Roti and Rice Perambulations

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88728963284853548092012-02-16T16:30:57.179-08:00Roti and Rice PerambulationsHeidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.comBlogger831100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-102738863778370252011-06-12T21:34:00.000-07:002011-06-12T21:34:10.348-07:00Urban Planner seeks organization...

Hi all, Just a quick plug for your's truly. I am in job seeking mode. If you know of any jobs available for Urban Planners and Food Systems professionals (ahem, that's me!), I would be grateful to hear from you. Below is a short blurb about my experience and here's my LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=hb_tab_pro_top thank you!Heidi Heidi Exline holds a Masters in Urban

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-62275000678727474292011-06-12T21:10:00.000-07:002011-06-12T21:10:04.981-07:00Baba Ramdev wusses out

Every day the Hindustan Times lands at my doorstep. With one eye barely open, I hear the thwack and then usually go back to sleep. When I do finally wake up, I try daily to read it, but occasionally my kitten-who-is-better-than-anything-Staples-could-make-paper-shredder gets to it before I do. This is ok, because while I try to stay on top of Indian happenings, sometimes I am a little dismayed at

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-17812338774071577902011-06-01T23:47:00.000-07:002011-06-01T23:47:49.949-07:00Oh, what a difference 30 degrees makes

The other night, after going to sleep around midnight, I woke up a half hour later to gusty winds ghoulishly blowing my doors open and shut. The last time this had happened, I welcomed in the breeze only to find my countertops covered in black spots and my eye tearing up because one of the dust monsters had attacked me. However, I could not resist, because with it the wind brought cooler

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-27371818208644243732011-05-20T00:52:00.000-07:002011-05-30T01:13:46.245-07:00Four days of trekking in the Himalayas

early-April "I'm really out of shape." "That's ok, I am too." "No, I mean it. It's really bad. So let's plan to work out for six weeks and get in shape before our trek." "Ok, definitely." late-April "It's too hot to work out." "I know. It's over 100 degrees here now." "Ok, well I'm still going to try to get in shape. We still have three weeks left." "Ok, me too." mid-May "So, I barely worked

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-74322336615220955902011-05-11T04:49:00.000-07:002011-05-23T07:41:47.562-07:00Occasionally getting it right

Those of you who know me well, might be surprised to learn that I am just now beginning to try my hand at making Indian food. Now, I've dabbled here and there, even in the U.S. before I moved here I would throw in some masala and cinnamon and chili powder to my beans. But it was only recently that I decided the day had come to make some roti. (Roti is the flat bread that accompanies every Punjabi

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-84127846003154736892011-04-25T04:14:00.000-07:002011-05-11T04:17:22.538-07:00Fast, but not too fast

(Before I begin, if you're out there, Russian reader, das vidanya from India!) The other day I went to CMC (Christian Medical College) Hospital to inquire about getting some "medical tourism" work done (don't worry, I will not come back with a new nose or fewer chins). The medical tourism industry is supposedly huge in India. Max Hospital group in Delhi even has a separate check-in counter for

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-2511928105721767042011-04-15T13:37:00.000-07:002011-05-22T22:05:41.259-07:00Thomas Jefferson and Monticello

I was seeking a favor. This favor would involve going to my apartment in Fort Greene, Brooklyn and exchanging keys for a deposit with my subletter. One sister - working; a Brooklyn friend - running a race; another Brooklyn friend - too overwhelmed with finding a new roommate and being broke. Who to turn to? I relayed this chain of events to a good friend here in India, and he was dismayed.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-71817640257549925762011-03-29T09:16:00.000-07:002011-03-29T09:16:12.143-07:00You must feed the ants

It has been a while since I wanted to burst out laughing, impolitely, in someone's face. But that is what nearly happened when I consulted an astrologist and he said, very seriously, "You must feed the ants." The backstory is that my friend had some burning questions she wanted answered, so when an astrologist came to her business, she took it as a sign that she should visit this wise, knowing

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-77740677041900272632011-03-26T23:45:00.000-07:002011-03-26T23:45:58.057-07:00Will you accept a little rambling?

Having been quite some time since I posted, I'm finding it difficult to jump back into this here blogging world. So, if you'll pardon the randomness of it, I'm just going to spout off a few things that have come to mind recently. 1) People are different. No matter how much we want to say that we're all the same, culture plays an obviously huge role in our lives and shapes us forever. Take for

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-72801705521399764112011-03-16T14:22:00.000-07:002011-04-29T20:32:21.707-07:00Karnataka, my new favorite Indian state

Hampi Desperately trying to get a bottle of wine open Eating cheese and baguette and I am so happy Cute and geeky little train museum in Mysore Mysore Palace Fancy hotel near Mysore Cute little boy who swore he was going to school and just helping out that day. Here you see him making inscence sticks. Sushi in Bengaluru. I was in heaven. My huge

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-24470397530017836682011-02-10T06:17:00.000-08:002011-02-10T06:17:53.199-08:00Some things give you pause

Every now and then I'm reminded of the stark contrasts that surround me. Less than an hour ago I returned from buying chicken. Seems innocuous enough, right? Except this chicken is going to feed my kitten. Still unclear? Let me paint the picture for you: Girl negotiates price of Rs 40 ($0.90) for a return trip on a rickshaw. Girl boards rickshaw and travels to chicken shop. On the way, girl is

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-31010100316029018622011-01-31T06:18:00.000-08:002011-02-10T06:34:27.923-08:00They're just like us

If you've traveled to India, you've probably experienced the phenomenon of being stared at. It's not an accusatory stare, or one of malice; it's a stare of extreme curiosity mixed with pleasure and often, if the stare-er is under 15, the giggles. Which got me to thinking about the US Weekly section called, Stars: They're Just Like Us! Before you go a gettin all holier than thou, no, I don't read

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-50695589009103182132011-01-30T00:39:00.000-08:002011-05-30T00:50:44.100-07:00Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

My friend Alice came through on her way to yoga training in Maharashtra. Here are some pics from the weekend at Jim Corbett park. Sadly, there were no tiger spottings. We did hear the warning call that the forest animals give to other animals to notify them of the tiger's wanderings, but in the end, that was the closest we got. Apparently you have spend the night in the park and you're more or

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-24087188711061895402011-01-24T08:58:00.000-08:002011-02-05T08:59:56.273-08:00Vegetable art

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-28546791771966956932011-01-24T08:48:00.000-08:002011-02-05T08:57:22.725-08:00Van tries to ensure greater access to PDS

I recently got the chance to visit a van that distributes rations from India's reputedly corrupt Public Distribution System (PDS). I can't attest to what the papers say about the PDS, but I do know that the depots that distribute the rations are run by private citizens and often they are open only once a month. So Jago, the NGO working on this project, was able to get some ration cards

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-5138533514777529372011-01-19T08:45:00.000-08:002011-02-05T08:48:04.362-08:00Carrying on the tradition

Traditional dance performance put on for school kids

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-1876477484084624812011-01-10T23:29:00.000-08:002011-01-22T23:46:04.656-08:00Sister and bro in law's visit

My sister and brother in law arrived around 3 am on December 26th. It was cold and shortly thereafter, they were both felled by some stomach illnesses. Then on to Agra and the Taj Mahal, where I became sick and my sister got scratched by a monkey. Then to Delhi for New Year's Eve where we got into a car accident. From there we flew to Goa where we finally released ourselves of the curse that

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-4436604850715455962010-12-23T06:04:00.000-08:002011-01-19T06:08:52.799-08:00Christmas party, India style!

My Christmas party was a fairly tame affair - no one drank beer but me and we ended at 8:30. Still, it was a good time and I enjoyed getting a chance to make some American food for my friends. My attempt to make mustard. Here they use mustard seed, mustard oil, mustard greens... but no mustard! Funny, but it's nearly the opposite for us in the US. One of the most rockin suits I may

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-46263474708761866752010-12-22T05:54:00.000-08:002011-01-19T06:01:14.497-08:00Village surveys

A man and his child and the family's unfinished home, due to lack of money This is hysterical. Apparently this is a well that no longer works. The villagers tied a bunch of thorny branches to the top of the well because kids were throwing stones down it. The driver I hired to take me to the villages invited me to his home and fed me some tasty saag and mahki (corn) roti, a winter

