For those of you who didn't know, I didn't like my internship at Navdanya. The IT person in another city was in charge of me and she told me to organize some electronic files for Vandana's secretary. [Insert pompous statement rooted in anger here]. Then I found Gene Campaign, got really excited about everything they were working on and on day one was told, "There are a lot of files in the basement computer that need to be organized." I felt sad that day.
So I had to resort to something my mother asked me not to do and approached an anti-human trafficking organization. Summary of interview:
Anjali: So we have this public health survey that was done by a pre-med student and I'd like you to revise it because it's too long and may not be worded in the most appropriate way. I want you to do a site visit outside Delhi in a town whose name you recognize from the papers for murders and stuff but your gringa-ass will never remember it so don't bother. After you meet the women out there who generally either work as prostitutes or are at risk of being trafficked I want you to research Indian and international domestic violence law. Then put the information into workshop form and present it to these women. We'll give you a translator.
Whitney's Head: No way. Too far outside your knowledge and cultural understanding. This is way over your head...
Whitney's Mouth: Sure. Sounds great.
Whitney's Head: Fuck yeah!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Rant Number 1
Dear India,
I really like you. Like, I like you a lot. But there are some things that are upsetting me. Let me start by saying that you're generally awesome. Take for example the auto driver who takes me to yoga every morning, the guy who lets me live in his house, or the family that took me in for Diwali, and a lot of other stuff. But sometimes I feel like you're taking advantage of me.
Like I said, I'm going to yoga. This means that I'm more tranquil, calm, and stuff but you make this hard. For example, The Green School. It was cute at first, but now I'm afraid I might hate The Green School. This is the school next door to me that blasts (like, I wear earplugs, have the fan on, and it will still wake me up) the same song over and over again starting very early and going on for a long time. Well, sometimes they stop for a minute to sing "for he's a jolly good fellow," but that's about it. Please Green School. On the few days I don't get up before dawn for yoga, please let me sleep.
On that note, the mosque. Oh man. The mosque. I want to like you, I do. Especially because I'm an American and liking you would be progressive so my liberal ass is all about it. But I don't. You are also unnecessarily loud with your calls to prayer. You also do something else at 5 AM where you kinda make noise for a long time. I get up at 5:35 so when you manage to get past my shut windows, fan, earplugs, and consequent dust allergy, I get mad and don't like you.
Now for the next point. Sometimes you get confused and think that my white skin is made of money. It's not. It actually worries about running out of money in India on a daily basis and often can't sleep because of this despite aforementioned yoga. I know that the distance you took me in an auto costs 30 INR. I know this because I go every day and have used a meter. (You may notice that you drop me at an office, not a museum or other tourist destination) So when you arbitrarily charge me 100 INR for a 30 INR journey, I want to cry. (Or hit you, but yoga is keeping me nonviolent.) Of course I can pay a little more. I'm a humanitarian/cosmopolitan so my liberal ass is all about it. But honey buns, 100 is over 3 times the price. As much as I struggle to hold on to thinking I deserve to be charged 3 times more, I'm inclined to think you're an asshole. Maybe a racist asshole.
Which brings me to my final point. Visiting national monuments. I'll take Quitab Minar as an example. It costs 20 INR for an Indian to get in. How much does it cost for everyone else? 50 maybe? 100? Nope. 500 INR!! That is 25 TIMES MORE! Now I try to be open minded so I asked around and the explanation is obvious: My taxes haven't gone to maintaining QM so my admission price should reflect that difference between me and Indians. Cool. But I've found people don't realize I bought a visa to get into the country. How much was it? Well, works out to about 500 INR a month for a year. I thought this might be to mitigate the fact that I haven't paid taxes for the places I'll be visiting. But I'm a dumb foreigner. As Ban said, "You're not gunna just not go to these places." Oh yes I am.
