[Carrie Y] Week 2-3 Learning

What an adventure so far! I'm sorry I've been a little MIA lately- I've been meaning to post every Sunday, but a small trip which led to food poisoning which led to me curled up at my apartment (or rather my friends apartment) near the bathroom with no internet. But that is getting a little ahead of myself.

The best way to describe India is that it is uncomfortable. I don't mean that in a negative way, but more in the sense that I am constantly tested and stretched and never really left to relax. I think that there are a few life lessons to keep in mind from India

• Always have a plan B. And if plan A fails, make plan C, if B fails have plan D, or in other words always be ready and analyze, adjust, and adapt and move on to another option. There always will be another route. 
• Be wait for things to happen- I've been waiting to be settled in my apartment to put certain plans into action. But as 3 weeks have gone by I've realized- that may not happen anytime soon. You shouldn't wait. You should do.
• Don't be too concerned about time- do things when the moment is right, not when you plan on them. But at the same time, keep your commitments. 

Most of these lessons stem from my living arrangements, my research, and my adventures. My living arrangement, surprising has probably been my best introduction into Indian culture. I've been living with a friend for the last three weeks- an arrangement that was only supposed to last one week but has turned into three. I've had 5 separate housing plans fall through and I am finally moving out tomorrow morning. (thus the plan A, B, C, D and at this point, E). In the process I've been disappointed by housing plans with co-workers falling through, had a realtor arrange something and then decided to start hitting on me instead of following through on the final details on housing I had 80% arranged and when I resorted to having my Indian co-workers talk to him stopped answering my phone calls.

Now I am moving in with a couple of social entrepreneurs who work on Solar powered energy for base of the pyramid- I think it will work out great and I will be able to pick their brains for my research project. In moving in, I am actually not as excited about a bed of my own as for a blank wall. I have been waiting and looking forward for these three weeks for a wall to paste post-it notes on and organize my thoughts- I've been journaling some and thinking lots, and I can't wait to map it all out.  I'll take pictures to share.

I've been living a 10-7 working life so far. I've started by immersing myself in work at Embrace and becoming part of the team. I've just started setting up lunch-meetings regularly with different parts of the Embrace team in order to fully understand every aspect of Embrace. Next Tuesday I am meeting with one woman who is the head of their base of the pyramid (BOP) education system and public health outreach and I'm working my way through the different sectors of Embrace. I was planning to start last week but a nasty case of food poisoning kept me out of commission completely for half the week and half-functioning for the other half. Just seeing how things work is giving me amazing insights into the innovation, hardships, and daily life of a working BOP social venture.

I've also been networking with local social entrepreneurs and trying to make as many connections as I can so that I can pick their brains for my research. I have many conversations and thoughts and I'm looking forward to taking it to the next level this month and visiting some of their facilities.

The one side just-fun adventure that I undertook was last weekend I went with some other interns I met to Hampi- an ancient religious site where we saw different temples for Ganesh and Hanuman (aka the elephant and monkey temples) among others. I think one of my favorites was we took as small circular boat made of tar and bamboo down a river, walked across a field, climbed to the top of a large mountain (something like 600 steps) to the monkey temple, to an amazing view overlooking the whole area where you could see other temples. The temple wasn't that exciting- some cement, white paint, and incense, but the view was amazing. Unfortunately, this trip also gave me food poisoning, but it was well worth it, and who knows- maybe this will make me stronger for the next time.

It has been an amazing experience so far and I am very thankful for the opportunity. For all its hardships and frustrations, I wouldn't change a thing. In summary of my life here, to be added to as my journey continues:

You know you are in India when:

• You fit 12 people in one rickshaw (a three- wheeled cross between a motorcycle and car)
• You wonder why you are in a traffic jam, and then realize everyone is just waiting for the herd of cows to finish crossing the road