Midterms this week. Teachers forgetting to tell us that class is canceled. When in Jordan...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> One new thing: I've begun volunteering at girl's school in Al-Baq</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">a'a Camp, the largest Palestinian Refugee Camp in Jordan... over 150,000 people. Located about 15 minutes ou</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">tside of Amman, this camp holds over 150,000 refugees. I haven't seen anything of the camp, nor been able to really talk with many of the people about their experiences, but from what I've seen from volunteering, it definitely is a struggl</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">e for these people. The school I am at is a government funded school, but they can only offer so many resources. I was able to talk to the school's principal for a few moments, who told us about he</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">r experiences seeing the camp grow from a few tents to a more formalized city...or something like it. I've only been once -- they want us to come and converse with the girls to help practice their English -- but I plan on continuing.</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">It's funny, the hardest question I was asked (both at the camp and in general), "Why are y</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">ou studying</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> Arabic?" I've been asked that a few times now here, and I still draw </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">a blank before I can try to answer. Because I want world peace? Because I want to understan</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">d the culture and history of the Middle East? I guess those answers work, but it doesn't seem like enough</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">. Or maybe it is...<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SckVGF8-SuI/AAAAAAAAAHc/5i9FZFUWmqg/s1600-h/Aqaba-Jerash+022+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SckVGF8-SuI/AAAAAAAAAHc/5i9FZFUWmqg/s320/Aqaba-Jerash+022+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316804029508897506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">The view of Aqaba coming in from the North. Reminded me of the the view of the Bay from Bart coming back from San Fran.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SckVGA3OIMI/AAAAAAAAAHU/iiazRaRTLSk/s1600-h/Aqaba-Jerash+041+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SckVGA3OIMI/AAAAAAAAAHU/iiazRaRTLSk/s320/Aqaba-Jerash+041+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316804028142592194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">Oh Aqaba, how I love thee. How could you not love it when you can sit by this beach all day. The opposite shore: either Egypt or Israel, not sure.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SckVF31VSxI/AAAAAAAAAHM/9tXRszKHDCA/s1600-h/Aqaba-Jerash+064+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SckVF31VSxI/AAAAAAAAAHM/9tXRszKHDCA/s320/Aqaba-Jerash+064+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316804025718754066" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Um Qais. Lots of green...really unnatural for Jordan.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SckVFCCub4I/AAAAAAAAAHE/ITudW-UxN9U/s1600-h/Aqaba-Jerash+101+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SckVFCCub4I/AAAAAAAAAHE/ITudW-UxN9U/s320/Aqaba-Jerash+101+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316804011279413122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">The East Gate of Jerash. Look at that architecture!</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SckVEop6ReI/AAAAAAAAAG8/QNxdfKhJQhQ/s1600-h/Aqaba-Jerash+127+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SckVEop6ReI/AAAAAAAAAG8/QNxdfKhJQhQ/s320/Aqaba-Jerash+127+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316804004464444898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">The ruins of Jerash with the modern city in the background.</span><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-64183585874492850862009-03-17T06:38:00.000-07:002009-03-17T07:05:11.025-07:0092 Camels, 15 4x4s, and Infinite Stars....what a life!<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">A day in the life of… T.E. Lawrence. <span style=""> </span>Yep, that was definitely me this past weekend. <span style=""> </span>The setting for Lawrence of Arabia: Wadi Rum. <span style=""> </span>Desert and mountains and stars and beauty…what more could a guy ask for. <span style=""> </span>(All right, I can think of a couple things, but roll with me here.) <span style=""> </span>Wadi Rum is probably one of the most beautiful places I’ve been too yet.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wadi Rum is actually a valley in the south of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jordan</st1:place></st1:country-region> and is inhabited mainly by local Bedouins and a couple camels.<span style=""> </span>Catered mainly toward tourists though, this site is a huge financial gain for the region. <span style=""> </span>Even so, it really is beautiful.