So India, it's not that I don't like you. It's just that you're kinda racist. And I'm really trying India. I'm really trying to see your point of view that America has money and therefore I do and thus I should give it to you, but it's turning out to be a little more difficult than I thought. So throw me a bone here. I'd really like to move forward in our relationship and explore all the wonderful things you have to offer. But I feel like you're holding back and don't want to share yourself which isn't the basis for a healthy long-term relationship. Please get it together or I'll be forced to have an affair with Nepal.
Love,
Me
I really like you. Like, I like you a lot. But there are some things that are upsetting me. Let me start by saying that you're generally awesome. Take for example the auto driver who takes me to yoga every morning, the guy who lets me live in his house, or the family that took me in for Diwali, and a lot of other stuff. But sometimes I feel like you're taking advantage of me.
Like I said, I'm going to yoga. This means that I'm more tranquil, calm, and stuff but you make this hard. For example, The Green School. It was cute at first, but now I'm afraid I might hate The Green School. This is the school next door to me that blasts (like, I wear earplugs, have the fan on, and it will still wake me up) the same song over and over again starting very early and going on for a long time. Well, sometimes they stop for a minute to sing "for he's a jolly good fellow," but that's about it. Please Green School. On the few days I don't get up before dawn for yoga, please let me sleep.
On that note, the mosque. Oh man. The mosque. I want to like you, I do. Especially because I'm an American and liking you would be progressive so my liberal ass is all about it. But I don't. You are also unnecessarily loud with your calls to prayer. You also do something else at 5 AM where you kinda make noise for a long time. I get up at 5:35 so when you manage to get past my shut windows, fan, earplugs, and consequent dust allergy, I get mad and don't like you.
Now for the next point. Sometimes you get confused and think that my white skin is made of money. It's not. It actually worries about running out of money in India on a daily basis and often can't sleep because of this despite aforementioned yoga. I know that the distance you took me in an auto costs 30 INR. I know this because I go every day and have used a meter. (You may notice that you drop me at an office, not a museum or other tourist destination) So when you arbitrarily charge me 100 INR for a 30 INR journey, I want to cry. (Or hit you, but yoga is keeping me nonviolent.) Of course I can pay a little more. I'm a humanitarian/cosmopolitan so my liberal ass is all about it. But honey buns, 100 is over 3 times the price. As much as I struggle to hold on to thinking I deserve to be charged 3 times more, I'm inclined to think you're an asshole. Maybe a racist asshole.
Which brings me to my final point. Visiting national monuments. I'll take Quitab Minar as an example. It costs 20 INR for an Indian to get in. How much does it cost for everyone else? 50 maybe? 100? Nope. 500 INR!! That is 25 TIMES MORE! Now I try to be open minded so I asked around and the explanation is obvious: My taxes haven't gone to maintaining QM so my admission price should reflect that difference between me and Indians. Cool. But I've found people don't realize I bought a visa to get into the country. How much was it? Well, works out to about 500 INR a month for a year. I thought this might be to mitigate the fact that I haven't paid taxes for the places I'll be visiting. But I'm a dumb foreigner. As Ban said, "You're not gunna just not go to these places." Oh yes I am.
So India, it's not that I don't like you. It's just that you're kinda racist. And I'm really trying India. I'm really trying to see your point of view that America has money and therefore I do and thus I should give it to you, but it's turning out to be a little more difficult than I thought. So throw me a bone here. I'd really like to move forward in our relationship and explore all the wonderful things you have to offer. But I feel like you're holding back and don't want to share yourself which isn't the basis for a healthy long-term relationship. Please get it together or I'll be forced to have an affair with Nepal.
Love,
Me
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Savere he, na?
Hey! You might not know this but... WE HAVE A BLACK PRESIDENT!! Let me take a moment to highlight some of the reactions in India:
1) To celebrate, I went to Expat Market (they don't sell expats and it's actually "Khan Market" but lots of whities around) to look for other Americans but... none were to be found. Actually, my first day there was an American woman in the office for about a second and other than that, I haven't seen a single American. Expat Market was all Europeans. So I just drank my coffee and eavesdropped on
2) two fancy looking men who talked in detail about the election. Direct quote: "Well Obama didn't win Texas but that's expected due to The Redneck Factor."