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-28768740777509254162010-12-21T05:44:00.000-08:002011-01-19T06:01:52.774-08:00Surveys in Ludhiana's informal housing settlements, aka slums

You might think that spending time in a slum would be a depressing experience. In part, you'd be right, simply because it's hard not to feel glum when you see people, and especially children. living in often squalid conditions. But the condition of the homes in different slums varies quite a bit. And while some kids seem despondent and a little sickly, others look healthy, clean and happy. I

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-70541590577238896682010-12-20T23:29:00.000-08:002010-12-20T23:29:36.132-08:00How to deal with poverty 101

This course will teach students how to handle emotions that arise when viewing extreme poverty on a day to day basis. Students will learn practical methods for handling difficult situations. Examples of situations discussed in this course include little children toiling daily in restaurants; children with missing limbs (especially when it's clear the limb was torn from the child's body) entering

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-53356746979266865672010-12-09T00:27:00.000-08:002010-12-09T00:27:11.310-08:00I've cracked the code

About two weeks before I left for Rajasthan, I noticed that the cool (sans water heater) showers that I had relished to relieve my skin of the sticky heat of September and October were becoming less and less refreshing. I surveyed a few Indians to ask their opinion. I could buy a type of rod, several said. This rod plugs into the wall and then you stick it in a bucket of water to warm the water.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-28665181439922586732010-11-28T20:07:00.000-08:002010-12-05T05:49:54.229-08:00So hungry!

What is it about Indian breakfasts? Now that I've returned to Ludhiana from Jaipur (Rajasthan), I've also returned to some of my old eating habits. Instead of the parantha (fried bread), a hard boiled egg, and curd (full fat, of course) for breakfast, I'm again eating oatmeal sprinkled with nuts and a little maple syrup. Sometimes I throw in a banana. I guess it should be obvious why I'm hungry a

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-38502307195225203292010-11-27T06:15:00.000-08:002010-12-05T05:49:04.198-08:00Am I cheating?

Sitting here nibbling on some cave-aged Gruyere and sauscisson sec between sips of duty-free Rioja, I feel a little tug on my conscience - am I cheating on India? Am I doing my whole-hearted, hand on heart best to understand Indian culture by sitting in my apartment with my gourmet foods lovingly flown thousands of miles to me from New York by my sister (This after the cheese was flown from

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-9352063327483153672010-11-23T05:20:00.000-08:002010-12-05T05:40:43.270-08:00Research in Jaipur

At this agriculture research station, they're trying to get farmers to use greenhouses to grow flowers for export. My interpreter on the left and his cousin on the right. Interpreter's cousin invited me for dinner Rajasthani dinner. On the left are baati; essentially wheat flour, ghee and salt formed into a ball and then baked. It's wonderfully doughy on the inside. I bought

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-63594564628152369692010-11-16T05:05:00.000-08:002010-12-05T05:43:19.775-08:00Highlights from the Pushkar Camel Fair

My trip to Pushkar was filled with colorful sites and sounds. Disappointingly, however, I did not hear any infamous camel farts. Random Ganesh statue Austrian I met showing the video we took to the locals Holy lake of Pushkar

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-64915525573590404212010-11-14T03:55:00.000-08:002010-11-28T21:39:57.697-08:00Sister's visit to India

My sister Michelle flew into India for a whirlwind trip that took her from the Delhi airport to Ludhiana to meet me. After a day and a half there, we headed to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and then to Jaipur where we shopped, ate, drank and shopped - a lot. The pictures are out of order because they posted numerically and are not all from the same camera (and, let's be honest, I do not have

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-34446253723476767442010-11-05T04:44:00.000-07:002010-11-17T09:18:10.783-08:00Diwali, Amritsar

I had been hearing for months that I should spend Diwali, the festival of lights, in Amritsar. So I booked my plans a while back and when the day finally came, I hesitated about whether to go. Why, I don't know. Maybe because I had thought I would be going with a few others; when I learned otherwise, I was not feeling so adventurous. In the end, I boarded the 19:30 efficiently at 20:42 and

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-39673676954272352262010-11-02T04:27:00.000-07:002010-11-17T18:59:56.572-08:00More village surveys

