મેડાવો.org

Dearest family,

Kub, kub abhar for the warm birthday wishes. It is such a gift to have words and thoughts from home.

I had a nice birthday. I remembered how grateful I am to breathe and run and laugh and love and live.

I jogged in the morning in the hills of freetown, through an outdoor market and many huts, past aunties sweeping their yards and children toting water, along a stream and through a valley and then up onto a ridge from which the ocean exploded into view.

In the evening I had a little jam at the house: I served dal and chole and palak paneer and raita and a fruit bonanza of mango, papaya, watermelon, grapefruit. And banana bread. I taught the dandia raas to some 30 sierra leoneans. I had a carpenter in town make the sticks. It was a joy to see my friends here jumping and jamming to ordini ude to bale udi jai.

I left rock the cradle chop the wood out of my routine and am happy to report no injuries.

Abinandan and respect to Nalini kaki and Nina kaki.

I love you all and miss you all.

Am home at the end of the month and look forward to seeing everyone.

Some of you might wonder what I’ve been doing out here. I wrote an essay that tells the story of our work and am uploading it in case anyone is interested.

Thanks to Nimit for this wonderful new institution, and sorry to be so slow to contribute. My internet access is kinda rough out here…

Remembering all of you.

Vivek