From : ( to : )

Ever have one of those days when you could go back to being a kid. Smiling and laughing, feeling like nobody could ever hurt you and that you could be whatever you dreamed of being. Life was full of dreams without having to worry about the reality and consequences of decisions made. My parents went on and on about my dad's cousin's daughter becoming a doctor and I have to suffer through another round of 'you're wasting time going in development'; 'you could be half way through med school by now'; 'you're the type of daughter other parents are thankful they don't have', and of course 'nobody will ever marry you if you work in development' etc etc. Bet the newest addition to the medical field has no idea how her decision has made my morning hell on earth. I didn't know that when I made this career move 4 years ago that I would still be hearing the same thing and now my dad is even speaking up. Maybe they're right, maybe they're wrong. 

Took this photo in a small village school in Andhra Pradesh. I went with people from a local org, SST, to deliver medicines for anemia and other nutrition supplements. No matter how much my parents try to push me down and break my spirit, I'll remind myself of this little girl and all the others.  Can't wait to get back out in the field...

Linus' pet cow 

Here's to my efforts to stay calm and smile like this blue faced, red footed cow : ) 

Frustrations

This was not my plan for the summer. Out of frustration I ran and ran today for 4 miles. I wanted to go back to India this summer or get a job here or an internship with CARE for the summer, but no because of financial constraints I'm home. It's great to be near family, but so frustrating that I'm wasting 2 months that could have been spent working towards a career goal. On top of it, I don't have my TOR for my internship and my mother is hounding me about how I should have gone into the medical field because only then would I be doing something that she approves of. This route I'm on she feels is all about being happy where according to her life is not about finding happiness, but about having security. I can't seem to explain my thoughts that maybe security is all she needs while I may need something else. I think she's convincing herself that security is all that she needs for happiness. All I can say is that I'm not happy right now without having my TOR. Once I get it then I'll have something concrete to work towards, which will ease some of this frustration.  However, for the moment I feel just as I did a year ago, stagnant.  (Hence the photo, which was taken a year ago. Its the embroidery from a sari that I used for an invitation for a family event). 

Ode to Boston

It's been a while since I wrote on this thing...guess the novelty of having a blog is wearing off, but I won't let this thing become a thing of the past. My only excuse is that things have been super hectic. Lately the biggest change has been, I've left Boston for Houston. My first year of grad school is over and it was a good year. I now have 3 months to do one of my favorite things, reflect on my experiences to learn how I've changed. For now, I've attached a photo of the budding warmth of Boston that I've left behind. Finally the weather got better in the city and I could enjoy it, but I had to leave. Eh, that is life.... 

Changing Times on the Delta

Yesterday I read this article from the NY Times about Mississippi farmers trading in cotton for corn and soybeans, more profitable crops these days. Sadly the economy is changing the face of the delta region. Cotton buds have been the beautiful backdrop of the region for years and some people are pleading with farmers to keep planting cotton along roadsides because its prettier than corn. The article states that the global consumption of cotton is dropping and exports are expected to drop by $1.2 million this year. Textile mills are going abroad and as cotton farmer Walter Reese Pillow IV states, "its not very smart to think we can grow the commodity hear so they can make a shirt in China." The effect has been greatest in Mississippi where the acreage has dropped from 1.2 million acres in 2006 to 365,000 in 2008. The drop in acreage means gins have to be closed resulting in a slew of laid of workers. Cotton isn't just a crop, but has deep roots in the south, contributing to major themes for blues musicians and authors. However, cotton's history in the south is not filled with positive images. Picking cotton by hand, before the arrival of machines, was a backbreaking job done by slaves and later poor farmers; a major reason some in Mississippi are not so nostalgic to see the cotton go. 

I've been to the delta region numerous times because my aunt and cousins live there. My recent trip was in December when bits of cotton on the roadside remained. I took the photo of the cotton right after we visited an Alpaca farm, another new industry spreading in the south. Alpaca farming has been present in the south for about 10 years, but is gaining ground as another source of income. I put together the faces of the different Alpaca at a farm my cousins took me to. It was closed when we went, but we were still able to see them. Their smiles make me smile. But alas, they won't save the cotton industry in this country. 

Jason Colquett owns a cotton gin where he has had to cut his staff and ginning season in half. Sadly he states, “I can imagine Mississippi without cotton gins. It’s not a pretty picture.” Despite the cruel history of the crop, I'll miss seeing it's abundance next time I'm in Mississippi. 

Pretty in Pink

A bit of pretty to keep us trucking. Taken at the SST campus in Ramapuram Village, Andhra Pradesh, India 2008. 

Kissing Rocks

Navajo Nation, Arizona 2009