This time I was lucky to be accompanied by my friend who served as driver and interpreter for a day of surveys. We spent the day talking to six families in a nearby village - six surveys, one day...this rate I will have to improve if I'm ever to finish. While no completely new information came from this round of surveys, it is always interesting to learn what people have to say. Sand to put

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-56815507251708196992010-10-30T00:49:00.000-07:002010-11-17T08:01:20.047-08:00Youth Festival, PAU

PAU recently held its annual Youth Festival, where a variety of the college students showed off their talents at such events as mimicry, mime and bhangra.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-63563378598522569132010-10-29T10:02:00.000-07:002010-11-01T03:04:01.243-07:00Harry Easy Item Delta Item Easy X-ray Lima Item Nancy Easy

This is how you spell my name over the phone if you're a travel agent.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-72053069621742364852010-10-29T07:38:00.000-07:002010-11-17T07:41:33.142-08:00Success in the form of flapjacks

I was so happy on this morning I made the most fantastic breakfast of pancakes and coffee! I ate outside on my terrace, soaking up the late morning sun.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-4637123096209731542010-10-28T23:08:00.000-07:002010-10-28T23:12:13.578-07:00Itchy and Scratchy

Darn! Just got bit by a mosquito. My last bite was several weeks ago, meaning I was very close to being able to discontinue taking the doxy, which has to be swallowed daily for four weeks after one leaves a malaria area. So I start my four week countdown today, even though I'm not convinced it is at all necessary in the first place.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-16092160359739163072010-10-26T00:12:00.000-07:002010-11-17T00:35:08.263-08:00Special Occasion

Annu, the girl who cleans my apartment (here they call these women, "maids," but to my ear that sounds too, uh, icky), asked me several days in a row to take her picture with me. On the appointed day she arrived adorned in a cute black and white dress. I've been asked every day since for the picture, but to my chagrin have not managed to get to the photo shop to print one out. When my sister,

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-26983639207031880372010-10-24T00:26:00.000-07:002010-10-31T00:28:02.628-07:00Cake!

I am so excited to have recently discovered this cute little cake place in Ludhiana. The chocolate cake was excellent.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-386967657272334332010-10-22T00:23:00.000-07:002010-10-31T00:26:03.939-07:00Buying veggies

This is how they weigh vegetables. These vendors often troll the streets, calling out something in Punjabi that I cannot understand.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-30181233526731145072010-10-17T23:58:00.000-07:002010-10-31T00:21:54.433-07:00Mussoorie, Uttarakhand

I spent a great weekend visiting other Fulbrighters in Landour, a "suburb" of Mussoorie, a hill station in Uttarakhand. Mussoorie is known for the lovely Kempty Falls and the cool climate (it was at least 15 degrees cooler there as compared to Ludhiana). In the winter they might even see some snowfall. Dinner with the Fulbrighters at Rokeby Dressing up in traditional garb for silly

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-63427860153052380322010-10-14T08:29:00.000-07:002010-10-28T23:07:54.497-07:00Village surveys

I have finally begun to do some field work. After thorough testing and tweaking of my survey, Survey_v5.doc was launched in a Punjabi village about 30 km from Ludhiana. On the drive out of the city, my Planning eye caught notice of Ludhiana's sprawl taking over the countryside: former villages Blobbed by Ludhiana, billboards showcasing happy multi-culti couples rendered so only because of the

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-69954533326754468392010-10-10T11:12:00.000-07:002010-10-26T22:06:48.970-07:00A village wedding

Corn used to make chapattis and popcorns The bride First time wearing a Punjabi suit Jarnail's sister and cousin An offering for the guests Ceremonial washing of the bride's feet The groom dressed in a coat of Rupees Bride and groom Rayat family tractor Family's rice paddies Cousin Visit to the local gudwaras

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-52938849376469318122010-10-09T08:43:00.000-07:002010-10-26T22:15:00.472-07:00Reality Movie

Often we find ourselves in engrossed in escapism through a movie that takes us to unknown countries and through unknown experiences. And then we move to India and realize that what we had only previously seen in movies is a reality for millions of people every day. Should some eyeball rolling feel appropriate right now, I assure you I will stay as shallow as a pee-warmed kiddie pool. I was