<span style=""> </span>It is very much preserved and offers an exquisite view of nature.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The trip was organized by my program, so 92 of us piled onto 2 buses last Friday and hauled out down South to Wadi Rum. <span style=""> </span>We began with a four hour jeep ride through the valley stopping at various locations to check out the gorgeous rock formations. <span style=""> </span>It was hilarious as our 15 trucks would all stop at some point, we would scramble out, and 92 of us would attempt to scale a sand dune or rock wall. <span style=""> </span>Looking out into the horizon and seeing nothing but desert and mountains (and maybe a electrical tower) was so overwhelming, yet peaceful.. We grabbed sunset on a rock and then proceeded to our final destination for the evening: the Bedouin tents.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ok, so maybe just a tourist destination, but still, we slept in tents with Bedouins (that counts, right?). <span style=""> </span>Ate some great Bedouin food and entertained by a little Bedouin oud (kind of like a guitar) and dancing. <span style=""> </span>A little later on, a few of us ventured out of the compounds of the camp and climbed a huge hill to get a better view of the stars. <span style=""> </span>All in all a great night.<span style=""> </span>A few hours later, I proceeded to wake up at 5 am to climb the same hill to watch the sunrise. <span style=""> </span>I have never felt so cold, but yet so content before.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After a couple more hours of sleep and a refreshing breakfast, we left the camp and were greeted by 92 angry camels.<span style=""> </span>Yes, those camels were ours.<span style=""> </span>92 camels waiting to take us trekking through the Wadi.<span style="">..</span>for 3 hours. <span style=""> </span>Yes, that means riding a camel for 3 hours straight. <span style=""> </span>Not the most relaxing way to travel (I’m still feeling my inner thighs three days later), but definitely an experience to remember.<span style=""> </span>It was an awesome feeling to look back and see a caravan of camels riding through a barren valley.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, all in all, a pretty great weekend.<span style=""> </span>I’m still exhausted, shway under the weather, but much more in tune to the beauty that surrounds me.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Next week, a recount of volunteering at a Palestinian Refugee Camp and more weekend adventures.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Out.</p><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/Sb-s-KW3eyI/AAAAAAAAAFc/ypphqH06gCs/s1600-h/Wadi+Rum+176+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/Sb-s-KW3eyI/AAAAAAAAAFc/ypphqH06gCs/s320/Wadi+Rum+176+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314156269252606754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">CIEE-ers overtaking the mountains of Wadi Rum.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/Sb-s94Vfh9I/AAAAAAAAAFU/-ZCM1thuoW4/s1600-h/Wadi+Rum+180+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/Sb-s94Vfh9I/AAAAAAAAAFU/-ZCM1thuoW4/s320/Wadi+Rum+180+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314156264415004626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">A great view of the valley and mountains. Beautiful...ech?</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/Sb-s9d6gD7I/AAAAAAAAAFM/H3Y9xXjZ_LY/s1600-h/Wadi+Rum+209+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/Sb-s9d6gD7I/AAAAAAAAAFM/H3Y9xXjZ_LY/s320/Wadi+Rum+209+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314156257322471346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Another picture of the Wadi.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/Sb-s9YO2duI/AAAAAAAAAFE/oSwAz_CgTO4/s1600-h/Wadi+Rum+252+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/Sb-s9YO2duI/AAAAAAAAAFE/oSwAz_CgTO4/s320/Wadi+Rum+252+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314156255797212898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">SUNSET!</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/Sb-s9G61mRI/AAAAAAAAAE8/yMVbWHMldcE/s1600-h/Wadi+Rum+287+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/Sb-s9G61mRI/AAAAAAAAAE8/yMVbWHMldcE/s320/Wadi+Rum+287+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314156251149867282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">92 Camels...yep that's right. Can't do that back in the states!</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557731911428138544.post-36447663747907652782009-03-10T14:00:00.000-07:002009-03-11T03:25:22.251-07:00I just wanna dance!<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="Street"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="address"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;">So, I finally make it out of the city! And I think I did myself pretty well.<span style=""> </span>I guess four days in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Beirut</st1:place></st1:city> will do that.<span style=""> </span>Yep, that’s right.<span style=""> </span>I went to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Beirut</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Lebanon</st1:country-region></st1:place> this weekend…and I had a BLAST!!<span style=""> </span>Seriously, take any misconceptions you might have had about this city and throw them completely away.<span style=""> </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Beirut</st1:place></st1:city> is such an interesting intersection of cultures, with strong French influences (they colonized the country until the 1940s) and an equally strong Arab culture.<span style=""> </span>It’s hard not to get lost in this city and never want to leave (and with the booming nightlife you’d never want to sleep).<span style=""> </span>Granted, it does have some visual battle scars from the past 40 years of tension (bullet holes in walls, blown-out buildings, tanks...nothing all the unusual), but that really doesn't play out in how the people act or how the city feels. I really felt like this place was everything in one.<span style=""> </span>People speak English, Arabic, and French (it was great having a friend of mine who spoke French with us).<span style=""> </span>The architecture is a mixture of Puerto Rican plantation, Arab Souq, French colonial, and <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city> beachfront.<span style=""> </span>The weather was perfect (a great respite from the cold and rain in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Amman</st1:place></st1:city>).<span style=""> </span>And the people are great – never a harsh word among them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="lucida grande"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="lucida grande"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="lucida grande">Why was I in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Beirut</st1:place></st1:city> this weekend you might be asking yourself?<span style=""> </span>Well, this past Monday was the Prophet’s birthday. Prophet's birthday = public holiday = no school.<span style=""> You get where I'm going with this?! </span>Since weekends here are Friday and Saturday (not the usual Sat/Sun), we decided to skip school on Sunday and take a long weekend.<span style=""> </span>Three friends and I grabbed a taxi on Thursday after class. Destination: <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Beirut</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span>It actually isn’t as easy as it sounds – a few problems along the way – but we did get there and back all in one piece.. more or less.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="lucida grande"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: lucida grande;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: lucida grande;">To travel to <st1:country-region st="on">Lebanon</st1:country-region>, you need to get through <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>So yes, that means I also went to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region> this weekend.<span style=""> </span>Any typical Jordanian traveling the route from <st1:city st="on">Amman</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region> to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Beirut</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Leban</st1:country-region></st1:place><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">on</st1:country-region></st1:place> would take around 4 hours by car.<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately, I am neither typical nor Jordanian, meaning it wasn’t quite that easy for me.<span style=""> </span>The <st1:country-region st="on">US</st1:country-region> has not normalized relations with <st1:country-region st="on">Syria</st1:country-region>, creating huge obstacles for any American wanting to enter <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>We got to the border expecting a wait, but we weren’t prepared for the 6 and a half hours of boredom that we had trying to get a transit visa through the country.<span style=""> </span>Yep, 6.5 hours.<span style=""> </span>Seeing as we got to the border at about 4pm, we didn’t really get out of there until 10:30pm, the time we had expected to arrive in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Beirut</st1:place></st1:city> (good thing we had bought a huge box of cookies right before the border -- they consoled us during our wait).<span style=""> </span>Our driver, who by now was extremely angry that he had had to wait with us, proceeded to speed close to 200km an hour through <st1:country-region st="on">Syria</st1:country-region> to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Lebanon</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>The Lebanese border was easy.<span style=""> </span>Then an hour later, we were at our hotel.<span style=""> </span>2:30am, exhausted, angry, but really stoked for the next 3 days.<span style=""> </span>That was the general attitude of our group when going to bed.