Other guy: "Ah yes, The Redneck Factor."
3) News channel: "Well it's interesting that the Jews, being a big money bag group, voted for Obama."
4) News channel again: Comments of a random old man civilian: "I guess it's better for the Americans to have a black man as president over someone who's completely illiterate."
5) Went to the internet cafe behind the apartment and a middle-aged Sikh came in to speak to the owner and just said "... Obama." With his hands out and a wonderful tone of awe.
6) Some dude in my yoga class (yes, I take Yoga. At 6:30 AM in fact) is a reporter and I think he was trying to appear impressive by saying he tried to talk about me on the air but forgot my name... Maybe it's time to adopt "Parvati."
So I seem to have developed an affinity for numbered lists. Unless this is offensive I'm probably going to continue. Oh, and people here keep asking what made me switch from Obama to Hillary and it was this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/18/obama-race-speech-read-t_n_92077.html
Supha
1) To celebrate, I went to Expat Market (they don't sell expats and it's actually "Khan Market" but lots of whities around) to look for other Americans but... none were to be found. Actually, my first day there was an American woman in the office for about a second and other than that, I haven't seen a single American. Expat Market was all Europeans. So I just drank my coffee and eavesdropped on
2) two fancy looking men who talked in detail about the election. Direct quote: "Well Obama didn't win Texas but that's expected due to The Redneck Factor."
Other guy: "Ah yes, The Redneck Factor."
3) News channel: "Well it's interesting that the Jews, being a big money bag group, voted for Obama."
4) News channel again: Comments of a random old man civilian: "I guess it's better for the Americans to have a black man as president over someone who's completely illiterate."
5) Went to the internet cafe behind the apartment and a middle-aged Sikh came in to speak to the owner and just said "... Obama." With his hands out and a wonderful tone of awe.
6) Some dude in my yoga class (yes, I take Yoga. At 6:30 AM in fact) is a reporter and I think he was trying to appear impressive by saying he tried to talk about me on the air but forgot my name... Maybe it's time to adopt "Parvati."
So I seem to have developed an affinity for numbered lists. Unless this is offensive I'm probably going to continue. Oh, and people here keep asking what made me switch from Obama to Hillary and it was this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/18/obama-race-speech-read-t_n_92077.html
Supha
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Do I have any friends?
Yes. Let me tell you all about them:
Ban: I live in his house. His fancy ad job means he's gone a lot but when he's here he feeds me, we blab, smoke "spifs," and drink Indian whisky. He's very cool.
Puneet: Theresa's boyfriend. Says British things like "brilliant" when I agree to do things. Ban is his friend/boss. Honestly, I don't know what I would have done my first couple weeks if Puneet wasn't there to pick me up from the airport, connect me with a place to live etc.
Friedel and Aitana: The other two Navdanya interns. Friedel is a little German dude with the coolest fro ever. Aitana is from Madrid so we speak Spanish sometimes.
Neha: I went to a party and was like, "yo, it's 1:00 AM in Delhi and I'm scared to take a cab, can I stay at your house?" She said yes and I went with her and her boyfriend to a suburb about 45 min away. She's tiny and cute so she gets away with saying things like, "Go to Hell," and "Where's my gift?" (Not to me, to others). Very smart and extra nice. I spent Diwali with her and
Vassudha: Neha's friend. A lawyer whose sense of humor I really enjoy. She lives with her mom/dad/bro/sister-in-law/grandma. Neha and I stayed in her house for 3 nights during Diwali
Sunita: Vassudha's sister-in-law. She's from Trinidad so we bonded over being from the same time zone. So nice and such a good cook. Also introduced me to:
Wentworth Miller: Who isn't really my friend so much as a dream man/star of Prison Break which Sunita enjoys. I mean, who can't be captivated by the multicultural (including Jewish and Jamaican) Princeton-educated, sort-of-look-like-Chaning-Tatum hotness. For those of you who don't know, educate yourselves: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wentworth_Miller
India Times told me happy people have at least 10 friends so I'm in the market for a few more. We'll see how that goes.
