Roorkee Day 2

I think the milk must be making me sick, because this was the second morning in a row that I really couldn’t stand up properly due to stomach cramps, but then was fine a few hours later. But after I was better, I went to see Dr. Jha of the National Institute for Hydrology (whom I had met a couple of months ago), who it seemed had not gotten any of my emails at all for some reason. I double checked when I got back, against the card he gave me, and it was the right email, so it must have been going to the spam folder. It’s too bad because he’s been such a help. He once again got me some good contacts in the places I need them. We sat and chatted for more than an hour, and then he drove me to the Hydrology Department, which was embarrassingly right next door. But it was really sweet of him to drive me. He’s moving to Rourkela, or some such town, to teach at the NIT. I’m glad for him, but I hope he gets my emails in the future, or else we won’t be able to keep in touch! He’s really such a kind man. We took a picture of the two of us together.

I went to the Hydrology Department and talked to the head of the department, who was very busy. He’d gotten my emails but hadn’t responded because he didn’t think he had anything to say about the matter (so he just ignored them, ha). He said the state governments, irrigation boards, for all the appropriate states are who I want to talk to. I don’t know how best to put that I know those are good contacts, but everyone’s opinions are valuable to me. However I’m putting it, it’s not working to get them to talk about what they know. In this case, I’m sure it’s because it was near the end of the day, and he hadn’t expected me to come by.

So afterwards, I went into town to find the bookshop. But failed utterly. I did get a little lost, which I normally would enjoy while traveling, but here, as Jenny puts it, I’m the White Girl Freak Show, and everyone stares. Ginny nailed it when she said it’s because (the both of us) are sure when we’re being stared at, it’s because we’re doing something wrong. So when it happens all the time, every time we leave the door, it’s discouraging. Especially when you don’t even find the dang bookshop you were looking for. Oh well. I still have tomorrow, even though I’m counting on it to transcribe interviews and read try to read as much of that book as I can. I’ve only achieved mapping out which chapters would be best to read, so that’s a start anyway. Not all 500 pages—that wasn’t going to happen anyway. I wish I were a speed reader, but I’m not. At all.

I did eventually find my way back, under the watchful eye of EVERYONE IN ROORKEE. I felt pretty proud of finding my way back, actually.

Some kids locked me in my room. I thought I was SOL, but then I found a phone and a phonebook, so that was lucky. Someone came to rescue me, and we both had a laugh. Dang kids, get off my lawn!! The reason they can do this (just an interesting side note, one of those things that might never get mentioned) is that the way doors are generally locked around here is with a deadbolt on the outside, and then a padlock. So even without a padlock, people could just slide the deadbolt in place and lock you inside your room. And then set a fire and kill you. So even though I didn’t have anywhere important to go, I thought it was important to get that taken care of right away. It’s really the fire issue that makes me realize it’s not such a clever idea to have deadbolts on the outside, as clever as it is in ways.

As I said, I should be spending this time on work, not on this “explaining why I did not get productive work done” thing I’ve got going. If it BECOMES the reason I don’t get work done, that would be crazy!