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-80802916179957147452010-10-07T07:04:00.000-07:002010-10-12T08:15:59.266-07:00jeri riga

Google Translate tells me jeri riga is how you say jerry rig in Hindi. I'll have to conduct a highly unscientific survey and see if anyone understands me when I use jeri riga. Since the flame on my overly-praised stove is much too high, even at the lowest level (I had this same problem in Spain; Is a trend outside the U.S.?), I had to make some adjustments. If you look closely, you can see two

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-40173178336806644122010-10-06T07:13:00.000-07:002010-10-12T08:17:55.115-07:00Guava goodness

At the Kesan Mela (farmers' fair) held in mid-September here at PAU I met Parmveer - a young guy hawking guava juice in smart little bottles from an orchard just a few kilometers away. Lucky for me, Parmveer was parked in Canada for several years, allowing me to avoid an awkward conversation in which I point and speak barely comprehendible Hindi mixed with English. A few weeks after inviting

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-88406449768436994012010-10-04T06:56:00.000-07:002010-10-12T07:03:13.625-07:00First dinner!

The culinary magic I had planned to make might not be as easy as I anticipated. Imported ingredients are fairly expensive (a bag of Tostitos tortilla chips was going for $8! You'd think I was shopping in Russia.) and, while you can find most things in Delhi, they are in shorter supply up here in Punjab. Regardless, my first homemade meal in my apartment was delicious.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-54497459978909702512010-10-03T06:38:00.000-07:002010-10-12T06:52:41.215-07:00First day with a working stove!

It can be frustrating to have a stove but lack the gas cylinder necessary to make the thing light up. My stove was stuffed away for at least two weeks until last week when the inaugural lighting took place.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-34364772346677389152010-10-02T18:29:00.000-07:002010-10-12T06:53:09.539-07:00Twenty kilometers from the Pakistan border - last one, promise

Some pictures from my friend's farm Built for cremation of grandfather Bamboo used to help prop up fruit trees Given lack of public transportation options in Ludhiana, thinking about getting one of these for my personal use. Buffalo dung used in cook stoves

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-68215288193045705642010-10-02T18:20:00.000-07:002010-10-12T06:53:31.556-07:00Twenty kilometers from the Pakistan border*

After visiting the government depot, we made a stop at a privately run retail shop to do some comparison shopping. Here is what your rupees will buy you in the retail markets: wheat - Rs 12/kg flour - Rs 15/kg pulses - Rs 55/kg (A few months ago, however, pulses were going for Rs 90/kg) kerosene - Rs 20/L The shop owners purchase provisions from three different sources: directly from the

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-69044469823900384062010-10-02T11:40:00.000-07:002010-10-12T06:54:15.262-07:00Twenty kilometers from the Pakistan border

On Saturday we stopped by the government shop to speak to Mr. Sarabjit Singh who runs government depot #155 in Chabal Khan and distributes food at a subsidized rate to ration card-holding Indians. The depot serves 460 people in the village area and is open eight hours/day, six days/week. Today he was selling kerosine oil at Rs 12/L + 27 paisa for commission; wheat for those far below the

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-12223666045128687982010-10-01T23:29:00.000-07:002010-10-12T06:54:42.579-07:00Twenty kilometers from the Pakistan border

Touring around Amritsar The famous Golden Temple, a Sikh gudwara My friend, Gurraj Bathing in the holy waters Fried fish caught in local waters Statue commemorating fallen Sikh hero

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-38692532031471224752010-10-01T11:06:00.000-07:002010-10-12T06:55:06.686-07:00Twenty kilometers from the Pakistan border

After meeting with the government officials, I was given a tour of the market. Leftover bits Weighing rice Indians often do not smile in pictures, so I really like the smile on the guy in the middle Making repairs in preparation for the year's first harvest Rice processing facility Government storage facility Rotting wheat Lots of rice to feed some of India's

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-6564957916956044102010-10-01T08:12:00.000-07:002010-10-12T06:56:00.999-07:00Twenty kilometers from the Pakistan border

