*this post is in response to an email forward I saw on the SAPAC_chicago listserv written by YSS and OY, 2 American organizations that organize South Asian youth. Do not read on if politics and/or activism is not your cup of tea.
_______________
Ok, so I just got an email forward that is flying around saying that Indicorps has taken funds and worked with organizations that are involved with the RSS, a group known to promote an extremist religious and political agenda in India. The email questions Indicorps, saying that by working with organizations and taking funds from people associated with the RSS, Indicorps is supporting the RSS political agenda. Umm... completely unfounded, thanks. I'm still debating whether I want to get involved into an email fight about it ... but I wanted to post up here just in case any of y'all had heard anything.
My main problem is YSS and OY send this email asking Indicorps to explain themselves. The email was sent to a whole lot of people but not Indicorps itself. Ummm.. if you want Indicorps to explain themselves, why aren't you asking Indicorps? If you weren't going to ask directly, why wouldn't you at least include Indicorps on the list? ... unless your intent was not to get answers but to start rumors.
Now as we all know, I usually, if not always, ignore email forwards. The only reason I am replying to this one is because it undermines the work that I am doing this year. I won't allow it.
IDRF (India Development and Relief Fund) has been one of the past funders (one of many funders mind you) for Indicorps. This group also apparently funds some RSS organizations. The email says that, with Indicorps accepting funds from them, they are supporting the RSS agenda. Someone should tell the email's authors that they should've done their homework.
1. Indicorps is secular and non partisan. As an organization, Indicorps makes it very clear to funders that the funds are accepted with no strings attached. It's not about name recognition, it's about youth taking ownership and initiative to be agents of social change. It's so silly to have YSS and OY picking a fight like this when we're all trying to get to the same place. A unified front. Inclusive empowerment. Solidarity. I mean, come on.
2. Hindu extremist philosophies are (usually) anti-Muslim, anti-Dalit (used to be referred to as untouchables). The IDRF is the funder that actually funded the project I am working on.
I invite anyone who questions Indicorps motives to come visit my project.
I live in a community that is fully comprised of Dalits and Muslims (as I've mentioned before). Now, anyone that knows me knows full well that I am here to serve these communities. To empower the women. To give them a stable income. To give them ownership over their artistic abilities and have that ownership and confidence ripple into other facets of their lives.
No one, and I mean no one, uses me as a vehicle to push an agenda here. No one tells me how to do my work out here. Whoever wrote that email needs to email ME directly before telling me that the work I am doing is Hindutva. I am one of the direct benefactors of these funds. They are paying for me at a ground level. Why don't you ASK me what work I'm doing before telling me who I am tied to? Fools. How can you question the organization without first doing some RESEARCH? Did you? Did you find out that the first two girls on the project were Muslim and Sikh? That the following year was a Hindu and Muslim w/ Pakistani roots working together?
And lastly #3.
Had you done your RESEARCH, you would've found out that the people that spent time training us (this year's fellows) at orientation were people such as Sushma Iyengar, Anna Hazare, and Harsh Mander. Why don't you look up who these people are before you try to say you know an organization's motives?
Grr.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Saturday, February 05, 2005
hey friends
I'm back in Gujarat. Safe. My head is swimming. Completely overwhelmed by the tsunami and everything involved. Sleep deprived. 34 hour train ride. Quality time with a lot of intensely altruistic people that are super focused and not even slightly hippy. Just got back from a break of dawn ultimate frisbee game along the Sabermati riverbed to destress. Desparately need some sleep and some fruit.
Huge hug to my corners. I love you fools so much and can't wait to see you.
And, last but not least, time to dispell some rumors:
#1. No, I am not coming home early, nor am I already home.
#2. No, I am not here to get married; this idea needs to be unthunk immediately. (Vim, you are in charge of keeping this rumor in check back home.)
Ok. Gotta go.
Huge hug to my corners. I love you fools so much and can't wait to see you.
And, last but not least, time to dispell some rumors:
#1. No, I am not coming home early, nor am I already home.
#2. No, I am not here to get married; this idea needs to be unthunk immediately. (Vim, you are in charge of keeping this rumor in check back home.)
Ok. Gotta go.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Approaching midnight
and I suddenly find myself alone in an office with the day's work done and decent internet access. Happiness is all about the simple things.
***I'm feeling much much better.*** The fevers are laying low. Yay, hemoglobins! And white blood cells. And other such medical stuff that I pretend to know. :)
So, I left my the Rural design school to help with the Tsunami work. For the next two weeks I am in the villages of Tamil Nadu (south Indian coast) coordinating the efforts between the govt, NGOs, international organizations, funders etc. It's an effort to ensure that all of these organizations are communicating on a common platform to avoid duplication, fill voids and maximize resources.
