Sporadic Protests Around Delhi

Protests of Delhi expands? 

Chanting of slogans and waving of the Indian flag.
This morning started off with a protest driving peacefully right by my flat. Over ten men, sitting in and on cars along with motorbikes were driving slowly down the street, chanting slogans and waving the Indian flag. One of the posters stated " we cannot be safe if...", I could not catch the last phrase. Later in the day, I again met a protest, with about five-six men waving big Indian flags while chanting political slogans. The third time I did not see them, but I could hear the protest down the trafficked road, but the autorickshaw I was in went the opposite direction. Therefore I do not have any specific number of how many attended. However, it sounded like it was more than in the morning and afternoon together.

It will be interesting to see how this develops, as this was the first day I have seen any of the protest myself. 

Dogs of Delhi

After a week filled with yoga classes and starting to learn Hindi on top of work, I enjoyed some wonderful cinnamon rolls and a cup of tea with a friend.

At Night All the Dogs Come Out
Before coming to India I had been told about the dogs, and to be vary of them. Thus, at the beginning I was worried every time I met a dog.. After a while this worry disappeared slowly.

My New-won Comfort with Street Dogs did not Last Forever
On my way home from cinnamons and tea, I got surrounded and chased by a pack of dogs. There were at least four of them; barking and running after me. I was walking down the street hoping to find a rickshaw, and then I hear "voff voff voff voff", and see dogs running at me. Oh help help I think, perhaps if I walk away they will disappear. Instead they continued their chase, with me as their target. I bent down pretending to throw a rock at them, because that's the advice I've received of how to avoid being bitten by dogs and not get rabies. Yelling in Norwegian and pretending to throw rocks only made them bark more. When I was thinking, oh no, tonight is the night when I have to get all those rabies shots in my stomach, luckily a man came towards me and started yelling at the dogs, so I walked off. Oh, I'm so greatful that the man came when he did, because I don't think the dogs found me threatening rather they could sense my fright.
Terrified to meet another pack of dogs, I took the first rickshaw I found even though I was almost home.

My advice to anyone who encounters dogs; pretend you're not scared, and actually pretend and imagine you're holding a rock  you can throw at them.. Oh yes, I know, it's not fun to have to pretend to harm an animal. But believe me, these dogs are evil, especially at night. It means that either you are hurt, or you pretend to hurt them.

Indian Independence

A sky filled with dancing kites in beautiful shapes and colors.
Children were kite running on the roof tops Monday throughout the day.  I found myself standing at the balcony of the flat, starting up in the sky on kites of different shapes and colors. The kite running is part of the Indian Independence Day Celebration. Even after the Independence Day kites have been dancing above rooftops making me smile. There may be several reasons for the kites dancing, perhaps it's a major hobby here, which I do believe it is.. (I'm actually thinking of getting a kite myself, and perhaps try to learn the kite running skills).

People filling the streets around India..
It's not only kites that are out in the streets in Delhi these days. People are filling the streets of New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Calcutta and several other places around India for the fight that is called the 'Second war of Independence" by Anna Hazare, a Indian social activist. The arrest of Hazare on Tuesday morning, along with over a 1000 other people, lead to what BBC refers to as that "Protests swell in Support of Hazare" . Mr. Hazare was going on a hunger strike to protest corruption in India when he was arrested and put in jail. Dressed in white the social activist fighting against corruption in India has been compared to Gandhi, known for his nonviolent approach to the freedom movement in India.

"The dream of India as a strong nation will not be realised without self-reliant, self-sufficient villages, this can be achieved only through social commitment & involvement of the common man."  Anna Hazare (http://www.annahazare.org/)

India- time flies with so little time to blog.

India Time. 
- Perhaps I'm already living the so called 'indian time', or so it might seem with my irregularity in blog posting.
India truly is a very interesting place. And it's true, a auto-rickshaw driver can make or break your day, but if he does break it, there's always something to see that brights up the day (such as the pink walls in the flat) 

A lot of things have happened since I wrote,
and that's why it's been so long since I blogged really. Here's a short update about what I have done in India so far.
I moved into a flat, started work, found furniture, met people, started to learn how to navigate autorickshaw drivers, getting and then loosing the internet and then getting it again, smiled, eating Nutella, visited many markets, enjoying the view from the balcony, visited a temple and observed a Ramadan fasting ritual.

The flat I've moved into is adorable and happy with bright deep pink on two of the walls in the living room, which I love. There's also a balcony and a rooftop. Did I mention a kitchen and somewhere to sleep? I'm no longer living from a suitcase!

I started my Princeton-in-Asia Fellowship at Naz Foundation earlier this week. I'm really excited to about it!
"HIV/AIDS are complex issues that affect all our lives whatever the gender, class, caste, religion, sexuality and sexual orientation. We at Naz India are committed to raising awareness to prevent the spread of HIV and providing support to those living with the virus and those affected by it, with sensitivity and utmost confidentiality." - Naz Foundation Mission Statement