Pictures from a day in the field!

Yesterday we went out to the field to observe the operations of the MFI we are working with. I saw these cute kids coming from school and had to take a picture! After I took this I showed them their picture on my camera and they just loved it, I don't think they have seen a digital camera before.

We met with borrowers that had businesses ranging from a hair salon to chair rentals to chicken broilers (I never thought I would see a small room with 1000 - not exagerating- chickens!

Sad story...

I've gotten quite fond of our taxi driver, Bashir. He has been shuttling us back and forth to our offices daily and yesterday took us all around as we did our field visits. This morning Bashir shared some bad news with us. He had been in the hospital all night with his five month old baby. His son had pneumonia AND malaria. It made me so sad as the likelihood of a baby in the US being faced with those two diseases at the same time I imagine are very small. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he will be ok.

Tanzania sunset

One night in Dubai...

Friday night I had a very quick stop over in Dubai. We (my colleague and I) arrived around 10pm, and left at 10am. Nevertheless, we were able to see some cool sights. The sail shaped building is a hotel called: "Burj al Arab"- Tower of the Arabs.

Bangalore Office

I thought I would take a pic of the Bangalore office today. Since I will be focusing on East Africa I don't know when I will be back again - which is sad. I think I have been to India 7 times during my 2 year tenure at Unitus, quite a bit! I leave tomorrow night (Friday) for Tanzania via a one night stopover in Dubai. I am hoping that I can see a little bit of the city - but I only have 13 hours!!

Babloo, the astrologist

Tonight I visited my friend Babloo, the astrologist. He is located on Infantry Road at the Cottage Crafts Emporium. He gave me a very insightful reading and helped me pick out meaningful and beautiful rings for my friends...

YES WE CAN!!!!

Today a group of my colleagues (all democrats - no surprise) gathered at the Chancery Hotel in Bangalore to cheer Obama on and watch the election returns. It is the first time, and probably the last time that I will:

a) watch election returns at 9:30 am!!!

b) watch election returns poolside

c) watch election returns on another continent, although I guess you never know!!

The shirts say, "Vote from abroad.org" on the back and "Democrats Abroad India"- (and of course "Obamea '08"). Needless to say, we are thrilled with the outcome!

Happy Birthday Karnataka!

Last night was Karnataka's, the state which the city of Bangalore is in, birthday. There were several firework shows (think 4th of July) as well as a parade. This picture isn't that good (it is hard to take pictures of fireworks) so no, that isn't a planet, it is actually fireworks.

There was also a procession going right past our hotel. Again not a great picture, but it gives the general idea. There were drummers, fireworks being shot off right in the street, replicas of various Hindu gods, etc. It was another LOUD night in Bangalore.

Its a bird, its a plane, its a BALD EAGLE????

Yes, I believe this is a bald eagle that I saw circling above our hotel, smack in the middle of Bangalore! Is that crazy or what?