Went through trauma counseling training in Ahmedabad and spent a few days in Auroville to organize the network. Auroville is a pretty quirky/strange/uber-interesting place. The highlight, however, was that (b/c everything else was booked) 14 of us stayed in this architectually stunning 3 floor art gallery. Amazing sculptures, pottery, textiles, ... I'd walk past the charcoals (in my socks & pj's) before going to bed, have meetings in the sculpture room, and sleep in the room with paintings as tall as I am.... it was almost too extremely perfect. Almost like a prep to make me super happy before going into the emotionally draining work that I was getting myself into.
It's been a month since the tsunamis hit; the relief efforts are wrapping up and the long term rehabilitation phase is now being kick started. The devastation to the area is truly upsetting. Every time I stand next to the ocean I get the chills... which is really odd; being comfortable in/with water has always been my element. Most of the debri has been cleared away but the damage is still everywhere. I've heard a lot of survivor stories and during every one I have to remind myself that it actually happened. An earthquake under the ocean. A wall of water. Houses/boats/people getting washed away. What?!?
Indonesia actually had another earthquake hit (a 6.2) which apparently didn't get much news coverage (here anyway). Who sets the priorities with the news coverage??? They should be run out of town.
_________________________________________________
A PUBLIC NOTICE:
To anyone and everyone that helped make that Xmas DVD for me--> you guys ROCK. It was the most amazing Christmas present EVAH and made me so very extremely happy. I was up til 2am laughing and feeling really loved. THANK YOU!!!
_________________________________________________
And last but certainly not least, my granddad came to India last week. He had some work to do and I convinced him to come visit my project site. He agreed. He came. He's 80! But he trekked out (An overnight bus, transfer to a two hour bus, transfer to a local taxi/pickup truck to the desert). He stayed for three days and had a blast. (Man, if *only* I could post up those pictures!) Also, the man is an amazing role model.
He in the month he was in India he:
1. visited my village
2. collected 100,000 books to start a children's library for orphans
3. restarted the Red Cross radiology department (named after my grandmother)
4. donated the money to build a room at a college hostel/medical clinic in Ahmedabad
AND
5. he still had time to remodel his bathroom.
In a month! The man is 80. He is exactly the 80 yr old man I strive to be one day. (???) You know what I mean. :)
***I'm feeling much much better.*** The fevers are laying low. Yay, hemoglobins! And white blood cells. And other such medical stuff that I pretend to know. :)
So, I left my the Rural design school to help with the Tsunami work. For the next two weeks I am in the villages of Tamil Nadu (south Indian coast) coordinating the efforts between the govt, NGOs, international organizations, funders etc. It's an effort to ensure that all of these organizations are communicating on a common platform to avoid duplication, fill voids and maximize resources.
Went through trauma counseling training in Ahmedabad and spent a few days in Auroville to organize the network. Auroville is a pretty quirky/strange/uber-interesting place. The highlight, however, was that (b/c everything else was booked) 14 of us stayed in this architectually stunning 3 floor art gallery. Amazing sculptures, pottery, textiles, ... I'd walk past the charcoals (in my socks & pj's) before going to bed, have meetings in the sculpture room, and sleep in the room with paintings as tall as I am.... it was almost too extremely perfect. Almost like a prep to make me super happy before going into the emotionally draining work that I was getting myself into.
It's been a month since the tsunamis hit; the relief efforts are wrapping up and the long term rehabilitation phase is now being kick started. The devastation to the area is truly upsetting. Every time I stand next to the ocean I get the chills... which is really odd; being comfortable in/with water has always been my element. Most of the debri has been cleared away but the damage is still everywhere. I've heard a lot of survivor stories and during every one I have to remind myself that it actually happened. An earthquake under the ocean. A wall of water. Houses/boats/people getting washed away. What?!?
Indonesia actually had another earthquake hit (a 6.2) which apparently didn't get much news coverage (here anyway). Who sets the priorities with the news coverage??? They should be run out of town.
_________________________________________________
A PUBLIC NOTICE:
To anyone and everyone that helped make that Xmas DVD for me--> you guys ROCK. It was the most amazing Christmas present EVAH and made me so very extremely happy. I was up til 2am laughing and feeling really loved. THANK YOU!!!
_________________________________________________
And last but certainly not least, my granddad came to India last week. He had some work to do and I convinced him to come visit my project site. He agreed. He came. He's 80! But he trekked out (An overnight bus, transfer to a two hour bus, transfer to a local taxi/pickup truck to the desert). He stayed for three days and had a blast. (Man, if *only* I could post up those pictures!) Also, the man is an amazing role model.
