The most perfect moment of my existence.

It had been days of merciless, sweat-breaking heat; it was the excited voice of one of the women that broke through my concentration at work, "Bishti, bishti!"

My heart leapt - finally.

I ran outside to the balcony, plunging my hand into the crying sky, exclaiming my excitement with bursts of laughter. All around me others were doing the same, and we all shared the same smile with each other, lit with bright eyes.

My feet hurriedly carried me down a flight of stairs to the open courtyard in the centre of our building, and childlike again, I laughed, splashed, and clapped in the soothing rain's heavy tears. (Think Bollywood classic rain-dance scene).

Hearing pearls of piercing laughter behind me, I turned to see the faces of tiny humans, faces pressed against the bars to their creche. We ran to them, lifted them into the air, and led them into the presence of the rain, watching their expressions contort in mixed emotions; first the shock of the cold, then the smiles that split their faces in two from ear-to-ear, with an escaped giggle or scream here and there.

One of the girls immediately made herself comfortable in my arms once her feet had left the ground. She wound one arm around me to play with my hair, the the other hung by her side, and at times would hold my own arm. Her hed nestled into the hollow of my neck and shoulder, and I stood there, swaying in the rain, humming a tune I don't know, and closed my eyes, with her enjoying the cold against her bare back.

Holding my arm against her skin, it continued to shock me just how pale I have become since being here; I have taken every step to stay out of the sun (due to the heat), so I have become almost transparent, I swear!

From time to time she would lift her head right back, looking straight up into the path of the droplets of water, her smile frozen on her face, and I just stood in awe at the simplicity of her excitement. Rain back home would rarely cause this expression. For a split second she would make eye contact, grin, then continue her silent wonder at the falling sky, her bottom lip beginning to quiver from the cold.

The cracking sound of head-meets-concrete brought us all back to reality; one of the little boys was too excited, running around, and learned the consequences of gravity. His cries of pain caused a slight anxiety at first among us, but then we all couldn't help giggling, surrounding him, and smothering him in a thousand kisses.

Leaving the children to slide, splash, and squeal, I let my feet again traipse back up the stairs, and into my office, where I stared momentarily at my computer, and wondered, "Did that just happen?"

x

More firsts.

Judy!

Chilling in my first experience of the Western world in India - Cafe Coffee Day! With AC!

This paper cost me about 2.5 rupees... less than 10c in NZ. Main headlines include the continuing case of the woman who was raped not too far from here, and about the West Bengal strike happening on the 28th.
Also, that clay pottle holds some 'mishti doi' - a sweet yoghurt dish, and the 100grams I boughtbv

The way wires are hung and 'organised' around here..

Cafe Coffee Day menu!

Hah.... love the grammar, and who the target market is for these.

A nice cold green-apple soda... such a refreshing drink.

Here is the mishti doi! It has an interesting gelatine texture... not sure if I love it, but I do enjoy it, as the vendor gives it to you cold.

So warm, that everyone just drops where they can to rest.

Tonight we made garlic naan pizzas. So yum.

Today I bought a tiffin tin - Dave + Stacey S, you should be proud of me!

It has compartments so that you can keep your rice and curry separate, and bring it to work with you! So excited to use this! I bought it for about 130 INR = just over $3 NZD.

Today Judy and I woke up early so that we could attend the monthly service FS holds for the women who work there, only to find out we were given the wrong time and missed the bus... so instead we decided that seeing as we were up, we might as well do a bit of exploring.

E had bought some mishti doi last night, and I was so keen to try some, so we headed to the local mishti stall. It cost me just 12 Rupees for 100g; Judy's was 10 because she decided on the un-sweetened version.

We had a late start due to the service, and worked until 3pm. I love that some of the women are beginning to try include me, some of them will get my attention, "Di-di! Naam ki?' to find out my name. I am doing my best to remember all of theirs...

After lunch, J and N took me in my first auto-rickshaw, and on my first Indian bus, (which was an experience), on our way to Spencers at Mani Square (a mall). The last leg of the trip took us through some slums... which for me was quite eye-opening. And then before I knew it, I was walking through the metal detectors, proving my camera was a camera and not a bomb, and I was back in NZ. Kind of. It was so surreal to walk into a tidy, air-conditioned, and very Western mall, knowing where I had been just two minutes beforehand. It was so nice to feel in place for once, yet I felt quite sick about the extremes. It was so good to read packaging I could understand, and find food I would eat at home, but I became so frustrated about the security - every shop had so many security guards, and when we left Spencer's (a grocery store), they checked your receipts to make sure you hadn't stolen anything. It felt very suffocating. And it angered me that they were so focused on the potential for the odd thief, when so little efforts are put into policing the trafficking of women into forced sex-labour.

J mentioned today what I had brought up with N, which was the fact that men will stare at the boys because they are white, then all of a sudden they will be like, 'Oh wait! There is a white woman with them - so much more interesting, let's stare at her until she is uncomfortable!' J said, 'It's nice having you around to detract the attention away from me!' It was quite hilarious, and a very valid point. It is like the men have never seen a white woman before. I think I might snap soon, just to let it all out on one unfortunate fellow.

Okay. End of rant.

Tonight I went out to the market and to Ricky's (a restaurant) by myself, which is a huge step for me. It was the first time I was buying fruit and veg in the market alone, and paying for things etc. without needing anyone to help understand transactions and such. I felt so independent and free, even just for an hour, and it was quite calming. I purchased some things for our pizzas, and picked up the naans from Ricky's, headed back to the flat, and made dinner.

Now I am sitting in the lounge, with the fans at full speed, two Americans, a Korean, and a fellow Kiwi, typing away as they play poker.

I like it here. There is never a dull day. Despite a few ups and downs, I like it.

x