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Where’s the Beef?

Monday, February 11th, 2008

McDonald's in Delhi, India

I knew that the many McDonald’s in Delhi wouldn’t serve beef burgers…but I have to say, I was still a bit disappointed when I finally got to one and saw the menu.

Alas, though, the Aloo Tikki Burger and small fries sufficed. I mean, you can’t go wrong with the Macker fries. And for Rs. 50 (about $1.25), I think it was just fine.

A small confession, though…for someone who loves Indian food as much as I do, I’ve been eating WAY too much American fare. Although I’ve been in mainland for “just” five days, I’ve had Mackers (twice), Subway, and Pizza Hut…not to mention the American-style food at the cafe.

There are a few reasons behind this: a) my body is still recovering from a bout of under-cooked dal. b) Western food is finally available. c) Western places take credit cards (imperative as I’m low on cash after said pick-pocketing incident).

But geez, I love getting my greasy grub on. Even if they don’t have a cow, man.

Subway in Delhi

Posted in *India, food/beverage | 3 Comments »

That’s a Wrap

Friday, February 8th, 2008

Since January 30, I’ve officially been finished with my time at Impulse. I know when I first started there I said I’d be blogging a bit about my work. Well, as you loyal readers out there may have realized, that didn’t happen so much. While I was volunteering, everything seemed to be happening so quickly that I guess I never really thought I had the time to explain anything or even have the chance to really digest what I was contributing or learning from my experience there.

Now that I do have a bit of time, I can tell you I was mostly documenting the organization’s history for its 15th year anniversary book, compiling information for the now-released (but still under construction) website, and meeting with trafficked survivors to document their current life. Smaller tasks included editing reports for UN funding agencies, assisting in workshops, documenting workshops, and writing the monthly newsletter.

In my few days of away-from-office-freedom, I’ve really realized how much my three months there made me grow. Somehow in the last week I’ve kind of come away with an idea of what I want to do with my life, and what I learned from the people at Impulse has made me think of the ways I can actually do it. (What the plan is…well, that’s for another time).

But in the meantime, here are a few pics of me at work. (Click on the thumbnail to view it full size)

at a workshop on trafficking for the Border Security Force

making a poster at another workshop

modeling a Western-style salwar suit I’d just had tailored

discussing the book at its early release

in traditional Khasi dress at the wedding of the son of one of the doctors that works with Impulse

Posted in *India, clothing, government | 7 Comments »

What to Say

Thursday, February 7th, 2008

OK…so I can’t even begin to describe the last week of my life.

It’s got ups and downs. Highs and lows. Although all of these should receive individual posts (and very well may in the future), you’ll have to just settle for an update now.

Highs
-completed my volunteer placement
-saw amazing natural sites in Meghalaya before I left
-saw possibly India’s best work at wildlife conservation in action
-found a cafe with wifi in New Delhi

Lows
-the government inexplicably cut Internet and mobile phone use by about 70% last week…thus my lack of posts and lack of an ability to contact my friend coming to visit me on Feb. 8th
-I forgot some of my stuff in Shillong when I packed in a rush
-yesterday I was pick-pocketed (again)…which meant panicky Jayna and a trip to a police station and a freak-out that I’d not be able to fly to Delhi to meet my friend
-an hour before my friend was to fly from LA to Delhi to meet me for 8 days, she calls to tell me her Indian visa still had not arrived, thus she won’t be meeting me

And that’s what’s new with me…

Posted in *India | 2 Comments »

Indian Hahas

Friday, February 1st, 2008

“Donald Rumsfeld is briefing George Bush in the Oval Office.

‘Oh and finally, sir, three Brazilian soldiers were killed in Iraq today.’

Bush goes pale, his jaw hanging open in stunned disbelief. He buries his face in his hands, muttering ‘My God…My God.’

‘Mr. President,’ says Cheney, ‘we lose soldiers all the time, and it’s terrible. But I’ve never seen you so upset. What’s the matter?’

Bush looks up and says…’How many is a Brazilian?’”
-as seen in Eastern Panorama (January 2008), a monthly publication about North East India

Posted in *India, government, in the news, military | 5 Comments »

Kentucky Fried Chicken and a …

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

Pizza Hut in Guwahati, Assam, India

Ohmigosh. I can’t even tell you how much my body loved having Western food when I was in Guwahati this week.

I think it died and went to heaven. Seriously.

