On a day-to-day basis, our life here is really a lot like our life in Maine. We go to work. We chase the kids. We eat. We sleep. But just outside the gates of school is India. What I see out there ranges from ridiculous to brutal, from beautiful to filthy - every time I leave campus.
Today, I went on a mission with a few other newbies. The school has several cars that faculty can borrow for a day-trip or weekend, and some of us are brave enough (or crazy enough) to drive. One of our colleagues, who has been here several years, was truly kind to serve as chauffeur. The goal was to meet Mr. Gupta, an esteemed furniture craftsman whose shop is located on the outskirts of South Delhi. Our group of 5 met at 10:00am for what should have been a 20-30 minute ride. Then, it started raining.
It has been raining in Delhi for nearly a week. Massive rains. And while it is (the end of) monsoon season, those who have lived here a long time say they have never seen so much rain in August.
So, it didn't take long before we got into traffic. Stand-still traffic with a river flowing underneath. There was no order, and seemingly no way out of the mess. We had a New York Times crossword puzzle, several stories to share, and some water. And although I was suffering a bit from my newly-acquired car claustrophobia, the time we sat parked amidst the chaos was a fantastic opportunity to witness some memorable scenes. And, the most memorable song on the radio during that time was Iko Iko. So, think of that as you scroll through these photos.
Flower Seller:
Propane Tank Guy:
Man with smashed helmet repaired with packing tape (we saw several of these):
The rain finally subsided, and the trip back to campus took less than 30 minutes.
And, for the second Saturday night in a row, we tucked two exhausted boys into bed and ordered Indian food (delivered, for ten bucks, and super spicy). Yes, that's a Spider-Man plate.
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