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).
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Thursday, September 16, 2004
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
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!
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!
Friday, September 03, 2004
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.
...
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.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
ramblings from across an ocean
my tummy is in knots. no joke. I'm trying to slowly acclimate to local water and my body does not approve of the decision. bleh.
small world: One of the fellows, Anup (from CA) actually studied in Milan with me!! He studied through a different university and we didn't know each other, but apparently we went to a lot of the same places... crazy coincidence no?.
Favorite quotes from people thus far:
*(during a debate on growth and change) ..."you know, like how a caterpillar turns into a bee...oh wait... you know what I mean... "
*"I'm going to be on those malaria pills like birth control." (it's funny only b/c it came from one of the guys.)"
*"you guys know Jon Stuart?.... yeah... I wonder what he's up to..."
Also, my partner for my project (Rishi) is a guy and that will pose some cultural issues as far as how close we will be able to work and/or interact (I've got to watch how I talk to him and my body language to make sure we don't come off as scandalous.. and therefore compromise the project). Anyway, Rishi suggested we pretend we are fiances for the year and then break the engagement at the end of the fellowship... but later we nixed the idea b/c it would only lead to more ?'s and room for error. My point in telling the story: I was proposed to and had the engagement broken in the same conversation! That's got to be a record.
and last, but not least, the websites that I promised...
the orientation site where I am now.... and my NGO (Manav Sadhna)... and my project details.
Oh... and an interesting fact I read about today. Apparently, the western colonizers of India were confused and referred to Indians as "Hindu's" instead of "Indu's" (as in 'from the Indus Valley') and that has indirectly contributed to a lot of the Hindu-Muslim conflict over the years. That's about a chapter of a book summarized in my own words... so there's a lot more to it... but anyway I'm rambling again.
I'm out.
small world: One of the fellows, Anup (from CA) actually studied in Milan with me!! He studied through a different university and we didn't know each other, but apparently we went to a lot of the same places... crazy coincidence no?.
Favorite quotes from people thus far:
*(during a debate on growth and change) ..."you know, like how a caterpillar turns into a bee...oh wait... you know what I mean... "
*"I'm going to be on those malaria pills like birth control." (it's funny only b/c it came from one of the guys.)"
*"you guys know Jon Stuart?.... yeah... I wonder what he's up to..."
Also, my partner for my project (Rishi) is a guy and that will pose some cultural issues as far as how close we will be able to work and/or interact (I've got to watch how I talk to him and my body language to make sure we don't come off as scandalous.. and therefore compromise the project). Anyway, Rishi suggested we pretend we are fiances for the year and then break the engagement at the end of the fellowship... but later we nixed the idea b/c it would only lead to more ?'s and room for error. My point in telling the story: I was proposed to and had the engagement broken in the same conversation! That's got to be a record.
and last, but not least, the websites that I promised...
the orientation site where I am now.... and my NGO (Manav Sadhna)... and my project details.
Oh... and an interesting fact I read about today. Apparently, the western colonizers of India were confused and referred to Indians as "Hindu's" instead of "Indu's" (as in 'from the Indus Valley') and that has indirectly contributed to a lot of the Hindu-Muslim conflict over the years. That's about a chapter of a book summarized in my own words... so there's a lot more to it... but anyway I'm rambling again.
I'm out.
Sunday, August 22, 2004
And the craziness begins...
I am sick. I'm a collage right now, a med student's dream... I've had a fever, nausea, sunburn, a cough, congestion, a perpetual tummyache, and a few other things I won't mention. owww...... :( Funny thing is that I don't understand Indian medicine so I just take what the staff member's give me... for instance, my fever was medicated with two blue pills the size of sprees, and a white pill. Don't ask me what they were b/c I couldn't tell you.
