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Ahhhh, nu är de här. Fem datorer står och väntar på att bli pumpade med program, tillkopplade till Internet och börja användas. Ikväll hängde vi hela kvällen i Dharavi med de som jobbar på centret. De är så coola och charmiga killar hela högen. Det kändes lite surrealistiskt ett tag när jag tänkte på att jag faktiskt hängde i en av asiens största slumområden, det är ju inte riktigt mitt vanliga habitat. Men jag älskar Dharavi. Bara av att vara där, se och prata med människor gör att mina tankebanor snurrar kors och tvärs, nya frågor väcks och jag får massor med nya synsätt på saker jag innan tagit för givet. Med andra ord är det väldigt intressant att vara i Dharavi.
Jag tror jag jobbar med de softaste killarna i stan. Pelle (Bättre, smartare och mer omtänksam partner kunde jag inte önska mig) och Girish är två guldklimpar som är så sweeta. Hela helgen har de i smyg jobbat med att förhandla, pruta och köpa datorer för de ville överraska mig idag med att ha dem på plats när jag kom till centret idag. Tyvärr så blev Girish stoppad av polisen och försenad, och jag blev magsjuk så det blev inte ngn överraskning av det hela men det är ju fortfarande tanken som räknas.
Det hela har gått så fort nu på slutet så jag har glömt bort att ordna premiären. Och vad är väll ett projekt utan en ordentlig fest? Dags att börja blåsa ballongerna och lägga champagnen på kylning för om allt går som det ska (knack knack ta i trä) så öppnar A Community Connection sitt första center i övermorgon.
På läskedryckernas kapsyler står det ibland visa ordspråk, matnyttiga tips eller bara lite allmänbildning. Idag stod det ” Women blink twice as much as men”. Jag har hört att man blinker mer när man ljuger. Hursomhelst så började jag tänka på vad mer det finns för fysiska olikheter människor emellan här på jorden. I Afrika är man mörk för att tåla solen bättre. Sen kom jag inte så mycket längre i att finna förklaringar på olika kroppsfunktioner, men jag kom på en massa frågor.
Varför har man snea ögon i china, och snea åt andra hållet i japan?
Varför har de så mycket hår på kroppen i Bulgarien och så lite hår i Thailand?
Har de mindre svett utgångar i varma länder än i kalla?
Hur kommer det sig att läpparna är större på de från afrika än de från europa?
Hur kommer det sig att indiska hår är mycket tjockare än svenskt fjun?
Alla de här frågorna borde ha helt logiska svar och fylla massor av spännande funktioner tycker jag, inte bara att deras gener gjorde att de ser ut såhär, utan mer avancerat…
Nu har jag kanske äntligen en vettig anledning att ringa dr steamy!
Sen tänkte jag även sätta mig in i att använda min sömn mer effektivt. Alla som har sovit med mig vet att jag har ett väldigt aktivt nattliv. Ylle tycker det är lika roande varje morgon att återberätta de samtal jag har fört i sömnen. Men tänk att jag faktiskt sover bort 1/3 av mitt liv. Det är ju helt galet att jag inte använder den tiden bättre. Jag tycker ju inte ens om att sova utan gör det mer som ett nödvändigt ont. Så därför ska jag kolla upp lite sov experter som kan guida mig till ett effektivare sömn liv. Tänk vad jag skulle lära mig mkt om jag använde sömnen till att lära mig en massa allmänbildning eller ännu bättre göra min favorithobby i sömnen så jag vaknar upp alldeles förfriskad…
ojoj så mkt tankar på dagen gud skapade för att vila
Idag hände ngt så konstigt. Jag var ute i slummen och visade Maya området där datacentret kommer vara (hon var så söt där hon trippade runt i högklackat bland gränder och soppor), när det plötsligt bubblade till i magen. I vanliga fall betyder bubbel i magen oftast att man ska gömma sig bakom en bil eller liknande jävligt snabbt. Men detta var liksom ett annat slags bubbel, ett helt nytt bubbel. Ett bubbel som var ganska skönt. Konfunderad kollade jag upp och mötte en helt ny värld med så mkt vackra människor i. Mannen som drejade krukan var vacker, grabben med sönder ruttnande tänder log så charmigt, han som låg och sov på gatan såg plötsligt sådär härligt rasmus på luffen aktig ut…. Och sen började det komma upp jättekonstiga låtar från min strupe som bara måste komma ut
soundtrack of the day:
- I wanne be loved by u, just u, nobody else but you – okänd
- Love is in the air, everywhere I look around – Tom Jones
- All the cool girls put your hands in the air – ”om shanty om” låt som är lika illa som det det ser ut.
