First off, our sincere and deepest apologies for keeping our readers in limbo this past week. Our blogging negligence was primarily due to the fact that we didn’t take computers with us to Mumbai. But here it is, in as much detail as we can remember.
Miss you all!
Tuesday June 15
Today started off conventionally, but after work, we needed to find a tailor to make the blouse for our second sari for the wedding. This was not an easy task. Apparently, pretty much everywhere is closed on a Tuesday. We went to this one tailor who we read up on, but she refused to make our blouse. Apparently, sari blouse making isn’t a desirable task. It takes four hours for good stitching and little reward. The women then told me, as Cait’s tour guide to take Cait somewhere else to get our blouses made. I told her that, deceivingly, I too was foreign, but she still couldn’t suggest a place for us to go. We hopped into an auto and went to a market, where everything was closed, and then to the mall, where there are no tailors. Then, in what we expected to be yet another futile effort, we went to another market. Asking around to find a tailor, we finally arrive at this small shop in the middle of the market, with a tailor who promises a reasonable price and will make our blouses in just two days! Awesome (or so we think… the tailoring job was actually terrible. The result: Cait’s blouse simply refused to button, and I ended up sporting an off-the-shoulder look because he made the shoulders too broad, alas). But we were happy at that moment, and headed home relieved and content.
Wednesday
Class in Mayapuri, and then our Sam, Sean, and Michelle come over and Sean makes delicious pasta as we watch more soccer.
Thursday
Today was a wonderful work day. We had games day with the children, and I am proud to say that I beat two 13 year olds boys at chess. This is quite a feat considering I haven’t played chess in like 10 years. Furthermore, there were two of them, so that’s like an accumulative intellect of a 26 year old, and I’m only 20! To say the least, I was real proud, and they were real impressed. I’m like the next Bobby Fischer, minus his apparent bigotry. We also played carrom board. This was another huge occasion in my life, because for the past two decades of my existence, my father has also raved about this boardgame, and I never understood what the big deal was… until now. Cait and I are officially addicted. I almost lost a nail trying to get the queen!
Thresi also took us out into the field (the Mayapuri slum) for an hour. It was really really hot out, but so worth the experience of seeing where more of our students lived, and meeting more CHVs. The proximity of the slum to the train tracks is so close, and it’s really almost scary to think of the inevitability of death or injury that entails from this marginal distance. But being out in field is something that will stick with Cait and I for the rest of our lives, and we are really learning a lot about the world, people, and ourselves through our experiences here in India.
When we got home, Felix’s friend Jonathon had come to visit, and live in the house for a couple of days until his NGO could find him residence in Delhi. He’s awesome and it’s always nice to have more friends! A girl from Northern Ireland will also be at the house when we come back from Mumbai.
That night we went to dinner with our Indian friends who we made by extension of our Penn friends, and watched the Argentina game. Later, we went out to a danceclub, but decided that we were too tired, so headed back home within the half hour.
Also, I have learned how to use all of my Indianness and bargain for an auto really well. With a few head bobs and a smile, I can broker some pretty good deals, if I may say so myself.
Friday
Today, we shadowed a doctor in a slum in Tigri. This opportunity was really once in a lifetime. We say patients who had tested positive for TB get recommended to a DOTS center (Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course). It’s really interesting to be able to actually see the reality of everything we’ve been learning in our global health courses, and everything we read about in our books in North America. We also were able to, hands-on, examine the stomachs of pregnant women to monitor the fetal growth. The people who worked in Tigri were so sweet and welcoming to us. They insisted that I try the food, and got mangoes and bottled water for Cait and I. One woman was immensely interested in our marital status. When Cait told her that she has no intention of marrying until she’s at least 30, the women looked grief stricken, and urged “no no bate, 25 MAX!”. We were then asked whether our parents met through love or arrangement. It was all quite culturally entertaining.
When we got home, we did laundry and packed, excited for our day tomorrow and our 10am departure time!
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