He in the month he was in India he:
1. visited my village
2. collected 100,000 books to start a children's library for orphans
3. restarted the Red Cross radiology department (named after my grandmother)
4. donated the money to build a room at a college hostel/medical clinic in Ahmedabad
AND
5. he still had time to remodel his bathroom.
In a month! The man is 80. He is exactly the 80 yr old man I strive to be one day. (???) You know what I mean. :)
Sunday, January 23, 2005
quick note
next two weeks I am on the south coast of india helping with the relief and rehabilitation efforts. I am staying safe. Will be back Feb 7th. Much love.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Wha?
Serious? Like seriously sick?
This computer sucks... I can't print this comment on the last post or open the article given.... What if I don't treat it? What's the worst that'll happen? I've already taken too many courses of pills. And *who* is Figment?? I'm assuming it's a play off of 'a figment of my imagination'.. yet I am not about to take medical advice from my imagination or any figments thereof.
Bleh. I'm sad and angry. Sad b/c I don't want to be sick. Angry b/c of all the apparent misdiagnosi I've received thus far. If it's reendemic or whatever, I'll get it again anyway right? How am I supposed to treat the entire region? EVERYONE has the same symptoms. Bleh squared. Rups is so frustrated that she is speaking in the third.
Jennaiya, Sanj, if you're out there, please let me know what you think.
(so, yeah, it's been great. i'm ready to come home now.)
on another note, one of my especially cheesy journal entries is up on the Indicorps site. I'm playing w/ short stories... let me know what you think (even if you completely hate it and think that the malaria should just finish the job.)
much love,
sicko rups
This computer sucks... I can't print this comment on the last post or open the article given.... What if I don't treat it? What's the worst that'll happen? I've already taken too many courses of pills. And *who* is Figment?? I'm assuming it's a play off of 'a figment of my imagination'.. yet I am not about to take medical advice from my imagination or any figments thereof.
Bleh. I'm sad and angry. Sad b/c I don't want to be sick. Angry b/c of all the apparent misdiagnosi I've received thus far. If it's reendemic or whatever, I'll get it again anyway right? How am I supposed to treat the entire region? EVERYONE has the same symptoms. Bleh squared. Rups is so frustrated that she is speaking in the third.
Jennaiya, Sanj, if you're out there, please let me know what you think.
(so, yeah, it's been great. i'm ready to come home now.)
on another note, one of my especially cheesy journal entries is up on the Indicorps site. I'm playing w/ short stories... let me know what you think (even if you completely hate it and think that the malaria should just finish the job.)
much love,
sicko rups
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
World Affairs, Ketchup, and Holidays
First and foremost, I am far enough inland and completely ok. With that being said, I am close enough to the coast to have felt the *crazy* winds the day the tsunamis hit. No one knew what was going on... (only 3 people in town have a TV.) As soon as the aftershock threats die down and it is safe to go to the South Indian coast, I'm planning on going down there to do what I can in the relief and rehabilitation efforts. I don't have enough time at the computer today to respond to all the concerned emails I got, but I assure you I am safe, grateful, and figuring out a way to help at the ground level. There also seems to be some confusion with my ph #. From the states, you dial 011-91-2803-266-048. 10 and 1/2 hours forward from Chicago time.
Fozia, I'm sorry I couldn't meet up with you. You were out of coastline area by the time this all went down right??? Please let me know that you're ok.
The area that I live in was hit by the earthquake measuring 7.9 in 2001. They know the devastation natural disasters cause quite personally and so most of them are donating whatever they can, even those most have very little to give. It's nice to see an effort so beautiful among such a tragedy.
So many things unfolded all at once. I haven't kept up w/ this mofo. And so, it's backtracking time...
Happy New Year!!! 2005. Eeeeeep!
And, of course, an extremely belated Merry Christmas.
Quite officially, my 1st set of holidays away from people I love. But, traditions were replaced by some insane misadventures...
Xmas Eve (daytime) was spent purchasing supplies in big city Bhuj to build a community space/ verandah in the middle I live in. The actual evening, I spent under an almost full moon riding on *top of* the pyramid of wooden logs, bundles of hay, cement bags and the rest of the supplies we bought in an open top truck.
The award for funniest moment goes to ... the desert winds were super super cold so all of us huddled together ...until we found a bag of old women's clothes that we used to keep warm. This ended with a lot of tough desert men wearing women's clothing out of necessity. Hilarious!
