How to Become Popular....

....When you don't speak the language.

India: Day 9?

1. Play English-only pictionary with teens who don't really speak English. Your mad skills and vocabulary will cause your popularity to skyrocket!

2. Don't shy away from dancing in the rain while letting 8-9 small boys enthusiastically splash you. The fact that you are 4-15 times their size only gives them more to hit! Instant success!

3. Fail to do the correct $ to rupee translation in your head so that you end up spending a (small) fortune on silk! If you spend over a certain amount, they will start giving YOU gifts.

4. Stand around. The fact that you are (on average) half a foot taller and 30 shades whiter than everyone else will provoke people to talk to you! What are they saying? Well--just follow our learnings and DON'T PET THE COBRA.

**Sridhar's mother continues to be fascinated by me. She came over and hung out with me for an hour yesterday and today. So far she has decreed the following:
1. Saris (sp?) "Do not suit me."
2. My hands are too big and my wrists are too small.
;)

Don't Pet the Cobra

India Day 6:

Scene: Sridhar's car, a random street corner (and by "street" we mean dirt road, and by "corner" we mean ditch)

3 girls with baskets walk by.


Sridhar: Oh look--it must be festival time. They have snakes. Do you want to see?

Me: What? Snakes? In the baskets?

Sridhar: Let's have a look (gets out)

Me: Ok (exits car)

girls run over excitedly

Sridhar: (Gesturing at me and the basket) Have a look--Cobras I think!

Me: Umm....What??!

Cue small mob scene as I am suddenly surrounded by several girls, who begin prodding me insistently.

Sridhar: Don't touch her! No touch!

Girls: (Prod Prod PROD)

Me: Help!!

Girls, in calculated military-style maneuver, cut me off from both the car and Sridhar. Shoving ensues. I end up in a nasty street fight with 3 large women. And by "nasty street fight" we mean "some shoving" and by "3 large women" we mean "maybe one 11 year old girl--but fiesty!"

Sarita: (Who has just pulled up to pick me up from Sridhar) Christie--run to the car!!

Me: (Dodging one final shove in matrix-style movement) Open the door!

Cue Indiana Jones Music as I dive through the car window**

Sarita: Whew! Good, they've moved on to Sridhar now

Me: Drive woman, drive!!


end scene.
**This may not have actually happened as written. However, we dare you to prove it.

Save the Children....Save the World!

India, Day 5:

Things I know:

1. I am the tallest woman in the city of Bangalore
2. If you sit on your left hand, you are less likely to accidentally eat with it
3. Sridhar is secretly my Grandma--his biggest concern is making sure that I eat
4. The cows are trained to go home at night
   

Things I haven't quite figured out yet:

1. The "Indian Bobble Head"---seems to be some sort of head movement that can mean a variety of things possibly including but not limited to: "Yes" "No" "Maybe" "I'm not sure" "That's crazy talk" "Not on your life" "Hell will freeze over first you mad MAD American"
2. Why okra tastes good here
3. If sticking your hand out and doing a dramatic jazz hand is a foul, no-go, no point or some sort of do over
4. Where the cows go home to

I just finished a three day Appreciative Inquiry Youth Leadership Summit with underprivileged kids from 13-19. It was so SO great!! Most of the summit was conducted in Kannada--the local dialect--with some English involved. As per usual, I was entirely clueless but at least this time I had reason! It was a challenge to have to rely a;most entirely on body language to understand, but also a great learning experience. By the end I was leading parts of the session and also facilitating the session hotwash and design planning. It was exhausting, invigorating, and crazy all at the same time, but I am so glad to be here and participate in this work. The most entertaining part: when one of the girls wanted to know why I wasn't married yet, and then determined that I need to be married by age 30. It really makes you think when an 18 year old hands down a decree like that! I also managed to use my mad skills to introduce "duck duck goose" to India and it was well received. Especially when I failed to run fast enough and ended up as the rotten egg.

So, so far, so good. I've eaten in a variety of "interesting" establishments (think Vienna Inn meets a jail dining hall but not as classy) where the food was, in the trend of sketchy diners, completely awesome!! I've also had Indian Chinese food, random fruits I can't even identify, and the best mango in the world. I've gone from slums to really posh houses, and I've only stuck my toothbrush in tap water twice. I feel good about that. So, all in all, a good beginning. I'm hoping my stomach continues to be made of steel because I suspect that the spice factor is going to go up this week!

So--tomorrow I go and volunteer directly at a children's center. Does anyone have any great children's games that can be communicated almost completely in sign language?**

** (Kbibs--I'm looking at you).

Planes, Trains, Automobiles...and a Camel?

India--Day 2.

Malaria Tablets: 3
Showers: 4
Bottles of Water: 5
Diet Pepsi: 1, and it was awesome.
Stomach: Healthy

So, I've arrived! And showered! And remembered my Malaria pills which I consider above and beyond! India is....well, I can't even find the words. The roads are a great example--there are no lanes. Well, sometimes there are but no one recognizes them. It's every walker (these people COURT death), biker, car driver, "auto" driver (three wheeled flimsy taxis that look a little bit like an old fashioned carriage from behind) and camel for himself. Yes, I said camel. And I'm sad that I don't have a picture to back it up. B/c it was truly awesome.

