Storytelling.

I was brought up to the site by one of Ravee’s employees, Kartik. I had met him briefly when he fixed my computer to catch internet at Ravee’s home, but didn’t know much other than Ravee promised me he was a good guy who wouldn’t do anything bad to me. He is young, seemingly a bit shy, but also has an air of kindness about him. When he called me at 5:15 to make sure I was awake, I wasn’t even upset about it. That’s how I knew he was okay.

We spent some time trying to sleep before we got breakfast on the road. We went to this place called Harrys, it’s a chain here. Don’t get excited American friends, it was not a scrambled eggs and bacon place, but I had a great breakfast. I think breakfast is my favorite food here, I always love breakfast foods. Kartik and ** were very helpful in making sure I didn’t get anything too spicy- they ordered for me.

We were back on the road and I was blown away by the scenery I was driving through what seemed almost like mountains within the jungle… passing through many town centers and slums, I even saw a monkey! (FINALLY)

But the trip also was my first experience with beggars. While the car was parked two women and a man came up to us in it and began banging on the windows. They looked so tired and sad, it made me miserable to see them standing there. I wish that I had had some food, they weren’t asking for money, they were asking for food. Of course this one time I don’t have granola bars, I need them most.

That was tough- but it started a conversation, and quite possibly, a friendship. Kartik and I began talking about my impressions of India. He was very curious about what I had thought I’d find, and we both laughed at how the only image that the world sees of India is slums.

*Friends, family- let me clear this up for you now, India has a lot of poverty, and there is a lot of icky stuff here, but India is not a row of endless slums. Really. Don’t believe everything that the media tells you and the movies show. It’s so unfortunate how little we know about other countries, because as Kartik pointed out to me, they know all about the US. He began talking with me about the tea-partiers, and the oil spill, as well as the universal health care bill. I felt like he knew more than I did sometimes!

Except when he asked about Boston. He wanted me to tell him about home. This, my friends, was the key to my heart. From then on, I knew Kartik and I would be friends. Oh how wonderful to share stories of the beaches and the Boston Red Sox, my college life and my family and friends. We talked about the weather, the buildings (hes an arcitect!) and how Boston was in relation to the rest of the States. Then we talked about how different many aspects of the US are, from the weather to the food to the people. He told me about his home, how he went to school to be an arcitecht or a computer programmer and chose architect because all his friends were being programmers– and how he found a job right after college and they did not. (Funny how that is)

He shared stories about himself and I shares stories about myself, and we made a pitstop along the way to pick up some Indian clothing for me! Kartik even helped me pick it out. I laughed as I realized that Indian women have smaller bone structures than I and I had to weasle my way out of a medium- we’ll go to Bangalore to have things hand made next time.

Speaking of things we’ll do, Kartik said he’d take me to the safari, as well as the jog falls, two places I REALLY want to go while I’m here and not sure how to. I am so excited about this.

We got to the site and much to our dismay, the workers are very far behind. It has rained in Nellore, and also much of the supplies were delayed by the manufacturers, so needless to say, things were not what they were supposed to be.   We didn’t stay for long since the trip was long and we didn’t get to port until late, so we headed back from the island and to our hotel to freshen up.