The award for coolest part? One of my goals in coming to India was to ride atop a truck, which usually would never happen b/c men here put women's safety first and reorganize seating if necessary so I sit inside. This time I got a say in the matter b/c it was me renting the truck. No one tell Indicorps about this one!
Xmas day was spent working. The night however, we hitched a ride to a late night festival atop the temple on Black Mountain with the electrical company guys. Ate dinner with the gurus (priests), and listened to kutchi folk singers belt out the most soulful music I've heard in a long while. The moon was full and super brilliant, making the desert glow... and the view from the mountain is amazing. From up there, you can see the white salt desert, the Indo Pak border (India Bridge), and our little village.
New Years Eve, our fuse box burned out so we had no lights. I made my NY's Resolutions by candlelight under the stars. An extremely beautiful moment that I'm sad no one was there to share with me. (Everyone I love felt incredibly far away come midnight.)
Now, some business. Does anyone know why India agreed to sign the WTO product patent act that went into effect Jan 1? I don't know the history but it doesn't seem like a very good idea. It sounds like it'll ravage the already sparse medical treatments and make a lot of prescription drugs inaccessible to a big majority of the population. How does this benefit the country?
The really bad fever came back last night. Like scary bad. The strain found in the first blood test was Falciparum. The second blood test found residual strains that started with an 's' but I don't have the report w/ me. Can someone please tell me what the Dr.'s here should be prescribing so I can get better? Please?
Fozia, I'm sorry I couldn't meet up with you. You were out of coastline area by the time this all went down right??? Please let me know that you're ok.
The area that I live in was hit by the earthquake measuring 7.9 in 2001. They know the devastation natural disasters cause quite personally and so most of them are donating whatever they can, even those most have very little to give. It's nice to see an effort so beautiful among such a tragedy.
So many things unfolded all at once. I haven't kept up w/ this mofo. And so, it's backtracking time...
Happy New Year!!! 2005. Eeeeeep!
And, of course, an extremely belated Merry Christmas.
Quite officially, my 1st set of holidays away from people I love. But, traditions were replaced by some insane misadventures...
Xmas Eve (daytime) was spent purchasing supplies in big city Bhuj to build a community space/ verandah in the middle I live in. The actual evening, I spent under an almost full moon riding on *top of* the pyramid of wooden logs, bundles of hay, cement bags and the rest of the supplies we bought in an open top truck.
The award for funniest moment goes to ... the desert winds were super super cold so all of us huddled together ...until we found a bag of old women's clothes that we used to keep warm. This ended with a lot of tough desert men wearing women's clothing out of necessity. Hilarious!
The award for coolest part? One of my goals in coming to India was to ride atop a truck, which usually would never happen b/c men here put women's safety first and reorganize seating if necessary so I sit inside. This time I got a say in the matter b/c it was me renting the truck. No one tell Indicorps about this one!
Xmas day was spent working. The night however, we hitched a ride to a late night festival atop the temple on Black Mountain with the electrical company guys. Ate dinner with the gurus (priests), and listened to kutchi folk singers belt out the most soulful music I've heard in a long while. The moon was full and super brilliant, making the desert glow... and the view from the mountain is amazing. From up there, you can see the white salt desert, the Indo Pak border (India Bridge), and our little village.
New Years Eve, our fuse box burned out so we had no lights. I made my NY's Resolutions by candlelight under the stars. An extremely beautiful moment that I'm sad no one was there to share with me. (Everyone I love felt incredibly far away come midnight.)
Now, some business. Does anyone know why India agreed to sign the WTO product patent act that went into effect Jan 1? I don't know the history but it doesn't seem like a very good idea. It sounds like it'll ravage the already sparse medical treatments and make a lot of prescription drugs inaccessible to a big majority of the population. How does this benefit the country?
The really bad fever came back last night. Like scary bad. The strain found in the first blood test was Falciparum. The second blood test found residual strains that started with an 's' but I don't have the report w/ me. Can someone please tell me what the Dr.'s here should be prescribing so I can get better? Please?
Monday, December 20, 2004
Really quick
Can't talk long... only have a minute before my bus books out of this piece.
Here's all I want for Christmas ---> [my first away from home... : ( ]
One package.
One pink Nalgene wide mouth water bottle and a waterproof rock climbing watch (the one that we saw that day ... looks like a friendship bracelet..) (both avail @ Galyan's).
Three DVD's (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset (both Ethan Hawke), and the Lil Princess DVD (this one we have at home).
Some random newspaper/magazine articles to let me know what I'm missing in the world's affairs.
Letters from people at home.
Some M&M trail mix in the water bottle.
