Its time for celebration!

Hellooooooo 23! By FAR the most interesting birthday, which I interpret to be the beginning of what must be another fantastic year.
Bought myself a first class ticket for the train (in hopes of a first class day for a first class girl) which cost me 10 times the normal but it did mean that I get a seat in a relatively non crowded compartment.
Arrived at work and received greetings from my colleagues, as well as a garland of flowers (photo2). So far so good, I thought. Half way through the morning we hear a crashing noise and what do you know, the plaster of the ceiling in the corrider came crashing down (photo1). Luckily no one got seriously hurt. After a few minutes of aw’s and ah’s, things pretty much returned to normal. Two girls from work, Leena and Phoebe, took me out for lunch, which was super nice.
I left work early because I had made plans to party in style, how often does a girl turn 23 in Bombay? So I checked myself in to a hotel room along Marine Drive, with a great view and a hot shower (did I not mention that I haven’t had a hot shower? I’ve been cleaning myself with a butt sprayer – but it’s not as nasty as it sounds)
So after a quick power nap, I tried to find friends in the centrally located restaurants and bars, which turned out to be quite the challenge. However, I was on a mission and nothing would have stopped me! So I marched into the Hilton and asked for the bar, which happened to be called the Opium Den (first good sign right there!) I spotted two relatively non-threatening Westerners, and invited myself to sit down at their table. Anyway, they turned out to be fantastic, two hilarious English blokes, James and Jem, it was their last night in India after a month of travelling. The night was thoroughly enjoyable, we swapped stories on every foreigner’s two favourite topics – toilets and trains. It was awesome to have a good conversation with someone who can relate! The night ended after 4 hours of drinks at the Opium Den, and one overpriced dinner at India Jones (like Indiana Jones, get it?).
Unfortunately, there was nothing scandalous (sorry liz) and no bollywood celebrity encounters (sorry anuja). But stay tuned….

Hope and House Hunting

Today's count:
Days until my birthday: 1
Years since my birth: 23
Plans made for my birthday: 0
Number of people planning to party it up in style alone: 1! (who can that be?)
Umbrella attacks to face on train: 1
Leads to apartments:1

Okay I guess its time to post when your mom thinks you have fallen off the face of the earth. I'm okay mom! Thanks for all the comments guys, so you ARE reading it! So I've been hunting for an apartment, since I am starting to really dread the 3 hours of train travel each day. It looks like I have a good lead. I will provide more details once it is finalized. So I have to say its mildly depressing to not be taking it to town for my bday, but being alone won't stop ME from celebrating! (hey, who says watching Bridget Jones' Diaries in your room isn't a form of celebration?) I bought an Indian outfit yesterday on the street market and I must say I am quite impressed with my purchase! Now I blend in a bit more and in this weather, the light material is superior to what I brought with me. I also got plenty of compliments on it from my coworkers... though they might be just being polite... I will post photos soon so you can judge for yourself!
Anyway, what really made my day was when I turned to a coworker yesterday and asked how her day was, and this is her reply: (I'm paraphrasing)
Good. No, actually, Wonderful.
Why's that?
Well, there is good work to be done, good people to talk to, that is more than good, it is wonderful.

I have to say, these Indians really know how to count their blessings. You kids from the West should really take a lesson.

City Tour

I spent the day checking out some of the main tourist spots in Bombay. I started in Colaba, which, from what I've heard, is the "happening" part of town. I have to say I was mildly disappointed, it was no St. Laurent/Queen Street/Causeway Bay/ Lan Kwai Fong. I saw maybe a dozen of foreigners the entire day. But perhaps it gets busier in the evenings, I'll have to check it out another time. Nonetheless, it did show a contrasting side of Mumbai. I had a walk at the Gateway of India, a well known landmark (especially since last week's psychopath stabbing which killed one girl and injured the other). I bought some postcards off the postcard wala (after some good bargaining on my end) and we became friends (see photo). He told me about life in Bombay and good places to visit. And that he once sold a book of postcards to some British tourists for $10 US,I paid only$2.50, score!
I went to a famous restaurant for lunch, known as a hot spot for foreigners, where I paid 150 Rps for a Corona. I met a local student, who seemed eager to make friends with any foreigner, and so sat down and we chatted as I inhaled the tandoori chicken, so delicious!
I hit up a few more spots including the Hanging Garden and Breach Candy, but failed to find the mosque that postcard wala told me about. o well, maybe next Sunday.

