The Taj Mahal was one of three “must-see” sites for me on this trip. The others were The Great Wall and Victoria Falls.
How impressive was the Taj? Not so much as impressive in size as I expected. But it’s one heck of a tribute to love, that’s for sure.
I knew that the many McDonald’s in Delhi wouldn’t serve beef burgers…but I have to say, I was still a bit disappointed when I finally got to one and saw the menu.
Alas, though, the Aloo Tikki Burger and small fries sufficed. I mean, you can’t go wrong with the Macker fries. And for Rs. 50 (about $1.25), I think it was just fine.
A small confession, though…for someone who loves Indian food as much as I do, I’ve been eating WAY too much American fare. Although I’ve been in mainland for “just” five days, I’ve had Mackers (twice), Subway, and Pizza Hut…not to mention the American-style food at the cafe.
There are a few reasons behind this: a) my body is still recovering from a bout of under-cooked dal. b) Western food is finally available. c) Western places take credit cards (imperative as I’m low on cash after said pick-pocketing incident).
But geez, I love getting my greasy grub on. Even if they don’t have a cow, man.
Since January 30, I’ve officially been finished with my time at Impulse. I know when I first started there I said I’d be blogging a bit about my work. Well, as you loyal readers out there may have realized, that didn’t happen so much. While I was volunteering, everything seemed to be happening so quickly that I guess I never really thought I had the time to explain anything or even have the chance to really digest what I was contributing or learning from my experience there.
Now that I do have a bit of time, I can tell you I was mostly documenting the organization’s history for its 15th year anniversary book, compiling information for the now-released (but still under construction) website, and meeting with trafficked survivors to document their current life. Smaller tasks included editing reports for UN funding agencies, assisting in workshops, documenting workshops, and writing the monthly newsletter.
In my few days of away-from-office-freedom, I’ve really realized how much my three months there made me grow. Somehow in the last week I’ve kind of come away with an idea of what I want to do with my life, and what I learned from the people at Impulse has made me think of the ways I can actually do it. (What the plan is…well, that’s for another time).
But in the meantime, here are a few pics of me at work. (Click on the thumbnail to view it full size)
at a workshop on trafficking for the Border Security Force
making a poster at another workshop
modeling a Western-style salwar suit I’d just had tailored
discussing the book at its early release
in traditional Khasi dress at the wedding of the son of one of the doctors that works with Impulse
OK…so I can’t even begin to describe the last week of my life.
It’s got ups and downs. Highs and lows. Although all of these should receive individual posts (and very well may in the future), you’ll have to just settle for an update now.
Highs
-completed my volunteer placement
-saw amazing natural sites in Meghalaya before I left
-saw possibly India’s best work at wildlife conservation in action
-found a cafe with wifi in New Delhi
Lows
-the government inexplicably cut Internet and mobile phone use by about 70% last week…thus my lack of posts and lack of an ability to contact my friend coming to visit me on Feb. 8th
-I forgot some of my stuff in Shillong when I packed in a rush
-yesterday I was pick-pocketed (again)…which meant panicky Jayna and a trip to a police station and a freak-out that I’d not be able to fly to Delhi to meet my friend
-an hour before my friend was to fly from LA to Delhi to meet me for 8 days, she calls to tell me her Indian visa still had not arrived, thus she won’t be meeting me
And that’s what’s new with me…
“Donald Rumsfeld is briefing George Bush in the Oval Office.
‘Oh and finally, sir, three Brazilian soldiers were killed in Iraq today.’
Bush goes pale, his jaw hanging open in stunned disbelief. He buries his face in his hands, muttering ‘My God…My God.’
‘Mr. President,’ says Cheney, ‘we lose soldiers all the time, and it’s terrible. But I’ve never seen you so upset. What’s the matter?’
Bush looks up and says…’How many is a Brazilian?’”
-as seen in Eastern Panorama (January 2008), a monthly publication about North East India