Now, here's the catch. My brother,
VISHAL HASMUKH,
is in charge of getting this to me. I'm putting this information up to keep Mr. Saying-you'll-send-me-a-letter-for-the-past-2-months-but-your-sister's-still-waiting-for-it-alone-in-the-desert Vishal accountable. Wink.
From everyone else, all I want is for you to ask Vish, everytime you talk to him in the next four days, whether or not he has sent this package. With the amount of nagging this one letter is taking, I estimate that with global participation in this movement, Vish may send this package in May.
Love you lazy. Write your sister.
Here's all I want for Christmas ---> [my first away from home... : ( ]
One package.
One pink Nalgene wide mouth water bottle and a waterproof rock climbing watch (the one that we saw that day ... looks like a friendship bracelet..) (both avail @ Galyan's).
Three DVD's (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset (both Ethan Hawke), and the Lil Princess DVD (this one we have at home).
Some random newspaper/magazine articles to let me know what I'm missing in the world's affairs.
Letters from people at home.
Some M&M trail mix in the water bottle.
Now, here's the catch. My brother,
VISHAL HASMUKH,
is in charge of getting this to me. I'm putting this information up to keep Mr. Saying-you'll-send-me-a-letter-for-the-past-2-months-but-your-sister's-still-waiting-for-it-alone-in-the-desert Vishal accountable. Wink.
From everyone else, all I want is for you to ask Vish, everytime you talk to him in the next four days, whether or not he has sent this package. With the amount of nagging this one letter is taking, I estimate that with global participation in this movement, Vish may send this package in May.
Love you lazy. Write your sister.
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Totally unexpected. On both counts.
The teacher's family next door, the one that included us in their meals while we adjusted, just moved. So we are now on our own as far as food goes.
The surprise? When push comes to shove, and I actually have to cook, turns out I am pretty damn good. After all those years of shirking my mom's attempts to teach me :) Apparently some skills are hereditary. Sweeeeeeeeeet.
Naiya's wedding was AMAZING. I've never seen an Indian wedding more elegantly done. She's helped in planning so many weddings for others that when it came down to her own, she had every detail down to a tee. AMAZING. Growing up in the states, I was raised with fairy tale images of a woman in white, knowing that wouldn't be me. All the Indian marriages around me have been (no offense to anyone intended) cheesy States versions (there's only so much you can replicate in the states.) For the first time, I could actually picture what I want my own to look like. Definitely a first. With that being said, no one get any ideas! :)
The surprise? When push comes to shove, and I actually have to cook, turns out I am pretty damn good. After all those years of shirking my mom's attempts to teach me :) Apparently some skills are hereditary. Sweeeeeeeeeet.
Naiya's wedding was AMAZING. I've never seen an Indian wedding more elegantly done. She's helped in planning so many weddings for others that when it came down to her own, she had every detail down to a tee. AMAZING. Growing up in the states, I was raised with fairy tale images of a woman in white, knowing that wouldn't be me. All the Indian marriages around me have been (no offense to anyone intended) cheesy States versions (there's only so much you can replicate in the states.) For the first time, I could actually picture what I want my own to look like. Definitely a first. With that being said, no one get any ideas! :)
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Stupid webjournal...
ate my last two, count 'em two, entries! Grrrrr....
Ok. Back to business.
On my way to my cousin's wedding. First time traveling overnight, in India, da sola. By myself. No fears. Yay, me! I'm facing a whole lot of my anxieties... and unfounded fears.. to the point where I'm really super surprised at how comfortable I am living here. Totally unexpected side effect of coming to live in India: I like living here. With that being said, I have yet to experience the summer in the desert. I may soon be eating my words.
You guys won't believe this one!!! Long story in a nutshell.... last time Rish and I came to the citay, we had 2 priority errands:
#1 Register as foreigners residing in a border region.
#2 Research at local NGO.
So, #1. At the registration office (which doubles as the tourist office), we are in line behind an old white couple. Woman turns to look at us when she hears American english coming from 2 seemingly local people (3 months, you know we look village...). I smile to acknowledge her but don't go beyond that b/c we were mid important conversation. As they leave, we exchange a few words and I tell them to enjoy their trip. We complete errand #1.
At errand #2, we run into the same couple, so we start talking to them. Have a tangent convo with the guy, about everything from politics, to media (American vs Indian), to our Rural design school, to development. I give woman advice on the clothes she's trying on, and talk to her for a while about fashion, life in CA, life in NY, being married, her travels and, as always, our project and the villages we work in. She seemed really interested, so I offered for her to come visit our site, that we'd show them around our villages (but we ended up not getting back until late).
