There’s a rat in my kitchen...

I know, 3 posts in 2 weekends is a bit much, but hey, I have nothing else to do but watching lightning and read. Ramrao was not available all week again. I tried to contact him via wireless, but no response and via papa Shek I found out today (8-6) that he is in Warora, family problems. Last week he had problems in Moharli. I wonder where he will be next week…

Because I haven’t been feeling comfortable without a toilet for the last couple of days, and had no one around to accompany met to visit the NGO’s and the CF in Chandrapur, I can say that I had not much else to do. I finished my book ‘Like the flowing river, by Paulo Coelho’ en started reading ‘Doing your research project: a guide for first-time researchers in education, health and social scene, by Judith Bell’. Quite interesting I must say, with some good tips. Since school advised us to think about what to do for thesis…I’ve started thinking about that now..

Tuesday week I met Vishwas. He is the other guy for the education project. He seems nice to me, but he doesn’t speak that much English. Well we see how far we get. I guess it will be alright, because I can also understand some other people in Tadoba and they can understand me, as long as we use more than words…pictures and sounds help a lot and it’s actually a laugh when you come to think of it. Try it at home, and everybody will wonder if you are a fruitcake.

Vishwas will start next Monday. I would like to start the training of activities then, and hope that Ramrao will be there too, because I like to work a bit more efficiently than the Indians are used to. Train 2 in 1 might be a bit easier, since they can help each other when there are things one of them doesn’t understand. Also I will only get frustrated once about something and not twice or more. Keep holding my breath and counting till 1,2,3,4, etc…

The 7th of June is the official starting date for the monsoon period. In the evening of the 6th it started to rain heavily and the humidity disappeared for the night, only to return the next morning, even worse than before. I don’t like this sticky weather. This is comparable to the Netherlands with more than 27oC, only here it’s still in the 40’s. I thought the rain season had started, but thought too soon. The next night was one with beautiful lightning shows above the lake, some rain and a lovely cold breeze…even felt a bit chilly and thought about getting my sheets.

Other thought that came up where scorpions and snakes… when the monsoon starts the water wakes them up and the snakes and scorpions will appear from their holes. I guess one of the first things they will do is look for food and there might be a minor concern…I have a rat in my kitchen… Before coming to India I did read something about rats attracting snakes, so I hope this rat is different. There is absolutely no way I can keep the animal out of my kitchen and I am not looking forward to meet a snake. There are just many holes and gaps via which it can enter my kitchen and if the rat can enter, why not the snake…
By the way, did you know that rats eat candles?!