Monday, May 17, 2010

Monday, May 17, 2010

I have been gone a week now. When I first got here, I just wanted to turn around and go back. But now that I've settled in, I may stay forever.

Kerala is suffering from prosperity. New rich houses are all over the place. That's not the suffering part. Many times there will be a rich house on a lane behind the house facing the street. Or there might be two rich houses one behind the other. Wages are rising because so many of the men are continuing to work/go to the Gulf. Men used to get paid 150 -200 rupees per day (roughly $3 to $4) to work in construction or in the rice fields. Pay has doubled to 400 rupees ($8 per day) so everything has gotten more expensive. The price of food in Kerala has risen over 16% since the first of the year. Construction has gotten more expensive so although I've seen a number of huge rich houses, I've also seen smaller rich houses. It looks like the plan might be to add another floor. I have to ask if this is pay up front or whether mortgages can be had. Because labor is so expensive, there is only one rice planting per year instead of two or three. The rice paddies are being filled in with dirt so people can build houses. Land is becoming scarce. Last year, Dr. Baji told us that many of the swimming holes he used as a child have been filled in so houses could be built. A block from here, they are digging out the soil and putting it in the rice paddies. So far there is only one rich house being constructed at that site although there is room for several more.
Kerala has the 2nd highest rate of childhood obesity right behind the good old USA. It's all about prosperity. I saw a teenager --chubby--riding a motorcycle out of a rich house this morning on his way to school. His dad was on a similar bike following him.

EVERYone has asked about David. I think some of them would have preferred it was he returning. Francis, Dr. Baji, and Col. Babu were all here to meet me when I arrived. There is a new Chef. The other one decided to try his fortunes in the Gulf. His house is padlocked so I don't know what happened with his mother. The older man David had is still here. He must also tend the garden, which I think is a whole lot bigger than I originally thought. I haven't seen Simeon, but Kathy says he is still here. Girish has gone back home, and I have the 'Medicine Man' who was out last year for an ear operation. Nice enough, but I do miss Girish's smile.
The new chef is a lot less spice-intensive than the previous one. There are still things I can't eat, but I am trying to try everything he makes. David: I had beet juice yesterday. Yum.
My therapit, Kathy, is still here, but Gita isn't here. She is pregnant and will be moving to her husband's family house. She has been married for two years without getting pregnant, and I understand this causes problems with recriminations among the couple and the families. So now all is well. Gita came by yesterday so I have been able to see her before she leaves.
I don't know where all the children have gone. Maybe they are hiding until they get more used to me. The one family which had three tiny ones on the front stoop every morning isn't there--at least right now.
I am an Honorary complete with bindi (dot on forehead). Kathy has been putting Jasmine flowers in my hair every morning. It smells so good.

I'm going to try to get to the email before the internet goes down (I tried four times yesterday with no luck) so I will go now.

Hope everyone is well and happy.

Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny