What? Who lives in a hut?

Aaaaa!!!!! First off, much love to all of you guys. Random comments make me SO happy ... cuz it makes me remember that people still think of me. EEEEEEE!!!!!!

So, it's been many moons since an update and there is so much to say. ** I have officially moved into my new residence for the year. ** If I could post some pictures on this mofo I would. But since I can't (damn you, blogger surcharges!!), words will have to suffice. Ummmm... I live in the desert. the desert!! In two huts, each with a bathroom, a separate kitchen, all connected by an open air courtyard. If you could call anything a 'hut palace', this place would be it. There is plenty of room for both me and Rishi to stay here... (2 rooms, 2 bathrooms.. etc) but the community wouldn't accept that, with us being unmarried and all- so he lives in his own hut about 100 ft from me. I would've stayed there... but the teacher that lives on that side strikes me as a shady character....so I chose to keep distance and wanted to stay in the main office area b/c it has a fence. Rishi agreed and for that I thank him.

The situation is cool. Certain families have already chosen to adopt us as family. Really, really cool. The women are amazing. I came here to 'empower' them through self expression in their traditional arts.... ummm... right. I'm coming into realizing that it's crazy to think I'm empowering anyone who survives here. They carry the day's water on their head... raise an average of 5 to 9 kids... clean...cook... make and embroider their clothes.... make their blankets... the men do woodwork... raise animals.... everyone works in the fields if the year is one that brings rain.... um.... yeah. I'm too much in awe to see how I will be able to deliver on any sustainable empowerment/ community development strategies.

The award for absolute coolest part about living in India goes to: ... Sleeping outdoors. I drag my cot out into the courtyard every night...and sleep under the stars. I can't put it into words. There is little electricity so there is absolutely no interference btw me and the sky. Crazy. I've never seen anything like it. The first night I thought I had left a light on... only to realize it was the moon. The moon?!?!? The moonlight actually leaves a shadow, no joke. It's all good except the one time I woke up to rain in the middle of the night... completely soaked (me, my clothes, my sheets, my bed...). It's funny in retrospect, but definitely wasn't when I had to drag my stuff and my groggy self inside.... :)

I now have a house phone. Would pass out in happiness to hear from anyone that wants to call. I'm 10 & 1/2 hrs ahead of Chicago time... and the best time to call would be around 6-7am my time ... or in the afternoon. No answering machine... but patience is a virtue. (I'm such a punk).

Advantage of the internet

Totally trying to take advantage of the next while I still gots it. I'm in Ahmedabad for a week before hitting the desert... getting to know my NGO and whatnot. AAAAAAA!!! it has begun!!

Ummm.. so this morning... we went to a museum with art exhibits similar to what we're trying to do with our project... it was this little hobbit door in the middle of a busy intersection (no joke.. like a part of a drawbridge that you have to duck to enter...) ... there was a gatekeeper sitting inside telling us we would have to come back in an hour.... so we look around the park area and there's a little group of animals... (peacocks, chipmunks, pigeons, and these flaming green parrots) just chillin, eating breakfast together next to the grass. It was CRAZY.. and I didnt have my camera. :(

My mom told random relatives in India that I'm out here ... and so some auntie just called me (I have no idea who she is...) and invited me to two weddings. What? Who? What?? I don't know if I'll have the vacation time to do it but we'll see.

Last official day of Orientation

Wha?!?!? You mean I've been here a MONTH?!?! My orientation is OVAH?!?!? What craziness is that?

I miss my brothers so much it hurts. I missed Rakshabhadan. Sorry guys.

Yesterday, I had a one on one mtg with the other Roopal (who is the method behind the madness of Indicorps)... great, great meeting. I can't put it into words, but this is so important to me that I am here. She made me reflect on my motivations to come ... and the initial passion that brought me here. (please excuse the cheesiness). Also, I'm learning on how to put what is happening into words. Rambling as always...
ANYWAY
1/2way thru the mtg, one of the staff guys runs to where we are on the lawn in a frenzy telling us that there is a 'Sumitra from Canada' on the phone for me. This causes some confusion b/c 1. we are both rup's and 2. we don't know people in Canada that would call us in India. We stop the meeting and race to the office to find out that it is none other than my mom, ** Punita from Chicago**. I was on the floor laughing. A great random happy surprise to hear from my mom for sho. Yay.

The last event of orientation, and the reason I hadn't written in a while , was this 3 day camp we organized in Mumbai. The other 9 fellows and I took 50 kids in some pretty tough (meaning unimaginable) situations to a nature resort and did our absolute best to give them the time of their lives. These kids face problems on a daily basis that I can't even picture. Kids of sex workers, slum kids, homeless kids, dock workers, one girl was 12 and took care of her household as well as her 3 younger siblings(!!) ... I can't even begin to understand ... anyway ....
we organized a 3 day camp for them to get away and just BE KIDS. Playing, singing, swimming, running, dancing, you name it. THERE WAS A POOL!! I thought I had sacrificed them for the year ... but this amazing pool was at the resort we found... with four waterfalls!!! Totally my element. I taught four, count them four, girls (who have NEVER been in a pool!!) how to swim laps freestyle and breaststroke. (in two hours!!) I was beaming at how fast they learned.

Really hit it off with the kids and the group of us congealed as a team. We had some pretty tough discussions after we got back... and I'm feeling better than ever about the support structure I've found here. It's a great feeling b/c I know this year is going to be hard as hell. I'm glad I'll have Rishi to lean on though. The boy is a crackhead... he's so unpredictable. We'll get along and drive each other crazy I'm sure.

So we all split starting today. My ride out is tomorrow morning. Orientation comes to a close and I'll be out in the field in about a week. The meantime is in Ahmedabad getting to know the NGO I am working with, their history/philosophy/goals etc. By this time next week I am heading to the desert.

[i was reading a book the other day on the area where I am going to live... and it was described as one of the most difficult climates to live in...... ummmmm..... yeah...... what have I done!?!?!?]

and a sidenote to all y'all: I love you guys!!! I can't express HOW MUCH your efforts to keep in touch mean to me. emails, calls, commenting on this mofo.... whatever... it totally makes my day. So thanks!!!
Yay you!

Noooo!!!

Ok. India's a different culture, different place. I was prepared. No handstands. Fine. No tackling. I'll deal (sadly). But I just realized that people do not hug here. Not to sound girly but everyone needs a hug every now and then. And I understand that it's super hot. Fine. But no hugs for a year?!?! I suddenly feel so alone.

...

on the flip side, I did my first trust fall EVAH. Usually I opt out... I have issues... but I forced myself to do it. I stood on ledge that was shoulder high and made myself fall (literally) into the awaiting arms of the group. and I was not dropped!!
I am a new woman.