Benji

I have a date (so to speak) with Benji at around 11am today. Yesterday the CCS volunteers and I went to a small bizarre called Delhi Haaut. It was hot but bearable. There was some nice hand carved tables and boxes and their cloth and tapestry is amazingly beautiful. I bought a loose fitting green salwar khamis. Salwar Khamis's consists of baggy pants and a long top that ends at about knee level as well as a scarf known as a Dhuppata that covers the chest and thus sustains the modesty of a woman . The outfit I got was all right but some of the women were wearing some really amazing dresses that looked so feminine compared to the tradition tight revealing clothing worn in most US high schools.

NIGHT

God I’m worn out! The heat doesn’t seem all that bad until you are in it for a few hours and then it sucks the life right out of you. Benji picked me up about 1pm (2 hours late) with flowers and a big card. He’s a funny looking little guy. Thin and about 5'4 with a lazy eye and the most confident attitude I’ve ever come across. He was polite, paid for everything and was reasonably gentleman like which was certainly unexpected. The Delhi Gate was our first destination and then the Red Fort. It was beautiful but the whole day seemed more like a dream then a reality and the heat was sufficating. The guys are complete and total assholes. I’ve never been around such blunt prejudice or lack of manners in my life. Everyone stared and the men occasionally made comments to Benji like-"Enjoy yourself I hope"- yuck! Men with no manners are a disgrace. There were some beggars and such but it didn't bother me-I’m not sure why? Poverty does not seem to affect me all that much somehow. The traffic in Delhi is crazy; it’s amazing more people aren’t killed. After that we went and met Benji's old landlord, which was the favorite part of my day. She was a really sweet old lady and I liked spending time with her even though I couldn't understand a word she said. She was so sweet and showed me the pictures of her family that included two boys (one in the USA, one girl and her husband. She spoke no English but that didn't seem to matter somehow. I also met Benji's room mates (Mohit and Puru) but I wasn't as comfortable with them. They seemed rather distant and reserved or maybe it was simple shyness. Benji is so different. He is like a bird, bones like, well.... like a bird. I guess thats why I wasn't afraid to go with him. Unless he got some help in the shape of a weapon or men there isn't all that much to fear from him. All I’m afraid of is he will leave me somewhere and I can't find my way home or he will make a big scene at CCS. His concept of love is so different then our perspective back home. Indians seem to posses a blunt honesty that is somehow not insulting. For example can you imagine going up to a complete stranger talking briefly and then stating unashamedly "you sure are fat aren’t you?".... Try it and you would get a pounding...in India it’s just an observation. Maybe there isn’t as much judgment in that for Indians like we would have. Benjamin’s room is about 12x12 and he lives there with Mohit. We talked in the park near my apartment until 9pm or so and here I am. I only had 2 small bowls of rice and lentils today and I feel like I've eaten a horse.... strange what heat does to you. A whole gang of volunteers arrived last night-preppy tan social lights mostly although there was one amazingly studly jock (he’s gonna be in Rajgarh so I am in luck) and the preps will be in Dharmshala. The mysteries of calling and emailing were unveiled to me today. The phone booths here are called STD booths...lol...I got back to late to get on the list to go to Agra to see the Taj so I guess Ill be hanging out with Benji (*sigh*). Ahh I can't keep my eyes open any longer-I swear I've lost 10lbs today!