Okay, so...this is going to sound ridiculous, mostly because it is. Ready? After four days of freaking out about money, praying about how I'm supposed to use my funds, asking God when I'm going to make some friends (other than Amy, whom I love), and getting really confused about my living situation (by myself, booooo) in general...something ridiculously wonderful just happened.
The moment after I walked out of the internet place after writing that last post, my friend Rene and I literally ran into each other. Like, *boom* oh hey Rene! He's from Canada, speaks a gazillion languages, and is just a nice person in general. I met him the first day I was here. He's staying until either the end of March or August - he hasn't decided yet. Anyway, we went *boom* and he asked if I was staying at Hotel Maria, because I was using their internet place. I said no, he asked where I was staying and what the rent was, and then invited me to stay at his hostel, 'cause it's cheaper and better. He said there were two open rooms, shared bathrooms and a shared kitchen. And the rent is 5000 rupees a month, as opposed to my now 250 a day. That's a lot better. So we walked together to his hostel, which is approximately 30 seconds away from mine, and they said they'd have a free room tomorrow. And I walked upstairs and looked at the rooms. And they're a TON nicer than mine. And they have HOT WATER.
The reason why this place is so inexpensive is because it houses strictly people volunteering for NGOs, and you pay rent monthly. So they guarantee good-hearted, long-term tenets.
HOORAY I THINK I'M MOVING IN TOMORROW.
This means that all the wondering (and, I'll admit it, worrying) I've been doing about having money and people...*poof*. I suddenly have a bunch of other Missionaries of Charity 20-somethings all in one place, in a sweet little well kept hostel. Oooooh I'm so excited.
And my camera works! Pictures soon.
Love and excitement about God providing,
Stephanie!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
quick update
1. There's something I forgot to mention about Apne Aap. So...when I asked at the Topsia location what other programs they had, they said computer training, dance therapy, drama therapy, soup kitchen, sewing lab, group therapy, English classes, creative writing classes, elementary school. Which is awesome, because I can pretty much help with any and all of that. Not super-well, but none of it will leave me totally lost. And they said they'd been waiting for someone who could help with theatre. Ummmmmmmmperfect.
2. Matt left today. And I subsequently started searching for a cheaper room, because $5 a day is really expensive for me.
3. But then I sat on my bed for a looong time and figured out a weekly and daily budget, and realized that maybe I can keep my room.
Weekly - 3505 rps. - 1750-room, 460-taxi (3 days a week to Apne Aap), 168-water, 105-internet, 1022-food etc.. that means...
Daily - 500 rps. - 250-room, 65(average)-taxi, 24-water, 15-internet, 146-food, etc..
These are all averages. For example, I really don't need to use the internet every day. I shouldn't. So that number is an average of the cost of a whole week's worth of internet and phone use. And the taxi is three days a week, which leads into the next update...
4. After much praying, discussion, and deliberation, I've decided to start out at Apne Aap only three days a week. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and every other Saturday. This is for a few reasons: taxis are expensive, my energy is limited, and they didn't say they needed English teachers. So I'll start there sitting in on group therapy and theatre rehearsals, and leading my own classes once a week. Dad, be proud of me. I'm telling someone that I don't have time to do something. :-)
5. I figured out how to charge my camera. And I didn't go to Daya Dan today, 'cause Matt left a half-hour ago. Which means I have the day to myself, and I'm not sick. Which means I'm going to run around the city and take pictures!! :-)
Okee, short post over. And this, plus checking email and Facebook, only took twenty minutes. I'm getting not-bad at this budgeting money thing.
Hooray!
Okay. Time to take pictures. :-)
Love and speedy McSpeedsters,
Stephanie
2. Matt left today. And I subsequently started searching for a cheaper room, because $5 a day is really expensive for me.
3. But then I sat on my bed for a looong time and figured out a weekly and daily budget, and realized that maybe I can keep my room.
Weekly - 3505 rps. - 1750-room, 460-taxi (3 days a week to Apne Aap), 168-water, 105-internet, 1022-food etc.. that means...
Daily - 500 rps. - 250-room, 65(average)-taxi, 24-water, 15-internet, 146-food, etc..
These are all averages. For example, I really don't need to use the internet every day. I shouldn't. So that number is an average of the cost of a whole week's worth of internet and phone use. And the taxi is three days a week, which leads into the next update...
4. After much praying, discussion, and deliberation, I've decided to start out at Apne Aap only three days a week. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and every other Saturday. This is for a few reasons: taxis are expensive, my energy is limited, and they didn't say they needed English teachers. So I'll start there sitting in on group therapy and theatre rehearsals, and leading my own classes once a week. Dad, be proud of me. I'm telling someone that I don't have time to do something. :-)
5. I figured out how to charge my camera. And I didn't go to Daya Dan today, 'cause Matt left a half-hour ago. Which means I have the day to myself, and I'm not sick. Which means I'm going to run around the city and take pictures!! :-)
Okee, short post over. And this, plus checking email and Facebook, only took twenty minutes. I'm getting not-bad at this budgeting money thing.
Hooray!
Okay. Time to take pictures. :-)
Love and speedy McSpeedsters,
Stephanie
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