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…
Archive for January, 2008
Kentucky Fried Chicken and a …
Thursday, January 31st, 2008Aw, Miss…You Got New Kicks
Wednesday, January 30th, 2008
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.
And I Just Thank You, Father, for Making Me, Me
Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
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.
I’ll Remember That
Monday, January 28th, 2008
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.
Grrr…
Sunday, January 27th, 2008You 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.
Doesn’t Make Cents
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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).
Sign Me Up
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008
Saw this story on Yahoo! yesterday. Apparently, I’ll even be able to vote (online) in the primaries this year. Yahoo!
This is fabulous as I’ve been following the primaries with almost as much gusto as I followed the Britney/K-Fed custody battle. But you know, we didn’t get to vote in that.
I’ll be registering soon, unless of course, any of you political reporters clue me into some security breaches of the site.
And, yes that means I’m a registered Democrat (come on…I grew up in a union family). Interestingly, though, it’s only the Dems offering this. Do you think that means Republicans don’t become expats?
Massive Meghalaya Moths
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008Before the hike, I spotted something fabulous too…although not at all American.
The area we hiked in is known for their moths/butterflies. These huge dudes were hanging around outside some toilets.
Beautiful to look at..but I have to say I got chills thinking of one of these babies fluttering toward my face…
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I Spy, with My Little Eye
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After a long-ish hike (I know…who knew I’d do so many hikes on this trip?), we were walking back through a little village, and I spotted another random bit of Americana. What was it?
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No…that’s just a local dustbin/trashcan
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No, silly…that’s just plain clothes
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Nope…just an empty paint can
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Ah, yes…fake Crocs
(and yes, I walked into their yard and onto the steps to take this picture)
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It Has That Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi…
Friday, January 18th, 2008You know what’s fun?
Being in India and having American food that we call “French”…and yet it’s nothing like any Indian, American, or French food.
