Saturday, June 5, 2010

Weekend!

My relationship with John, the other volunteer, is quickly becoming a one sided pissing contest. It’s one sided because I really don’t care to compete with him, and he‘s constantly trying to one up me. He’s just angry that I was asked to write a grant proposal, and not him. He’s the one who has been here for one month, gone on tens of field visits, and thinks he knows everything. But I was asked to write a proposal. Ha! In all honesty, it’s highly probable that I was asked because it is for an American organization, and I am an American person who has earned a college degree. John has one more year before finishing his bachelor‘s; in India that means something. Those two reasons are most likely the entire reason I was asked, nothing more.

I don’t even understand why he’s getting his panties in a bunch! In a few short days he is going to have to sit down with an English speaking staff member and translate an entire annual report. That’s huge! My Canadian friend needs to simply get the eff over it. Unless he’s hoping to go home with great stories about securing additional grant funding, and translating an entire annual report, there is no point competing for accomplishments. Yes, I want go home feeling like my time spent here was for something. But as long as things get done, we all win. Right?

My relationship with him isn’t all bad. He extended an invite to me to go on a field visit to see some service participants. I jumped at the chance but was a little worried about the transport. Rajiv, John and I would have to ride on motorcycle. When I seemed to hesitate, John asked if I was scared to ride (see pissing contest above). I told him I wasn’t scared of the motorcycle. I was scared of the motorcycle, no helmet and Indian traffic rules. It was the combination of the three that made the endeavor seem a little dodgy.

But I said yes. How could I not? We rode out three on the bike with no helmets, roaring down the decrepit rural roads, getting edged into the dirt by the passing tractors and overloaded trucks. We went to three villages and were served chai at every single stop. If things became too scary, I just closed my eyes. I learned that trick when riding the matatus in Kenya. In the end I was invited to spend a week milking cows at one home, I held a baby at another home, scared the living daylights out of a baby somewhere else, and I’ll gladly do the same thing tomorrow.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Pre-written Entry 2

6/4/10

Yesterday was my first working day at the GCK. To become familiar with the organization’s many programs, failures, successes and future goals, I had to spend the entire day reading annual reports from the last three years. At first the reading was enthralling, but it quickly became monotonous and repetitive. The organization’s main focuses are the Family Helper Program, women‘s Self Help Groups, and a loan program to purchase dairy animals with the acronym LEEP. The reports were full of acronyms, some without any sort of explanation, and some for things only mentioned once. One acronym was eight letters long, and actually more complex than the program’s full name.

There is an internet connection at the center, but it is dial-up and can take a long time to connect. That means I probably will not be getting online very often, and I will only be able to post photos when I make the trip to Jaipur. I decided not to purchase a SIM card for my phone, as of right now. That might change, but I really don’t feel the need for a telephone right now.

Before dinner last night, we were invited over to visit the neighboring family. I wish I could have understood what the mother was saying! She was all smiles and hand gestures, so I just smiled back. She fed me a huge plate full of watermelon covered in salt. It was a little weird, but I ate as much as I could without spoiling my appetite for the simple and delicious dinner Govind, the cook/general helper, was preparing.

It rained really hard while everyone was sleeping last night. I had both of my windows open to catch the cool breeze. For the first time since arriving in India one week ago, I woke up from my sleep and needed to put more clothes on! Normally I have to sleep on my back with my limbs spread away from my body just so I don’t sweat my skin off. But last night I had to put a jacket on to stay warm. Rajiv says that the temperature should be about 25 degrees Centigrade today. That, my friends, is amazing.

Tomorrow is Saturday, which means I have the day off. I don’t have any reason to head into Jaipur, but I think staying around the organization might get a little boring. Also, I don’t know if John is going into the city. I don’t know how to get in on my own.

Pre-written Entry 1

6/3/10

Yesterday afternoon I arrived at my volunteer placement, my home away from home for the next ten weeks. For two months leading up to my departure, I had been a little worried that I would be the only volunteer working for the organization the majority of my time in India. Imagine my delight when I learned that there was another volunteer here, who would be staying for almost the entire time of my stay.

Jon, a 23 year old Canadian, is working on some sort of internship, class or directed study through his university in Alberta. He is studying international development, set to graduate next year. So far we’ve been getting to know each other and getting along pretty well.

The organization is surrounded by a cement wall, with an metal entry gate. There is a dirt path leading up to a very slippery, sand covered ramp, leading to another dirt path, leading up to the main building. The main building is shaped like a U with the offices to the right, and my dormitory to the left. The walls on the front side of the building are covered with blue squares and rectangles showing charts of program statistics, maps of the region, and posters of the organization’s vision and mission statement. Some of these posters and charts are hand written in English, others in Hindi.

