Saturday, June 6, 2009

Saturday, June 6, 2009--Day 24, I think.

The place is getting crowded. Yesterday Gerhard from Switzerland came in. He's 46. I think he said he was in Information Technology for 20 years, majored in law and political science, considers himself a professor (but doesn't teach anymore), but has an international PR consulting firm. His English is very good.
We met the movie star at breakfast this morning. Faritti is how the name sounds. She's at least as old as me, but looks to have had some work done. Her English also is good. As as group we don't feel really comfortable with her, but it's getting better. Her friend (female, I think) is coming tomorrow and requested the same room Adam is in so he graciously agreed to move. His new room is by the computer I use, and it has an internet hookup so he is fine with it.

If another woman comes in tomorrow, I honestly don't see how the female technicians are going to handle it time-wise. All the staff, except Francis, pretty much work everyday of the year except for Festival time in August. Festival is 10 days long, but I don't know if they get all 10 days off.

Topic for the Day: Government in Kerala

The present day state of Kerala was formed in 1956 from three other states. As I've told you, it is probably the wealthiest state in all of India. In 1957 (remember that India won Independence from the British in 1947.) "Kerala had the first freely elected communist government in the world" and the communists have been in power ever since. But this appears to be the best of communism because it really has been good for the people. The government is socialist, and it
has been very beneficial. Whereas it used to be that all of the land was owned by 5% of the people, it is changing. 91% of it's people are literate as compared to the rest of India at 46%. All children are supposed to go to school. Of course, the schools the poor children go to are not as good as the ones the rich kids go to if only because the former go to government schools whereas the latter have access to private schools. There are programs to give 25 kilos (Xs 2.2 lbs) of rice to below poverty families. It is not expensive to go on in school, but you do have to pass entry exams. There is affirmative action in place much like we had before.

Treatment times have changed with the addition of a person so I have to go.

Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny