2 years
I wrote a long sentimental post about being here for two years, about things that I left and new things I’ve encountered. It became a little much for me; so instead, you get that I’m happy. I’ve changed for the better (I think and I hope). I miss home still but have made this my home as well. I don’t say back home anymore, but rather back in New York, or back home home (repeated twice for emphasis and yes, this is an Indianism). So, I conclude a short post with a happy 2-year India anniversary to me. I’ll finish up about Indore later. Next week brings Diwali vacation. I’m off to Pondicherry, more specifically Auroville, which is like a mini French colony that’s supposed to be peaceful and beautiful, and by the beach, and then I’ll head to Hyderabad to visit friends and get to see and experience a different India further south.
I was also a little reluctant to write about Sandy. The two other Americans I know here, and I have been following as close as possible from here. It’s scary to think that something is happening in a place where another part of your life is, where your friends and family live, and you can’t get enough information or feel as a part of it as you want. It was strange waiting to hear from updates from people. I also have to say that my mom is a rock star because the day after she walked to work! If ever anyone says that I do too much and over exert myself, then I will kindly say that I’m my mother’s daughter. Everyone I know is safe and sound.
One part that I cut from my sentimental post about being here for two years is about getting people to learn and know about the other part of the world, that we, as westerners, rarely hear, nor do we truly and genuinely care about; this is with the disclaimer that it’s far away and there’s not really time or the idea of how to conceptualize the “other” because it’s so far removed. So, part of the blog is to make this “other” more familiar and draw the two worlds a bit closer together. Not that a disaster of this size should ever, ever be wished upon anyone, but I do find it about time that the West experiences some of what’s been hitting on this side of the world for a while now. Maybe things like climate change will come more on the political agenda, maybe more people would empathize with the tsunamis and other environmental disasters that happen over here on a periodical basis a little more. Maybe people who don’t believe in climate change might just start to think about it. Again, I don’t wish it upon any place or person, but, maybe there’s an upside after all the water washes away.
As for the rest of what’s going on here, besides looking forward to going on vacation, I finally saw a school that I believe is just great. It’s the first school that I’m completely impressed by, hopefully I’ll get to meet the founder through a contact of mine (she’s no longer there, but founded another school a little outside of Pune). It was pretty amazing. Some of our kids went there for an “exchange.” They played sports games one day and went to a math fair the next. It was really great and made me super happy. Other work related stuff includes the beginning of my arts in the school after school program. Next week we’re launching a mini exposure program during school hours. I’m excited. So in the spirit of how things have been going lately, I’m back to work.
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