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: lucida grande;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: lucida grande;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: lucida grande;">Three days really isn’t all that much time in a completely new country where everything is new and exciting.<span style=""> </span>We saw the <st1:placename st="on">American</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype> in <st1:city st="on">Beirut</st1:city>, which could probably easily rival <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Berkeley</st1:place></st1:city> in beauty.<span style=""> </span>It's a gorgeous campus, and it sits right on the <st1:place st="on">Mediterranean</st1:place>, meaning all views look either west to the sea or north to the snow-capped mountains.<span style=""> </span>I guess I shouldn’t transfer for my senior year of college, but it is really tempting to want to stay for at least the rest of the semester.<span style=""> </span>We walked along the Corniche (the street lining the ocean), saw <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Hamra street</st1:address></st1:street> (a really popular street with lots of shopping), walked downtown (an area lined with shops and restaurants), went to a club on <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Monot Street</st1:address></st1:street> which played mostly Arab music (AWESOME I know).<span style=""> </span>And that was only Day 1. Well, I guess technically it was already well into Day 2 by then, but that's just semantics. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: lucida grande;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: lucida grande;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: lucida grande;">Our second day was a little calmer.<span style=""> </span>We started it off at a great French bakery, which we proceeded to return to every day after.<span style=""> </span>The best breads and croissant I’ve ever had, with French jams and a real cappuccino.<span style=""> </span>Talk about starting the day right.<span style=""> </span>We saw the Martyr's Square, a tribute to the past Prime Minister who had been assassinated, toured the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">National</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place> (this place has art and history dating back thousands of years), walked part of the Green Zone – the de-militarized zone during the war, ate dinner by the ocean, took a ride on a Ferris Wheel for about 45 minutes.<span style=""> </span>No joke, the ride attendant was crazy and wouldn’t let us get off.<span style=""> </span>We had convinced a friend who was scared of heights to get on the Ferris Wheel, promising to only go around twice before telling the attendant we wanted out.<span style=""> </span>Well, we went around twice and told the guy we were done.<span style=""> </span>He then proceeded to smile at us…and walk away…while we were still on.<span style=""> </span>At the time, not so funny as we were left alone on the Ferris Wheel.<span style=""> </span>Looking back, hilarious that we had been abandoned on this rickety, creaking machine.<span style=""> </span>After that, another exploration of the nightlife.<span style=""> </span>Just a tip, people don’t start going out until…2am.<span style=""> </span>Before that, everything is pretty empty.<span style=""> </span>It’s said that <st1:city st="on">Beirut</st1:city> is where people go to party in the <st1:place st="on">Middle East</st1:place> and I believe that to every degree after this past weekend.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: lucida grande;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: lucida grande;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;">The next day…oh the next day. <span style=""> </span>We decided to head out of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Beirut</st1:place></st1:city> to see some of the ancient ruins and mountain views. <span style=""> </span>We found a taxi and told him our plan, which he agreed with. <span style=""> </span>After hitting our first destination, Gbeil (a city near the water with really old ruins), he proceeded to hijack us and create his own plan of what we should do. <span style=""> </span>Oh, so maybe hijack is a bit of a strong word, but our driver was now in charge. <span style=""> </span>He made all of our purchases, told us what to do, decided where we were going to eat dinner (and what we were going to eat), and decided to forget about all traffic laws. <span style=""> </span>A bit crazy.