Quick Hello From India

Hello! I am currently living and working on a farm about 40 minutes outside Jaipur, India. It is soooooo hot here! I live in a small room with concrete walls, a straw roof and a dirt floor. There is one very tiny light bulb that only turns on at night, but aside from that there is no electricity. Every day we start work around 6:30 in the morning, rest during the heat of the day, and resume around 3 or 4pm. The last few days we have been harvesting something like chickpeas - but they are small, and shriveled up and really hurt your hands when you cut down the plant. I think we might be moving on to barley tomorrow.... truly working as an Indian field laborer. Right now there are 7 other travelers living and working on the farm, and it is nice to have some outside company. The food is horrendous - we have vegetable slop and bread for EVERY meal. Last night was a special treat however, we had dinner at the home of one of the families living on the farm - we each chipped in 100 rupees (about two dollars) and had lamb. It was pretty good... lots of bones and fat (and obviously no silverware) but it was just lovely to have meat again. Today is our day off so a few of us came into Jaipur for a proper meal and to use the internet. The farm isn't bad really, but the food and accomodation are gross, and the work is hard and takes place in dry, 100 degree weather. When not farming we sit around and read for the most part, as there is really nothing else do - it is so hot though that even that can not be enjoyed. There is a pool.... but a lot of the time they drain it and use the water for the plants. We walked 45 minutes to the market the other day... and nothing is worth that walk.

I have to go, but just wanted to quickly write about the farm, and say that no one would believe it if they actually saw where I am living right now, ha, its pretty bad. I'll write about everything in about a week, when I have internet access again.