I could not have asked for more friendly people to have at a host organization. After I met with the director and the person I would be working with in the main office, I was taken on a tour to meet the rest of the staff and see the other offices. There are about 15 other men who work for the organization, filling various roles from accounting to teaching. At least I think that’s true; it was a little difficult to understand what was being told to me.

After the workday, which ends at 5ish, all the guys sat in the grassy shade and chatted with one another until dusk. Most of what was being said was in Hindi, so I didn’t understand a single word of it. I brought my Hindi phrase book out from my luggage and it was passed around, a few guys taking turns at having a look. One man sitting next to me took the book, opened to a page, turned to me and read, “What is your religion?” Very few conversation topics are off limits in India, and that question seemed to be the perfect transition to even more personal questions - how often do I pray, when will I get married, my stance on arranged marriage vs. love marriage, how many children are appropriate in a family, questions about my family members, et. al.

Dinner was served pretty late, and I was beyond starving my the time food was in front of me. It was simple, and delicious. Like a true Irish girl, I would eat potatoes day and night. Luckily dinner was a curry dish of potatoes and onions, and all you can eat chapatti. We all eat with our hands; and even though I washed my hands and even showered after dinner, my fingers were still stained curry yellow when I woke this morning.

I love this.

Last night’s sleep was fitful due to the extreme heat of the desert, and my fan cutting off every so often. At the hotels I was staying at, I would just sleep with the fan on, in my undies. Even then I would be hot. But my dormitory is on the first floor, and my bed is right in front of a window. I have the feeling that it would be a little inappropriate to be sleeping next to naked. The guys sleep on the roof, in the open air, under the stars. I’m jealous. I would do it too, but again, I think that would be inappropriate.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Tourist Time!

Hi everyone! Two blogs in a row. Lucky you!

Today was my day to explore the city. Mr. Vinod arranged for a rickshaw driver to take me to all of the tourist spots in the Pink City. This included Hawa Mahal, City Palace, the Water Palace, the Amber Fort and this astronomical observatory with the world's largest sun dial. The trip was supposed to start at 9:30, and it actually started right on time. The temperature at 9:30 a.m. was bearable, but it quickly became close to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. I had enough water, but it was so hot and the sun was blindingly bright! I was ridiculously cautions with my sunscreen, and I'm happy for it.

The Amber Fort was by far the most impressive of the places I visited today. It is a huge structure that seems to go on forever, and is like a labyrinth inside. Unfortunately the Amber Fort was at the very end of the six hour tour, and I was completely pooped by the time I got there. I was able to make the best of it by reminding myself that I will not have another chance to check it out. Ever. That seemed to do the trick because I walked it from end to end, or at least as far as I could get. At first, every hall way I walked down led to the exit. I was able to get further in eventually, but by the time I wanted to leave the exit was nowhere in sight. Talk about frustrating.

The Amber Fort was much nicer than the Red Fort I visited in Delhi. I was amazed that as a tourist, there was very little to which I didn't have access. I can imagine that if the fort was in the U.S., only 1/5 would be open to tourists. The specific path would be roped off for visitors to follow, replica room furnishings from the era would full a few rooms, guard rails would have been drilled into the 4,000 year old walls. In a way, I'm glad I was able to walk everywhere, see whatever rooms I wanted to see, take pictures I wanted to take. But another part of me sees this ancient, historical fort being trashed, touched and vandalized six days a week from now until eternity. It makes me a little sad.

I took many, many pictures and I'll upload them soon. Right now I have about 15 minutes before Mr. Vinod comes to my guest house to talk with me for an hour and then we go to dinner. I'm so starving now, but dinner doesn't happen till at least 7:30. Good thing I bought digestive biscuits at the market today. They're pretty good - think Ritz cracker mixed with a vanilla wafer. It'll do till dinner.

**Update: I have uploaded my pictures onto Facebook. Click here to see them.***

Monday, May 31, 2010

In Jaipur!

Finally!

I don't even know where to start. I was able to negotiate the New Delhi Railway Station at 6:00 a.m. this morning and boarded my train without much trouble. I rode first class AC and I think it might have spoiled me for future train rides in India. I was expecting something completely different, so I made sure to pick up some potato stuffed fried thing called a pakora, and filled my thermos with chai. I know, how cool is that? Anyway, I boarded my train and was immediately served more chai, breakfast and lunch. Oh, and I was given a news paper to read during the ride. The air conditioning was such a nice change from the Delhi heat.

Now I am in Jaipur and I am amazed, and my spirits are very, very high. I checked in to my guesthouse at about 11:30, took a walk, and came back for a short nap. I had dinner with the volunteer coordinator, Mr. Vinod, at this awesome restaurant. If I had my camera I would have taken a picture of my amazing feast. I am so, so, so stuffed!

