Namaste

Right now I am sitting in a cyber cafe in Ahmedabad, India; this is where I
will be spending most of my time.  It is truly an amazing place.  On
the walk here I kicked my feet through dirt, saw a dog sitting on the
roof of a car, all while having auto-rickshaws and bikes zooming around
me.  Oh yeah, and its 9 pm, the coolest its been all day at around 85
degrees.

After some minor complications getting to India (lack of visa, high
fever), I have arrived.  The flights were mundane, and my 9 hour
layover in London was full of reading, napping, and people watching.
Air India was not exciting in any way, except that I was one of two
white people on board.
 I had an interesting experience the minute I entered Ahmedabad
airport.  Upon filling out the required paperwork for entry, I did
not know the address of the residence at which I would be staying.
So I was led away from the counter (where they held my
passport)outside.  In my head I was worried; no one wants to be
separated from their passport in a place where they don't speak the
language.  They led me outside, where many people were waiting (it
is a small airport) and I found Nadeem -- our fearless leader -- who
finished my paperwork.  I then went back and finished going through
customs no problem.  Still, an exciting beginning.

Nadeem hired an autorickshaw (a three-wheeled electric open car) to
get us to where we are staying, Johwer's house.  The drive itself was
a crazy adventure.  Weaving in and out of buses, motorcycles, bikes,
and cars, we made our way through the delicious (sometimes) sites and
smells.  We even stopped for a coconut.

 The coconut stand we attended is apparently one of the best in the
city -- because they chill the coconuts.  you can have it filled
with cream or bottled water.  Being parched, I opted for water.
Once done, they slice open the coconut for you, so that you may
enjoy the pulp.  The coconuts here are not like they are in the
states, and have a delicious, wet inner lining that is meaty.

Upon arriving at Johwers, I took a short nap (a mattress under an
overhead fan, which are everywhere).  Then we went to the NGO office.
SPRAT -- Society for the Promotion of Rational Thinking  -- is on the
second and third stories of an undistinguished building. Since it is
saturday, (there is a six day work week here)we had a knowledge
meeting.  This entailed discussing local, national, and international
politics, social affairs, religious issues, and technology.
The Americans, which included myself, Rithi, Emily, Nina, and Nadeem,
talked about differences between America and India.  I talked about
being in New Orleans, and the poverty there compared to here.  Upon
finding out that I was Jewish, Johwer had me explain much of American
politics in regards to Israel and the fundamentals of the conflict
between Israelis and Palestineans.  All of a sudden I am an expert on
my religion! There are very few Jews here, but apparently there is an
old but still revered temple where services are held on Saturdays.
 Johwer was astounded at the amount of nobel prizes Jews have won.
Muslims have earned a total of six, that is one to every 240 million
muslims.  Jews have earned 1 to every 75,000 (by his
calculation).

So, I am hot, sweaty, and tired.  Apparently that doesn't end, and all
my friends say I look very fresh.  We are going to have dinner; food is
bought every day from a Jain family which cooks veggie meals and sells
them out of their house in tins.  It should be delicious and spicy; I
am thrilled to sweat  from something other than the heat.

So I am off!  Tomorrow is a day off, and I am taking it easy.  Everyone
says the heat and sun here is much more intense than you expect, and to
take it slow.  So I will.  Im taking my meds and am learning every
minute.