Sridhar and his family have been great. Staying with someone you have never met before is always awkward, but staying with someone from an entirely different culture and language who you've never met before really ups the "UN-comfortable" factor. But Sridhar and Chitra (his wife) have been very welcoming to their jet-lagged and clumsy american. After I asked how to hail an auto with an obvious glint of terror in my eye, Sridhar assured me that I would never go anywhere alone or unaccompanied. He's got a team of people working logistics for me, and I'm happy to take advantage of their kindness in this situation.

So, so far mostly good. After I napped yesterday I went to a session design meeting for the AI Youth Leadership Summit happening this weekend. It was so fun to help the Renga Foundation prepare for this summit--they are working with underprivileged youth and this summit marks the end of a 3 module camp. They are trying to teach the next generation some key skills (communication, leadership, values etc) and it is really wonderful work. The session kicks off tomorrow, and I'm to help facilitate/wander around. But it was a great thing to start off my first day--felt like being at home working with my own team at Touchstone!

The bad news is that I was also supposed to help with some other strategy work for an Indian NGO, however, the woman in charge unexpectedly left on Tuesday for the US. So--I may do some individual work at one of the Children's Centers (after-school centers for improverished youth, a way to keep the children out of trouble and help them continue to learn), if I am not too overwhelmed by the kids/my complete inability to communicate with them or most of the staff. That leaves my schedule more open than originally planned, so if anyone wants to come to India for a week....

Hee.

Oops, I'm being called to go to the "retail shop" before dinner. Sridhar's family has come to take a look at me for entertainment I think. His mom is a riot!

More to come soon!!

Bangalore!!

I made it!! BA delivered me safely, and even upgraded my seat (I was sitting next to a woman and her two children, but she only had two seats....not fun. More on the "screaming children following me" syndrome later), and Sridhar was waiting for me at the airport. I was immediately swarmed by baggage handlers at the baggage claim---single white girl with confused look, I know, easy target, but I managed to find Sridhar (or, he found me) and I'm now at his bungalow.

So, after 26+ hours of travel, I'm off to shower and bed.

More to come soon!!

Save Tall Dave!! (Africa Style!)

Evil Chuckle...

More Photos!

My foot, on the other side of the Atlantic!

Steve, his girlfriend Adrienne, and their friend Will prior to our swing dancing extravaganza. We were "dressed to please."





Penguins!!!

The end of the world, Cape Point.

London/Heathrow: Part 2

My last few days in Cape Town were AMAZING. I need to take a moment and thank Steve (captured in all his glory) for one of the best vacations ever! He bent over backwards to keep me fed, entertained and immersed in S. African culture. Steve, I'm doing my best round of golf clapping in what I think is your general direction (umm, to my left?). I'm so lucky to have such an amazing friend and I'm sending you another one of my patented hugs. You know which one!

Anyway, via Steve I saw:

• Springbok


• Ostrich


• Penguins!


• Rainbows!


• The most amazing night sky I've ever seen in my entire life


• S. Africa v. S. Africa Rugby (S. Africa won!)


• S. African Vineyards

And I ate:

• Springbok (tastes like sort of like steak! But lighter and more flavorful)


• Ostrich


• KingKlip (tastes like swordfish meets talipea)


• Riesling! (Ironically from Germany, but the best wine I've ever had)

Winter arrived in Cape Town this past weekend, but before it did I managed to spend Friday at the beach all day.....it was tough, but someone had to do it! We also supported some sort of charity by swing dancing, went to another Braii (in honor of the all-S. African Super 14 finale), drove to the end of the world (Cape Point), and saw some really really cute penguins. Africa has penguins!! Jason, you were right! Steve introduced me to about an average of 6-10 new people a day, and they were all amazing. Cape Town is truly a unique and welcoming city, and I am so sad that I had to go. Steve was forced to check my bags to make sure I hadn't made off with any of his friends, and then he gave me a gentle shake to detach me from his leg and sent me on my way.

So now I'm back in Heathrow ready to regroup with only one minor baggage incident under my belt. Positive step foward! I used the $20 Mom slipped me (not to be confused with the 10 Euro Dad gave me) for African water to import to India as instructed and therefore my checked baggage came in over the weight limit--and I was forced to split up my luggage. BA gave me another sad sad sad little bag and I filled it with water and dirty laundry, and sent both bags on their way. This time around I managed not to be stopped in Heathrow itself so I'm living large with my oversized carry-on! Whohoo I say! So the countdown to India continues, and I'm a little bit terrified. I think that this is where the real adventure begins.....

Photos!

My best breakfast club pose:

Sunrise over Cape Town from the top of Lion's Head

Steve being Steve....

and Table Mountain as seen from Lion's Head!

Cape Town Is.....

....Amazing! Beautiful, Gorgeous, Awesome. Totally cool. One of the best places I've ever visited. Insert more positive adjectives here. I never want to leave!

