I just thought this was funny.

Especially imagining that he was going to Michael's craft store.

http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/2009/05/06/ill-have-u-know/

I'd also like to take this opportunity to urge anyone reading this to become a follower of the blog (see left). It makes me feel good to know that people are reading.

Today was a good day.

When one is in a foreign country and mainly dependent on the kindness of others, it is very satisfying to do even the most basic things on your own.

Today I went to the Central Library at Benares-Hindu University (BHU), where I examined the past six months of issues of Economic & Political Weekly, and read the articles relevant to rural women and agrarian employment. Then I went to Vishwanath Temple across the street and bought some postcards. Afterwards, I walked to the Women & Development Library, but I couldn't find anything, so I just left. Then I took a rickshaw home and found the way all by myself. I felt very accomplished. It has been by far the most productive day I've had since arriving in India.

In other news, I have a cold, and I made myself a delicious slice of French toast this morning. I didn't have anything to put on it, but it was still so good. Here is my recipe (Amy Sedaris-style):

an egg
some milk
1 slice white bread

Beat the egg and milk together in a bowl. Soak the bread in it on both sides. Fry the bread in a pan (both sides). Serve and enjoy.

What.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.a263b3b0a90b3db7df0ca33948d697d6.81&show_article=1

Here is an article about women being banned from wearing jeans at colleges in Uttar Pradesh, the state I'm living in now. Supposedly, it's to protect women from sexual harassment, but really, it's the men who should be punished, not the women.

I've seen some girls wearing jeans here, but definitely not as many as in Delhi. Sexual harassment in India is called "Eve-teasing." One night in Delhi, we happened to be running late getting back to our hotel, and we were walking through the streets a little after 10 pm. We probably got at least 5 comments from the men around us, but I couldn't understand because they were said in Hindi. We're not supposed to go out alone after dark. I will follow this rule because it's safer and smarter, but it still makes me angry.

If the responsibility for sexual harassment is always put on women, how will it ever end?

Clothes Hopping.

While in Delhi, we each had a few suits custom-made or tailored. We're wearing suits for several reasons: more practical in the heat, better for blending in, and we'll probably get more respect if we dress conservatively.

Suits have three parts: 1) salwar. loose, drawstring pants. 2) kurta. long, tunic-like shirt. 3) dupatta. large, long scarf. The only rules for fashion are that the salwar and the dupatta should match each other.

It's really awesome to pick out some fabric and then have it made into a suit just for you for about $3. Above is a photo of me in my new favorite outfit, and a stack of fabrics in the store where I bought it.

Mehndi.

I got mehndi done on my hands in Delhi. In India, they put the henna on your palms rather than the backs of your hands. I think that this creates a much nicer effect, but it makes it impossible to touch anything for hours.

On trains.

On Thursday, we took an overnight train from Delhi to Varanasi. I was hoping that it would be just like the Darjeeling Limited.

It was not like the Darjeeling Limited.

On the train, we each slept on our very own ironing board. I am reminded of my time on the farm in Panama, mostly because it also inspired me to use outlandish metaphors. In Panama, nights were psychotic episodes while days were devoted to working in a giant litterbox.

I like the way people start to get a little hysterical when living under harsh conditions, like in Panama. It's very hot here. Last night, as we lay awake sweating, Angie said, "I wish I were very small so that I could live in the refrigerator." I think that this is a perfect example of the desperation heat brings.

Namaste.

"Namaste," the traditional Hindi greeting, literally translates to, "I recognize the self in you." This is one of the most beautiful things I've heard in a while.

My computer crashed just before leaving for the airport. Let's hope I can get it fixed in Delhi, where I believe there is no official Apple store. Ironically, it crashed while I was attempting to back it up on an external hard drive in anticipation of just such a crash (or loss or theft).

Today we heard a presentation from the President of Operation ASHA, which is a public health organization that fights tuberculosis in India. As we left her house, the President hugged me and told me that I had a face just like a sweet little baby.

Today I also saw seven people riding one motorbike.

Welcome to my blog.

Reasons for blog:

1) Anna deserves to have more friends with blogs. (See also: See Also)

2) I'll be in and out of the country (but mostly out) for the next year or so, and I'd like a way to convey my particular brand of humor to the masses.