P.S. Dear Western men,
Consider the Kurta. It's a good look
Ban: I live in his house. His fancy ad job means he's gone a lot but when he's here he feeds me, we blab, smoke "spifs," and drink Indian whisky. He's very cool.
Puneet: Theresa's boyfriend. Says British things like "brilliant" when I agree to do things. Ban is his friend/boss. Honestly, I don't know what I would have done my first couple weeks if Puneet wasn't there to pick me up from the airport, connect me with a place to live etc.
Friedel and Aitana: The other two Navdanya interns. Friedel is a little German dude with the coolest fro ever. Aitana is from Madrid so we speak Spanish sometimes.
Neha: I went to a party and was like, "yo, it's 1:00 AM in Delhi and I'm scared to take a cab, can I stay at your house?" She said yes and I went with her and her boyfriend to a suburb about 45 min away. She's tiny and cute so she gets away with saying things like, "Go to Hell," and "Where's my gift?" (Not to me, to others). Very smart and extra nice. I spent Diwali with her and
Vassudha: Neha's friend. A lawyer whose sense of humor I really enjoy. She lives with her mom/dad/bro/sister-in-law/grandma. Neha and I stayed in her house for 3 nights during Diwali
Sunita: Vassudha's sister-in-law. She's from Trinidad so we bonded over being from the same time zone. So nice and such a good cook. Also introduced me to:
Wentworth Miller: Who isn't really my friend so much as a dream man/star of Prison Break which Sunita enjoys. I mean, who can't be captivated by the multicultural (including Jewish and Jamaican) Princeton-educated, sort-of-look-like-Chaning-Tatum hotness. For those of you who don't know, educate yourselves: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wentworth_Miller
India Times told me happy people have at least 10 friends so I'm in the market for a few more. We'll see how that goes.
P.S. Dear Western men,
Consider the Kurta. It's a good look
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
I like sarees
Sorry my last post is small. I wrote it at work.... I'm writing this one at work too but the woman who's in charge of me is in another city sooo... whatevs.
I like India a lot. Theresa's bf has been lovely and hooked me up staying in his friend's apartment. I was only supposed to be there a few days but this friend has offered that I stay there the whole time I'm in Delhi. I don't know... I feel kinda awkward accepting that. I found another nice, cheap, safe, place to stay but am kinda inclined to graciously accept the offer to live in Tara. He's in town now but he travels a lot so I'm usually in the place alone. Scary at first but it's a gated apartment, the neighbor looks out for me, there's a woman who comes to cook every day so it actually might be the safest I'll ever be in India. I really like it.
Alas I have so many bug bites I look like I have chicken pox. Not sexy.
This past weekend I went to a party on this gorgeous "farm" (more like what we would think of as a "plantation" minus the slaves.). I met a girl and her boyfriend and we hung out most of the night. I didn't want to take a cab alone that late so I asked if I could stay with them. No problem.
We went out to Gurgaon (like an industrial suburb), I stayed the night and in the morning we went to her friend's mother's house where her sister fed us all and we chilled until night. Then Vijay-ji (friend's dad) drove me home because he had to go by fish in the city anyway. He asked where I was staying and I said, "Tara apartments in Alaknanda"
"Dera?"
"No, Tara."
"Dera? Like Dehra Dun?"
"No, Tara... like... umm... Tandoori."
Oh man he thought this was funny. I think I'm going to go hang out with them for Diwali.
In other news, Ban (I'm staying in his place) took me to a nice place for dinner and I got the runs... oops.