- Wuthering Hights – Kate Bush, svårsjungen är allt jag kan konstatera
Ja, ni förstår kanske själva vilken chock jag upplevde från att ha gått från Mumbais äckliga män till detta. Vart tog all ugliness vägen? Varför gick jag runt och sjöng?
Så kom jag på vad det var, våren har kommit till Mumbai! Eller snarare våren har kommit in i min kropp, kanske telepatiskt från alla er där hemma. Om det nu är så är jag självklart väldigt tacksam för detta samtidigt som jag känner att det här kan ju sluta hur som helst. Att vara tjej och vårpirrig är inte ngn bra kombination i Indien, ifall om man nu inte snabbt vill hitta en man att gifta sig med. Jag tror Ylle helt enkelt får spärra in mig några dagar så detta vår rus hinner lugna ner sig lite =)
“its something unpredictible but in the end its right, I hope you had the time of your life” – greenday
This project could not been described in a better sentence. From standing alone in front of my team 2 months ago saying ”internet to the slums” to being here with a centre, a 5000 euro donation, genuinly good people who will work with it, free commercial att piratebay, a belgic realityshow that will make their celebs “help me” starting up the centre (it means that they will carry somputers when the camera is on). Its been a crazy road to get to this result. When I look at it now its like a lovable crazy road, like parents see their babies even if they are ugly and enoying. Tomorrow I will give over the responsability to my partners (if they want it), scary! I will have to let go off my baby.
Today I went out with my laptop to Dharavi (the place where I will start up the centre) and surfed on internet with the locals. The connection were really slow but it worked, not even my cellphone works out there. It was just amazing and so much fun!
i am still sick in my stomach even though I spend 9 valuable days at the hospital. To cure me this time Ylle has had a excorcism kind of healing (with refrigiator magnets, indian gods… involved. now she will go into the homoepathic field) And I say as old Bobby McFerrin would say - dont worry, be happy!
I am in LOOOVE with Wyclef!!! It must have been the best concert I have ever been to. Everyone was dancing on the tables, Wyclef was in the crowd, on the crowd, under the crowd, everywhere! It was just brilliant and a magic night. Although he lost me a little bit when he stood on a alter screaming “I AM THE GODFATHER”.
Talking about god. Right now I am writing a book with my friend Ylle. I have been very interested about god since after coming to India (he/they are everywhere here) . So I started to think about how god would have runned a project if he was here on the earth, (after all he created a whole world in 7 days which is very effective) and the book “Do It Like God” was born. The only problem is that my knowledge about the bible is not very large since I was more interested in other things when I was supposed to have learned about the creation of mankind, apostels and everything that comes with christianity. So I am trying to sort out the seven days, the 10 sins… well everything that is important to know in order to learn from the almighty.
I live in Carlton Hotel now with Ylle. Outside our room we have a small alter with loads of pictures on the gods of India. And in between all the pictures they have put a picture of Jesus for us Christians to go and pray to. That is how thoughtful the persons working here are =)
Faith, hope and love from mumbai
When I moved out from the hospital I instantly moved in at my friend Elias hotel room. I dont know Elias that well but before we went to Mumbai everyone got a superhero name, Elias name was “The Caretaker” so I found it perfect to move in with him. What I didnt know was that Elias also was sick, but he isnt as dramatic as I am so he didnt went to hospital. Instead he lay in his bed, cant eat and puke every now and then. So as we both dont feel on top of our strenght at the moment we have spent four days (with small breaks for meetings or to go to the toilet) in our small room with no windows and one gigantic bed. This might sound just awful but honestly it isnt. We dont do that much, we dont say that much… its just a really a sweet atmospher. I have had time to surf the internet with no meaning or goal (Maria, I love your blog and your fabolous life!), think about what I want to do this summer (I would love if the answer was go to africa and prevent aids but unfortunately I prefer to chill in Stockholm, drink red wine and hang out with my friends) and I have looked at movies like never before… Elias os one of those men that are really chill to just hang out with. If I ever would find the urge of having a bigger brother I would choose to adopt Elias.
