The 6 month milestone

Oh My Bloody God!! I have survived six months in India. I'm not quite sure how I did actually, but to be honest it has been one of the most amazing experiences to date. I have learned a lot about myself, the personal development that I have been able to accomplish here has made the time and money spent here worth it. Professionally I was not able to grow much in the sense of skills development, I gave more that I took, but it did serve to remind me what it is like to work in the field again, which I had not done in a really long time.

In the last six months my patience has increased. I have grown more tolerant of noise, pollution, people, smells, chaos. I have become pickier on what I eat, where I stay, and what I will put up with. I have become more tired and more vocal. I have always considered India a country of contradictions and extremes. And I find myself fitting that description more each day. Living here has definitely been more expensive that originally anticipated. Granted I could sit at home reading a book instead of out socializing. But I did not come to Kolkata to be a hermit, I came to experience what the city had to offer and that I have done. I met someone who was a previous Fellow. This individual actually SAVED money while he was on the fellowship, outstanded at this I inquire how on earth he could do that short of turning tricks at night. Well, he never went out, he didn’t make any friends, he didn’t learn the language, he didn’t see anything. One year in India and he never left his town. LOSER WASTING HIS TIME!!

The reality is that I have met some incredibly amazing people here. People who have enriched my life in India in ways I could not have imagined possible (Manu, Avo, Neela, Mona, Deepti, Ryan I love you). But in the same token the hardest part has been being away from those back in the west that made me complete (Chris, Dave, James, Alba, Chirag, Subodh, Aaron, Joy, Terrance I miss you more than you can imagine). But I don't know where that leaves me.

I came to India mainly for 2 reasons. 1) Career builder, can't work in international development if have not put your time in the trenches. 2) Personal test - Can I really do this? My time here has thought me 2 things, 1) That much like a graduate degree, it doesn’t really make you any better if you have worked in the field or not or if you have a masters degree or not, but it adds legitimacy; 2) NGOs the world over are all the same. For those of you who don't know anything about my work life. The reality is that I have been working in the HIV field for 10 years now and have amassed a nice set of skills and abilities. By this point in my life I'm pretty good at what I do, I just don't get to do it often. The past six months have been a great opportunity for me to just show off, and I am not complaining. But know I am bored. Yes I am contributing, yes it is rewarding, no it is not a challenge, so let's see what comes up next for me.

There are a few people from back home who I want to especially publicly acknowledge for helping me through the past 6 months. In alphabetical order: Ameet - you are such a beautiful person and I am lucky to have you in my life; Chirag - one of the sweetest and kindest persons I know, thank you for the love and encouragement you give me; Chris and Dave - the dynamic duo who I aspire to be able to be half of what they are words cannot express how I feel about you; James - one of the most amazing people I know, your love and support know no limits I don't know what I would do without you.

I don't know what else is in stored for me at the moment. I'll definitely be keeping you posted though.