Acha cha cha cha

Hey everyone,
As usual, it has been too long since I have posted, and I'll try to remember most of what I have done since last post. I'll TRY, but keep in mind a lot has happened (as usual).
So generally, I'm finished with phase 2 of culture shock, which is the homesick/lonely/isolated feeling and I'm really starting to get used to life here. I realized that just this past Sunday, driving for hours through the desert back to Jaipur from Bikaner. It's nice feeling more at ease, more comfortable with the group and my host family. I was really surprised that when my host mother left for a few day trip I actually missed her. I'm also more acclimated in the sense that I know where things are. I now have found a park where I can exercise in the mornings, and I no longer get lost on my way home from places in spite of there being no street signs. Also, I have yet to get sick even though I've accidently had sips of water 3 times. So I'm overall happier than I was before.

Some small events of late include going to a bookfair, a book launch, and sleeping over at Becca's house. The bookfair was not nearly as cool as the ones at home, but there were the most random English books EVER, most of which cost about 50 rupees (aka about $1). Needless to say, I didn't buy any of them, but instead bought "A G-d of Small Things" which so far is excellent. The book launch was a different story. It was of a novel about global terrorism inspired by 26/11 (the terrorist attacks in Mumbai during American thanksgiving). During the "press conference," the author made a number of really chauvanistic (spelled correctly) comments, and was more or less fear mongering. It was kind of like the US after 9/11, or so the news/American friends have told me. All in all, waste of time. I did not buy the book, but did end up arguing randomly with another person in the audience about the Arab world and how it did, in fact, attempt to promote peace sometimes. Sleeping at Becca's was both really great and really eye-opening. I saw a more traditional way of living in India (house architecture, gender roles, etc), and got some quality time with her when I could just talk about our lives at Midd. I was really taken aback by her host father, who I found unnecessarily combative toward us. Not fun.

On bigger events, this past week we went on an educational excursion to Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, which are more desert-like than Jaipur, and therefore waaay hotter. There, we witnessed the work of various development NGOs. We saw a rural hospital, a school, a women's empowerment project, and a refugee settlement. I hate hospitals, but it was great to see what they were providing to the rural populations of the area, services ranging from medecines to operations to sexual education and midwife training. The empowerment project was interesting but problematic, since each women gets her monthly funding for this project from her husband. If her husband won't give her money, then she cannot "empower" herself, so it is somewhat flawed. For my independent study, I might work with the NGO who advocates for citizenship for these refugees. In that case, I would work in their office and probably observe how refugee camps in the area work and what the lives of the refugees are like. Just a possibility, esp. considering how hot it will be in April. We also went on a camel ride through the desert on that trip. At first terrifying, but then SO COOL. Probably cooler than autorickshaws.

Today we were introduced to the various locations/NGOs for the workshops we will be doing later this month. Basically this means we are observing/helping the work of one NGO. I hope to work with one in Lucknow which helps Muslim women become aware of their political and social rights, or one in Varanasi (where in the Ganges is) that preserves the city's traditional weaving culture. The Ganges is cool, but the NGO in Lucknow sounds waay cooler to me.

btw my Hindi is also improving. I tried to speak it to someone at my house the other day and failed miserably, but then I found them and corrected myself and they just sort of awkwardly laughed at me. Progress? maybe.

btw, if anyone wants to send letters or care packages with western treasures, here is my address:
Michal Micner
World Learning, India/SIT
2, Shree Rampura Colony
Civil Lines
Jaipur, Rajasthan, 302006
India

love from Bharat!
Mimi