9/20/2004

Life has been very exciting the past two months, so please forgive the silence and let me share some news from my life. I hope you have been doing well, and found adventures of your own over the summer. If you are receiving a forwarded copy of this note (which I encourage people to do), you may sign up by emailing me and I will add you to the list (scott@scottbeale.com). Finally, check out a few pictures at:
http://www.millennialpolitics.com/india

1. India
2. New Job
3. Sri Lanka & Thailand
4. Ashoka
5. Schedule
6. Political Note
7. Frequent Flier Miles

INDIA: Life in New Delhi continues to amaze me and frustrate me, but in general I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the friends I have made and the large number of younger professionals I’ve met to share my experiences, exchange ideas, and learn from. Courtney and I visited the Taj Mahal last month and I was blown away by the beauty of the building. We’re playing tennis, volunteering with kids, meeting internationals, and generally feeling quite blessed to be living the life we are living while we still miss our friends and family very much. The poverty is still quite overwhelming, but no longer paralyzing as we gain greater understanding of the world around us.

NEW JOB: The BIG news is that over the summer I got a job at the US Embassy in Delhi to coordinate efforts at counter-trafficking of women and children in India. I am now waiting for my security clearance to go though before begin. I expect to move back in mid-to-late-October and will be in Delaware finishing up some school work and packing up to go to India where I will live for 18 months. I am very excited to have found a meaningful and challenging position and cannot wait to go back overseas. Check out my schedule below for what I am doing before I go.

SRI LANKA & THAILAND: One of the highlights of the summer was playing with the baby elephants in Sri Lanka! We also pet a baby porcupine and ate a 5-course meal on the beach. I pictured Sri Lanka to be torn apart by civil war, not a resort island with incredible wildlife. Just goes to show I didn’t learn everything in my “Map of the World” class in college. We also visited Bangkok and saw not just one Buddhist Monk, but hundreds. Bangkok spoiled us with modern luxuries, incredible history, and most importantly familiar friends (Gillian B. & Gita S.). The trip was awesome and one more reminder of how many interesting and different places there are to visit on that side of the world.

ASHOKA: I spent part of the summer working at Ashoka in the New Delhi office interviewing Ashoka Fellows who are in the field of youth development. These were incredibly motivating individuals with whom I had intense multi-hour conversations about engaging youth, learning about their successes, and trying to take in as much of their knowledge, energy and enthusiasm as possible. I’ve very thankful to UD for helping pay for my flight to make this internship possible.

SCHEDULE: In a nutshell, I am here until mid-late October and then will live in India until the spring of 2006. I have a lot going on in a short period of time, so I’d love to see you some time in the next 6 weeks before I leave. Any date not listed below, is time in Delaware. A lot of you have asked when I am giving speeches, so I listed a few, let me know if you want more info. This may change depending on how quickly I can fly back to India.

----9/24 (Fri): In DC, going out with friends at night!
----9/25-9/27: In St.L, MO w/ Courtney.
----9/28 (Tue): In DE, with Courtney, going out at night.
----9/29 (Wed) 5:30 PM, Balt, MD: Speech at Towson.
----9/29 (Wed) Evening, DC: Go out w/ friends w/ Courtney.
----10/1-10/3, Miami: Wedding.
----10/7 (Thr) 6:00 PM, DC: 2100 Fund Party at Gazuza (come!!)
----10/8-10/9, NYC: Speech at Columbia U.
----10/13 (Wed) 8:00 PM, DC: NYLC Speech.
----10/15-10/16: High school 10th year reunion.
----10/20 (Wed) 8:00 PM, DC: NYLC Speech.
----10/22 (Fri) SF, CA: Book Speech.

POLITICAL NOTE: I’d be remiss if I did not put a plug in to please make sure you are registered to vote, that you have requested an absentee if you need it and that will vote on Election Day. It really is important. You can do it now at www.rockthevote.com. I also want to do a short plug for a new site that I read daily: www.electoral-vote.com. A few undecideds have asked me to email them why to vote for Kerry - so if you want my two cents on that, just let me know, and I'll cc you.

FREQUENT FLIER MILES: Finally, my last pitch will be for you to start saving your frequent flier miles! For about $1,000 or 75,000 frequent flier miles you can come to India and stay in our guest room. The Taj Mahal is a few hours away. You can medical stuff real cheap: ($500 glasses for $45; $100 dental visit for $15; $1500 Lasek for only $400; $100 backrub for only $5) You can experience a living, ancient culture, see people and places you’ve never imagined, and get a glimpse of a world very foreign from your own. You can ride on an elephant, get great art, travel by camel, buy fun clothes, and most importantly visit two friends!

I hope I can see you while I am home. Please email me soon and let me know what is new with you!

Sincerely,

Scott Beale
202-669-4497
scott@scottbeale.com
www.scottbeale.com
http://www.millennialpolitics.com/india