The heat, jet lag, culture shock and the incredible heat of Rajasthan. I confidently expected to adjust to as a volunteer in the village but now I must postpone involuntarily all work as my senses and my entire body are assaulted by the heat. I simply cannot rise out of the uncomfortable bed and am left breathless and broken.
But I marvel at the people who labor everyday in the fields and cities of Rajasthan, dealing with a climate that would cause complete physical collapse to our American athletes, so well conditioned but often trained under the most perfect and comfortable of conditions. Imagine the Olympics in Rajasthan. Rajasthanis would win any game of endurance.
I am breaking but not yet broken. Sam's assistant, Narendra fixes me breakfast and shows me his beautiful fiance on his phone while working feverishly on the computer in the volunteer room.. Sam -- Dr. Samvit Audichya -- takes me and the other, younger volunteers and visitors out to eat each evening, patient and positive. We ride in his jeep, bumpy but safe and strong as we negotiate animals, motorcycles, tuk tuks, carts and weddings often in the middle of the street. He gently takes us to beautiful areas outside of the touristy areas, often we are the only Westerners and the children run up to us and ask to trade a rupee for any American coins. Sadly I left them on the table at the Hotel Saptagiri in Delhi, because their weight was so great.
But I marvel at the people who labor everyday in the fields and cities of Rajasthan, dealing with a climate that would cause complete physical collapse to our American athletes, so well conditioned but often trained under the most perfect and comfortable of conditions. Imagine the Olympics in Rajasthan. Rajasthanis would win any game of endurance.
I am breaking but not yet broken. Sam's assistant, Narendra fixes me breakfast and shows me his beautiful fiance on his phone while working feverishly on the computer in the volunteer room.. Sam -- Dr. Samvit Audichya -- takes me and the other, younger volunteers and visitors out to eat each evening, patient and positive. We ride in his jeep, bumpy but safe and strong as we negotiate animals, motorcycles, tuk tuks, carts and weddings often in the middle of the street. He gently takes us to beautiful areas outside of the touristy areas, often we are the only Westerners and the children run up to us and ask to trade a rupee for any American coins. Sadly I left them on the table at the Hotel Saptagiri in Delhi, because their weight was so great.
Trying to picture you in 108. We are having a heat wave here in Ithaca almost 90 yesterday, mid 80s today.
ReplyDeleteEager to read your adventures. Miss you in class these last two weeks!
Ellen
Melody, I lived in Missouri as a child with no air conditioning. It was that hot occasionally, but only for a few days before dropping back into the high 90s, and we had fans and iced drinks and a swimming pool in our small town. This post sounds a little more hopeful. I assume you will not completely wilt and will find a way to make something good happen. You're that kind of woman. But it also sounds like an adventure in Dante's inferno, a little too close to the central fire. Keep the missives coming when you can--and, just to make you jealous and me worried about my plants, it's 50 degrees here today with a possible freeze tonight or tomorrow night.
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