Here's where it gets interesting: when I'd asked the guy what he did in the states; he told me he's 'in TV' but in a shady, I'd rather not get into it here kind of way. My curiosity got the better of me, so Rish and I did some detective work. Turns out he's the FOUNDER OF HBO!!! Standing in front of me, TWICE, interested in what we are trying to do... and I kind of blew him off as another old white tourist. I let the opportunity slip through my fingers!! The fates are sometimes very cruel. Very. Very. Cruel.
Now, for the necessary talks. I am still waiting for some letters. This is unacceptable. You know who you are. Remember how in Super Mario Brothers, if you got a star, for a while your player was invincible? That is what letters are for me here. So write them! Protect me! Even if you gots nothin to say! Send a picture. Or an oreo. I'm so easy to please. And vim, send me a copy of the paper you changed topics on. I'd love to see it.
Xmas not at home. :(
Someone in my family passed away. Always a smile, with kids similar to me. I don't understand people dying. The news rendered me unstable the entire night. But I did have a clear night sky to give me solace. People passing away makes me want to hoard time w/ ppl I love, like in Blast from the Past, in a cellar, safe from the world.
Lessons learned: Never stall in telling people how much you love/appreciate them. Never put off doing what you know makes you happy. Life is too short to always be pragmatic.
Ok. Back to business.
On my way to my cousin's wedding. First time traveling overnight, in India, da sola. By myself. No fears. Yay, me! I'm facing a whole lot of my anxieties... and unfounded fears.. to the point where I'm really super surprised at how comfortable I am living here. Totally unexpected side effect of coming to live in India: I like living here. With that being said, I have yet to experience the summer in the desert. I may soon be eating my words.
You guys won't believe this one!!! Long story in a nutshell.... last time Rish and I came to the citay, we had 2 priority errands:
#1 Register as foreigners residing in a border region.
#2 Research at local NGO.
So, #1. At the registration office (which doubles as the tourist office), we are in line behind an old white couple. Woman turns to look at us when she hears American english coming from 2 seemingly local people (3 months, you know we look village...). I smile to acknowledge her but don't go beyond that b/c we were mid important conversation. As they leave, we exchange a few words and I tell them to enjoy their trip. We complete errand #1.
At errand #2, we run into the same couple, so we start talking to them. Have a tangent convo with the guy, about everything from politics, to media (American vs Indian), to our Rural design school, to development. I give woman advice on the clothes she's trying on, and talk to her for a while about fashion, life in CA, life in NY, being married, her travels and, as always, our project and the villages we work in. She seemed really interested, so I offered for her to come visit our site, that we'd show them around our villages (but we ended up not getting back until late).
Here's where it gets interesting: when I'd asked the guy what he did in the states; he told me he's 'in TV' but in a shady, I'd rather not get into it here kind of way. My curiosity got the better of me, so Rish and I did some detective work. Turns out he's the FOUNDER OF HBO!!! Standing in front of me, TWICE, interested in what we are trying to do... and I kind of blew him off as another old white tourist. I let the opportunity slip through my fingers!! The fates are sometimes very cruel. Very. Very. Cruel.
Now, for the necessary talks. I am still waiting for some letters. This is unacceptable. You know who you are. Remember how in Super Mario Brothers, if you got a star, for a while your player was invincible? That is what letters are for me here. So write them! Protect me! Even if you gots nothin to say! Send a picture. Or an oreo. I'm so easy to please. And vim, send me a copy of the paper you changed topics on. I'd love to see it.
Xmas not at home. :(
Someone in my family passed away. Always a smile, with kids similar to me. I don't understand people dying. The news rendered me unstable the entire night. But I did have a clear night sky to give me solace. People passing away makes me want to hoard time w/ ppl I love, like in Blast from the Past, in a cellar, safe from the world.
Lessons learned: Never stall in telling people how much you love/appreciate them. Never put off doing what you know makes you happy. Life is too short to always be pragmatic.
Friday, November 26, 2004
EEEEEEP!
Where to begin?
Ok. What I’m thankful for… 2004:
#1 Family and friends that support the fact that I am in India doing the work I’m doing.
#2 The fact that I am in India doing the work that I am doing.
Fun recent happenings:
My last trip to Ahmedabad included waking everyone up before sunrise to go to ‘Laughing Club.’ It is nothing that you’d expect that to mean. Picture about 40 old men getting together every morning before sunrise, for the past ten years… to get their daily exercise via a type of yoga that incorporates *laughing as hard as you can.* (It's surprisingly a workout!) Try to imagine the happiest way a Rup such as myself could start her day and that is exactly what it was. So funny!!!
