Time for some updates!!!Well it has almost been two months here in India and I can't believetime flies that fast... it feels like I just got here and now its approaching time to leave!!!It has been such an awesome experience and I can't express enough about how happy and thankful I am to have had such an opportunity. I wouldn't have wanted my first visit to be any other way and am gladI got to see life through a locals eye.
I am still working at my NGO and have been able to implement some structural changes to our medicalcenter there... I have proposed a Health Project and am just hoping so much that it will be implemented. There is such a huge need for health education among these slum populations and just even the basics can help these people live healthier lives. I think just working in the NGO world really opens my eyes to how challenging work can be... I had to deal with such a difficult boss and very slow processes .... but on the flip side the people that work there are amazing and have a depth of knowledge ... I just want to sit there and pick their brains ...they have learned so much just from life!!!
Aside from my overly exhausting work life I finally had a chance totake a VACATION - WOO HOO.... I went to Goa for the holiday weekend and it was goregous. For those of you who are not familiar with Goa it is like paradise ... nice beaches , warm water, and ofcourse lots ofdrinks :) There also are a lot of foreigners and it definitely hasits touristy appeal. We were able to spend time at some of the more reserved beaches which were not as crowded and extremely relaxing. I saw so many sunsets and took snaps of them all. Another interesting part of Goa is that it is still India so ofcourse we had our friendsthe cows sunbathing on the beach alongside everyone else... hahaha...
As my last couple of weeks are winding down here I am just busy trying to get stuff done at work as well as attend the events and conferences associated with our NGO. This weekend there is a huge Diwali Mela at Don Bossco which is an amazing shelter for street kids.... I went today and it was so much fun playing with the kids and dancing with them and watching them perform. They are all so adorable. Tomorrow there may be some film stars there ... for those of you who are Bollywood fanatics I will try to get some snaps of Abishek Bachan !!!!
I watched my first Hindi Film in the theater and I was shocked... the\movie is called Naach and basically is a fashion show for Antra Mali (\actress) who dances around in the whole movie showing off her bod. On\top of that the film shows them kissing and also insinuates that they\had slept together ... I was shocked to say the least ... I guess I\didn\'t realize how advanced the films are here. I made so many ABCD\comments during that movie and everyone just looked at me like I was\very old fashioned. They also start every movie with the India\national anthem so everyone has to stand up and stay quiet... who\knew....\
Anyways for those who are wondering when I am coming back to the\states... I am wondering the same thing myself... I don\'t know at the\moment but there is so much here to explore right now and I am just\beginning to take it in. I still miss you all very much and can\'t wait\to see everyone...
Okay this is getting very long so I hope all of you are doing well...\congrats on successes and study hard for those in school, work hard\for those working , and ofcourse PLAY HARD for everyone!!!
Much Love To All
Ritu
