In India's Wild Kingdom

This Wild Kingdom

I live in wild kingdom. Do we remember this show? There was that old
national geographic guy who took you to places all around the world
and showed you the weird animals of Asia and Africa. And, these were
the same shows that lead us to believe that Africa was one huge game
park, filled with wildebeests, zebras, rhinos and nomadic tribes; that
Africa was one country, uncivilized and without a rule of law. You
know those shows that continue to make our generation of Americans
appear extremely stupid among our Nigerian and Kenyan colleagues.
Well, I believe that this is where I live—but some of the animals are
IT companies.

We live at Kenneth's guesthouse, AKA; "The Hive" is home to YRG public
health people, and young IT professionals from all over India, who
aspire to work at (guess where) Microsoft (people like to hear about
Seattle and the "Eastside"). The backyard garden is shaded by a chikoo
tree and a mango tree, from which a small wicker swing hangs. I
believe you can find Rahul having his morning coffee there. Keeping
him company are whole host of colorful and strange looking birds that
hang from the trees, bougainvillea flowers and other potted foliage.
On the cement, glass-shard secured 'fence' live mini-dinosaur like
geckos and little green lizards. There is a tiny pond filled with
pink lotus flowers, fish and frogs—I hear them in the morning. Then
of course, are the cows and goats that walk around outside. Their
owners have decorated their ears with hoop earrings that jingle like
the Bharatnatyam dance bells I used to wear around my ankles when I
performed years ago.

Though I am sure all of this sounds so beautiful and romantic, it
really isn't. Because along with fragrant flowers and sweet singing
birds come biting insects, bloodthirsty mosquitoes, military armored
toy truck sized bumble bees, flies, ants and weird tiny crawlies that
freaking itch. The other night we were awoken by blood curdling animal
fighting sounds, it sounded so close. I thought it was happening in
my bed. In reality, it was a gang of dogs fighting either over food,
or over territory.

Day 3, Creating a Routine
So, now on Day 3 of this experience, we are slowly settling into a
routine. We wake up at 5:30am, journal for an hour, watch world news
(presented in Indian English), "shower" and have breakfast prepared by
Shanti and her daughter (we assume) Durga. The food is delicious and
safely prepared. Shanti and Durga really like me, cause I happily eat
the food, am genuinely gracious and because I am pregnant. They want
the baby and me to be healthy.
I leave for work at 8:00am in a cab, which costs Rs. 120, about
$2.65. So, round trip I pay $5 to get to and from work- a little more
than the subway, but I guess that is reasonable. I could take an auto
for the same price round trip- but I am risking death if I do that.

Health News
Oh, for those of you wondering the poop is good and regular. And my
burn wound is healing- though typing is difficult. The baby and me
are good; we are 12 weeks now. No more sickness, but healthy eating
and 1.5-hour naps. We like to get up at 5:30am—it's a great time to
start the day. I have three squares, chai at 10:30am and I am asleep
by 11pm. It's a good life. I like "working" again. And, since I
know you all are wondering, the poop is good and regular. This is the
healthiest I have felt throughout the pregnancy—its easy to forget
about the little space alien within.