Prince versus Shah Rukh Kahn

I don't know if I'll be updating the blog as regularly now that I've settled down a bit in Jaipur for the next few week after the crazy whirlwind tour, ending with some really good quality time with mom and dad. After seeing them off to their Palace on Wheels tour a few days ago, I've begun my work as a research assistant helping to compile guidelines, networks, and organizations that are concerned with responsible tourism, particularly in Rajasthan and Jaipur. I'm working with Prahlad, the man that I met by complete twist of fate in a restaurant in Pushkar, and Mana, a woman from Germany who is a journalist and does a lot of work in peace journalism and conflict resolution. For the most part I'll be spending my days researching organizations and networks that support responsible tourism, and creating a directory of sorts (If anyone is interested in volunteering, adventuring, or doing a homestay abroad, I can send you this list I have so far-- the amount of groups out there are insane!!). We'll also be visiting the schools that Prahlad runs through his alternative development NGO, visiting local organic farms, and taking a trip to Pushkar to interview foreigners who have settled in the area. Still, the bulk of my work involves sitting in front of a computer in Prahlad's flat, and my eyes are definitely not used to hours of looking at a screen! How on earth did I spend hours and hours doing research and writing papers at school? It's amazing how quickly I've lost my computer self. I've also realized my ability to do many sensory things at once (ie: listening to music while reading and eating some food while keeping an eye on my e-mail inbox) has also lessened (which is a good thing for my body/spirit, not so good for coming home). With the gained ability the sit still and be quiet, I've lost a bit of my ability to do crazy multi-tasking, which in the long run is a good thing. We'll see how long it lasts when I get home...

I've come into a nice routine here, that usually involves ending the night at this disco that Rishi loves, that is frequented by middle class Indians and tourists alike. We went there early for dinner last night, and got to talking to the DJ who is a really nice guy based out of Delhi... He loves 70s and 80s American music, house, hip hop, and rock, but of course he also plays lots of Bollywood and Hindi music. Since it was Saturday, the place was pretty crowded with young Indians, and the dance floor was pretty crazy especially when I requested "Om Shanti Om" (everyone cheered when the DJ put it on!)... Feeling pretty good about my taste, I asked the DJ to play Prince's "Kiss", which is one of my all time favorite songs to dance to. He obliged a few moments later, and the dance floor literally died. Everyone was seated at their tables, sipping their drinks, while this incredibly funky song played in the background! I couldn't believe it, but I had to dance, so I dragged a protesting Rishi out on the floor (he usually has to drag ME out there) and started dancing away. Rishi was completely lost; he shook a little bit, and said "I don't know how to dance to this music!"... It was amazing to me, this crazy dance machine friend of mine, just couldn't figure out how to dance to Prince. When the second Prince song came on, I let Rishi go, and he thankfully hurried off the dance floor... What's the big difference? Well, for the most part Bollywood music is about 10 times faster than American dance music. The beats are just so much faster, and much more of the movements are in the wrists and the upper body. So when more Prince came on, and later 50 Cent, and then even The Talking Heads, the dance floor remained empty. The music that my friends and I would put on for all night crazy groovin' dance parties at Vassar, didn't quite make it in Jaipur. I know it's not the same all over India, and I'm sure somewhere in some heavenly club (perhaps in Delhi?) there are people getting down to the slower beats of back home. I can only hope. I have learned to love Indian music, but I still miss my good old American tunes. Ah well, only in India could I hear Bryan Adam's "Everything I do I do it for you" with a techno beat under it (and it's not even ironic).