Cricket is Confusing

Last Friday, we went out into Bangalore proper for a little taste of Indian Nightlife. Apparently, there was an EPIC match/game/battle of cricket that night between India and Pakistan. So every place we went, all TVs were set to watch this ultimate showdown. At one joint, a South African student named Josh did us a favor and explained this sport to us. Here's what I learned:

1. You don't pitch in Cricket; you bowl.
2. Pakistan has a phenomenal bowler.
3. There are wickets everywhere, but there aren't colorful balls that you try to smash underneath them with a massive mallet.
4. Games can last for days.
5. Not so big stateside; HUGE everywhere else in the world.

Seriously, it's that important here. It rivals soccer. I'm really open to the idea of adopting Cricket as my favorite spectator sport. I totally dig the flattened bat and "Gentleman's" attitude. I have to apologize to Asitha Jayawardena for never really ever getting this game - let's hear it for the Sri Lankan Team!

Today we were given the afternoon off. Michael P., Ben, and I headed out to the garden on campus to do a little cultivating. When we got there, we were given hand-held machetes and were told to hack up all the tall grass we could see. It was kind of liberating; I was maniacal with that mini-sword. The work really wore us out; I guess I'm used to seeing unwanted plant life and thinking that someone really needs to mow or it's about time for a "controlled burn". So much for agricultural mechanization - this was so much more fun! We got to work with a few of the girls and two adults who got a kick out of our sloppy slashing style. After a bit, we all took tea. Here's the thing with tea: we have it every morning with breakfast and at two tea breaks, around 10:30 pm and 4 pm.

Tomorrow our group of 18 splits three ways to go on different field visits around Southern India. The group I'm traveling with is headed towards northern Karnataka (the state Bangalore is in). We will be observing a Non-Governmental Organization that works with women and children from the Untouchable (Dalit) community. The purpose of the field visits is to explore different organizations that are trying to empower those who are typically marginalized in Indian culture. So one other group is learning about the fishing industry and how it has recently been quietly destroyed by local resorts and tourist attractions. The other groups is going to visit traditional and tribal farmers. We will be away from Visthar from the 19th - 28th, so I will give the play-by-play update once we've arrived back in Bangalore.

Enjoy your time!