It all started three days ago...

when I woke up in the middle of the night, cold. So I got three more blankets, buried myself and went back to bed.... (thought nothing of it, as desert nights get cold.) Woke in the morning with a fever. Slept the entire day, waking up for half an hour to have warm milk or oatmeal. Joked around about it being the end for me (as is my style), told the neighbor to tell my family I loved them, to scatter my ashes 1/2 in Kanyakumari & 1/2 in Lake Michigan --> I'm so morbid, I know. The next morning I had a headache but was feeling better, so I went into the community, helping women paint and cook and get water from the well. Evening hits; the fever comes back full force. I get Rishi to bury me under about 8 or 9 blankets and call a doctor to make a house call. He test for malaria but admits that he doesn't know how to use the test kit (his nurses usually do it). The blood test is negative, he concludes that it is probably viral, and then prescribes an antibiotic. Hmmmm.... I'm no dr., but aren't antibiotics for bacterial infections???

I don't trust indian doctors.

And so, we venture out to the city 2 hours away for a 2nd opinion. He does a professional blood test at a lab. The verdict?...

I have malaria.

Mom, no worries. I'll call you tonight. :)

Trip one out of the desert

Rishi and I came to A'bad for two days. Took this rickety sleeper bus .... I had a slight panic attack at how tight the space was. Man, I am so glad I am not claustrophobic! Luckily, the windows were huge, so it wasn't so bad.

Went out for Navrathri, a huge holiday/event in Gujarat.... we were out dancing until 4 or 5 in the morning. It was beautiful. Everyone was in super traditional Gj clothes, dancing til it hurt, improvising steps everywhere. Good times.

Rishi almost stepped on a cobra outside his bhunga door one night last week. Luckily, the neighbor saw it and stopped him mid step. So Rishi comes running over, 'hey, wanna see a snake?'... I'd never seen a cobra outside of a zoo. One of the villagers hit the snake with a stick ... the cobra fans out, like they do in movies... the villager and the snake duked it out for a while... the villager won 1-0. What? I live here?

Vince, Happy freakin Belated!! Sorry I forgot!!!... meaning I didn't not forget--- explanation below.

Other than that, all is good. Planning out Diwali break--> going to Mumbai w/ about 6/ 7 indicorps people ...
the project is kicking into high gear...
word on the street (aka from Sanjay) is that my paintings sold !!! (though it has yet to be confirmed) aaaaa!!!! Ok, gotta go.

peace y'all.

getting up to speed

This past two weeks have been a whirlwind of meeting people. Artisans, community development field workers, designers, NGO heads... all while getting up to speed on the history of this community, this region and this specific project. All in all, a busy time..... right now, we just jumped in here to get our absentee ballot procedures going. It's almost amusing how complicated the voting process can be. Let's all do a silent prayer that this year's election doesn't take the Floridian turn it was the last time around. Amen.

My info:
me c/o Manav Sadhna
Gandhi nu Gao, Post Khavda
Ludiya, Gujarat, India 370510
Ph:02803-266048
call ~ 8/9 pm india time

Some first impressions:
* The region is a bit harsh as far as physical living conditions. I was *super* dehydrated yesterday and felt like I was going to pass out. It's hot and dry.... right. It's the desert.
* I live about 60 km south of the IndoPak border, 60 km east of the Arabian seacoast and 60 km north of the closest internet cafes (I'm too close to the border... where internet connections are highly restricted and regulated.)
* It's an artistic paradise. Everyone creates something. It's such a great feeling to know I come from a place like this. I'm working with master craftswomen who do patchwork, mud relief sculpture, mirrorwork and world renowned embroidery. And the men are these amazing woodworkers. The area itself is insane. Block carvers, sculptors, tie dyers, block printers.... AAAAA!!! I love it! Apparently, international designers pull through the area all the time. I met an Australian fashion designer and stayed with a Brazilian last night. Crazy.

So, that's the typical Rups, highly romanticized version. The other side of the coin is that there's also a lot of tourism, village politics, mismanaged drought relief funds....

It's going to be one hell of a year.