When the lover sends a coded message, how much fun it is to lie down and decode it. You think about his style of writing..what he would write..why he would write it. You recognize the handwriting so well that you know the difference between 'U' and 'V' despite the fact that they look so alike when he writes them. He forgets to put the little line on 'O' to make it 'Q'. He spells awkward akward. And you still know what he means because you have worked it out. The code. And you smile.

 

 

Roses and kisses,

Rain and candles--

and champagne..

If it all happened tonight,

It would be lovers' night.

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Save Tonight

 

 

 

 

 

 

India holds so many opportunities for me.. I was not aware. I always thought of some aspects of Indian culture causing the deterioration of hte country. A week in the city of Ahmednagar gave me another perspective. Partially. I visited brothels and had a chance to interact with some of the sex workers. One thing I was very impressed by was that a woman who is respected within the community of sex workers was given a high ranking as a sex worker. A practicing sex worker who teaches other prostitutes about ways to improve their lives is called a peer educator. She attends regular sessions to first be educated by a field officer and then makes that trust that all prostitutes need. Works.

 

Arranged marriage was another aspect of Indian culture that I am not sure I can totally support. I don't quite know anyone, who had an arranged marriage, extremely satisfied and happy with their married relationship. In a village called Hirve Bazaar, the concept of arranged marriage still exists. The people do not deviate from their culture, however, use their common senses to improve the situation of hte married couples in the village. The rule now is that the couple has to test for HIV/AIDS before marriage [at the time of proposal]. This ensures that people are not contracting HIV/AIDS and increasing the number of people being infected by producing children. I was very impressed.

 

The village Hirve Bazaar was the epitome of development or potential development in India. They developed their land in a water shed and received aid from the government for further enhancing the program. They are hard-core socialists and their education system is mind-blowing. The children are actually doing what htey are supposed to do at their age. "Heads, shoulders, knees and toes.." for the first graders. hehe. I found that really cute. Their water, they claim is cleaner than Bisleri. I drank it and it was, for sure PURE. The water is not wasted as it is used for the plants by direct sewage systems. It is as though an ancient civilization which was sooo developed. I was really impressed.

 

The toilets weren't as comfortable as I would have imagined..but hey.. I should stop complaining.

 

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I've got mail! I can't open it before the 21st. I can't wait. hehe.