Thanks to my friend Gurraj here, I had a great opportunity last weekend to visit Amritsar, Punjab and a nearby village wholesale market. When Gurraj told me his father was previously a Market Commissioner for the wholesale market, and that he could set up a meeting with the current Market Commissioner, I thought it would be a great opportunity to get to know Punjab's system better. On the

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-67583212033503209542010-09-27T04:54:00.000-07:002010-09-29T08:31:03.959-07:00Bright lights

After numerous waiting list tickets and cancelled tickets, I finally made it to Delhi. I was feeling a little burned after make the trip up sans a/c in August, so I opted for the opposite end of the spectrum and went first class all the way....uh, baby. After finding my coach and very comfortable, upholstered seat, I soon realized that this was a level of luxury I did not need. It wasn't that

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-10580412461343327382010-09-22T13:00:00.000-07:002010-09-24T13:05:55.508-07:00Momos

Feeling extremely hungry, I left the coffee shop the other night after successfully staying focused on my task for at least two hours. Indian food was of little interest to me at that point. As luck would have a it, I discovered a little momo (Chinese dumplings) cart in the market that I somehow missed the twenty other times I had visited. These eight little momos set me back only $0.50.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-11707672857226516552010-09-22T06:29:00.000-07:002010-09-24T13:08:30.182-07:00Baby's first steps

Just give me a minute...ok...there, I'm done (was busy patting myself on the back). Autos (what you might know as rickshaws) are a dime a dozen in India. Generally, you hail one like you would any other taxi; you haggle over using the meter; you lose the argument; then you haggle over the price; then you lose that argument; then you begin to walk away, and if you're lucky, the prices comes

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-86300528460421112082010-09-15T12:06:00.000-07:002010-09-19T01:58:24.054-07:00Forgive me Father...

...for I have eaten a McChicken. I can remember kneeling in the pews as a pre-growth spurt kid, palms a bit sweaty and prayer-like, and feeling the anxious flutter of my heart, waiting my turn for a moment with my priest to ask for forgiveness for all the sins weighing down my conscious. These were moments I dreaded. Thankfully, I no longer attend formal Confession (but am still inclined to

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-14266471398589574622010-09-13T04:35:00.000-07:002010-09-13T04:37:27.078-07:00Farming in India, past and present

Most of you have probably heard of Norman Borlaug and the Green Revolution he helped spawn. While this period of history in India sparks some controversy among food systems folks out there, the man, Norman Borlaug is quite revered here at PAU. And PAU subsequently takes their role as the Breadbasket of India quite seriously. Today I caught a brief ceremony dedicating the Economics and Sociology

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-58471340770524350082010-09-12T02:32:00.000-07:002010-09-12T02:32:14.338-07:00Where am I?

It could be Cleveland; it could be California; hell, it could be Helsinki No, as these restroom signs make clear, it's definitely a mall in India

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-4160802796039099642010-09-10T23:58:00.000-07:002010-09-10T23:58:02.056-07:00corn, sweet, corn

About a ten minute walk from campus is Kipps Mart, where one can find everything from a nice Chinese meal at Hong Kong, to a Subway sandwich to the best ice cream I've had so far in India (cardamom and pistachio!). And you can find corn. Seems that Indians love their corn. One can have the popped variety, or you can order a little cup from this vendor. He'll sprinkle the steaming sweet corn (

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-25446808272376508572010-09-10T05:45:00.000-07:002010-09-10T05:45:58.226-07:00Yes, there's that too

While it may seem to the untrained eye that it's all play and no work over here...I present to you Exhibit A: Kamal in pic 1 and me in pic 2, both diligently working and thinking, thinking and working.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-80959991654355352642010-09-09T09:14:00.000-07:002010-09-09T11:12:06.402-07:00So what do you do all day??

