January 2012
20 posts
The Beginning
We are about done in Hyderabad. Dileep found us a room at a hotel for $10 a night per person. It’s as comfortable as any hotel I’ve stayed at in India. I guess the only drawback is that I had to shower underneath a water heater that was leaking on it’s own electricl outlet. But once you get past that, its no big deal. We got to spend alot of time walking through the city. I...
Last Day in Kuchipudi
So my trip is nearing its end. These past couple of days have been the best ones yet in terms of building my working relationship with Dileep and coming to an understanding of Indian history and culture. It’s a hard thing for an American to wrap his/her mind around, but on my fourth trip here, I’m finally getting a glimpse of the implications of the centuries old caste system and...
Culvert Construction
Hey, I’m still here. I haven’t been blogging these past couple of days. I know it isn’t much to ask for a “hey, hello” every once in awhile, but I assure you I’ve been making good use of my time. I made a video! A long one! So long you probably won’t even watch the whole thing! It’s about what we’ve been doing the last couple of days.
Our...
I Love Mondays!
Hey, reader. The weekend is over. It’s time to get back to work. Finally! Weekends can crawl by when there is nothing to do but sleep and play with your iPad. I made a couple videos, as you may have noticed. I know the footage wasn’t all that spectacular, but it was something to do.
Today we did some business in town, getting ready to get power out to our property. Things are going...
India Lately
Dileep had a conversation with me about an idea of his today. He’s been thinking about it for a while. It directly focuses on something that has been on mine and other people’s heart for the past couple of years regarding India. That is, the plight of village farmers.
Back story: What happens is, and I didn’t fully understand this until today, Farmer Kumar has an acre of...
Just An Average Day
Our construction hut was built today. It costed about $110 after all the materials and labor. It’s made out of bamboo and lumber, with concrete pillars and a roof made out of palm fronds. It will shelter our cement from the rain. It’ll give people a place to drink their tea. It’ll be something for Dileep to sleep under once he and the head construction guy start doing that.
On...
Return to Kuchipudi
So the team has left town. They are on their way back tonight. I will miss them, but it still feels like they are here with me, in a certain sense, because those stupid songs they made me sing over and over again are running through my head like a broken record.
The ministry was a great time. I got out of there just in time to avoid the emotional goodbyes. I plan on visiting the orphanage once...
May I See Some ID?
What am I? I work a part time job fixing computers. Does that make me a computer technician? I have a business degree. Does that make me a businessman? I grew up on a farm. Maybe I’m a farmer. I gave the word in a little church this morning. Perhaps I am a preacher. Usually I tell people I’m “part time IT”. If I’m in a good mood. Otherwise I just say “I live...
Arks Take a Long Time to Build
Today was the last day of our VBS program. In a way, its kind of a relief. We were running out of balloons, balls without holes and ideas for games. We handed out the bags with the cards and scarves and crayons, etc. from the good folks back home. Lots and lots of joy in all of their eyes. We got a big thank you and sent them off to their studie with new scarves to help them face the coldest...
They Are Weak But...
Today we visited a local slum to get a reminder of how poor children here live. The kids are pathetic. Severely malnourished. They haven’t washed their hair probably ever. Their clothes are all scraps and don’t fit right. The joy and elation in their eyes when they received a single crayon as a gift was heartbreaking. They don’t have access to water anymore after the government...
Happy Advance Birthday to Me
Tomorrow is my birthday here in India. All day, kids have been wishing me a “Happy Advance Birthday.” I don’t know if thats an India thing, an orphanage thing, or if one kid thought he was clever and the rest of them kept it going. Either way, its fun and a bunch of kids even drew me pictures. We had them drawing during free time today, because it was raining outside.
It...
The work continues
The cook taught me how to say potato in Telugu the other day. It’s pronounced: Bawng ala doomp-a. Since then I’ve been mulling about in the kitchen like the ignorant white guy that I am, saying “potato, potato” to everyone I see. They try to teach me other words, but the only one I can remember is potato.
There is a guy who comes by and sells seashells with...
Brand New Day
Day 2 was our day off. I know. We just got here. I thought the same thing. But it was actually just what the doctor ordered. It was a chance for me to slow down and take everything in. It was also a good chance for some team bonding before we really get going. Days off are great, even if you haven’t done anything yet.
Also, here is how they bbq fish along the coast. They put some sticks...
Day 1
There is so much to take in. It is beautiful here. Kinda humid. The orphanage has had quite a facelift and the grounds look amazing. Kiran’s check to the bank for loan repayment bounced yesterday. Alan and I are sleeping on a round bed. The new playground is awesome and so is the new van. Dave is really funny. So is Bernice. And Dustin, and Dana and Kelly. I wish I was funny. Kiran is...
An Excuse to Make Friends
Today was fun. We went shopping. We ate awesome food at our favorite restaurant. A couple of them went for walks. I wrote not one, but two ridiculously long emails to my fiancee. Dileep and I had a couple of meetings this AM.
We are planning to break ground on our cracking facility on the 12th, which is my birthday, because Dileep has a penchant for the dramatic. Happy birthday to me....
I Wanna Be.. Forever Young
We just flew to the other side of the planet in less than 24 hours. It’s fun to contemplate something like that while you are doing it. A little mind blowng since you can actually look outside and watch it happen.
Anyways everyone is here and safe and happy. I managed to sleep alot on the plane rides after depriving myself for the last couple of nights. Emirates Airlines is acutally...
Once More Unto The Breach
And we’re back for another episode of Adam trudging about in India while his faithful readers follow his adventures from their computers back home. In the however many years I’ve been doing this, I’ve made three other blogs that I know of (they are archived for historical purposes at astarrh01.tumblr.com-astarrh03.tumblr.com) and my readership has exploded to over 4 people!...
