| Divali! And it's only, like... 2 months late... go here! ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) roving_carrot
There's even an extra special treat in that post. | comments: Leave a comment   |
| Names have been changed to protect the... innocent?
Dear boss and HR director,
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for the wonderful opportunity I have been given to work with Awesome Org. I truly value the skills I have been able to acquire here and am confident that they will aid me in my future work. However, as I have decided to pursue a law degree, I feel it would be more professionally and academically advantageous for me to seek experience with an organization with more legal orientation. I will be taking my paid leave as planned, and completing my work with Awesome Org on January 8th. I look forward to any future collaborations I may have with Awesome Org, either in New York, or New Delhi. Once again, thank you very much for the wonderful opportunity and valuable experience.
And I assure you this has nothing to do with the incredible lack of support I've have found, professional lacunae or complete lack of assistance with any problem I have brought forward. Let the tongue biting commence...
Oh, and if anyone knows or has ties to any human/civil rights law organizations in the US, anywhere in the US, hook me up! | | comments: 4 comments or Leave a comment |
| | So, here's a moment of surreality for you. Over the last few months, spoons have become increasingly rare. I thought that they were getting hijacked on the trays going up and down from the ground floor to here for Uncle's meals. The other day he asked if I had any spoons in my room, and then explained that they were not going downstairs. Hmmmmmm..... So the maid that's been working here for over a year seems to be to blame for spontaneous spoon thievery. All my stuff is locked up when I leave in the mornings, so no worries there, but the knives and forks seem to be safe. It's just the spoons. I would have thought there was a heroine addiction of some sort going on, but the latest spoon to go missing was an enormous serving spoon. Now that is a mighty heroine addiction if I do say so myself... Uncle plans to deal with it. In the mean time.... Spoons?? Seriously??? What?? | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| The cough is back. We think it's asthma. I will OWN this thing.
In other news, though the morning conspired against me with no water and no electricity, I still managed to get to work on time, fed and clean. I have mad ninja-skills.
The power doesn't usually go out, by the way. I does it just enough to make things a little interesting and exciting.
Also, I think I'll name the cockroaches Wayde. Who says life can't be entertaining? | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| ok, so those of you who have been following my LJ and various conversations with me will be well familiar with the cry of "where do you find these assholes?" I have encountered such an incredible variety - a bouquet, if you will - of jerkfaces the world over that I came to the only logical conclusion: Asshat Bingo!
Who wants to play??
The rules are simple, we'll list all the kinds of ridiculous jerks we can and then whoever manages to check the most off wins!
I'll start the list:
womanizer
old woman prying into your personal life
jerk who can come off as a nice guy
clingy passive aggressive
plain old passive aggressive
aggressive
any more suggestions? | | comments: Leave a comment |
| so, on the way to Amritsar on Monday, I was next to the only person in CREA who doesn't speak English >.< However, she was a complete sweetheart about it, and decided to spend the evening teaching me Hindi! :) I can say, like... five colors now and that I like something. It's way exciting, and there was even a little boy across the aisle for me to practice with. (I really need to use that Hindi book, as it is sad it took me this long to be able to say that I like trains). Speaking of trains, I really do like them. I've never been on a sleeper train before, and it was a bit like camping... right down to being cold and a little smoky from fires outside. In the morning I also had the endless amusement of seeing chivalry/primal urges of marking ones' territory in action. As the doors on the train rarely shut unless someone has shut them to keep out the wind, the gentlemen were doing their morning business out the train doors with a full view of a sunrise over Indian fields, thereby not taking up the bathroom so I could use it. It was... strange and yet made so much sense and I think is one of those things about India. It strikes me as funny, but in the context, why not? I imagine it's a fine way to wake up in the morning...
As I was unable to get any woolens in Amritsar due to sudden onset of winter and a sinus infection, I went out yesterday with the fabulous Delhi-ite to Old Delhi for the experience, then toured many many emporia at CP. Yes, dad. I went to an Emporium. It was wonderful. And I got a ton of shawls for myself and others. And it's a good thing, too. Because cold is eeeeevil. Also, when we were in Old Delhi, I hadn't been planning we'd go there and so was wearing my American clothes (read: form fitting and not likely to cause a curious reaction). I forgot how many stares I get here, especially with stares in Old Delhi being more intense. But I'm less culture shocked now, and actually found it a bit complimentary.
Now to go recover from this death that threatens my lungs... | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| Something odd that's been stirring deep in my mind since starting this job has been my perceptions of poor people. In college and in work, we talk about how societies and governments treat the poor, the injured, the elderly and the disabled as less than human. But I don't know how many people really realize how much they see these people as less than human. Having poverty shoved in my face full force the way you get it here is shocking at first, slamming into my mental barriers and thrusting grime and dirt and someone else's alien reality into my clean little universe of happy multi-story houses in New England. After that I shifted to a state of horrified denial. Avoiding the underpasses with the most aggressive beggars because I didn't like the fact that I thought of them as less than human. I notice a few activists around here who seem to seek out and really try to see poor people as human beings... which is better than not, but also a bit problematic in the same way as the "I'm not racist because I have black friends" argument is problematic. Every day, in my e-mail, we get these beautifully shot images of extreme poverty, which often goes hand in hand with age, disability and injury. I always have to look at the photos twice to remind myself that there's a person there and that is the life they live. I'm not sure I could ever really understand it without living the life they do. That's not a sacrifice I'm really willing to make. But I would like to think I have the sense to at least get their advice in trying to make their lives better. I'm not sure I've ever met anyone who would subject themselves to abject poverty just to better understand the situation these people find themselves in.