Now, if I can just find a McDonalds, McDonalds…

Posted in *India, food/beverage | No Comments »

Aw, Miss…You Got New Kicks

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

new shoes

So the replacement of the hole-y shoes didn’t go over so well. And when I went to the bank earlier, I guess the money I took out must have been burning a hole in my bag. I didn’t even make it down a whole flight of stairs before I saw that Adidas had opened a store and was having a sale. Walked right in and bought these non-knock-off babies. So fab as I don’t think these hiking-soled puppies will be getting a hole in them anytime soon.

Posted in *India, clothing | No Comments »

And I Just Thank You, Father, for Making Me, Me

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

me and the church folk

In the village, I went with the family to a church service. When the other church goers filed out, we sat in the newspaper-wallpapered mud house talking with the pastor and a few others. I picked up a song book that the nephew had brought with him and was floored to see “If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you, Lord, for giving me wings” on the first page I opened the book to.

That line is the first in a children’s song I sang in the small Methodist church I grew up in. It’s one of those songs that as a child, I thought only we sang…and was surprised to find others at church camp who knew it. Then, when I moved to LA as an adult, I was even more surprised to find out my roommate who grew up in Detroit, Michigan also sang that song growing up. But, you know, we were all Methodists from the Midwest, so I guess now I can see that it’s not THAT surprising.

But seeing it in an English/Hindi/Assamese/Bodo songbook in a village in remote India — where I can safely say nobody is fluent in English — was definitely the biggest shock of all. This is missionaries at work, people.

leprosy

Posted in *India, language, religion | 2 Comments »

I’ll Remember That

Monday, January 28th, 2008

village

Last week, I made a last-minute trip for one of my projects with Impulse. I went to a village with one of the girls who now works at the office but had previously been trafficked.

The whole trip was of course a bit of an adventure: as the girl speaks 6 languages quite fluently…but English only limitedly, there is no electricity in the village, and the day we were supposed to leave, the holiday “bandh” had already taken place there.

It was one of those rare trips where you’re really a traveler, but not traveling for the purpose of travel. And, I have to say, I got pretty excited when on the way there, the girl was telling me that there are elephants that come around the village every night/morning. That excitement wore off pretty quickly when it became 4 in the morning, and I’m squatting to pee in the middle of a frickin’ freezing field…was thinking then may not be the time I want to see an elephant heading my way.

When I went back to sleep, the girl’s (absolutely adorable) nephews kept trying to wake me. “Auntie, *&^$%,” they were saying as they pulled the covers off my head. As I don’t speak the local language, I had no idea what they were saying. They’d been asking me to take pictures of them all night before we went to sleep, so I thought that’s what they were asking. Now, though, I think they may have been telling me they were out watching the elephants, but yeah…I kept sleeping.

Back at the office, I found out that the girl’s sister had been attacked by an Elephant last year and hospitalized for months. Have to say, I’m pretty happy with my decision to stay in bed.

Posted in *India, away from America, holidays | No Comments »

Grrr…

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

You know what I hate? The feeling that when people hear “American” they automatically try to cheat you. It’s so flippin’ frustrating.

I have to say, I’ve rarely had that feeling on this trip, but definitely am feelin’ it today. Seriously, people, Americans don’t get money from a magic money tree. And when we aren’t making American money, we definitely feel the cash crunch when traveling. Yes, I traveled half-way across the world to get here…but in all honesty, from my experience in India, what I made back in the states isn’t that much more than what you, a middle-class person, here would make. You own a house. Perhaps it’s a soul-less shack. But that’s more than me. I couldn’t afford to buy a house in Compton.

But as far as me buying an expensive ticket to get here…the key difference is that I worked my arse off to come to your country. I saved for the trip. I saved up to see more of the world. I saved up to take time to volunteer. I saved up to be able to live OK while I was on the road. I did not save up to pay you for a service that I wouldn’t have paid the same price for back in Manhattan Beach. Most importantly, though, I made the money by working for it, not duping others out of it.

Honestly, not to be over-dramatic or anything, but it’s days like this when I lose my faith in humanity.

*On another note…postings have been sparse because of more travel going on. Will have more on that to come. Lots to say. But just felt like venting right now. Lucky you, huh? Seriously, though…thanks for listening/reading, my dear readers.

Posted in *India, money | 2 Comments »

Doesn’t Make Cents

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008

store 2

store

It’s not the Dollar General Store (or even the 99 Cent Store, for that matter). But this new store in Shillong does have some American stuff in stock.

Keep in mind, though, that 99 rupees is like $2.50-$3 (depending on the exchange rate).

Posted in *India, goods | 2 Comments »

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