Beauty Dies Where Litter Lies

August 15th is India's Independence Day. Things were really fun here. Apparently, most Indians celebrate by eating lots of food with their friends and family (pretty much July 4 sans fireworks). However, I got to enjoy some celebrations on campus, thanks to Khaiser, my peer tutor.

The vice chancellor of the university took Independence Day as an opportunity to give a political speech inspiring action and political knowledge. It was really interesting to hear the future-oriented tactics he used. In the U.S. it seems small scale Independence Day speeches focus on the history of the day and perhaps tie in a future-focused comment.


But, after the speech there were dances. There were dances by the children from the University School; there were dances from the kids from the university's slum. Actually, I took this as an occasion to be surprised once more at the readiness with which people use the term slum. Just an observation.

The dances and songs were followed by a performance by the environmental activist group. They were trying to get people to stop littering. (Nearly everyone in India litters. On more than one occasion, when I've asked for a bin, I've been instructed to toss it out the window.) So naturally, we donned picket signs and marched to shop com (the affectionate slang for shopping complex) and began to pick up trash.

At this point I was thinking that the students in Hyderabad really knew how to utilize national holidays to get things done. But where was the party?

The party, it turns out, was by a fire, on a giant boulder, past a winding path in the jungle, outside of peacock lake. Let's just say that English students are lots of fun in every culture, and that I can't hang out with Indian students without hearing some "my heart will go on", "summer of '69", and this time "twinkle twinkle little star." And, if ever there was a time to hear overly zealous interpretations of Monty Python skits, Independence Day would be the time.

Today's Meal: Fusion 9 pasta with intense chocolate birthday cake

Today's Deal: Boulder parties and peacock night hikes

Today's Reel: Khaiser, Kate, Cecilia, Sarah, and myself respectively with our signs and brooms