It’s now been 4 months living in Bombay. At least once a week here is a dialogue I have with India:
Me: (feeling euphoric and proud) Hey India, I think I’m finally starting to understand you.
India: Oh really?
India then slaps me in my face, spins me around, pushes me to wet ground. I feel confused, shocked, enraged and homesick. Something nearby has a funny smell.
Me: Oh, I guess not.
I take a deep breath. Each time this happens I am slower to react. I think about what I just learned. I get back on my feet, dust myself off and try to understand more.
My Job
After a long day of work, everyone helping each other out pack materials for teacher workshops we are doing for the weekend. This past weekend we led 25 different workshops in 3 different cities. I work with some brilliant, dedicated and overall impressive people. The learning curve is steep and the pace and rigor is faster and more high level than I have ever experienced. I am accustomed to being able to think 1-2 steps ahead of what we have to do next. I am still a couple steps behind with the current job. I think this will change, just have to be patient.
In India Alcohol is expensive! I drink less. However when I want to drink I have found my niche drink: The iconic Old Monk Rum, made in India. When in Rome…Or when in India…
This is what a scene looks like in and around the community schools we work in. Notice man at the end chopping the fish heads.
This is what the beach by my house looks like. Everyday, during high tide, the beach is filled with the garbage the ocean is puking up. Sad sight.
In June, Mumbai passed a plastic ban law. The other day I was in the market. Made me happy to see vendors wrapping things up in recycled newspaper. Hopeful the plastic ban is successful and leads to bigger things. The ban is part of a larger government sponsored campaign called “Swachh Bharat:” A campaign in India that aims to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of India’s cities. You can see the official logo that uses Gandhi’s specs. Good marketing.
You also see the smiley face picture that says: “Dream of a Swach Bharat”
During the mornings and evening large numbers of parrots sit outside my window. A gift from Monsoon season.
Monsoon season has also brought more mosquitoes. I am holding a “magical racket.” The racket electrocutes mosquitoes. You gently touch the surface of piles of clothes, blinds and other surfaces where they may be hiding and get the instant gratification of hearing those F*** burn. I have become a little obsessed. For those religions that believe we should not harm living things (which is great), are mosquitoes in the exception category?
Last weekend was tough. Smritika was not feeling well. By Sunday late afternoon she was feeling better. A torrential downpour. We had a J and decided to take a walk in the rain. That is Smritika telling me to leave my phone inside (good call). While walking the streets, wading knee deep through some passages, no umbrella, no phone, few cars, holding Smritika’s hand I closed my eyes as the warm water hit my skin.
IT Depends...Explain More 