o.i.i.

It is kind of funny (if it were not so true, I am sure it would be funnier). I was told that there would be a couple of phrases that would be used often in India ... and some might even stick around upon my return. One phrase that I am thinking about more often than others is: "o.i.i." The essence of this phrase is "only in India" does this happen.

So o.i.i. - Last week a monkey discovered the painful outcome of jumping onto a power line. The only reason we had any idea what was happening is that our power went out (which is not an event in itself) and then there were sparks just outside the office door. The monkey (again not an uncommon sight) fried itself. It burned itself pretty good, apparent by the smell, but was okay enough to scamper away when we came running to have a look. o.i.i.

We (the interns) were again prayed over and commissioned (for the third time) after completing our final week of orientation - one in CO, one in India. I started "real" work yesterday. Tuesday afternoon I was asked to do research for the project trip to Pune, near Mumbai. We will be in Mumbai playing tourist for one day with the volunteer team, while we have the first team meeting (we will also meet back in Mumbai on the last day before the volunteers fly out). So I was looking at what things might be good to do/see. Many parts look like what you might find in a very developed Europian city, and then many parts resemble what little I know about traditional Indian bazaar type places. It should be a good trip (in March).

Yesterday, while working on a project that we are working on getting out next week, the power went out at its scheduled time ... infact, somebody noted it went out one minute early at 11:59am (typcially this winter we have no power from noon to 3pm - except via generator). That is one more o.i.i. And it almost snowed yesterday afternoon - a light dusting, but not enough to cover. The temperature is quite below the freezing point. There is just not enough moisture to freeze. Which is why I guess our water pipes are a favorite. Oh well.