I am Rani

For one week in the village of Jarang I was known as Rani translated from Nepali to Queen.

The treacherous road on the way to the village. Currently stuck and repairing.

Carie, Quinnen and Aileen at our Welcome ceremony

The Village people gathered to meet the new Volunteers

My Aamaa dressed ready for a celebration

The typical scene for dinner minus the light from my flash

The build site with the Himalayas in the background

the morning hello on the way to the site.

Filling water jugs for her house. The basket attached to a strap that is rested on the head for carrying

The neighboring village with the Himalayas

Namastay!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=429128&id=721045331&l=ff68a59efd

The magic is in the simplicity

We are in an age where we are bombarded with cell phones, calls, SMS, iPods, billboards, movies, TV, friends – distractions. Everything is posted and you get instantaneous responses and satisfaction. I am well involved in the craze and very much enjoy it. The first thing that I do when I get home from a night out is to connect on Facebook. I blog, I follow tweets, I dig, stumble, I am linked in. It is all great, but it is hard to detach. It is hard to pull yourself away from the updates and the notifications.

I think that is why my time spent in the rural village a Jarang a 5 hour jeep ride/hike from the nearest town Gorka was so impactful and the memories, smiles, sweat, hugs, and tears will stay with me for a long time to come.

It is impossible to summarize my time there, and journaling the details of each day won’t do it justice, so I am choosing to focus on the part that I loved the most; the simplicity of the village life. The word of choice is a general overstatement, but so not confuse it with easy or boring because neither of these word come nearly close to describing the feel.

A few from Dharamsala

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=415518&id=721045331&l=68bb7ddede

I am being safe

I am not sure who follows what news, but just in case you get wind of the terror alerts in New Delhi, please know that I am being safe. A lot of the markets listed below are the ones that I go to eat at, but I am sacrificing movies and all social non-house party outings as to avoid the markets and malls for the next two weeks at least. I hope that they delay the release of the movies that I want to see :) Just trying to keep it light here folks...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/01/us-canada-australia-warn-_n_559710.html

http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/service/india-travel-and-security-info/warden-messages.html

Important Security Update

May 1, 2010

This Warden Message provides updated information related to the April 21, 2010 Warden Message and additional information related to the Travel Alert issued for India on April 16, 2010.

There are increased indications that terrorists are planning imminent attacks in New Delhi. Terrorists have targeted places in the past where U.S. citizens or Westerners are known to congregate or visit. Markets, such as those located in Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash, Karol Bagh, Mehrauli, and Sarojini Nagar, can be especially attractive targets for terrorist groups. If you are in an area where unattended packages are spotted, you should immediately exit the area and report the packages to authorities.

Americans traveling or residing in India are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, remain aware of their surroundings, monitor local news reports, and take appropriate steps to bolster their personal security.