Heading up

Hello all,

We're back in Calcutta now, after spending the week in Jamshedpur, a smallish mining town in the plains of India. This was our second rural Indian town, much different than Almora, which was a rural town in the Himalayas. Jamshedpur was a new town-- new sidewalks, fountains, even new autorickshaws that have some get-up-and-go. Yesterday we logged our fastest auto ride ever. In Jamshedpur, our days consisted of teaching WISE camp and prepping for WISE camp / becoming regulars at Cafe Coffee Day, an excellent coffee chain with strong black coffee. WISE Camp is a program funded by grant money that connects 16 and 17 year old female students in the science and technology stream (think career field) in India with students of the same interest and age in America. Technology (weblogs) and photos from digital cameras are these students' communication tools that should enable them to discuss everything from careers to culture. The Indian students were very bright; we had some great discussions about the two cultures, technology and the idea of development itself (here's a clip): "if an iPod is placed in a car in India, can that be called development?" One student replied "no, that's only luxury." Just using technology can be misinterpreted as development, so what makes the use of technology development (I guess I'm asking you). On our last day of camp, in the paper (The Calcutta Telegraph) there was an article about a young man who killed himself because of a computer glitch that affected the outcome of his high stakes exam to be a doctor. These students are under such pressure to succeed, and while that's true the world over, it was strange for me, age 23, to see these students, 16, so focused and driven toward careers and success, whether that's personal or parental. I see the advantage and disadvantage of being pushed to decide what to do at such a young age. The camp was quite a new experience for me: I never imagined I would be the one teaching other people how to use technology. Quite frankly, it was a surprise to find out how much I knew and how much I've learned, just as a result of preparing for this trip.

It's nice to be back in Calcutta. It's not that I missed the incessant sounds of honking or the water buffalo and cows parading down the street. It's not that I missed the street vendors and the advertisements and the smell of fish and rain and the crush of people. I think I just enjoy being in big foreign places, and it's not like home, but Calcutta is homey to me because of the friends we have here, like Gitangali. Tonight it's Indian classical music and a movie preview. Tomorrow, I'm hoping to see the 6 am flower market and then we fly to Nepal.

And then we shall hike to Everest base camp. Which means no pictures, posts or emails for awhile, but then you can expect a surge. Little Pentax and I will do our best to bring the beauty of the scenery back to you. For me, seeing the mountains is a big part of the trip, and part of why I had trouble with the fog and rain in Nainital and Almora. I think the mountains be amazing; I'm looking forward to seeing them, and to having to work for it on the hike. As far as my own development goes, I'm thinking a lot about all kinds of things, but no major epiphanies to report. Traveling is what you make of it, just like any other average day. So far, I love my family very much. That I know for sure. This experience is making me a tougher person and tougher woman; that's what I want to believe.

If you didn't know, China wants to build a road to Everest base camp. Is that being reported in the American news, and how are Americans reacting?

Miss you all; Thanks for all your emails, encouragment and enthusiasm.