wrapping up. It has been exhausting and all encompassing. What does it mean about my life in nola that after just 2 weeks it is a dim memory? I have nothing holding me there except a love of hearing the sounds of tuba drifting down the street on a warm evening.

Also, cocktails.

Are these things sufficient but not necessary? It occurs to me I could be more systematic about all of this.

Walked to work through all the red dust. There's a fat rooster I have to dodge near the gate, but otherwise this area is pretty posh. Every morning as I walk to work, lots of people sweeping up the dirt the ends up in the road every evening when it rains. Lots of businesses and embassies. No one selling things on the street. I went searching for a cobbler over the weekend [my work shoe split right open at the end while I was in a meeting with senior ministry of finance officials and i had to walk out of there with my big toe poking out. eek.] Not a cobbler to be found. Everyone told me, "oh they used to have them everywhere on the street but now they've cleared them away and you have to go to the shop"
This is a loss. One of the great things about india is the way they've kept that street culture. Perhaps because the street businesses overwhelm with their sheer numbers and refuse to go.

So i've been wearing my hi top vans to meetings. Which is awesomely comfortable, but interfering with the image i strive for in these situations, which is that of a grown-up professional.

okay. 2 days to go. Onward. Maybe BT will meet me at the airport with a canoe on the roof of the car.

A girl can dream, right?

10:30 p.m. - 2014-07-15