But it's all good. Spent the weekend in a tribal village (i.e. no running water, no electricity, waking up to a rooster... milling our own flour, farming, bathing in a waterfall... the whole deal. What I saw amazed me though. These people were super resilient and super happy. Simple and close. The feeling of communal living was tangible. One household's kids were the whole village's kids. Crops were shared, men cooked when the women didn't feel well, kids as young as five took care of the babies while the parents and older kids were out in the fields.... it was a great surprise to realize that I had come see how to build a community... and they were the ones teaching me what it even means to be a community. I was luckily in a house where I could speak Gujarati... so I had a few really great conversations with the mom of the house while I helped her farm and mill flour. They literally have no contact with the outside world (outside of their surrounding four villages) and it was interesting to see how perceptions differ, needs are relative.... I don't know. Unbelievable.
Got incredibly frustrated yesterday.. my email account is apparently NOT SUPPORTED IN INDIA. After the 49846216548 times that I changed the account to make it suitable for india... that is enfuriating. I'm so mad I can't even spell. Plus I haven't really gotten the chance to talk to my mom or brothers.... my last call home was spent trying to figure out some discrepencies in my finances left behind.... grrr...... I miss you guys. I'm so sad. I am sending rakdhi's first chance I get. I miss my family and not being there for key moments. I miss my mom. I miss my apt and my roommates. I want to go home for the weekend.
I met the girl who did our project last year. Crazy energetic and happy. I'm excited to talk to her. And small world, I actually know her from camp.
So far, this is already nothing like I imagined from my expectations of what India trips have been... or Sanjay's crash course of grassroots 'development' work in India. (the term development still sounds condescending to me.) I'm totally rambling. Peace.
But it's all good. Spent the weekend in a tribal village (i.e. no running water, no electricity, waking up to a rooster... milling our own flour, farming, bathing in a waterfall... the whole deal. What I saw amazed me though. These people were super resilient and super happy. Simple and close. The feeling of communal living was tangible. One household's kids were the whole village's kids. Crops were shared, men cooked when the women didn't feel well, kids as young as five took care of the babies while the parents and older kids were out in the fields.... it was a great surprise to realize that I had come see how to build a community... and they were the ones teaching me what it even means to be a community. I was luckily in a house where I could speak Gujarati... so I had a few really great conversations with the mom of the house while I helped her farm and mill flour. They literally have no contact with the outside world (outside of their surrounding four villages) and it was interesting to see how perceptions differ, needs are relative.... I don't know. Unbelievable.
Got incredibly frustrated yesterday.. my email account is apparently NOT SUPPORTED IN INDIA. After the 49846216548 times that I changed the account to make it suitable for india... that is enfuriating. I'm so mad I can't even spell. Plus I haven't really gotten the chance to talk to my mom or brothers.... my last call home was spent trying to figure out some discrepencies in my finances left behind.... grrr...... I miss you guys. I'm so sad. I am sending rakdhi's first chance I get. I miss my family and not being there for key moments. I miss my mom. I miss my apt and my roommates. I want to go home for the weekend.
I met the girl who did our project last year. Crazy energetic and happy. I'm excited to talk to her. And small world, I actually know her from camp.
So far, this is already nothing like I imagined from my expectations of what India trips have been... or Sanjay's crash course of grassroots 'development' work in India. (the term development still sounds condescending to me.) I'm totally rambling. Peace.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
quick update
can't talk long... but wanted to update while i had access to a computer.
whoa. squared. orientation day one: I'm thinking they will ease us into this experience.... oh no. after the flag raising ceremony for Independence day, and some team games.... a BUS FULL of kids 10-14 yrs old (like 80 of them total) come in from the Gandhi Ashram (a boarding house for kids of migrant laborers) and we are each to 'adopt' 3 kids for the day and take them to an amusement park. (WHA?!?!) They didn't speak any, let me repeat, any english.... but somehow kids' languages, music and games are universal. I feel like I've been running non stop since then. They have packed a LOT into this month of orientation where every moment is running late for the next meeting. Including a reader we have to finish .... 1140 plus pages!!! Wow. Not that I mind; I'm a huge reader and actually excited to get my hands on anything that will better prepare me for this year.
Sidenote reply to an email I got earlier (and yeah, I'm glad you didn't post it...) ... that sucks! ... but don't be upset! find a way to do it!!! (and you know that, in the end you have to do it.... for the sake of the greater good of everything!!!)