Tomorrow however Im moving out from here to a cheaper hostel without internet and aircondition BUT my absolute fantastic friend Ylle are coming back to Mumbai. I have missed her so much even if she only been away for a about a week. Sometimes I think that Ylle and I might be the perfect mix. She is total opposite but in a good way. She is very sophisticated, I am not. She likes to cook, I love to eat. She can sing, I can perform. I have already planned our night to celebrate. Wyclef is playing at Hard Rock Cafe and yes, the two of us will stand in the front row singing our hearts out.
Today my photograf friend Pat called. He wants to tkae pictures of me to his exhibition in Paris. He is a known photagrafer here in Mumbai but a couple of years ago he got tired of the hype and went and lived in the Himalays for two years. I found him to be very interesting and facinating personality as he is just very diferent. We will se about the photoshoot but if I do it, I will definately put up the pics here!
Happy, very beautifull dressed girl walks on the platform of Bandra listening to Jack Johnson on her ipod when suddenly…
- Stop, ticket please!
- oh tickets, no I dont know were I put mine… it should be here somewere in the bag… I pretend to look for the ticket, but im fully aware I never bought one
- Come on, you have it or not
- no, maybe not!
- Ok, come with me! The officer take me in the arm (as if it would be possible for a white, updressed girl to run away and get lost in the crowd) and took me to not only one office but three different until I finally could pay the fine. It was so imberrasing but I guess karma came back at me after to many free rides. When caught without ticket you can either choose between spending one year in prison or paying the fine of 260 rps. Prison for a year didnt sound very plesant so without to much complaint I gave them the money.
All morning I waited with excitement of the magic words from doctor steamy. Then it came “this is my number, if you need help with anything give me a call, you can go now. Eupheri was my name when I stepped out from the entrence of Bombay Hospital. I had the number of a hot doctor and most of all I was free. Then out of no where I started to cry, I cried when I stepped over the children lying on the street, I cried when I tried to explain for the taxidriver were I was going, I cried when I drove by two women who were digging out food from a garbagetruck, I cried when a car hit a dog… the crying seemed to never end and I started to get worried over dehydration again. Even though I had seen all this hundred off times, Mumbai seemed shittier than ever. So I used the emergency plan, pampering pampering pampering at the notorious mall Atria! Lots of shopping (visualize pretty women) and a facial treatment later I felt much better and could go back and deal with the reality.
Today Im going, in my new very chic outfit, to the centre in Dharavi were a community connection will be at. Dharavi is one of Asias biggest and most unique slums. Check it out on google!
I will give a large sum of money to the person who manage to smuggle me out of Bombay Hospital. I have tried with every method possible so they will let me go. I tried the very healthy approach, the angry approach, the drama queen approach, the “there-wont-be-internet-into-the-slums-for-free-and-children-will-die-of-stavationapproach, the running away approach… but they are not very understanding for my needs. So I have two theories on why they are keeping me so long here
1. I am such an smart, friendly and interesting person so they cant stand the thought of not having me around
2. I am dying from a dangerous virus
So my hope off getting out of here is no longer in my hands, its up to you guys. Use your smart brains and come up with an innovative plan because this hospital will not let me go without a fight. And I dont want to be here anymore.
The stay at the hospital has been both good and bad. Things that are sweet with staying at hospital: people give you exciting gifts (thank you so much), I have a really nice view and cable tv, my doctor is sooo hot, no bed bugs, aircon, the nurses are really sweet, I have had time to think stuff over, in the room next to mine there is a god staying (its true, he always have like 50 visitors getting blessings and stuff), now I know that every organ in my body are perfectly fine and I dont have either HIV nor Hepatit B.
Things that are not so sweet with staying at a hospital: I am not allowed to go outside my room without nurses permisson (I never get nurses permission), the cleaning lady wake me up every morning by asking me if she can take my breakfast home to her three starving children or if I want it (how can u ever say no to that?), I just found out that I have bad veines (they have to change the needlethingie every day because my veins dry out!)
Not alot of action but the conclusion of my stay here is that it has been an ok week after all =)
