Nothing like ‘need’ to encourage human inventiveness – how does that old quote go ‘to invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk’ I have the junk and am becoming more inventive by the day. I got my new fridge last week much to the interest of the staff and the neighbours. They cannot understand why everyone in Scotland has a fridge and yet it’s so cold and few people have them here and it’s so hot! But given that the fridge cost the equivalent of 5 months wages for most people it hardly surprising they are few and far between. People have been in to my house to look at it! VSO provide the fridge I hasten to add. But after I unwrapped it I was left wondering what to do wit the packaging – there is no refuse collection here, you just chuck your rubbish out onto the street and it eventually disappears. Either eaten by animals, picked over by human scavengers or blown away on the wind, but a large fridge sized cardboard box and expanded polystyrene packaging is bit of a problem. But then I had an idea – recycle! I have made a photo display system (now hanging on my kitchen walls) and a shoebox for all the unnecessary shoes I brought from home. Cannot believe I bought 2 pairs of high heels with me – obviously had no concept of life here what so ever. Most people go bare foot and those that do wear shoes its flip-flops. I feel very guilty sitting in my little house with my fridge, knowing that no one else has one except the man who sells milk and cold drinks. I often wonder what they all think of me – they call me Madam, even though I constantly tell them my name, always stand back and give me right of way and just generally grovel – and I hate it. Apart from the boss lady who treats me the same as she treats all the staff and her husband – with contempt.
Having read the both of the books I brought with me ages ago I spend most evenings listening to the BBC world service on my laptop, or listening to my ipod and catching up with e mails. I have been doing some (very bad) sketching and once a week I allow myself the luxury of watching one the DVDs Beryl and Jaynie gave me – accompanied by a vodka and mango juice. I had a very funny e-mail from those 2 ladies – obviously sent on a Friday night after a few glasses of red wine – thinking of you girls!
The journey to the office in the mornings never ceases to amaze me. Looking out over the fertile farming land to the hills in the distance reminds me of the carse of Stirling looking toward the Ochils; but for the men wearing enormous coolie hats herding goats, water buffalo and cattle; and the women collecting the cattle dung and spreading it out to dry for fuel. When I got to work today 2 members of the new cultural project team came in to the office and one of the men insisted on singing for me! It’s a lonely life here most of the time as I am alone in the office all day, and alone in the evenings – but hey I am in India and getting good at making my own entertainment!
I will post some information about Janajagarana who I work for anyone who is interested – and some photos.