Final few days

I definitely have that feeling now of having one foot out the door, but I am happy to say that this feeling is making me look around more. I am trying almost as hard as I did in my first days here to take it all in. I am trying to feel settled before I leave on Monday. I suppose so that it will feel right to come back in two months. I have been able to make two really great contacts. And just yesterday I almost ran off into the North of Gujarat with two activists in order to accompany some migrant workers headed from Rajasthan to Gujarat to work in Bt cotton seed pollination fields, but alas, I don't yet have research permission, and I can likely catch them on the way back in October. Also, I am still in school! I have homework to do and tests to take! I'm hoping I won't regret not taking this opportunity.

Last night, after a meeting with the aforementioned activists, we had a lovely dinner in a little restaurant that is set up to look like a village. It might sound ridiculous but it is very well done, the food is delicious and there is a vessel museum that is absolutely fantastic. All of our teachers came and brought their families. The three of us students that are still here gave speeches, it was very sweet.

Calico Museum

It has been a crazy week! We are having more class time to make up a bit for ending the program two weeks early. This morning, though, we went the lovely Calico Museum. This is really one of the most special things in Ahmedabad and I have been waiting all summer to go. The only time visitors are allowed is for the tours that are given 1030-12 daily. The woman that gives the tours is known all over India for being extremely stern and rushed. She scolded me several times for lagging behind the group and I pretended to not understand her. You are not allowed to bring in cameras, so I drew some of the things that were the most interesting to me, but you can imagine how often I got behind that way. There is one wing of the old mansion that houses the museum which is for technical aspects of textile making. The block printing was particularly fascinating and I am constantly impressed by the skill involved in some of these fabrics. There were very old fabrics and embroidered hangings and clothing from all over India. Each time we entered a room a dim light would be switched on, and then as we walked through the light would be shut off and the door closed tightly behind us. Some of the designs I loved the most had very interesting plants and animals, particularly the snakes and banana and mango trees were the coolest. The grounds were also lovely. There were peacocks and pools with water lilies and parrots and mosaic terraces. Any one of you that visits me in the coming year will certainly be taken there.