Oh! And I have some amazing news. A while back I emailed Mr. Vinod and asked him what my final price would be for ten weeks at my program. I mentioned that I was on a very tight budget and wanted to know the total cost before heading out. As a volunteer, I knew I would have to pay for my room and board, and make a contribution to the organization that is offering me the privilege of volunteering. On the website, the cost for 10 weeks is just over USD $1000 . Mr. Vinod wrote back that it would be less than was listed on the website since I am staying for so long, and not working as an English teacher.

So, what is the opposite of getting ripped off? The last few days I have had to constantly bargain for everything, and always keep an eye out for scams. Mr. Vinod sat me down in the guest house lobby and broke down what I will need to pay to his organization and my host organization. Just a side note - Mr. Vinod and his organization simply acts as the coordinator, lining up international volunteers with organizations in India looking for help. He explained that since I was on a budget, he found a community development organization that would house me and feed me for 10 weeks for only 5,000 rupees. Doing the math, that is about $107. I had to ask again if there are any additional fees or costs. He explained that the only other costs I will have to pay for would be personal expenses and touristy stuff.

What?!

I really don't know what to say.

Friday, May 28, 2010

I am in India!

Hey guys!


Like the title says, I have arrived in India, safe, sound and happy. I finally had a chance to check my email and update you all.


Getting here was quite an adventure. First, my bus ride to Chicago flew by without me even noticing. From there, I made my way to O'Hare in record time and got on board my first flight without any problems. While on the flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, it seemed to be taking forever. But once I was enjoying my layover in Germany, it seemed like I had just left Chicago. Regarding the flight on Air India to Frankfurt, I have never been on much an active flight in all my years. There were so, so, so many children on board and everyone was getting out of their seats to walk around. There were also about 3 screaming babies withing three rows of me, but I had earplugs. So it didn't drive me crazy.


On the flight from Frankfurt to Delhi I accidentally slept. I actually wanted to sleep on my flight to Frankfurt and stay up on the flight into Delhi, but it didn't happen that way. I was so sleepy I was seeing double!


Once I arrived in Delhi I found an ATM and prepaid for a taxi. I gave the guy at the booth a map for my hotel, the Pallavi Palace, and paid roughly $5 for the ride. When I got in the taxi, the location the man at the booth had written on the slip was not the location I needed to go. Although the taxi driver used a map I printed from google to do his best to get me there, there was a point where he turned around in his seat, pointed to a closed road, and told me me quite simply, "No taxi. Rickshaw." I was then hustled out of the taxi and loaded onto a carriage pulled by a bicycle. I asked the price and the young man said 50 rupees.


I would like to interrupt my own story for a moment and thank Blogger for automatically saving my entries. The Internet cafe I am at just lost power and thanks to the auto save, I don't have to start from scratch!


Back to my story, the driver said 50rupees, I halfheartedly said ten. Although I knew 50 was a rip off, I just wanted to find my hotel, put my bags down, and get something to eat. I agreed to 50 rupees, hopped on the seat and we took off down the dodgiest street I have ever seen in my life. There is no way for me to accurately describe my surroundings. I had to hold on for dear life because of all the bricks in the road, bricks that had fallen from the surrounding dilapidated buildings. I wish I could have seen myself!

The rickshaw driver didn't know where to bring me. The young man was maybe 16 years old. Although I had a map, he seemed clueless. At some point in the adventure, he turned his head and said, "now 100 rupees." When we finally arrived at my hotel, the young man asked for 100 rupees. I said no, and handed him a 50 note. He argued in what I think was Hindi, and I argued back in English.

So that's the brief summary of how I got to my hotel from the airport. This morning I woke up at about 4:00 and stayed in my bed until 6:30. I got up, dressed and took a walk around New Delhi looking for food. I'm a little hesitant to eat any and everything just yet, so I ended up heading back to my hotel for breakfast. I ordered aloo gobi from room service, and the staff looked at me like I was a little crazy. I got the impression that aloo gobi is not breakfast food. I guess it's like walking into a Denny's and ordering a plate of spighetti at 7:30 a.m.

Now I am off to go shopping for clothes and a sim card for my phone. I'm a little nervous to leave the area around my hotel because it was so hard to find my way here last night. But I'm brave, so I'll do it.

Love!!!!

MCC

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

I Leave Tomorrow!

I'm trying to put together a blog entry, but it's not happening. I'll post a video sometime this evening or tomorrow. Videos are easier. Check the youtube link on the left. Infact, bookmark it on your browser.

:D

I'm leaving tomorrow. I'm leaving tomorrow. I'm leaving tomorrow. I'm leaving tomorrow.