2016-06-01
On the third day in my host family, I woke with a pit in my stomach and tears in my eyes. I tried to suppress it for a while, but then ran to my host mom. I was barely able to get out “Can I call my mom?” before bursting into tears. Later that night...
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2016-02-12
Sitting in the rickshaw, I put my elbow on the back of the seat – WOAH, pull back. My elbow’s wet. I turn to look and see a bottle of – something – wrapped in burlap. I don’t feel disgusted or startled or scared. I just chuckle a little and turn back around. On my...
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2016-01-05
In 1631, after giving birth to her 14th child, Mughul Empress Mumtaz Mahal called her husband to her death bed. Her last words were pleads to the Emperor Shah Jahan. First, he must never remarry. Second, he must raise their children like a father, not as a king. And third, he must build her a tomb so magnificent, the whole...
Read More2015-12-06
I recently received an email from the high school I graduated from requesting me to fill out a post-graduation survey. It contained this question: What is your current work/school status? o Full time employment o Part time employment only o Part time enrollment at a post-secondary institution (2yr, 4yr, Certificate Based Program) AND employed o ...
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2015-11-28
I made Thanksgiving dinner for my host family last night. The odds were against me, but it actually turned out pretty well. In addition to green beans, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy (all vegetarian), I also made pie. 2 pies, in fact: chocolate pie with oreo crust and my Grandmother’s Apple Pie. I started on...
Read More2015-11-13
Whenever I ask the kids at school “how are you?” they always answer back with “I am good” or “I am fine”. So, I’ve started rejecting that answer. Occasionally I force someone who is “good” to use a better word, perhaps “excellent” or “excited” or even “very good”, because at least it’s something different. ...
Read More2015-10-13
Driving in India looks like a scene from Fast and Furious, except picture rickshaws everywhere and more cows. There is no such thing as a lane in India; most streets don’t even have lines. One direction of traffic uses 2/3 of the road on their left side, and the other direction uses 2/3 on their...
Read More2015-09-25
Today in school (if you don’t know, my apprenticeship is assisting a Teach for India fellow, teaching English and/or History), the teacher read a poem to the class, called “Eletelephony”. Eletelephony By Laura E. Richards Once there was an elephant, Who tried to use the telephant, No! No! I mean an elephone Who...
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2015-08-25
Wow. I’m finally here. Sitting on a plane 30,000 feet (or something like that) above my hometown, listening to the oddly appropriate song Something about Geography, and beginning a journey I’ve been dreaming about for my whole life (more or less). Maybe we should start from the beginning. I’m from a small town...
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