Work sincerely, not seriously!

I love working in the lab here at Mahyco. The workers there are so sweet and inviting, and they are willing to answer all of my questions. I have learned so much in just one week that I’m having to write it all down each day so I don’t lose the information. Sheetal, my supervisor/teacher likes the motto “work sincerely, not seriously.” This perfectly frames the atmosphere here as everyone takes time to tell jokes and make others a “bukra”. The ultimate goal is the same for everyone: by using genetic markers and laboratory tools, Mahyco wants to make creating ideal varieties faster for breeders and growers, but their vision is to feed the world.

Yesterday we took a trip to Aurangabad...separate trips that is. I experienced what it’s like to a) be in a car on Indian roads-- let’s just say law and order would not describe it and b) to be driven by a hired driver somewhere. Because, according to him, I knew “tora tora” Hindi, our drive was quiet except for his cell phone calls and some Hindi hits playing on the radio. The highlight of the journey was realizing the corny musical numbers advertising radio stations are the same here as in America--complete with back-up singers and bee-bopping music.

Once in the city, I met my first group of American students, also living on the Mahyco campus, but working with the eye hospital elsewhere. It was loads of fun having a large dinner party and touring their guest houses afterwards. To top off the night, we carries umbrellas and enjoyed the gorgeous weather.

Tomorrow, I am moving across the street into another house for a month or so, because there are two girls around my age that are going to be home. I have loved my time with the Char family, and I look forward to spending another couple weeks with them near the end of my trip.

As for the creepy-crawlies, there seems to be a bandicoot living in the pipes in one of the houses down the street. That’s why all the drains are covered in rocks-- it keeps anything from setting up shop in the pipes. Also, some of the students want to see some cobras, which live on the jogging trail, so maybe we will go on an expedition soon!