Time is flying by. At this point, I think I am ready to go home (eighteen days). I never realized how much worse that "I just want this semester to be over" feeling could get when you are half way around the world. With the three papers (two research and one in a foreign language), an annual report and my own research project at JJVS to complete in the next two and a half weeks, I am stressing out a bit. Not to mention trying to figure out scheduling for next fall, employment and housing for the summer and everything else! So much to do in so very little time (also THANK YOU for everyone who has helped me back home - especially my parents with taxes, FAFSA, and job forms).
Stressors aside, I have had a very low key couple of days. Since getting back from my near week in the field, I have been on the computer everyday researching and trying to finish up one of my many projects and cooped up with a pretty badly swollen ankle. Today was unique though because it rained! It was the first time that I have seen rain in nearly three months! As the three of us were basking in the freezing cold drops (compared to the 100 degree air), I realized how much I have missed it. I miss all kinds of weather and would only be a little upset if it happened to snow the week that I return.
Because my last few days were so eventful, here are some of the highlights from last week in the field:
We took the bus with a 10 gallon water jug all the way out the Vali office. After a chai break, we helped make medicine for the gunis at the ashram. One thing that I have learned is how much the amount of work declines as the weather heats up. We would stop at least every two hours for either a nap, food, or chai break. On top of that, we would start around ten am and finish by two. This time around, we had a lot of extra time to read, look at the birds or watch the stars.
For the next couple of days, Jasper and I painted the facade of the school that is due to open in about a month. It was so hot, painting up on the roof, under the midday sun! Then, on Thursday, we were assigned the task of videography and photography at an event that JJVS was hosting. At a building far away from the Vali office, we waited around for the members of the local Panchayat to come to the meet. A panchayat is the village system of governing. It is pretty much like any district governing system, but in India they specifically reserve one spot for a woman. Also, the members of the board cannot have more than two children, to be good role models to the villagers. This meeting took place was to discuss possible projects to help community development projects that could help employ people.
After the 10:30 meeting started promptly at 1 pm (Indian Standard Time), I realized that lunch was not happening soon. We left early, ate breakfast before 8 that morning and now were expected to last throughout the entire meeting (in very technical and difficult to understand Hindi) without complaining. That was utterly terrible. The entire time, I just wanted to sleep because it was so hot and my body had so little subsistence in it. Alas, the entire time, there were a group of school aged boys, staring and giggling at me. Somehow, I managed to make it through to dinner, where I ate more than my fair share of food. We also got to meet girls at a local girls hostel (or boarding school). They adorably showed me all of their rooms and we tried to converse in our broken languages.
That night, we also attended a culture festival, where there was a mini talent show followed with dancing and traditional music. It was quite an event, but we were all exhausted. After battling with some of the workers, we were allowed to go back to the main office for the night. I took the next day off.
It's a little sad to think about, but I don't think I will be going back out to the villages before I leave. All the men who work at that office are so nice and are just fun to joke with. One taught us the different noises that animals "say" in Hindi, and apparently donkeys vocalize with the phrase "tee bwhah." Fits of giggles happened after hearing that. Hopefully, I will get to come back to JJVS and all the branch offices one day.
Stressors aside, I have had a very low key couple of days. Since getting back from my near week in the field, I have been on the computer everyday researching and trying to finish up one of my many projects and cooped up with a pretty badly swollen ankle. Today was unique though because it rained! It was the first time that I have seen rain in nearly three months! As the three of us were basking in the freezing cold drops (compared to the 100 degree air), I realized how much I have missed it. I miss all kinds of weather and would only be a little upset if it happened to snow the week that I return.
Because my last few days were so eventful, here are some of the highlights from last week in the field:
 |
| Painting Jagron Jan Vikas Smirti School |
For the next couple of days, Jasper and I painted the facade of the school that is due to open in about a month. It was so hot, painting up on the roof, under the midday sun! Then, on Thursday, we were assigned the task of videography and photography at an event that JJVS was hosting. At a building far away from the Vali office, we waited around for the members of the local Panchayat to come to the meet. A panchayat is the village system of governing. It is pretty much like any district governing system, but in India they specifically reserve one spot for a woman. Also, the members of the board cannot have more than two children, to be good role models to the villagers. This meeting took place was to discuss possible projects to help community development projects that could help employ people.
 |
| Girls at a hostel in the villages |
That night, we also attended a culture festival, where there was a mini talent show followed with dancing and traditional music. It was quite an event, but we were all exhausted. After battling with some of the workers, we were allowed to go back to the main office for the night. I took the next day off.
 |
| Crowd gathering for the cultural event. |
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