A wise traveller never despises his own country

This week has been intensely busy. I think I have actually lost count of the number of projects that I am involved in and I love it. I had the opportunity to document a needs assessment report for a district in Uttar Pradesh living around a sugar mill, write my first abstract for a UNESCO conference, interact in Hindi with some amazing kids at a primary school level (in their remedial classes) and finally meet the team working on landmines in Punjab. They really have done an excellent job in documenting the activities they do surrounding the issue of landmines including role play, essay competitions and art work. I was really pumped to see what has been accomplished to date and I can’t wait to get started this coming week on some awareness projects.

Saturday! Yay! I didn’t mind having to work this Saturday either. It was actually nice to keep going at it because there really is so much to do and I can already see the fruits of everyone’s labour. Again, we all work hard and I absolutely love the fact that every day at lunch, we all sit together and share food and try each other’s curries out. Sadly, my contribution for lunch is bought from the restaurant downstairs but they do make the best shimla mirch I have tasted so far. Yummy food in my tummy.

I was able to sneak away at 2pm and make my way to CP to meet up with Vasu at Khan Market. She was going to introduce me to her best friends here in Delhi so that I would have some company while she is away in Assam. Again, i have no idea how I am blessed to meet such awesome people but i will call it divine intervention for now. So, let me describe khan market. I could sense it was a little bit more upscale and kind of reminded me of shopping at home really. I has this cool retro chick look to it with lots of wonderful little cafe’s and tons of upscale boutiques.



Big Chill's- Khan Market


So we went to Big Chill’s a really cool throwback of old Hollywood with posters all over the place of black and white movies to newer action films. It completely caters to the NRI and foreign crowd in India and it’s a little bit of comfort for those far away from home. Vasundra promised me that the desserts here were to die for and she was absolutely right. All I had been hearing was “Bonafee Pie” over face book and after tasting a bit of this heaven, i was in Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Okay maybe i can’t decide if i liked the pie better or my chocolate toblerone ice cream. Over some decadent dessert, I got to know Vasu’s friends from Delhi- Shefali ( an amazing lawyer who runs her own practice and hates when people say she looks like Maalika Sherwat – a very pretty actress who unfortunately gets slutty roles) and Suchi ( a person who is so full of life and love for FOOD! Suchi can switch between fluent Punjabi and Bengali in a matter of seconds and I am amazed!) So, needless to say, I am settling in quite well and maybe, just maybe, you can find a piece of home no matter where you go.



Vasundra enjoying her Capp :)