June 16, 2009

Long Overdue Update

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OK, I know I haven't written in a while. Yes, I know it's been a month. I apologize. I can't even say I was so crazy busy that I couldn't post. Work's taking up some time, to be sure -- but I could have done a better job of keeping you in the loop. So here's an update.

The contents of my desk are a good place to start in terms of getting a sense of what's been keeping me occupied since I last wrote. I'm reading a new book -- Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer, by Fred Kaplan -- than I was a month ago. In fact, I think I was probably still reading Eat Pray Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert, the last time I wrote -- and I've since also read Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown. (But no, alas, I have not yet seen the movie.)

Enough about books, however -- you wanted to hear about India, right? So the rest of the run-down of my desk:

-- the June 13th-19th Economist. After reading magazines from circa April 15 for nearly eight weeks, I caved in and bought a few new ones.

-- a chuni from my first casual salwaar kameez suit, made with material couriered to me by Vivek's parents in Bombay.

-- small gifts for Vivek's relatives in Gurgaon, given to him to deliver by his brother in Hong Kong and then passed on to me. I'm now part of the informal Indian supply chain.

-- my India tour book (the pretty picture one) -- now more of an old friend than a volume of mystical options.

-- (now dried) birthday roses! And a birthday card from home. I had a birthday last month. I spent it with Vivek, who was visiting, and his friends, in Delhi's GK2 neighborhood. In true welcoming Indian style, I was invited over to celebrate with a homecooked, amazing brunch-time meal at the hosting friend's home. The group also bought me a cake that we ate with ice cream and warm fruit topping. A truly amazing birthday abroad.

-- my copy of 'Modern Bride,' just slightly dog-eared. I'm probably going to rip out a few pages and leave the rest of the mag here for future generations of expats.

-- a beaded, quilted Rajasthani tapestry that used to cover my co-worker Megan's desk here at our guesthouse. Megan went home last month, and I inherited a number of her old items, including a flashlight, several U.S. pennies, about a dozen blank CDs and a flashlight. Megan's thriving back at the office in California -- but we're keeping up the shopping, Sunday expat brunch, guesthouse pancakes and other fabulous activities she introduced us to.

-- my camera -- full of photos from Khan Market, Faridabad, GK2, Calcutta, Hyderabad and Old Delhi.

In sum: I'm doing some more traveling and a lot more work; feeling more settled into my room, my surroundings and India in general; and getting to be a bit nostalgic as we move into the home stretch (14 days and counting). I promise to post more soon.

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