The Economics of the Auto-rickshaw driver

So here is where my life is right now. I wake up, shower, suck down some chai and head out of my room around quarter to nine. I hail an auto and barter him down to about 60 Rs. for my trip that will amount to aprox. 12 km. The auto takes me to Safdarjung Enclave, to WomenPowerConnect, the NGO where I work. From 9 to 5 I spend the day researching and organizing programs that bring together grassroots level activism and government level policy. After work, I head into the city for the evening, checking out markets, coffee shops, bookstores, music and food all over Delhi. Back at the guesthouse I chill, watch some HBO, read, sleep. And I have to say, this is the best experience of my life.

WomenPowerConnect is the most empowering, invigorating, dynamic place to work. This past week I have been writing a concept note on bringing together the two different Indian ministries to address gender-based violence through gender mainstreaming practices, protocols and policies. Friday I met with an officer from the World Health Organization, (thequirkiest and most adorable Indonesian woman). Can I just say that I am exploding at the opportunity to have meetings at the World Health Organization! Working for WPC is opening my mind in ways I had no idea were possible. The secondary level of activism is brilliant. WPC organizes grassroots organizations and brings their concerns to government agencies through effective lobbying efforts. The worst part for me is deciding whether to be more involved with grassroots program organizing or legal/policy affairs. I guess I’m in the right place if they are both interesting to me.

Outside of work life is great too. Everyone I’ve met is really friendly; everywhere I go there is something new to experience. I am in love with the bustling city. It NEVER quiets down and I absolutely love it.  Last night we hung around Kamla Nagar, which I guess, I could equate to Dinkytown in Minneapolis, because it is the market that sprung out because of the close proximity of Delhi University. Except it is about 100 times more intense than Dinky town and ridiculously large. Ugh! I can’t express… I’m putting up some pictures. 

The view during my getting pumped up in the morning time/de-stressing in the evening time.
Here is the entry gate to WPC. The office is complete tucked away in back street of S.J. Enclave. The average passerby would be completely unaware of the magnitude of ideas and action being processed.
Yeah, inside the autos it's basically a heat tornado. There is no point in trying to look nice for work because by the time I'm there I'm disheveled and drenched in sweat.
Here are Shiva and I in Janpath (Central Delhi, south of Connaught Place). After she got her LSAT score we took her out and bought her a necklace at The People Tree (a absolutely incredible indie-avant garde shop in Janpath). I got a similar necklace of the face of a person going crazy (as Shiva interpreted). Shiva said any time I feel like I'm going crazy I should touch it and it will help me deal. I adore Shiva, she is going to be India's greatest diplomat some day.