Report reports reports!

They have me doing reports at HELP on their projects which will be uses for funding proposals. They have so many projects all of which are so needed and often interconnected.g. the ladies who are employed in the tailoring project make the school uniforms for the orphans. This all goes to making the projects practical. I have also been handed the task of rewording the website form Hindlish to English, which is a brain twisted at times but thanks to the endless stream of chia that the chia lady serves at the office, the job is much easier. This week I may take another trip to Kupwara with one of the managers in the office who will check on the school and see how the ladies income generation training program is doing.

Some photos of Srinagar from this week

Humeria + me at the children park

local fruit seller

sweet seller outside the mosque

fish sellers on the bridge in Lalchowk 

Next week one of the guys in the family I live with is getting engaged and the family will be having a party on Thursday. Engagements and wedding are a big deal here so all the family will be showing up. Now since I seem to be the only foreigner for miles around and all the family and neighbours see or have hear about the foreigner living at the family's home, I thought it best to buy a Kashmiri long shirt just so lessen the gossip that will no doubt be circulating about me. Shopping in Kashmir for ladies clothes is a nightmare because you have to have a shirt tailored and all the materiel is way to bright, to synthetic. The in expensive embroidery around the necklines is well cheezy, and plastic stitched on gems are just down right gaudie or too girly.

braving the crowds in the heat

I had to drag the other brother in the family with me to help with translations but was up for the challenge. The ladies market was packed and I mean packed, you could hardly walk without bumping into some fanatic shopper. The market sold all what a Kashmiri girl might need, cloth, jewelry, cosmetics, undies, headscarf's, shoes, bags, etc, etc etc all at a "cheap and best price, madam." After 1 hours of searching I had had it and gave up, you need stamina for that kind of expedition. Anyway we found a tailor by the river who had some traditional Kashmiris embroidery designs and could make a simple Indian style shirt. Good enough, my neck and upper arms will be covered and a long scarf will hide my chest, so the neighbours should be happy.  

Saturday evening on the Dal Lake after a successful shopping expedition

So it has been another good week, interesting work and getting to know the people in the office that bit better. The family I live with are great and I am getting more familure with the city and it feels nice that I now get a good morning from the shopkeeper in my neighbourhood.