i broke my sunglasses

letter i wrote to my mother from london, my first week there, march 2008.

page 1.
My choice of colours are pretty limited but its okay. I'm doing allright with black, blue and pink :) I thought these double decker buses were just for tourists but it turns out that theyre really just the normal buses. They're REALLY expensive (£2 for one w) I've been craving a lot more lately... (but at least im not living off lettuce and toblerone bars haha) I'm not really surprised about India, I can't really understand how a country with so MUCH contrast ( high tech vs high poverty, richest billionaires vs. the pettiest slave wages, beaty queens vs. Untouchables.. that are basically people being punished for being born.) I think based on that alone.. you can add all the palm trees and flowers you want, you wont even be able to see them because the lack of beauty and positivety in peoples LIVES will just.... reflect off of everything.. Not that London, or France is missing its share of misery, but the difference here is that everyone has a fair chance, its more a matter of them going for it.
Things here are great, I'm a little unstable because its all so unfamiliar, but little by little its growing on me and I start to feel like I may belong here.. Sometimes theres so many people that I feel like a nameless peice of paper floating through the streets but I think its because... for now, I dont have my personal place here yet and I'm in that phase where I feel like a

Page 2.

Visitor that ran away from the touring vacation group... I have all these things to do and theoretically they are all simple but it kind of frightens me because i do feel a little.. alone. You would DIE laughing because there are SO many of those round little ladies with crazy hair that say stuff like " BLOODY GOOOOOOOOOEWGOOOOOOS!!!" and little ladies that sound like birds, its charming and funny... A woman just came into the shop and she talks like davyd (remember.. "the only gay in the village) and i had a really tough time understanding what she was talking about but I did get her to buy a ton of stuff for her son (who is a journalist in tokyo, he also sent her a microwave for her birthday. Its funny the things people tell you when you get to talking..) Otherwise its been raining, so its slow... gives me time to draw.. and its even encouraged, I've been asked to do a mural with a different theme in each of the dressing rooms, but you'll see that when you visit!

Page 3

So I know that India is sad but you know that to make this trip everything that you hoped it would be, you have to see and focus on the positive and the hopeful, because that exists everywhere. This is (forgot to look up the name) and she is (real) and the leader of this gang (like the crips... but more of a justice league) called... (again forgot to get the name) and its all these women in bright pink saris (to bring beauty in their lives and embrace the feminine) and they fight for women's rights and have been known to attack men that have hurt or even belittled girls and women. They seek to protect and educate girls to give them a chance at a successful life and leave the (cant read that word) life behind.. DONT GO JOINING THEM or anyting, but its good to know that there is good and that even in the worst or saddest, some people still have hope to fight for...


i never sent it.. i just found it while working on a little project..