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

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 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

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."

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.