Saturday at the Office

Today's count:
Tea biscuits consumed: >20
Invitation to dinner: 1
Invitation to shopping:1

In addition to the Urban and rural division (which includes the livelihood project i am working on, as well as self help groups and credit co-ops), YUVA is also involved in providing relief material for the poorest communities who were affected by the flood in the Mumbai area (which killed over 1000 people one week before I arrived, and the diseases which follow continue to claim lives)
Today at the office we are holding a workshop for the emergency childline staff , on Children's Participation in government decisions. I sat in only for a short while, since it was conducted entirely in Hindi, and also because I can only sit cross legged on a straw mat for so long. However, I have been getting plenty of practice everyday at lunch, straw mats seem to be the common way to go!
Tomorrow is Sunday, which is my one day off of the week, time for more adventure!

Pancakes at the Hilton

Today's count:
New mosquito bites: record setting zero!
Correction: number of above ground toilet at work: one!
however squares of toilet paper remains zero...
Dreams about KFC: one
Breakfast at the Hilton: one massive one!
Meat items eaten: 2 sausages and ham!
Invitations to shopping/movie/dinner or anything at all: zero
New Inbox mail: Seven, thanks guys!

Namaste! So my body seems to be functioning a bit better today knowing that at least one animal has died to feed me. Met Peter for breakfast at the Hilton this morning, what a contrast! After a 1.5 hour train ride along the slums, I found myself in a 5 star hotel and a breakfast buffet of eggs, pancakes, sausages, yogurt, pastries and juice.... was fantastic, thanks Peter!

Also today is the festival of Raksha Bandhan, which is a celebration for brothers and sisters: the sister ties a Raksha (some sort of bracelet) on the brother, and he buys her a gift; my female co workers have received anything from cash to cellphones to clothes. Geez, I wish I had a brother...
To the brother I never had, my wish list consists of 3-ply toilet paper and fried chicken. mmmm...fried chicken....

Trains and Toilets

Today's count:
New Mosquito bites: 4 and counting
Number of coworkers names remembered correctly: 2 (and counting)
Number of malaria/dengue fever/rabies/syphillis symptoms: zero
Number of above ground toilets in the office: zero
Number of squares of toilet paper avialble at the office: zero
Number of people I saw in the act of peeing/pooing on the way to work: lost count once i reached the double digits.....oi....

So far I have spent about 2 to 3 hours daily on the train, which is quite the experience. I have found my "spot" on the train, I stand by the door (or rather, where there should be a door) . There are seats but this spot provides some fresh air and scenic views. Now by fresh air i just mean circulating air, which is a blend of sweat, spices, sewage and unidentified chemicals. And by scenic I mean full view of slum communities set up along the railway tracks, with people bathing and doing their business in full view of all passengers. (For those who have read a fine balance, you know what i mean). Naked children running in piles of garbage has become a common sight, as well as people jumping on and off the moving train. Lucky for me the compartments are separated by male and females, and the female compartments are less crowded and less aggressive, though being elbowed in the face/stomach is not unexpected.

So from where I am staying now, it takes about 40 minutes on the train (o rather about 11 songs) I am starting to feel more comfortable. Tomorrow I am meeting Peter from EDC for breakfast at the Hilton in Mumbai, he is now at the edc Delhi office, should be nice to see a familiar face. Until tomorrow, tata.

Adventures in India

Is this working? i hope so! Welcome to my blog.
Well I am safe and sound in India. This is Day four since arrival and day two in the office. I don't think I have quite found the words to describe India yet, but photos are on their way.
So, is everyone in India vegetarian? I have not had any meat since I arrived, Ada is turning into a herbivore :(
As you may or may not know, I am working at an NGO called YUVA, check it out: www.yuvaindia.org. The work they do is amazing, and the scale and scope of their programs just blows me away. I am working on the livelihood project, specifically on an income generating project for a group of local girls skilled in making bamboo handicrafts. First we need to assess the production capacity of the unit and then we need to develop some sort of marketing plan (any tips kitty?). Suddenly wishing I had paid more attention in that bloody marketing class...
here's a funny anecdote, my supervisor tells me that IKEA is calling tenders for suppliers, and we all know how i feel about IKEA, imagine my reaction to that!!!