Welcome to my blog!

The purpose of this blog is to share with you my upcoming internship in Mumbai (Bombay), India and the journey in preparation for it. It has so far been an interesting experience and I have not even started my trip yet.

Why the name? I will be in Mumbai during June and July, the beginning of the Monsoon season. Learning to wade through flooded streets and work with this natural phenonema is to me very similar to the learning experience I have had so far and am sure to face in India. Most of India's water supply falls during the Monsoon season. It is kind of a feast or famine on water. I found this analegous to India itself, a nation of extremes and it will be my challenge to learn to work with and within it. From what I have understood of India, this amazing nation will both pull on me like the raging flood waters and at the same time fascinate me like the tranquility of a steady stream.

I have the priviledge to travel with another student who has now also become a friend. She is as talented as she is kind and fun. Together we will set out to work with an inspirational company that is dedicated to empower women in deplorable situations, often in the slums of Bombay, to better their lives. The company works with small textiles producers and our task is to develop a plan to standardize the production process so they can deliver a more uniform end result.

Before I continue with this blog I want to take a moment and thank my family, friends and college. They have been very instrumental in making this trip possible and encouraging me as I am learning to have the two most important things in this journey: patience and endurance.

I hope my blog will entice you to consider traveling to India and help you with your preparations.

Let's start swimming!!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Morning, first day

My alarm went off early so I can get used to Mumbai time. I only got two hours but I am not sleepy. We have challenges today that are huge and must be overcome if this trip is going to be a success.

The apartment is hot and muggy. Air conditioning is only in the bedroom and minimal, but that is not my main concern. Today we must show ourselves that we can get around Mumbai independently, shop for essentials and turn this place into a haven for us.
As daylight clears, I notice heavy dark clouds. Mumbai is waiting for the monsoon to start and last night our landlord was ecstatic when a few sprinkles hit the windshield. I hope it will hold off a few more days until we have been able to get around a little. The streets tend to flood.

Hanna and I have been concerned about getting dehydrated. We did not drink adequately on the plane rides and the bottled water we had requested in the apartment was not from a sealed container. We must today find enough water to replenish.
It is only 6:30. It is very hot and Mumbai is already buzzing.

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