lots to say

firstly business: I realized I had blocked comments (I have no idea how) but my roommate helped me get them un-blocked so now even if you don't have an account you can comment (hint hint hint.)

secondly: I think I officially LIVE here now-and yes it has taken me a month-but I recognize the little bald guy who dutifully huffs and puffs up the hill every day at 7am exactly for exercise, Radhu (aka Bob) our seemingly nice but then randomly vicious dog no longer barks/croons soulfully/lunges when I go by, and most importantly I got a club member card to our local store, "more" today! I think the workers at the store were equally as excited as I was, and by the time I got to filling out the application 3 cashiers, the cleaner and the security guard were gathered around and throwing in their two cents about how I should fill in each section. I was unsure of the point of some of the questions, such as how many rupees I earn per year, how many children of each gender I had, and "which of the following do you have in your house: AC, car, TV, refrigerator," but I got it done. I was also very interested to see that under occupation, the choices were (in this order): housewife, student, self employed, or other. Because of course men DON'T SHOP. pfft.

third: I have FINALLY decided what I am going to do for my independent project! The program is set up so we do an entire semester of school in the first two months, followed by a month of free travel and then the final month is an internship, research project, or special project of our choice. Basically we can do ANYTHING which is both amazing and extreeeemely stressful to choose what will be the most enriching and what will make me most happy. Buuuut I decided I'm going to go with the TOTALLY UNEXPECTED and COMPLETELY SURPRISING theme of: dance! I want to act as both a student and an intern to a dance teacher, meaning I would get personal lessons that would lead to a solo performance at the end of the month (eeeee!!!!) but also shadow the teacher as she teaches classes and does her own performances. I would love to get the opportunity to teach a class or two to kids of modern/creative movement because girls body's are so restricted here it would be fun to let them be silly and free and maybe learn a little dance they could perform :) I would also like to volunteer to do a workshop or two at the destitute women's center teaching simple self defense if they would allow that...I think they might be scandalized at first by the idea but I think it could be SO GOOD for them to have.

What is the destitute women's center, you ask? GAHHHHH. We visited this place on Saturday and I was so blown away I felt like crying and screaming and hugging every single one of these women all at the same time. The center is called Shakti Dhama and it works as a temporary residence for women who for various reasons are no longer safe/welcome in their own homes. It is free for them, and they work in a kitchen garden and make little gifts for the center to sell in return for housing. Some of the trades they learn (sewing, etc.) can be used for them to make money out in the world once they get out. They also get counseling, thankfully, because these women have been through some intense stuff. One of the women spoke to us about how she had been kidnapped from her home and kept in a room in Bangalore for FOUR MONTHS, all the while being tortured (and I'm sure sexually abused) by her captor. Another woman stood up with her baby slung over her shoulder and told us her husband had thrown her and her child into a river to die and the only way she survived was holding on to a root until she was able to get out. A third woman stood up and said nothing at all, becuase she was so traumatized she had lost her ability to speak. I am still haunted by her eyes, which perpetually looked like she was crying but without tears. The most frightening part of all of this is that the ultimate goal of the rehabilitation in most cases is to get the women REUNITED with their husbands. I know, it makes no sense. But in Indian culture it is worse to be an unmarried woman (especially with the added shame of whatever she has been through) than it is to be married to a terrible man. I think this might be because the expectation of marriage here is totally different---marriages are like economic unions between families they are not idealized unions of lovers like they are in the us. I personally wish I could encourage these women to give the husbands a piece of their mind (publicly if possible), kick them in the balls and then start new lives as entrepeneurs, but that is just completely culturally impossible. But can you see why it could be really good for them to know self defense? Especially in the case of the young woman who was stolen from her home--if she knew how to give a good palm heel strike she may have had the possibility of getting away from that creep.

Lastly, in conjunction with my blog title, a group of us got asked to be in a commercial this weekend!! Buuuuuut we turned it down. Kingfisher beer promoters at the club said we could get free beer if we'd just agree to drink it on camera...Ummm no thanks. It was definitely legit but I kind of imagined my on screen moment to be flying by in a dance number hopping around and pelvic thrusting, not chugging nasty beer for some dumb commercial, just becuase I have white skin. So alas, no bollywood for me. YET.

Hope everyone is healthy and happy!

नमस्ते