new beginning

dear all,
Ever since I came to Mumbai, I've been caught up in philosophical discussions on religion, healing, energy flows etc so I guess I'll start this entry in a somewhat related way by stating that life really does offer some rides sometimes but to every end there's a new beginning...

Ok, sorry bout that, I guess I'm not so good at being philosophical after all but things have been a bit shaky lately... As you know, I have been working a lot and the organization is really in a start-up phase with all the problems of communication and lack of structure that comes with it. With a boss that's trying desperately to micro-manage everything and getting different directions from other people I have found it really hard to be efficient and I've tried over and over again to discuss these matters but it just seems to make things worse. Now, last weekend my boss got angry with me when I refused to working every sunday until the end of september and said some really disrespectful things.

It's been a really tough lesson to learn that sometimes it doesn't help to do your best and the best solution is to walk away. I hate the feeling of failure but it really doesn't make sense to spend all my savings on a situation that just makes me unhappy. So, as of Sunday I am not working any more, and I am certain that I've made the right decision. The same day I was moving into a new appartment in a much better area (instead of slums I have a coffeeshop and restaurants just outside!!!) and I'm finally beginning to feel that I have a life here although I don't really like the city. Leaving now would make me feel like I just wasted my time and so I 've decided to take two weeks off, see Isabell in Hyderabad and then stay in Mumbai til the end of October. Also, I'm invited to a wedding in Punjabi in the beginning of December and I really don't want to miss that.

I have a friend, Haley, who started her own NGO here that works with local ngos that have a unique concept but that need help structuring their work. So, right now it looks like I will be volunteering for them, on an ngo that educates young girls from the slums to be teachers and whose students are children from the same slum. It's not really my field but I do think it would be really rewarding and I would be more independent.
We'll see what happens, right now I just need to get my energy back. Considering the situation I feel fine, and people here have been really supportive.

I guess that's all for now. I hope you are all enjoying the summer!
Lots of love,
Maria
ps I'm attching some pictures I should have added a long time ago.

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