Phase II

Monday:

- At home. Power failure… my computer dies while doing work

- I have a meeting. I need to take a rickshaw to a place where there is reliable infrastructure (office). None anywhere close. I find one. He says no. I want to kick him (violence sign). Ok look for another one. He says yes! Get on. Slow. Very slow. It would have been faster to run to the office. Rush downstairs to my cubicle. Set up my computer. No internet.

- Two hours later. Still no internet. Read a book. Finish Kite Runner (thanks Jen)

- Finally internet gets back on. Try to get some work done.

- After 11 hours at the office I leave

- Get home. Outside door is locked. Problem: I have no key. Call the roommates. One is in Delhi. The other one is gone to a dinner far far away. Picture: I’m standing outside, ants everywhere, it’s getting dark, men passing by are just starring, no book (see pt about finishing Kite Runner earlier in the day), and no water in the heat.

- I’m going to freak out. Neighbor comes out. She has a key. She opens the door for me.

- I’m safely inside after 45 min of getting home.

- Dinner time, leftovers time. Leftovers have gone bad (power cuts 3 times a days don’t help keep food fresh). Creative time.

- Turn stove on= heat. Sweat. Turn fans on. Still sweat as if I was in the shower.

- The poor puppy has diarrhea.

- Go to my room. Work some more.

- Call and surprise the team during a call. Power cut. Computer dies. Dropped call.

- Try to go to sleep. Still no electricity. No electricity = no AC, no fan. Hot. Very hot. I want to read. Too dark. Try to fall sleep again. Too hot. Power is back. Finally sleep.

- The day is over.

To me these used to be small things. Not anymore. These things make my eyes water. They make me wonder if I am indeed the strong person I believed myself to be. These are signs of the second phase of cultural shock: you can’t complete small tasks and you are too hard on yourself.

It’s official… phase II started last week. The honeymoon stage is gone after only 10 days.

I feel like I’m losing focus. Apparently it’s really easy here. But things are coming together. It just takes time. Now it’s all about being patient and letting these experiences change me for the better.