India - the first few days!

After five years of being away, I know now why I love India so much! I'm in FOOD Heaven! I arrived in India on the eve of Feb 27, enjoying the sights and sounds, but mostly the warm welcome I recieved from my friends! So far I have stayed in two different homes, both very spacious and the hospitality is beyond royal treatment! Every meal is an adventure with spices and smells I am experiencing for the first time. Potatoes and peas may not sound too exciting, but my mouth waters at just the thought of it.

I brought a bag of clothing that I cannot use in Japan, and donated it to GOONJ - http://www.goonj.org/. This is a photo (on the right) of my first host, Gita Krishnan with the drop center at Tender Feet Nursery's Head Principle (left).

oh yea, but this is a blog about Tigers! Let me get to my updates!

So far I have been meeting people who to me, have only been names (that I can't pronounce) via email. I believe my name is just as difficult for them! It's so great to put the names with the faces, and to be able to work in the same room on a document that is usually sent 6,500 km via electrons and the internet!

Fatima and I, with Anjana standing behind us, at her office.

It's refreshing to see the process as it is happening and being created. I am amazed also at the quick thinking and skill of Anjana Gosain, the main thrust of Tiger Trust, with whom I have been working so closely. She is usually juggling 4-5 concepts in her head at a time, and it's up me to catch up with what she is talking about. I usually start off on one topic and then "by the way" we will complete discussions on 2-3 other things. I guess I am "A-D-D" like this as well, but usually I'm staring at birds, plants or TV and thinking very very simple thoughts.

Yesterday I started on my Conservation projects, meeting with HSBC Bank reps, Delhi School reps with Anjana and other volunteers to discuss new programs that we are coming up with over this weekend. I will be writing up the proposals based on our notes from the meeting tomorrow.

Also I am wrapping up a report for Law enforcement training that Tiger Trust conducted at Sariska National Park on Feb 11-13 this year. We will complete this by Monday or so and send that out.

On the day I arrived, this article was in the paper about Tigers. It got me brainstorming about supporting Anti-poaching initiatives on a bigger scale then what we are doing right now. I have started researching leads and will try to meet with people to find out about incentive programs to turn poachers in.

I have shown the educators here the pictures that my English class drew and they were very excited about it. I will arrange a time to meet with Indian school kids to talk to them about Conservation and ask them to draw pictures as well, to reply to the sincere efforts of my 9 year olds. It's so fun to exchange art across countries! So far, from Anjana's extensive network of people she knows, I've got 2-3 places next week where I can give programs to school kids! I am very happy to have a chance to talk to various age groups and find out what the Indian students are thinking!

Anjana is a lawyer in the High Court of Delhi, so I follow her to the office, and today I had a glimpse of the Federal Court, and was shocked to find people walking in and out of the proceedings the whole time. It was really interesting, but I didn't get a good idea of the case being heard other then - it was about taxation and property. I was there for nearly an hour, and just enjoyed being a fly on the wall. I am glad my Tiger Conservation efforts are MUCH more than that. I love being a part of an organization, Tiger Trust, where I know I can make a difference and a real solid contribution to a team that is working so hard to do good things!