Anyway, just thinking aloud. | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| So. Everyone remembers when I used henna to dye my hair red, right? I got this really gorgeous natural looking auburn. Lovely.
Halloween is my favorite holiday and adopted birthday. This year, I was dead set on breaking my trend of kind of crappy birthdays, had the perfect costume picked out, managed to hunt down a couple clubs doing halloween themes, and even arranged a meetup with some folks I adore from the interweb (hooray for ex-pat forums).
So my costume requires blond hair. Rather than get a wig, I decided I wanted a bit of a change. In the past, it's been simple. Get the bleach, leave it in, woah there's a blond.
Do you know how long henna stays in your hair?
Can you see where this is going....?
Happy Halloween everybody!!!!
Now to find a hairdresser who's open early....
| | comments: 4 comments or Leave a comment |
| Lesson of the day: I can make a mean curry.
That is all. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| It has been a busy week indeed. I've been off doing things every day after work and barely had time to even buy shampoo. It's actually a really lovely thing to be so busy. I'm volunteering for an organization called Nigah (you get one lame joke about that, dad) which is a collective that shows queer art and movies. This weekend kicks off Queerfest '09 (http://www.thequeerfest.com/) which I will be helping out at a little bit. Last night we made boxes for story submissions :).
Today is the first study group at the end of the work day. I haven't even finished the article yet as I've been so busy/easily distractable at work. It's like being in school again, only I'm sort of teacher and need to read the thing too. woohoo? | | comments: Leave a comment |
| | at last!! Sorry for sucking about posting, I've been busy/exhausted from massive levels of fun :) The Pakistan trip has been posted over at roving_carrot, you can go over there and check 'er out. Next time will be a Divali post. But for now, I should get back to work :) | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I'm working on a photo post of the Pakistan trip. Short version: I met a lot of amazingly sweet and helpful people and can't say one bad thing that happened the whole trip. It was amazing and reminded me why I travel. I feel so completely rejuvenated and put back into myself. It's a wonderful feeling.
Right now it's choti Diwali (pronounced "divali"), or Diwali eve. Fire crackers have been going off since Durga Puja a few weeks ago and have really picked up. Tomorrow is going to be even more intense and I've been instructed to not wear anything flammable and have people with me when I go around Lajpat Nagar taking pictures. Diwali is really Indian Christmas (for North and Northeast India). They put out candles in shapes the way we do luminarios in the Southwest, and some people put out flowers in mosaics on their driveways. A lot of folks have all night card parties, playing poker 'till the wee sma's. They make these delicious sugary balls of wonderful called Ladu which I'm going to attempt before the Diwali thing tomorrow. Auntie has invited me to do puja with them tomorrow evening, which I am hoping will be a wonderful photo op and know will be a wonderful experience. I told Auntie about our family Christmas traditions. Markets have been sheer madness and getting home has become a bit of a struggle because shopping here completely out does shopping in the US for Christmas. They do wrapped presents and it's all really lovely.
Last night I went with my designer friend to a shop opening in a high end district. It was like stepping into a completely different part of Delhi full of glam and wealth and people with a gorgeous aesthetic and the money to carry it off. I met some really sweet designer folks who I got along with wonderfully. Now if I could only meet a straight guy I get on with that well :P The good news is: I'm having the time of my life and loving the new people entering it. I'm happier. It's a good thing.
Also, thank you NCIS for giving me more music to download. I get more productive when I have iTunes open rather than NCIS, because I can work with music, and NCIS/other TV shows are more time-wasting.
Also, had my mid-term eval yesterday. Boss said I'm doing better socially but she feels like I'm not taking advantage of my position as an intern to really learn things here. She suggested I start a study group in the office with folks reading materials from our institutes, and I sent out an e-mail this morning about it. Everyone in the office responded that they wanted to do it. So now I'm in charge of this thing, which is really cool, honestly :) I wish I could have these sorts of ideas myself, but my skills lie in making other people's dreams a reality. And I think that's an important strength, especially as I know a lot of really creative people who need someone with drive and focus to make their ideas happen. And I don't want to be a consultant that goes in and takes over. I really do enjoy helping others realize their goals. I think it's the way I'm made. But I still wish I could have these ideas myself :( | | comments: Leave a comment |
| | In about half an hour I'm headed out to try to get to the train station by `1:00. The traffic has been something terrible and I don't want to miss this train, given all the trouble I had. It's the first time in a while I'm really jazzed about a trip. First trip I'm taking alone since getting to India, and everyone and their mother has turned into a worried auntie, lecturing me about being safe. I finally resorted to telling people I'll just get a camel I can ride and if anyone gives me any problems, I'[ll point the head at them and it can spit :P Really folks, I'll be in the country for maybe 36 hours. I sincerely doubt anything untoward shall befall me. It's looking to be an impressive adventure, though. And if I can get folks at the hostel I'll be staying at in Lahore in on it, I might go see some courtesan dancing in the old city :D Also, there is promise of funny pointy shoes. | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| Victory!
