Who would have known that I'm famous

 

Its been nearly 3 months now and I don't think I will ever get used to the constant staring and harassment for photos with me, is this not a celebs life! Actually it becomes a bit annoying at times. Not so much the children who stop you in the street to touch you and greet you and practice a few strands of English. But some people actually stare so intently without even a smile. Also I constantly find that others had similar ideas to you at work but their only getting done now because a white girl asked. How do you pass on initiative and confidence to women who are so used to be dominated, I must be very alien to them all. I am referred to as Rosie Mam here, students stand up when I pass and use this formal greeting, I find it respectful but over the top at the same time. I'm quite a casual person really. I may have been introduced to everyone I think by now in Ranchi. Most women want to feed me, I even told them at work I was loosing weight because I had a much better diet here, like less chocolate, not much dairy, no cheese and no bread. So off a colleague went next day turned up with a shopping bag full of all the bad stuff I said I wasn't missing, stating I couldn't go back to my family in England having not been fed properly. Are they not listening. Especially when they are so concerned about image, how white their skin is and if they are putting on weight, nothing is hidden here it is bluntly stated to each other. I find it all very contradictory, what can you do but politely take the food and have a bit of a late feast. Can you believe everyone wants to improve their English speaking with me, makes you laugh hey, I will pass on my cockney accent to the hoards, Rosie's legacy.

Time keeping in India is non existent, missed appointments, late arrivals and even this weekend I asked to join some colleagues who were providing some support to a special Olympics event out of Ranchi. Informed me they would pick me up at 12.00 they arrived at 1.00pm, was told it was 10km away and we would be gone about an hour got back at 9.30pm. They even got the administrator of the event to make me stay longer by springing on me the role of presenting the awards to the children thankfully not asked to give speech however many photos taken and cancelled plans for the evening. I did enjoy the event though and it was very nice getting out of Ranchi into the field. These kids were amazing specially those with cerebral palsy and severe deformities making them have to mobilise on all fours and they were so fast in the match and held their own with all the other children on two feet. Their is a special Olympics committee holding these events all over India in rural settings its great to see.