I am training for the Mumbai Marathon. Typing it in this mofo is my contract with myself to follow thru on this … pending my health. I somehow found a decent pair of Adidii in the neighboring citay… and I’m trying to run every morning at sunrise. But the scenery doesn’t always make up for that extra hour of sleep. Dragging myself out of bed sometimes becomes a fight with myself. My body vs. my mind. Sometimes I fear it may escalate into violence. I don’t know what that means…. So I respectfully end this update here.
Much love to my family. Happy Tgiving! Miss you guys.
Snake run-in #2. A small one, inside our gate. The village kids luckily spotted it and we chased it out. No worries.
I met up with the potter in the next village over. He does everything. Sculpture, mud/mirror relief, painting… (as vim would say, ‘Wha???’) and he is willing to teach me. His family is apparently the only one left (in the world?!?!) that still does this type of work. Yay, new hobby! :)
All in all, life is happy. Good.
Ok. What I’m thankful for… 2004:
#1 Family and friends that support the fact that I am in India doing the work I’m doing.
#2 The fact that I am in India doing the work that I am doing.
Fun recent happenings:
My last trip to Ahmedabad included waking everyone up before sunrise to go to ‘Laughing Club.’ It is nothing that you’d expect that to mean. Picture about 40 old men getting together every morning before sunrise, for the past ten years… to get their daily exercise via a type of yoga that incorporates *laughing as hard as you can.* (It's surprisingly a workout!) Try to imagine the happiest way a Rup such as myself could start her day and that is exactly what it was. So funny!!!
I am training for the Mumbai Marathon. Typing it in this mofo is my contract with myself to follow thru on this … pending my health. I somehow found a decent pair of Adidii in the neighboring citay… and I’m trying to run every morning at sunrise. But the scenery doesn’t always make up for that extra hour of sleep. Dragging myself out of bed sometimes becomes a fight with myself. My body vs. my mind. Sometimes I fear it may escalate into violence. I don’t know what that means…. So I respectfully end this update here.
Much love to my family. Happy Tgiving! Miss you guys.
Snake run-in #2. A small one, inside our gate. The village kids luckily spotted it and we chased it out. No worries.
I met up with the potter in the next village over. He does everything. Sculpture, mud/mirror relief, painting… (as vim would say, ‘Wha???’) and he is willing to teach me. His family is apparently the only one left (in the world?!?!) that still does this type of work. Yay, new hobby! :)
All in all, life is happy. Good.
Now, the question is, who of y’all is coming out here to visit??? Can I get a witness? How bout just a phone call??? I'm willing to compromise.
:(
Rups in the desert have feelings ya know.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Hey friends
Diwali break is over ... i'm jumping a sleeper bus back to the village tonight.
Back to work.
Craziest discovery of the day--> There's a marathon in Mumbai in Jan! I want to run it. Desparately. Yet I'm left w/ less than 2 months to train. In the desert nonetheless! Man, I've been trying to run this mofo for the past 2 years. Year 1 - broke leg 2 places. Year 2- left country to find self. I never can predict where the next year will take me. It's kinda funny to realize that I'm already 24 and my life hasn't yet stabilized into something predictable. I don't want to let this opportunity go. Hmmm... we shall see.
Oh, and while we're on the subject of a stable life, let's talk updates shall we? Sara Baker, who I have known since high school spanish classes, has a little sister Erin, who I believe is 2 or 3 years younger than us. Sara and I watched Erin go through all of her high school phases (the goth eyeliner phase being my favorite). Somehow Erin lapped us both in the 'growing up' department and is now married... has a home and just a few weeks ago, gave birth to Emily. WHAT?!?!?! Congratulations, Erin! This news, however, effectively makes Sara and I the oldest people in the universe.
In Mumbai I got to hang out with the uncle I stayed w/ for my internship four years ago. So many memories flooded back. It was good to be back- I actually remembered my way through the streets. My little cousins are all grown up now and living large in Mumbai. My 19 yr old cousin is quite the Casanova now. Gross.
Man, I gotta jet. Like always. Much love from the desert. Jennaiya, I loves you too. Pass a hug to the corners for me.
Back to work.
Craziest discovery of the day--> There's a marathon in Mumbai in Jan! I want to run it. Desparately. Yet I'm left w/ less than 2 months to train. In the desert nonetheless! Man, I've been trying to run this mofo for the past 2 years. Year 1 - broke leg 2 places. Year 2- left country to find self. I never can predict where the next year will take me. It's kinda funny to realize that I'm already 24 and my life hasn't yet stabilized into something predictable. I don't want to let this opportunity go. Hmmm... we shall see.