These next few days of postings are dedicated to the mundane activities that occupy some my time here. As most of you can probably relate, even daily putterings that one normally takes for granted can bring about new challenges and interesting experiences when in a foreign country. Eating curd - a daily activity meant to keep the little friends in my gut happy Pankag - the lovely woman who

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-63082427402793545172010-09-07T02:50:00.000-07:002010-09-07T02:50:50.798-07:00right, left, then right again

I still find myself needing to repeat this little mantra when crossing the street. I suppose when you spend your whole life looking left, right, then left again to cross the street, it's a hard habit to break. It doesn't help that traffic rules are treated, shall we say, a little flippantly, so cars and especially scooters, can be seen zipping haphazardly from all directions. It is a bit like

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-79685181527091587242010-09-04T06:00:00.000-07:002010-09-06T06:12:22.071-07:00

My first weekend in Ludhiana. A few evenings ago I went on a fruitless expedition for the internet. Feeling defeated, I returned to campus to find myself facing a glorious pink sky - the kind of pink you might dress your newborn baby girl in, just tinged with a bit of purple. The evening had been cooled by an afternoon downpour. Normally, such showers bring more humidity and make the air feel

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-47820214777642894372010-09-02T02:51:00.000-07:002010-09-05T02:59:43.636-07:00

Today was my first trip to the villages. It was like something out of a movie. The weather was hot and steamy, cows and buffalo were milling about, and the highway was as hectic as ever (When I reached for the seat belt, I was told, "Don't worry! You're in India. It's very safe. No one uses the seat belt!" Despite these reassurances, I thought it wise to still buckle up.). The purpose of the

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-32642532128550797662010-09-02T02:48:00.000-07:002010-09-05T02:50:30.990-07:00noodle sandwich!

The noodle stall I had seen earlier was closed, but luckily I found this street vendor selling noodle sandwiches! For less than a quarter I had the beautiful concept of carbs on carbs. It was delicious.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-8614887155427776622010-09-01T02:37:00.000-07:002010-09-05T02:39:23.306-07:00construction site, Ludhiana

I need to try to get another picture here. But if you look closely these women are stacking the bricks on their heads. They have rolled scarves on their heads, much like the coolies at the trains.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-8675668770196423012010-08-29T02:30:00.000-07:002010-09-05T02:30:41.898-07:00Rock Garden, Chandigarh

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-10571027423041520522010-08-28T02:35:00.000-07:002010-09-05T02:36:50.943-07:00Bus Station, Chandigarh

People stand very close in line, generally to prevent budging. Here's a line at the bus station.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-24396620849984878852010-08-28T02:31:00.000-07:002010-09-05T02:35:17.033-07:00Sukna Lake, Chandigarh

Since I arrived, I've received at least a half dozen requests to be in photos with strangers. Other Americans who've been to India are probably familiar with this phenomenon. I was in about four different pictures with these fellows.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-16074797100771102382010-08-28T02:24:00.000-07:002010-09-05T02:24:53.459-07:00Chandigarh, Punjab

I spent the weekend in Chandigarh. Planners, architects and the like will perhaps recognize the name of this city for its (in)famous designer, Le Corbusier. I wish I could report more on the planning of this city, but I was there during the weekend, and it was about 95 degrees with humidity through the roof. So my pace was slower than usual. I did not make it to the must-see Secretariat

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-16796062498260652422010-08-27T01:48:00.000-07:002010-09-05T01:50:05.040-07:00Happy Hour!

I ventured to the mall today to find myself a hat and instead found a popcorn vendor! How exciting, I thought. Brought said popcorn back to the room and had myself my own private happy hour.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-20394281280647763782010-08-26T02:00:00.000-07:002010-09-06T06:22:09.331-07:00Cows, cows, more cows

I'm sure you've all heard about the cows in India. I stumbled upon these recently hanging out in Ludhiana.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-50183851077196102592010-08-23T01:43:00.000-07:002010-09-05T01:48:36.937-07:00Warnings from the Ludhiana Police

I'm regularly now getting text message warnings from the Ludhiana Police. Here's a sample: “Don’t mix drinking and driving. Have a safe day. Ludhiana Police.” "Caution and care make accidents rare. Have a safe day. Ludhiana Police." And more recently: “Be alert: Accidents hurt. Have a safe day. Ludhiana Police.” And: “Chance takers are accident makers. Follow traffic rules. Have a safe

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-23641706988820843772010-08-22T01:56:00.000-07:002010-09-05T01:56:51.041-07:00New neighbors

Feral dogs are very common here. This mama just had baby pups outside my guesthouse shortly before my arrival.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-34806873529263389652010-08-20T01:50:00.000-07:002010-09-05T01:52:31.418-07:00First dinner in Ludhiana

