Bazaaaar

Today was AWESOME. Went to the bepoo bazaar which is the BIG market downtown. Had to barter to tuk-tuk there and oh myyy traffic here is insanity. I would say though that Sicilian traffic was really similar. It's almost as if there are just absolutely no rules, instead, people make their own rules. It's super loud, everyone's honking and just narrowly missing each other, yet there are virtually no accidents. It's bizarre. And it's not unusual for there to be a legit camel pulling a cart or cows to cross the road in all that traffic. At the market, I stick out very much here. Everyone sees me coming from a mile away and immediately I get the tourist prices. Jimena has a bit of Lebanese in her so we're laughing that she could partly pass for Indian - maybe a little? Which basically means I'm the target. But although men stare, it's nothing you wouldn't see in Zim or Italy even...and they are very peaceful and friendly.

One story of how kind they are? This morning we shared a tuk tuk with Saara who was going to her work placement and she put a bag with all of her supplies in behind us and then forgot it when she got out. We didn't realize and were dropped off at the market. We were walking stalls for a good 10 minutes before I heard someone calling us and sure enough, our driver had searched and searched for us and brought the bag back to us. So kind.

Anyway, I couldn't help myself and I bought 4 purses and two pairs of 'Aladdin' pants, and then some groceries and a coffee (which is hard to come by here!) and with all of that I spent about $30 US. If that. It's ridiculously cheap!!

We then got a little lost on our way home. Tamara being the too-confident traveller let the tuk tuk driver drop us off away from our place so we could pay 100 rupees. We each had about three bags and I was sure I knew where we were...and then we were lost for about 20 minutes. Oops. A really nice man drove by and asked if we needed help (two Westerners walking around with grocery bags on their shoulders and sweat everywhere...) and we got in with him (later I told Jimena that I know the rule is 'don't get in with strangers' however, I have an intuition and I used it! and it was the middle of the day and we knew we were in the right part of town so if he started driving elsewhere we would get out -- dont worry Ang / Mom / Dad!!!) Anyway, he brought us directly to our place and all was fine after we cooled down.

It's hard to describe the heat, it's not necessarily stuffy, but the book I read on the plane described it best -- it's like walking into an oven. However in our flat we have fresh, good water that we don't need to purify and huge fans and it's really quite comfortable.

We just now finished dinner and tomorrow is our first day at our placement -- no orientation now (?) Just observation. I go with two older women here - one from Germany, Katja, and one from Brazil, Maria Theresa, - to teach two classes --- Women Empowerment (English / Math) from 11:30 - 1 --- apparently some of the women are still in learning the a,b,c's and mainly just want to ask questions / get them answered -- and then Adolescent Girls from 2 - 4 teaching English and Computers. The girls are a bit more advanced, they go to school in the morning, go to their homes in the slums and then walk to the centre. I am so so so excited to get there and do some work! Apparently we have the longest schedule of most people here, which surprises me. Some are only spending their mornings working or a couple hours at night and we are gone from 11 - 4 and then spend an hour planning lessons afterward. Not a long day from what I am used too! Also, Maria Theresa and Katja are both leaving this Friday, meaning I will be alone in my project for 1 1/2 weeks. But I am really looking forward to it!!!! Can you tell from all my exclamation points!!

Okay, I should go. There is apparently a good band playing close to here tonight, but yoga at 6 a.m. probably means I'm just going back to our flat now. Jimena and I have talked about potentially taking a train down Saturday to the Taj. Because, you know, those are normal weekend plans.

Tons of love!