Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Journalists Are Socially Awkward
Or is it a weird newsroom code that I haven't learned? I almost feel that people talk about things they'd never talk about with others if they were outside of the newsroom. I guess I'm a newsroom prude-I'm not delving into those conversations until I'm ready.
Things I Miss About India
Bangles
Kingfisher
Staring Being 100% Permissible
Learning Something New Everyday
Growing Up-Finding Self-Independence In A Place Where I Shouldn't Have
Rickshaws-They Made Every Ride a Rollercoaster
Indian Smiles
Indian Head Bobs
Kaapi Nirvana.... Oh Coffee Day!
It's been almost two months since my return and I think about India constantly. It's funny how just about everything makes you think of India. Yet, I still can't believe that I was ever there. It seems like a dream. While I think about it constantly, until my feet feel the red dirt or I see a rickshaw flying by or I'm drinking Kingfisher, I can't say I truly remember all of India.
I am so worried about forgetting everything I learned. I catch myself becoming comfortable again in America. When I returned, everything was a shock. Now, everything seems to be as it should. I want to always remember that hot water is a blessing, air conditioning is a luxury, you don't need a car to get where you need to go, and your Starbucks coffee costs more than some people make in a month. But somehow it's getting harder to remember those things.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Hierarchy of Having a Driver
We just got back from Kerala. One of the newest experiences I had while on the trip was having a driver. Of course we needed a driver to get to Kerala and around the city of
Naked...literally and figuratively
So today I had my first ever massage. Might I suggest that if you’ve never had a massage, getting an Ayurvedic massage in Kerala is not the best way to start. Out of the stupor of an hour long nap, I was awakened by a phone call to my room saying “Please come now for your massage.”
Kerala vs. Mysore
After a scary trip to Kerala, we had an absolutely beautiful first day. We spent the morning at the beach. From the look of the hotel staff when we asked about going to the beach in the morning, we soon learned that our notion of a day at the beach is different from that of an Indian’s notion. No one goes to the beach when its most hot, like we did. Secondly, no one sunbathes while laying on a towel. Women don’t wear swimsuits, they wear sarees and chudidars in the beach. It was an odd sight to see women with so many clothes on letting the ocean crash over their feet. So needless to say, we served as entertainment to both men and women alike.
India Is No Amusement Park
Rachel, Taylor, Emily and I left for our weekend holiday in Kerala, a neighboring state with a beach. Dr. Rao told us the drive to Kerala would be about four hours. It turned out to be closer to five and a half. We ventured out with our driver, Robi, and it was smooth sailing for about an hour or two. Then the rain came and we were literally driving through the jungle. Elephants were on the side of the road and monkeys darted in front of the car to cross the street. It was so surreal. I felt like I was living the
Ayurvedic Hospital...a letdown
After visiting the Swami Vivikenda Youth Movement, the Ayurvedic hospital we visited just doesn’t compare. It was rundown and dirty. I would not want to be treated there. It was supported by the government. It’s interesting that the NGO of the Swami Vivikenda Youth Movement was nicer and was not supported by the government at all. It’s the opposite of how I thought it would be.
Swami Vivikenda Youth Movement
My heart is truly touched. Today, I saw a healthcare system that is holistic, that cares more about the well-being of the community than the machine of the body. The Swami Vivikenda Youth Movement was a hospital created by doctors in a rural community that includes tribal families.
Suspicions Confirmed
It’s true, I’m famous among the rickshaw community. When I and a group of people ventured out to catch a rickshaw, the driver pointed at me and I said, “Yeah, I’m the one who fell.” I now use my falling incident as a ploy to lower the cost of the ride. Every rickshaw driver ends our rides by telling me to “Stay out of holes.” Believe me, I’m doing my best. Every time I see a hole, a little panic sets in.
Beware of Hole
So I had perhaps my most memorable moment in
Thankfully, I was ok. With the help of some friends, I got back on solid dirt again. With cut up hands, ripped pants and a bruise on my left side, I still went to coffee day. I needed it after the fall.
Oh! Coffee Day
We’ve discovered a little piece of heaven in
Commercialism and Tibetan Buddhism
We visited a Tibetan monastery a week ago. The monastery was so incredibly vivid. I guess I was expecting a dull place but it was as bright as the mandala sand painting that Tibetan monks made at W&L this winter. While the place was beautiful, I can’t get over how commercialized it was. Outside of the monastery was a little