I'm slowly (very slowly) acclimating. Our campus is beautiful... I'll get the website on the next post. There's birds i've never seen before, monkeys, little chipmunks, frogs (that luckily I hear but don't see) .... i keep pretending I'm in Jumanji. AAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
With all the preparation they are taking us through (great speakers/research- leading the field in development work in India..., field trips and team/trust building games ) ..... the only thing I know is that this year is going to be one hell of a ride.
Vim/ Vish, have a great year at school! Miss you guys!
whoa. squared. orientation day one: I'm thinking they will ease us into this experience.... oh no. after the flag raising ceremony for Independence day, and some team games.... a BUS FULL of kids 10-14 yrs old (like 80 of them total) come in from the Gandhi Ashram (a boarding house for kids of migrant laborers) and we are each to 'adopt' 3 kids for the day and take them to an amusement park. (WHA?!?!) They didn't speak any, let me repeat, any english.... but somehow kids' languages, music and games are universal. I feel like I've been running non stop since then. They have packed a LOT into this month of orientation where every moment is running late for the next meeting. Including a reader we have to finish .... 1140 plus pages!!! Wow. Not that I mind; I'm a huge reader and actually excited to get my hands on anything that will better prepare me for this year.
Sidenote reply to an email I got earlier (and yeah, I'm glad you didn't post it...) ... that sucks! ... but don't be upset! find a way to do it!!! (and you know that, in the end you have to do it.... for the sake of the greater good of everything!!!)
I'm slowly (very slowly) acclimating. Our campus is beautiful... I'll get the website on the next post. There's birds i've never seen before, monkeys, little chipmunks, frogs (that luckily I hear but don't see) .... i keep pretending I'm in Jumanji. AAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
With all the preparation they are taking us through (great speakers/research- leading the field in development work in India..., field trips and team/trust building games ) ..... the only thing I know is that this year is going to be one hell of a ride.
Vim/ Vish, have a great year at school! Miss you guys!
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Aaaaaa!
I'm here. Safe. In India. Home of the slowest net connections EVAH. Holy God. So, yeah, the flight was about 20 hrs... but I met up with one of the fellows (Ankur on the Entreprenuership project) on the plane (he jokes around almost as much as I do...) and so the trip didn't seem so long. We had a 40 min stop in Frankfort, so we ran off the plane for a Heusweisen (sp?), our last beers for a year. Got into Mumbai at 11 pm, Ahmedabad at 2 am.
Spent the night at the Manav Sandna house across the street from Mahatma Gandhi's ashram. This morning we got to the IRMA orientation site in Anand (the dorms where I'm spending the next month) on the lap of another fellow in an SUV filled w/ 8 ppl and their respective luggage. Craziness.
It's the monsoon (rainy) season here, so certain roads of the town required driving through about 2 ft of standing water. The campus is also flooded... so we moved in to our dorms with our pants hitched up to get through about a foot of water.
The fact that I know Gujarati is awesome b/c that's the language of the town where I'm spending the next month. They also found a Kutchi language tutor for Rushi & me, so we can *hopefully* have a basic understanding of the local language of the area where we are spending the next yr.
I met a few of the last yr fellows and it turns out that about half of them are staying in India. That's insane to think about--> half of them are not going back. But I'm already feeling the energy of these people and the work that's being done.. Rish (of 2002) had told me that once people feel how much is happening, everyone wants to contribute and be a part of it.
To add to that maddness, any time I'll tell the older fellows which project I'm on, they smile and go "ohhhh..." like they know some secret that I don't. When I saw that this was a recurring phenomenon, I asked one of them what that look meant and she said I'd see when I got there. O K ... that doesn't worry me... oh, wait, yes it does.
(sidenote: One of the fellows is going to Colombia for her masters as well. Ang... let me know if you want contact info.)
Ah, so jetlagged. Also, I've already managed to make some risky decisions regarding the drinking water... so I imagine I'll be getting sick sooner rather than later. I just want to get it out of the way and build some immunity.
I still can't believe I am here or that I'm doing this.
Spent the night at the Manav Sandna house across the street from Mahatma Gandhi's ashram. This morning we got to the IRMA orientation site in Anand (the dorms where I'm spending the next month) on the lap of another fellow in an SUV filled w/ 8 ppl and their respective luggage. Craziness.
