Bomb blasts, fuel price hikes, bedroom mishaps, my internship, Georgia and more

I've had a rather interesting day. I woke up, fell off of my bed, got a nice big cut on my right arm and then well, started working. I'm into the fourth week of my internship with CCS. It has been a mixed experience so far. I feel like I'm losing out on a lot of coffee-table discussions and debates with my fellow interns and its a little lonely working alone in Mumbai... The good news though is that I finally have a research guide - Mr.Ajay Shaw. I met him recently and dicussed my project. He has been very helpful and easy to talk to. It feels nice to have someone to discuss my topic with. I'm a little stressed out this week. Mid-term submissions are just around the corner and I'm wondering if my work so far is good enough. The direction of my project now basically depends on a crucial piece of information that I need to extract from the BMC. I'm hoping I can accomplish that before the end of this week.
In the meanwhile I was zapping through news channels to see how people reacted to the hike in fuel prices. News channels like Aaj Tak are giving crappy news. They're accusing the government of exploiting people. Honestly, I dont think they've done their research. The fuel price was inevitable....And this message is for the reporter who presented the 10 pm news on Aaj Tak - The government DOES NOT make a profit by supplying fuel. In fact it offers a lot of subsidies... And the Rs.23 that you said they earn per litre isnt lying idle in government coffers; Its being used for other developmental projects !!!


Today I met Ivane for coffee. He's going to be my future course-mate at LSE. Interesting guy - Georgian by origin, schooling in Greece, adolescence in London, parents in Russia... I had a wonderful time with him discussing things as diverse as the ring on my finger to US politics. I decided to make him taste some chaat bcoz he wanted to know what mumbai street food was like. I thought Talao Pali would be a good place to take him. In the middle of this I received a phone call from my dad updating me about the bomb blast at Gadkari Ranagythan in Thane. Scary !!! I would have been in that very area with Ivane had we left slightly early.

As I type this, the clouds are thundering outside and I can hear the gentle pitter-patter of rain outside my window. The smell of wet soil always puts a smile on my face. Monsoons are here. Next year this time, I'll be busy nerding around at LSE and so this year's monsoons are extra-special. Like Shruti said earlier, unlike the European rain, OUR rain has character :)

Numbers

110 days till I leave for LSE
60 days for my 22nd Birthday
40 days for my internship to end
10 days for Hyun min's arrival
5 days for my mom's birthday
1 day to meet Ivane

Tagged

Bold the statements that are true to you.


Italicize the statements that you WISH are true.
Leave the fibs alone.


Then, stab 3 people to do the same test:

I miss somebody right now.
I do not watch tv these days.
I wear glasses or contact lenses.
I love to play video games.
I have tried marijuana.
I believe honesty is usually the best policy
I have changed mentally over the last year.
I carry my knife/razor everywhere with me.
I curse.
I'm totally smart.
I've broken someone's bone.
I'm paranoid sometimes
I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.
I need money right now.
I love sushi
I talk really, really fast.
I have long hair.
I have lost money in Las Vegas. *wish i've been to Vegas
I have at least one sibling.
I have worn fake hair/fingernails/eyelashes in the past.
I couldn't survive without Caller ID.
I like the way I look.
I am usually pessimistic.
I have a lot of mood swings.
I have a hidden talent.
I'm always hyper.
I have a lot of friends.
I am currently single.
I have pecked someone of the same sex.
I enjoy talking on the phone.
I practically live in sweatpants or PJ pants.
I love to shop
Enjoy window shopping.
I would rather shop than eat.
I don't hate anyone.
I'm a pretty good dancer.
I'm completely embarrassed to be seen with my mother.
I have a cell phone
I believe in God.
I watch MTV on a daily basis
I have passed out drunk in the past 6 months.
I've rejected someone before
I want to have children in the future
I have changed a diaper before
I've called the cops on a friend before.
I'm not allergic to anything.
I have a lot to learn.
I'm shy around members of the opposite sex.
I have made a move on a friend's significant other or crush in the past.
I have tried alcohol before.
I own the South Park movie.
I would die for my best friend.
I think that Pizza Hut has the best pizza.
I have used my sexuality to advance my career.
I love Michael Jackson, scandals and all.
Halloween is awesome because you get free candy.
I watch Spongebob Squarepants and I like it.
I am happy at this moment!
I'm obsessed with girls….
I tie my shoelaces differently from anyone I've ever met.
I study for tests most of the time.
I am comfortable with who I am right now.
I have more than just my ears pierced.
I walk barefoot wherever I can
I have jumped off a bridge.
I love sea turtles.
I spend ridiculous money on makeup.
Plan on achieving a major goal/dream
I'm proficient in an musical instrument
I hate office jobs.
I love sci-fi movies.
I think water rules
I went college out of state.
I like sausages.
I love kisses.
I fall for the worst people.
I adore bright colours.
I can't live without black eyeliner.
I don't know why the hell I just did this stupid thing.
I usually like covers better than originals.
I can pick up things with my toes.
I can whistle.
I can move my tongue in waves, much like a snake's slither
I have ridden/owned a horse.
I still have every journal I've written in.
I can't stick to a diet….
I talk in my sleep.
I try to forget things by drowning them out with loads of distractions.
I have jazz in my blood.
Climbing trees is a brilliant past-time.
I wear a toe ring.
I can't stand at LEAST one person that I work with.
I am a caffeine junkie
I cosplay or know what cosplaying is.
I have been to over 15 conventions.
I will collect anything, and the more nonsensical the better.
I'm an artist.
I only clean my room when necessary.
I like a person of the same sex.
I love being happy.
I am an adrenaline junkie.


Stab 3 persons:
-Shruti
-Harini
-Pommie

And so it begins...

My orientation kit has finally arrived... After 7 whole days !!! My summer research internship with the Centre for Civil Society (www.ccs.in) has begun... I've decided that I'd constantly update my blog on a weekly basis to discuss my progress at this internship. This week hasn't been very fruitful actually. My orientation kit arrived SO late. I still haven't been assigned a research guide and I've simply worked by myself on a topic that I haven't even finalized yet. As of now, the topic that has caught my attention is "The impact of privatization on water management systems in the K-ward of Mumbai" . I have to thank Sonal for helping me narrow down to this topic. After hours of research over the internet, I have fallen in love with this issue... In fact I'm surprised that I never expressed an opinion on this issue before. Maybe this is where CCS has played a bit of a motivating role. Its whole ideology is to encourage people to think about current issues that affect us and do something about it because only when you have a proactive population and strong public opinion, can change happen. One more day left for week 1 to end. Hopefully something better next week :)

Words

I read all of those words today. Again. I shouldn't have. I've resisted the temptation for so long...But today I couldn't stop. It brings back memories both sweet and bitter (yes, I still put sweet before bitter). I wish had more to read. Seems like these aren't enough, but then its my fault, I sent the words back...I do not know if one should consider oneself fortunate, but I remember those words. My life revolves around words - yours, mine, theirs. I can't live without them, I can't live with them. Words !!!!!