So when I arrived Sunday morning Steve met me at the airport and told me that he was having a Braii. Thinking that this was just weird Steve English I rolled with it, only to discover later that a Braii is a HUGE S. African tradition, it's basically a really low tech barbeque minus the tricked out grill, "kiss the cook apron," and any sort of sauce. Instead you have things like the "Braii Master" (King of the Braii and in charge of all the cooking) , the tongs master (or "Tongs a holler"), who is second only to the Braii master, and the random third guy who holds the flashlight to aid poking at the meat. The flashlight can be key because while the Braii may start at 4 pm, you don't actually eat till 10--well after dark. There are also other assorted men who will come up and hold their hands over the grill and make professional sounding comments on the heat of the coals, size of the flames, and other assorted manly S. African stuff. They adopted me as their mascot, but I quickly made a few mistakes--things like suggesting you wrap the meat in bacon (that produced concerned looks and firm shakes of the head), and wondering if you also were able to cook fish during a Braii. I was told that was crazy talk, because that would be a "fish fry" and you never NEVER mix meat and fish at the Braii. Anyway, it was SO MUCH fun and despite no sleep I managed to stay up with Steve and be the last woman standing.

But that was only the beginning!! Since then I have played ultimate frisbee in the pouring rain at night with some crazy S. Africans who I'm not entirely sure were speaking English:

S. African (with urgency): "Christie! Blah Blah Blah Frisbee!!"

Me: ".....?"

S. African: "BLAH BLAH FRISBEE"

Me: "Umm....Steve?"

Hiked up Lion's Head to see the sunrise (Laura-I'm hardcore!), swing danced at a dinner party, and gone horsebackriding on the beach!! Steve is showing me an amazing time (yay Steve!!), and I can't believe how much I've already done and seen. Though I'm starting to get worried because he keeps talking about how the "easy days are over" and things are "really going to pick up from here." I think that is part of his evil plan to keep me too tired to cause mischief! Steve's internet is also down at his house (which, fyi, is only one block from a BEAUTIFUL beach) so I'm writing this at SALT! I've been told to stay away from the telescope.

Anyway--it's all absolutely amazing. The food, the sights, and the people are all incredible, and I'm so glad that I came. Hopefully there will be another post before I leave!! More to come soon.....

Cape Town!

Cape Town!

I made it!!

London/Heathrow: Part 1

I made it....to London!! Running free from the Delta dress code and so therefore dressed to impress in my most formal loungewear, I'm in London where I'm busy moving stuff around and causing the occasional international baggage incident. But that is, after all, a fine Mims family tradition. In fact, the last time I remember staying in Heathrow like this was on a trip with my family years ago when we cleverly decided to just leave our bags and wander off for some reason, only to return and find them under police guard and about to be taken off to be exploded. I don't think that the UK was very impressed with us, but after some talk we did get our bags back. I guess they figured terrorists would not be 1. so imcompetent or 2. small children. :)

Anyway, I made the crucial error of having more than one carry on bag--which is verboden when traveling through Heathrow. I knew I'd be stuck for the whole day before flying overnight again to Cape Town, so I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay at Heathrow or go explore some of my old London haunts. After landing and deplaning to some confusion I saw that there were two lines--the line to connect, full of baggage searching and a gung-ho "let's stick to the one bag rule" security detail, or the airport immigration/exit with no detail. I took a run for the exit and fled the scene, only to return later (after a trip to the London Eye!) to an even stricter security officer who took issue with the size of my carry on. After much argument, I was forced to concede that 1. I did, in fact, have two bags, NOT just the one allowed, 2. My main bag would not fit into the size-wise measuring container even if I could alter the laws of physics, and 3. I would not be able to "make a run for it" and get to the plane. Eventually the entire security team made it clear that I was not going to get through with my bag situation as such. They took my carry on, gave me a sad sad sad tiny (sad) plastic bag for my computer and the other stuff that I managed to jam into it, and sent me through to the gate with a shake of the head. And that is where I am now, sans emergency m and m's and cable to connect my camera to the computer. So no pictures yet.

Being in London however, is so great! Except I don't remember how the money works, and I've already been rained on twice. But the man at the tube station called me "ducks" and "love" so I'm feeling the London cheer!

More to come--Fingers crossed my luggage makes it!!

**This posting was written on no sleep. There is no hope for grammer.

Pre-departure Check:

Weight: 138.5 lbs

Height: 5'8"

Hair Color: (almost natural looking) Dark Auburn

So I'm off on what I hope will be one of those "trips of a lifetime!" that involve old friends, new friends, great stories, and new insight. This blog is meant to be a way to avoid mass emails and let those that worry (parents) keep up to date on my (completely safe!) travels and experiences.

So--my itinerary:

May 11: Depart Dulles
May 12: Heathrow
May 13: Cape Town
May 21: Depart Cape Town
May 22: Heathrow
May 23: Bangalore!
June 13: Heathrow
June 13: Dulles!

(Pause to regroup)

June 20: Lima!
June 21: Cusco
June 23: Off to Macchu Picchu!
June 27: Lima
June 29: Home again!

So please join me, and feel free to send comments, good karma, and lifesaving tips!**

**I've already heard several on monkeys, so I'm good in that area