It's the monsoon (rainy) season here, so certain roads of the town required driving through about 2 ft of standing water. The campus is also flooded... so we moved in to our dorms with our pants hitched up to get through about a foot of water.
The fact that I know Gujarati is awesome b/c that's the language of the town where I'm spending the next month. They also found a Kutchi language tutor for Rushi & me, so we can *hopefully* have a basic understanding of the local language of the area where we are spending the next yr.
I met a few of the last yr fellows and it turns out that about half of them are staying in India. That's insane to think about--> half of them are not going back. But I'm already feeling the energy of these people and the work that's being done.. Rish (of 2002) had told me that once people feel how much is happening, everyone wants to contribute and be a part of it.
To add to that maddness, any time I'll tell the older fellows which project I'm on, they smile and go "ohhhh..." like they know some secret that I don't. When I saw that this was a recurring phenomenon, I asked one of them what that look meant and she said I'd see when I got there. O K ... that doesn't worry me... oh, wait, yes it does.
(sidenote: One of the fellows is going to Colombia for her masters as well. Ang... let me know if you want contact info.)
Ah, so jetlagged. Also, I've already managed to make some risky decisions regarding the drinking water... so I imagine I'll be getting sick sooner rather than later. I just want to get it out of the way and build some immunity.
I still can't believe I am here or that I'm doing this.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
starting from scratch
I consider myself educated. Not as much as I could be or want to be.. but enough. I just realized, however, that when I get to India I am going to be illiterate. (?!?!!!)
(did you know that illiteracy is one of the reasons diners tend to put pictures next to written descriptions on menus?)
Can a language really be learned in a month though? I guess I have no choice.
(did you know that illiteracy is one of the reasons diners tend to put pictures next to written descriptions on menus?)
Can a language really be learned in a month though? I guess I have no choice.
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Meds, meds, meds
I'm going tomorrow to get my shots done. About four, maybe five total. After researching all the craziness I will likely encounter and need to take preventative action against, I am afraid of getting sick or dead. Not cool. Dying would definitely be low on my list of cool things to do while living abroad.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Still in Chicago
This is going to be how I keep up on the homefront. I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M GOING!! Ok, so I'm super nervous. I've never stayed in India longer than 3 months, let alone a year!! Made a mental list of all the things I miss every time I'm in India....
*swimming pools
*carpeting
*Air conditioning
*clean streets
*feminism
*certain legal reprecussions
*blending in, and not representing a whole country
*being able to communicate (yeah, this one's huge)
*strong showers
*easy access to friends/family
*tank tops
*men w/ boundaries
*driving (I would never drive in India.. they're CRAZY!!)
*my independence
With that being said, my passport is still valid and I just got my visa done. Holy God, am I really going??? Yeah. Yeah, I am. EEEEEEP!
*swimming pools
*carpeting
*Air conditioning
*clean streets
*feminism
*certain legal reprecussions
*blending in, and not representing a whole country
*being able to communicate (yeah, this one's huge)
*strong showers
*easy access to friends/family
*tank tops
*men w/ boundaries
*driving (I would never drive in India.. they're CRAZY!!)
*my independence
With that being said, my passport is still valid and I just got my visa done. Holy God, am I really going??? Yeah. Yeah, I am. EEEEEEP!
Testing out new medium.
Holy shit. I'm going to India!
The Details:
I was awarded a fellowship with Indicorps to set up a Rural Design School in Kachchh, Gujarat. Basically, setting up an art and design school as well as setting up a sustainable marketing plan to get the artists into new markets. I'm taking on a lot, and the only thing I'm sure of is that I have no idea what I have gotten myself into- but I'm excited nonetheless.
The Details:
I was awarded a fellowship with Indicorps to set up a Rural Design School in Kachchh, Gujarat. Basically, setting up an art and design school as well as setting up a sustainable marketing plan to get the artists into new markets. I'm taking on a lot, and the only thing I'm sure of is that I have no idea what I have gotten myself into- but I'm excited nonetheless.