Accomodations, Orientations

Notes from previously recorded entries, prior to internet access:

From Dec 31:

There is so much room and open space in the new building that has been built for us international students in the Study in India Program (SIP).  We moved in recently, to this palace tucked about 2km from central campus.  There is still a bit of a sterile feeling to the building, even as pieces of furniture trickle in.  The last guest house was very homey, so hopefully we can break this new place in well during our stay here.  Overall, our accommodations and privileges which we receive as foreign students are overwhelming and do register a certain amount of guilt.  The other university students must harbor some at least some animosity towards our royal treatment.  However, it is very nice to be settled in and unpacked finally.  I am sharing a room with a wonderful girl from southern California who is actually of Indian descent and has family in other areas of India, particularly Chennai.  Her name is Veena, and she is sweet- I know we will get along just fine.  

 

Out of our window you can see the decrepit, temporary homes of the workers who are building the surrounding structures and who probably built our new guest house in their bare feet with their bare hands.  Their houses are constructed with tarps and branches and other found materials, and I presume that they are migrant workers, men and women, taking their families from one construction site to another.  Above their small, temporary neighborhood stands a large pink paper lantern in the shape of a star- probably about five feet wide.  I do not know its significance, but it lights their area at night, and I can only guess that they feel warmer when they look up at it, as I see it as something special. 

This morning we attended a fantastic lecture about womens’ movements from one of the activists herself- Dr. Rama Melkote.  She was fascinating to listen to, and she spoke of how women in India have come so far from the beginnings of their movement in the 60s and many strides have been made in the areas of dowry-related deaths/suicides, rape, and Parliamentary representation (still being debated).

Oh! And it’s New Years Eve today!  I do not think we will be able to celebrate much, especially since I am sure everyone is on high alert following the recent events in Mumbai, but I think we’ll still have fun.