Anyone seen Body of Lies? Anyone else think it was funny?
I like India a lot. Theresa's bf has been lovely and hooked me up staying in his friend's apartment. I was only supposed to be there a few days but this friend has offered that I stay there the whole time I'm in Delhi. I don't know... I feel kinda awkward accepting that. I found another nice, cheap, safe, place to stay but am kinda inclined to graciously accept the offer to live in Tara. He's in town now but he travels a lot so I'm usually in the place alone. Scary at first but it's a gated apartment, the neighbor looks out for me, there's a woman who comes to cook every day so it actually might be the safest I'll ever be in India. I really like it.
Alas I have so many bug bites I look like I have chicken pox. Not sexy.
This past weekend I went to a party on this gorgeous "farm" (more like what we would think of as a "plantation" minus the slaves.). I met a girl and her boyfriend and we hung out most of the night. I didn't want to take a cab alone that late so I asked if I could stay with them. No problem.
We went out to Gurgaon (like an industrial suburb), I stayed the night and in the morning we went to her friend's mother's house where her sister fed us all and we chilled until night. Then Vijay-ji (friend's dad) drove me home because he had to go by fish in the city anyway. He asked where I was staying and I said, "Tara apartments in Alaknanda"
"Dera?"
"No, Tara."
"Dera? Like Dehra Dun?"
"No, Tara... like... umm... Tandoori."
Oh man he thought this was funny. I think I'm going to go hang out with them for Diwali.
In other news, Ban (I'm staying in his place) took me to a nice place for dinner and I got the runs... oops.
Anyone seen Body of Lies? Anyone else think it was funny?
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
i feel a little ptsd...
but whatevs. I've been here almost a week but instead I'm going to shout out people.
Kat: Reminded me not to bail
Kaitlin: She's precious
Mama Russell: Took me on a million errands, gave me a nice card, bought some essentials and one very big essential
Sadie: She's cute
Papa Russell: Took time off to take me to the airport
Amanda: Came to see me off. Stood up for me in the bank.
Eleanor at UMCU: She's my girl
Deb: Hooked me up with map and bindis
Puneet: Hooked me up in general
Theresa: For dating Puneet
Ban: Also hooked me up
Mahdvi: Hosting me and having a party I get to go to on Saturday
Lots of other people
Basically I've been feeling really grateful recently for all the big and small things people have done to help me out. I hope I get to return the favor sometime soon.
love for all
Kat: Reminded me not to bail
Kaitlin: She's precious
Mama Russell: Took me on a million errands, gave me a nice card, bought some essentials and one very big essential
Sadie: She's cute
Papa Russell: Took time off to take me to the airport
Amanda: Came to see me off. Stood up for me in the bank.
Eleanor at UMCU: She's my girl
Deb: Hooked me up with map and bindis
Puneet: Hooked me up in general
Theresa: For dating Puneet
Ban: Also hooked me up
Mahdvi: Hosting me and having a party I get to go to on Saturday
Lots of other people
Basically I've been feeling really grateful recently for all the big and small things people have done to help me out. I hope I get to return the favor sometime soon.
love for all
Sunday, October 5, 2008
i feel about terrorist attacks in Delhi
Crucified - Kahlil Gibran (1918)
I cried to the men "I would be crucified!"
And they said, "Why should your blood be upon our heads?"
And I answered, "How else shall you be exalted except by crucifying madmen?"
And they heeded and I was crucified. And the crucifixion appeased me. And when I was hung between earth and heaven they lifted up their heads to see me. And they were exalted, for their heads had never been lifted before.
But as they stood looking up at me one called out, "For what art thou seeking to atone?"
And the other cried, "In what cause dost thou sacrifice yourself?"
And a third said, "Thinkest thou with this price to buy world glory?"
Then said a fourth, "Behold how he smiles! Can such pain be forgiven?"