Oh, and while we're on the subject of a stable life, let's talk updates shall we? Sara Baker, who I have known since high school spanish classes, has a little sister Erin, who I believe is 2 or 3 years younger than us. Sara and I watched Erin go through all of her high school phases (the goth eyeliner phase being my favorite). Somehow Erin lapped us both in the 'growing up' department and is now married... has a home and just a few weeks ago, gave birth to Emily. WHAT?!?!?! Congratulations, Erin! This news, however, effectively makes Sara and I the oldest people in the universe.
In Mumbai I got to hang out with the uncle I stayed w/ for my internship four years ago. So many memories flooded back. It was good to be back- I actually remembered my way through the streets. My little cousins are all grown up now and living large in Mumbai. My 19 yr old cousin is quite the Casanova now. Gross.
Man, I gotta jet. Like always. Much love from the desert. Jennaiya, I loves you too. Pass a hug to the corners for me.
Friday, November 12, 2004
ketchup
sorry to have been MIA for so long.
So crazy....
I don't know where to begin.
First, Happy Freakin Diwali!! The indian new year. Much love to all y'all.
I'm in Mumbai, which is weird... it's the first time I've been here (besides my internship) without my grandfather. Every inch of this city carries a different memory of traveling with my grandparents.. I miss my family. Especially today.
BUSH WON?!?! Noooooo!!!! this isn't a political site... but come on! I'm not coming home for four years... until the world begins to make sense again. Good news.. Obama won, and that gives me hope. Bobby Jindal is also in office now; I haven't decided how I feel about that one just yet. He changed his name *and* his religion???
Speaking of religion...Happy Eid as well. I fasted for 3 days of the Ramadan to test my willpower and show solidarity (3 villages that I work with are Muslim (the other 2 are Hindu)) w/ my community. My NGO is actually going to Pakistan for the Unity conference, taking one of the other fellows (b/c it isn't directly related to my project, i'm not going). They're taking a train to Amraser and walking across the border for a 3 day conference. Powerful stuff.
Mumbai is such a strange parallel universe. They had an elephant standing outside a McDonalds to advertise a shopping mall (in the middle of traffic). I am so angry sometimes I don't know where to start.
My mom is the new President of our Samaj -->250+ family members... events, trips, the board etc. (For those of you who I haven't dragged to a family event, let me tell you coordinating them is no walk in the park). Somebody, anybody, everybody... congratulate her. Yay mom!!! I'm so excited for you!!!
Other than that, life is good. I'm writing a lot, working on a collective effort book. Fingers crossed on the quality of writing... :) I've never written a book proposal before but so tips are for sure appreciated.
It feels good to finally being doing something that feels right.
Gotta go. A big hug to everyone back home.
Oh, and happy belated to Ace and Sara2%! I couldn't get to a computer earlier. Happy BDay guys.
So crazy....
I don't know where to begin.
First, Happy Freakin Diwali!! The indian new year. Much love to all y'all.
I'm in Mumbai, which is weird... it's the first time I've been here (besides my internship) without my grandfather. Every inch of this city carries a different memory of traveling with my grandparents.. I miss my family. Especially today.
BUSH WON?!?! Noooooo!!!! this isn't a political site... but come on! I'm not coming home for four years... until the world begins to make sense again. Good news.. Obama won, and that gives me hope. Bobby Jindal is also in office now; I haven't decided how I feel about that one just yet. He changed his name *and* his religion???
Speaking of religion...Happy Eid as well. I fasted for 3 days of the Ramadan to test my willpower and show solidarity (3 villages that I work with are Muslim (the other 2 are Hindu)) w/ my community. My NGO is actually going to Pakistan for the Unity conference, taking one of the other fellows (b/c it isn't directly related to my project, i'm not going). They're taking a train to Amraser and walking across the border for a 3 day conference. Powerful stuff.
Mumbai is such a strange parallel universe. They had an elephant standing outside a McDonalds to advertise a shopping mall (in the middle of traffic). I am so angry sometimes I don't know where to start.
My mom is the new President of our Samaj -->250+ family members... events, trips, the board etc. (For those of you who I haven't dragged to a family event, let me tell you coordinating them is no walk in the park). Somebody, anybody, everybody... congratulate her. Yay mom!!! I'm so excited for you!!!
Other than that, life is good. I'm writing a lot, working on a collective effort book. Fingers crossed on the quality of writing... :) I've never written a book proposal before but so tips are for sure appreciated.
It feels good to finally being doing something that feels right.
Gotta go. A big hug to everyone back home.
Oh, and happy belated to Ace and Sara2%! I couldn't get to a computer earlier. Happy BDay guys.