Yesterday (Sunday) was a nice break from the routine of work and it made me really appreciate the 2-day weekend we have in the US.
I live “far out” from the city center (about 10 kilometers) so my host family arranged an auto waha (auto rickshaw driver) to drive me (and the other interns) for the day. It was so great to have our own driver so we didn’t have the hassle of negotiating with the wahas or maneuvering the buses (I haven’t tried an Indian bus yet!). Feroz picked me up at 8:30 and dropped me off at 6 and the cost for the entire day was… $8!! Divided by the six of us that we crammed into the rickshaw…it was an awesome deal! (Even though I did feel a little like a princess not using the public transport…I’ll work up to that.)
We walked around the old city market (picture redneck flea market meets organic farmers market Indian style!) and then hiked up to tour the Fort. From the Fort you can look out and see the famous Jodhpur blue houses. It’s really a beautiful site. Completed the day at the local “Super Target” called Reliance Market-which has the only escalator in Jodhpur- to get toilet paper and some almonds (I need protein!)
It was nice to explore outside my work/home environs and to re-connect with the other interns. Being in India is overwhelming and difficult to process. Add on the heat, living in someone else’s home, starting new jobs, language barriers, lack of nutrition (I don’t know how over 1 billion people are surviving on this low nutrient diet), on and on… It’s interesting to see how each of us are adapting and reacting to this experience. For some reason, I connect with India and thrive in exploring her complexity. Don’t get me wrong… I’m uncomfortable at times but all and all enjoy the chaos and challenge of interacting with this culture. My perspective broadens and my heart grows in gratitude every day. As you drive around in your air conditioned cars on nice “organized” paved roads; when you brush your teeth using tap water; flip and switch and watch the electricity come on and stay on… count your blessings and think of me and your brothers and sisters living in India.
I spent the evening with my family…strategizing on how to get my new Indian clothes (still no progress from the FSD tailor, so my host mother and I are going to just start over tomorrow with her fabric shop and tailor…all in all it’ll be a $12 and 1 week loss) playing Go Fish, Memory and learning the cheesy (but fun) music video dances from little Anuashree.
Back to work tomorrow….
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