hokay-so.

it's been about a week since the last posting, and here is what's been going down.

1 - drinking. too much of it.
2 - several trips to blue ice. which influenced number 1.
3 - bought a gorgeous sari. just waiting on the tailor to finish it.
4 - traveled with my boss around rural Punjab. met over 35 family members. was stuffed full of food. even when i said no more - they kept feeding me.
5 - started Youth Week. volunteering in Khajeri Village, a small slum within a colony. it is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
6 - every student (all 300 of them) at Khajeri Government High School now knows my name. and yell for me every time they see me.
7 - starred (with my roommate/co-worker Femke from the Netherlands) in a Punjabi music video. we were the random white girls dancing in the video - the ones we always make fun of. so, club dancing. in front of (and encouraged) by my boss. awkward turtle times 10. we'll see when the video comes out.
8 - not enough sleeping. so tired.
9 - trying to get everything together so i can go home in one piece. easier said than done.
10 - simultaneously excited and sad to be heading home. in only five days.
11 - smoked shisha with awesome kids from around the world at mocha.
12 - ready for a day off.
13 - not ready to leave.
14 - trying to find presents for everyone. with hardly any money left.
15 - tik-he tik-he, five minutes. no problem.

so five days - and i will be heading stateside. america - you better be ready.

talk about Western influence...

So, on my traineeship.

I work with an NGO here in India developing the Indian education system by providing supplementary workshops in areas that we feel Indian children need more education on, most specifically to broaden their world view. (Hence the Project Worldview title.)

Currently, I am working in a really great school with two other trainees (Midori from Japan and Bijal from the US) on teaching cultural education to kids that are about 9-11. They are adorable, smart, and always excited to be there. It is really fun for me to see the impact that I have on them for the short time that I am here - and they are absolutely hilarious. For example...

We did a session where the kids, in groups, would create their own culture (complete with food, clothing, etc.) and present it in front of the class. They also had to make up a dance and a song. And then one group got up and sang "Smack that" by Akon and Eminem. I don't think I have laughed so hard in my life.