Skeleton of the last two weeks

Cow count: 1634

Boo on you Nate Reaven for your less-than-ardent dryer post...
Boo on me for no posts at all...

First things first... apologies that its been so long since I've been able to write- the days have filled up and I've been utterly daunted by the prospect of trying to convey the ever mounting list of interesting/ moving/ fantastic events that have made up the last two weeks. Still processing lots of it and will probably be slowly adding stories between now and the time I get back...

The last two weeks...
Maybe the best way to start is with a brief run of the events. We left two weeks ago to undertake our second circuit of research-subject-NGO's, traveling down the coast that was struck in the 2004 tsunami. We met with 3 organizations, traveled to 6 villages, and learned a whole heap about rural development efforts in India.
In the time since we've been back in Chennai, we met with an inspiring research organization (as close to the cutting edge in development work as we've been yet) and the head of TAFVA, a network of 1500 NGO's operating in Tamil Nadu (the state we're in). I'm not exactly sure who they had us confused for, but they took us out to lunch with the heads of several organizations and two members of the Indian National Parliament. Fortunately, I managed to make it through the meal without spilling anything. Since this meeting we have spent our time working on developing a survey which that will allow us to expand our research from the 4 NGO's we've interviewed in person to the 1500 members of TAFVA. A really lucky break!!

Looking forward, we leave Tuesday by train for Delhi to visit Angie Hsu, more of Teju's infinite family relations (who have once again offered us the hook ups), and the Taj Mahal. In the two days until we leave I really hope to be able to write more about everything that has happened... there is a whole swirl of quickly fading memories and emotions that I would like to make a clean exit from my head.
Love to all...
MDK