And I answered them all and said, "Remember only that I smiled. I do not atone, nor sacrifice, nor wish for glory; and I have nothing to forgive. I thirsted and I besought you to give me my blood to drink. For what is there can quench a madman's thirst but his own blood?
I was dumb and I asked wounds of you for mouths. I was imprisoned in your days and nights and I sought a door into larger days and nights. And now I go as others already crucified have gone. And think not we are weary of crucifixion. For we must be crucified by larger and yet larger men, between greater earths and greater heavens."
I cried to the men "I would be crucified!"
And they said, "Why should your blood be upon our heads?"
And I answered, "How else shall you be exalted except by crucifying madmen?"
And they heeded and I was crucified. And the crucifixion appeased me. And when I was hung between earth and heaven they lifted up their heads to see me. And they were exalted, for their heads had never been lifted before.
But as they stood looking up at me one called out, "For what art thou seeking to atone?"
And the other cried, "In what cause dost thou sacrifice yourself?"
And a third said, "Thinkest thou with this price to buy world glory?"
Then said a fourth, "Behold how he smiles! Can such pain be forgiven?"
And I answered them all and said, "Remember only that I smiled. I do not atone, nor sacrifice, nor wish for glory; and I have nothing to forgive. I thirsted and I besought you to give me my blood to drink. For what is there can quench a madman's thirst but his own blood?
I was dumb and I asked wounds of you for mouths. I was imprisoned in your days and nights and I sought a door into larger days and nights. And now I go as others already crucified have gone. And think not we are weary of crucifixion. For we must be crucified by larger and yet larger men, between greater earths and greater heavens."
Friday, October 3, 2008
me hindustan ke bare me soc raha hu
I am thinking about India...
(Don't get too excited. Any and all Hindi is totally copied out of Colloquial Hindi, overpronounced by Tek Bejak)
And I'm thinking about bailing.
What?!?! Well, as Kat reminded me, obviously I'm thinking about bailing. She herself did as well and I clearly remember this in an emotional phone call that happened post- Kat's visit to the Bahai temple in Evanston. Now she's staying in Ecuador an additional 3 ish months. Yes. I realize this will be me. Running around in a foreign country having a million epiphanies and conquering all sorts of fears like "OMG I can't believe I thought about not going! I mean, my fear that I wouldn't have enough money was totally unfounded. When TCF randomly announced that I owe them over $500.00 and would have to pay it before I left I completely overreacted. I totally wasted time thinking about how hard it would really be to eat once a day and only go office to hostel (repeat) because cabs are expensive. Whatever. I'm loving it here!"
But in the meantime I freak out, meditate, freak out, throw pebbles into moving water (distrust, worry and impatience), freak out, take the LSAT, freak out, pack, and watch Saved by the Bell.
Dude: Where's my mouse?
Screech: I don't know sir, but fear not. I have cheese in my pants.
(Don't get too excited. Any and all Hindi is totally copied out of Colloquial Hindi, overpronounced by Tek Bejak)
And I'm thinking about bailing.
What?!?! Well, as Kat reminded me, obviously I'm thinking about bailing. She herself did as well and I clearly remember this in an emotional phone call that happened post- Kat's visit to the Bahai temple in Evanston. Now she's staying in Ecuador an additional 3 ish months. Yes. I realize this will be me. Running around in a foreign country having a million epiphanies and conquering all sorts of fears like "OMG I can't believe I thought about not going! I mean, my fear that I wouldn't have enough money was totally unfounded. When TCF randomly announced that I owe them over $500.00 and would have to pay it before I left I completely overreacted. I totally wasted time thinking about how hard it would really be to eat once a day and only go office to hostel (repeat) because cabs are expensive. Whatever. I'm loving it here!"
But in the meantime I freak out, meditate, freak out, throw pebbles into moving water (distrust, worry and impatience), freak out, take the LSAT, freak out, pack, and watch Saved by the Bell.
Dude: Where's my mouse?
Screech: I don't know sir, but fear not. I have cheese in my pants.
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