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Aw, mama...can this really be the end? [Apr. 12th, 2007|07:04 am] [ Tags | india, travel ] I am sitting in my hotel room in Hyderabad, getting ready to start packing for the long journey home. Shortly after the last post, I made the decision to stop trying to process/understand everything and start simply drinking it all in, with the hope that once I return home, I'll be able to comprehend what I've seen and done here: I thought some guy was trying to steal my luggage within minutes of leaving the airport. He turned out to be one of my own employees. I stayed in a five star hotel where every employee called me "Mr. Jeffrey", the doorman saluted me every morning, and Majid the bartender made fun of me for ordering lassi when my stomach was upset. I paid an absurd amount of money (by Indian standards) for a car and driver and tour of Golkonda Fort at sunset. I saw a camel, wild cows and goats in the streets of a major city. I saw the most impoverished people I've ever seen in my life. I ate biryani. A lot. I got sick. Twice. Once from each end. I bought pearls from the gayest men in Hyderabad. I made $90 cash last two weeks with change left over, and still lived like a king. I saw Charminar, the Qutb Shah tombs and Salarjung Museum. I rode in a cab driven by a man who had no idea where he was going. I went to a nightclub that was transplanted from Miami. I had a great time meeting my team here and the work part of the trip was overwhelmingly productive. Things I'll miss: My team and their warm hospitality. Frankies in the office cafeteria. Majid the bartender. The hotel gym. Seriously, it is the nicest hotel gym you'll ever see. The drive to work every morning, looking out at a world so vastly different from my own that it borders on indescribable. Things I won't miss: Honking horns. The feeling that everyone I don't know who is being friendly to me just wants to take my money. T.D. The vaguely carsick feeling I get whenever I ride in a vehicle here. Having to rinse my toothbrush in bottled water and take short showers. Being afraid of raw vegetables and unpeeled fruits. But, yeah...I'm ready to go home. In the meantime, I think this sums it up best: link post comment

Well, THIS is different. [Mar. 31st, 2007|07:13 pm] [ Tags | india, travel ] I am in Hyderabad India. I'll post a longer summary eventually, but for now, I just wanted to log the fact that I am overwhelmed by India, particularly the poverty. I've never seen anything like this before and it is really causing me to think carefully about what is important and what it means to be fortunate. I am thinking more than ever that those of us who are lucky or blessed enough to live a successful, healthy life have an obligation--not a choice--to help those who are not as lucky, blessed or whatever. I believe I have done a good job of helping people locally, but I've done virtually nothing for people in nations such as this one who make beggars in the U.S. seem positively wealthy by comparison. I read earlier entries in this blog and feel very shallow--there are people here who cannot afford to see a doctor and receive treatment for serious diseases, and I'm bitching about having to spend $300 to replace my broken iPod. I am still processing all of it, obviously. It is terrifying and overwhelming and depressing, but at the same time, I feel it is important for me as an American to face it head on, come to terms with it, and in the end, do something about it. On a lighter note, here is a photo of some schmuck who has obviously been wearing the same clothes for three straight days standing in front of Golkonda Fort at sunset. link 1 comment|post comment

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