I'm becoming just a wee bit obsessed with capturing all that India has to offer.
Color. Signage.
I imagine what some of my photographs would look like, framed and matted on a wall. I wonder how I would ever choose amongst the thousands and thousands of photos that I have taken over the past three years.
Halfway through my stay here in Delhi I started the Fading Ladies group with 5 other expat women. We came from different parts of the United States. We had different belief systems, different morals, and the same things didn't make each of us tick. We argued about how to brew a perfect coffee and talked at length about what colors the "rest of the expats" would like.
We started a little charity business. One that melded tshirts (that happened to have amazing sayings on them) with poverty. One that matched up brilliance and effort with the less fortunate.
We met, days on end. We disagreed, argued even. Some of us parted ways, some asked to be released from the group. Some moved away, and some chose to stay.
The end-of-day, Close-Of-Business report from the meeting of the minds during this initiative was pretty awe-inspiring. I was in the presence of greatness.
I am so proud to have been a part of something so amazing. The six of us ladies -- all trailing spouses -- banded together over iced tea and donuts -- and we created something. We gave some serious cash (based on the actions and faithful choices of our fan group and constant supporters) to 6 (SIX!!!) NGOs ...
Just from acting on a whim and selling some t-shirts.
To the Fading Ladies women, I say you are "FIRST CLASS" ... and to the organizations that we were honored to step alongside to help -- even momentarily -- HORN PLEASE!!
[Small aside ... we used the typical imagery of 'horn please' on labels on each of our tshirts, as a tag affixed to the back collar of each shirt, making them uniquely India!]
What a blessing to have been able to walk with you and make a difference in India.
For more information on the charities that we supported ::
Delhi Time
5 of you said:
Fab stuff N - making the difference that is the key x m
One idea we got from a neighbor was to have the truck art painted onto a canvas. Lindsay painted a canvas (actually like 4 or 5 canvases, large and small - made a great gift) and painted a solid color. Then we took a picture like the one you have above, gave it to our driver (it was a tag team deal where Kailash knew enough English where we could describe what we wanted and Ashok happened to have a truck painter in his neighborhood), and had him find a truck painter to complete the job. Really, really cool. Made great gifts, especially for people that had visited us that could appreciate. The best part was actually the driver's reaction....this is actually inspiring me to (dare I say...) write a post about it.
Hope you're doing well.
Every time I see photos like this, I am reminded of just how stimulating India is, with its visually-rich culture even on an everyday basis. Truly, amazing India- the un-Prozac nation. Not another place like it in the world.
LOVE that idea, John!!
Wow !
Applause !
The folks at Jaipur Foot are doing a super-terrific-awesome job, and your support to them is much appreciated.
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