I managed to find the perfect hairdye color (most of them here are brown or black, ugh), there were ten packets in the box, and it's this wonky natural stuff you mix with water (no gloves, but hot water helps). It takes an eon to wash out but hello pretty!
I used the phone (how novel) rather than the net and discovered the lost art of calling hotels, discovering that they do, in fact, speak very good English, and have my top choices booked for both Amritsar and Lahore this weekend. In Amritsar, I'll be staying really close to the Golden Temple at night and will see about seeing it. It's ok if I miss it though, as it's apparently where my co-workers and I are going in a month for our retreat :P
Boss finally decided my annual report was important enough for her attention (really, she just finally got around to it, but only one person has really looked at the language I used to give me an honest critique, which is a problem if they're having a new intern write it. So She sent an e-mail to the management and basically told them this was important and this was their deadline for getting me edits. After discovering that it was too big to e-mail (urk...) I printed it out and put it on their desks. At which point the copier decided to bless me with narcisism. It wouldn't stop printing copies and I wanted to go home.
But this is why Indians have help staff. I left them with it :D
Tonight: Editing my personal statement. Oh! And taking a cue from whataspacecase I have posted mine here: ( Click to see! ) | | comments: Leave a comment |
| So, the guardian angel of travel smiled upon me.
The website wouldn't process my card. I have no idea why, but it's clearly a problem with them as I was able to buy my ticket to the LSAT just fine :P
I spoke to the new woman at work about it, and she is officially going to be named Guardian Angel here. She had me write down my train information, then had her errand boy/chauffeur go get them for me. Win! Apparently he just sits outside work all day in case she needs anything. Yes, it freaks me out, too. But damn it's helpful, and apparently one of those secret ways Indians deal with the BS. That and ordering tickets on the internet. Which I failed at. So hooray errand boy.
I have now written an insanely mushy and idealistic personal statement. Tomorrow I'll try to work it more into something professional, but keep the personal impact. Maybe I'll read some other successful personal statements.
And ten I'll have my ruthless boss tear into it and buy a pint of ice cream to soothe my sorrows as what I think is my best work is handed back to me with all the crappy mistakes pointed out and I can see them so clearly after she shows them to me. Ugh. Dear Georgetown: you look awesome. Can I go to you? | | comments: Leave a comment |
| dear today: why? I mean, seriously. What? ( click for the full snark )
Sorry, this entry is full of snark, but I feel it is justified and should illustrate to you what travel in India is like. And this is just trying to book the tickets. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Critique from Not Boss in NY I got on the project I've been working my ass off on for months, trying to get the tone of the writing just perfect, reading other annual reports and articles on how to write them, getting basically no feedback from other people except that it's "boring":
I have not read the whole thing because I think it needs too much editing... I only looked at the programs that I have been involved in and I felt like the write ups did not capture the programs. They have been described better elsewhere. You could basically cut and paste from other places. I think you should reread the whole thing, think about how much it makes sense and look at these other descriptions. Also you use a lot of clichéd adjectives that are meaningless and the language is repetitive at points.
The rest of it is in a similar fashion.
very polite ouch. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Oh my god this was the longest weekend EVER. And next weekend is looking just as long. Friday and Saturday nights Fabulous Delhiite and a couple other folks and I all went to CR Park, an area of Delhi full of Bengalis, for Durga Puja, which is a massive celebration of Durga, the 10-armed goddess. I'll be doing a photo post of that when I get home tonight, but oh goodness it was fun. I even wore a sari, because I was already standing out anyway as the only white chick for miles.
Sunday night I went out for drinks with the Designer ( a friend of the Fabulous Delhiite's) and we all wound up at Nizamuddin railway station and midnight for food. That place is busy 24/7, which was good to know, as I'll be taking my train to Pak from there.
Then last night we wanted to see the burning of Ravana for Dussehra (more of a North Indian than Bengali festival) but the one we were going to was canceled and then we ran into two of them directly after they'd happened. Of well, I heard them going on late into the night. They fill effigies of Ravana (who is a demon to Indians and a god to Sri Lankans) with firecrackers and set them all off. Little kids also set off a lot of firecrackers in the street, and try to get them under cars >.<
I think I need a vacation from my weekend. And we get Friday off, too. Weekend after this is also a three day weekend for me as I am going to Pak. Then the weekend after that is Devali which is like Indian Christmas. Spending a quiet evening at home looking at law schools or finishing my application to Boston University seems almost relaxing now... | | comments: Leave a comment |
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