Kamal, my advisor here, graciously welcomed me with a tasty dinner at Las Vegas - a little, happening spot across from campus. No gambling here, but tasty chicken and some decent English stout

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-28201919164368488592010-08-20T01:43:00.000-07:002010-09-05T01:54:22.286-07:00Destination Ludhiana

What a day! After carefully laying out everything I would need for my early-morning departure to the train station, I missed my train. Which is not to say I did not try. I first took a taxi to the train station. This station was in a bit of a, uh, transitional state. The roads were mud, the traffic rendered the area impossible to move, and it was raining. After dragging my rolly bags over

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-65138713829765619322010-08-20T01:22:00.000-07:002010-09-05T01:42:31.326-07:00Destination Ludhiana

Nice man from Amritsar on the train. Nice man from Delhi sitting next to me on the train Hot, hot, hot train; the fans helped a bit, but the breeze helped more when we were moving fast enough to catch some

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-56843791387645337362010-08-19T02:42:00.000-07:002010-09-04T02:59:04.664-07:00Peepli, but not live, unfortunately

yums After traipsing through the construction, we were rewarded with this yummy dinner Much of the area around our hotel was under construction in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in October The wonderful Delhi Metro map - expanding as we speak Office building near the mall My consolation prize Unfortunately Fun Cinemas was not so fun for me because the movie wasn't

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-29357652694918589852010-08-18T02:31:00.000-07:002010-09-04T03:03:36.528-07:00

I am determined to find the Japanese Encephalitis vaccination here in Delhi, which the doctor giving the presentation to all Fulbrighters said was available at her hospital. Told it was a well-known hospital, we negotiated with auto rickshaw driver (I was with a fellow Fulbrighter looking to get some shots himself) to take us there. After a bumpy and petrol-filled one hour ride (For a trip of

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-74462932289121015512010-08-18T02:29:00.000-07:002010-09-04T02:37:52.938-07:00Old Delhi and the Red Fort

A Hindu temple Lots of jewelry shops down this crowded side street Part of the Red Fort Me, Matt, Shoshana Guard at the Red Fort No smoking, littering or spitting, please! Red Fort Fixing a fixer-upper The streets of Old Delhi, on our way to the Red Fort

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-91709615967483460952010-08-17T02:15:00.000-07:002010-09-04T02:54:51.875-07:00More Delhi

A ride in an auto rickshaw (most people just call them simply, "autos" still at the tombs These are the machetes used to cut the grass Tombs again - note the man in red is cutting the grass manually with a machete of sorts More tombs Humayan's Tomb kids on a school bus buying trinkets from a local vendor India Gate Man toting ice

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-11525796396554967312010-08-17T01:57:00.000-07:002010-09-04T02:58:06.925-07:00Pics of Delhi

Fancy dinner put on by USIEF. I had written a whole post about this but then lost my internet connection, so I will leave the rest of this to your imagination. Shoshana and I, at a busy market in New Delhi The Americans and their crack - the internet

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-59042057697457375642010-08-17T01:43:00.000-07:002010-09-04T03:26:22.231-07:00Delhi

After the Fulbright orientation concluded, we were let out on our own. A few of us went to India Gate and Lodi Gardens. It took approximately five minutes for my shirt to become damp and half an hour, tops, for it to feel like a dishrag. Humidity like this should be illegal. We made a brief stop at the Lodi Gardens, which are a lovely respite of green in Delhi. Delhi actually has quite a

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-75218404144015997112010-08-16T02:02:00.000-07:002010-09-04T02:57:11.520-07:00Amazing bamboo tent!

The tent you saw in the earlier post was supported, amazingly, by dozens of bamboo polls

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872896328485354809.post-64009846661753184362010-08-15T06:54:00.000-07:002010-09-04T02:59:59.423-07:00I'm here!

I've arrived! Kind of hard to wrap my head around the fact that I will be in India not for two weeks, or a month, but 9 months! The flight was seamless, as was the pickup from the airport. Here is a picture of the van that picked us up. The make was Force - hopefully will portend of things to come.

Heidi in Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909125012531076830noreply@blogger.com0