<span style=""> </span>But definitely an experience to put down in the books. <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></p><p face="lucida grande" class="MsoNormal">The next day (Monday) was time to come home. <span style=""> </span>This time we only had to wait four and a half hours at the Syrian border (WOOHOOO!!), but due to some regulation with our driver or his car, we couldn’t enter <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jordan</st1:place></st1:country-region> until 7pm. <span style=""> </span>So we decided to detour in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Damascus</st1:place></st1:city> for an hour and a half. <span style=""> </span>Just enough time to see the largest and most famous Souq in the city (Souq Al-Hamadieh) and the Mosque located in the center of it. <span style=""> </span>We only got through one wing in our hour and a half, so this definitely deserves another go around. <span style=""> </span>So much to see and do in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Damascus</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span>It has such a long history that dwarfs anything we have in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</p> <p face="lucida grande" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="lucida grande" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p face="lucida grande" class="MsoNormal">So, all in all, a good weekend.<span style=""> </span>Minus the part on the drive back when our driver wanted us to smuggle alcohol across the border. <span style=""> </span>But no biggee…he was still able to get his cigarettes through. <span style=""> </span>On the whole though, probably my best experience abroad so far. <span style=""> </span><st1:city st="on">Beirut</st1:city> is an awesome city and offers everything you would want to do in the <st1:place st="on">Middle East</st1:place>. <span style=""> </span>It is ridiculous to think that a country with such a arduous history still has so much vibrancy and energy.<span style=""> </span>I dare you all to rethink what your perceptions of the <st1:place st="on">Middle East</st1:place>. <span style=""> </span>I know I have, and I know that the learning has only just begun for me. <span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">Let’s see where next weekend takes me!</p><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SbbX-lH_cCI/AAAAAAAAAEA/_N6FSpA3LqU/s1600-h/Beirut+038+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SbbX-lH_cCI/AAAAAAAAAEA/_N6FSpA3LqU/s320/Beirut+038+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311670280647569442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The American University of Beirut. This picture really doesn't do it justice. </span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SbbX_A1ul7I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/07zuaWaQ2FY/s1600-h/Beirut+127+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SbbX_A1ul7I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/07zuaWaQ2FY/s320/Beirut+127+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311670288087160754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Downtown Beirut. The big clocktower. Lots of stories here. Not enough time to write in blog.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SbbX-3CrjbI/AAAAAAAAAEI/Vk3FteTAl6I/s1600-h/Beirut+086+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SbbX-3CrjbI/AAAAAAAAAEI/Vk3FteTAl6I/s320/Beirut+086+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311670285457132978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The Corniche. Med Sea behind, snow-capped mountains to the North. Oh yeah, and the group of people I was with. Accompanied by my host-bro and host-cousin(?).</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SbbX_YPRyhI/AAAAAAAAAEg/diAxmYW7XWg/s1600-h/Beirut+248+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SbbX_YPRyhI/AAAAAAAAAEg/diAxmYW7XWg/s320/Beirut+248+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311670294368340498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The same street at night. This pic taken from atop the Ferris Wheel. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SbbX_BLrBdI/AAAAAAAAAEY/FyMJyx3ODJc/s1600-h/Beirut+151+-+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SbbX_BLrBdI/AAAAAAAAAEY/FyMJyx3ODJc/s320/Beirut+151+-+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311670288179201490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">A gorgeous mosque in the background, and a church right in front. A great juxtaposition of the religious culture in Lebanon.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGylfTRx-Q1heXp3uDzv8xdDiE44KJohRJ8Juv45ujAop6GbKQMaleWxABrwy-QfWFeWj9Prtrol4sJLBvkZb4q_xGraLNwjzULZoji0lAZs-XSq01j0sW85h1r8aKlRoV_aVr4tHYamj/s1600-h/Beirut+276+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGylfTRx-Q1heXp3uDzv8xdDiE44KJohRJ8Juv45ujAop6GbKQMaleWxABrwy-QfWFeWj9Prtrol4sJLBvkZb4q_xGraLNwjzULZoji0lAZs-XSq01j0sW85h1r8aKlRoV_aVr4tHYamj/s320/Beirut+276+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311676152369547042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Gbeil, the outlying city we went to. Sits right on the water. You can see the ruins on the right. </span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SbbdUmrc_3I/AAAAAAAAAEw/gX-heEvIW6c/s1600-h/Beirut+400+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1JLyRSNL32o/SbbdUmrc_3I/AAAAAAAAAEw/gX-heEvIW6c/s320/Beirut+400+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311676156580003698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The Souq in Damascus. This picture shows absolutely nothing because this place is HUGE</span>!<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17471723594188367766noreply@blogger.com3