A Quiet Week

Hello again! It’s been a fairly uneventful week, but I know I’ll get angry owls (howlers, even) if I don’t update my blog frequently. Plus, I’ve been realizing that even though it feels to some extent like I’ve fallen into a routine, I’m in friggin India, and that’s still pretty cool.

I moved in to Seva Niketan on Monday, and proceeded to sit in my room most of the day. There was a nation-wide shut down, basically, due to a strike by a political party to protest rising gas prices. All the shops, businesses and taxis were basically intimidated into not working, so no one goes to work and I get to sleep a bit, and sit at my new desk reading articles for research. The new place is basically a youth hostel, and it’s about as luxurious as youth hostels are supposed to be. The bed’s a bit lumpy and hard, and there’s construction work two floors below me in the morning, and there’s no cell phone service except by the window- but that’s all pretty minor. It’s clean, there’s a canteen downstairs for meals, and I have an outlet for my computer (which only singles have), so I’m happy.

Vipin, a guy I’d met once or twice before, is staying across the hall, so we’ve been out to dinner a few times, which has been nice. In a true sign of friendship, he also has let me transfer a bunch of movies off his hard drive, which has pretty effectively killed my productivity the past few days. So far, I’ve watched the entire Bourne trilogy, and several Harry Potter movies (thus the own reference, earlier).

In terms of research progress, I had my first interview with a non-environmental expert yesterday! This means I’ve actually gotten started on the substance of what I’m here to do, which feels good. The interview itself went pretty well, although I have to get better at directing the conversation where I want.

The other event this week was that Michael, one of the JDC volunteers, left for a month long trip to the Saravash camp in Hungary. We spent the night at his apartment (before his plane at 3:30 AM), hanging out and playing taboo. Right before he had to go, we all went up to the roof, then those among us who were both brave and had proper footwear climbed the rickety old ladder to the upper-roof, and were rewarded with the most incredible view of Mumbai at night. The new bridge across Mahim Bay on one side and a few towering apartment buildings on another. It was pretty spectacular. Then it started monsooning.

Tomorrow is the big JYP Football (soccer) tournament. Being the aggressive athlete you all know me to be, I’ve joined a team, and I look forward to trying desperately not to look like a fool. I’ll let you all know how that turns out.