Sorry...

I know it has been a while since posting, but I have been a little distracted (yes, there are distractions, scarce, but there are) lately. This is going to be a short post, but I want to clarify some things. Many of you have listened to me complain a lot about all the things I don’t like about living here in Jodhpur. You don’t get to hear any of the good things, and I apologize, because there are so many good things about being here in Jodhpur, but when I talk to you guys...you know who you are if I have complained to you...it is

A: an opportunity to practice proper English so I don’t use “wrong grammers” (as my co-worker says) when I come home and

B: it is an opportunity for me to vent, so I really really appreciate it when you guys listen to me and my negativity.

But, this internship has not been all negative thus far...I have been able to learn so much about a whole new world inside of my head and about everything I see with my own eyes. The people here, and I know you guys have heard me complain about the people here but, are really inspiring. There are many things, that when observing, I would think; “WHAT THE...that would never fly in Canada...” A bit ethnocentric, I know, but surely you would have the same thought...we’re human. At the same time, when I have a chance to reflect on it...the people here are amazing...what they are able to accomplish with maybe a quarter of the resources that we have in Canada is nothing short of unbelievable. I know in my previous post, I said that it is a culture of complacency, and on some level it is kind of right, but on another level it is far from the truth. How can I make a judgement of complacency when they do everything in their will power to survive? That is not complacency that is remarkable. The women that collect water for their families, the men that shape stones with their hands and a hammer (for 2 bucks a day) and the children that start working before some of us stop sucking our thumb (guilty...I stopped in grade 4). How could I have ever called that complacency? I owe you guys an apology, but more so, I owe the people that I judged an apology. I am sorry.

This internship, while only 2 months into it, has given me an opportunity to do a lot of "self discovery". I always thought I knew myself, and now I know how wrong I was. I knew nothing about myself, and I have been tested to the limits of what I require for sanity and happiness (Friends, English, perhaps a social life & FAMILY). But with a lack of these, I have learned to adjust, I know you guys don’t necessarily care about what I’ve learned about myself, but it’s my blog and you are probably reading because you have nothing better to do or you are procrastinating at work...but really, I am so grateful for being given this opportunity to travel, learn and experience a new culture. I hope I don’t continue to take for granted the position I am in and I hope things continue to get better and better...and I’m sorry if I have been bombarding you with complaints...I’m doing well, my health is back and I even have internet in my room! I look forward to learning more about myself and more about the place I call home...India...

Khalfan