12/17/2004

It hits me at some unexpected point everyday. Someone I meet, something I see, some experience I have reminds me how blessed a life I lead and how surreal my days have become. In the last 6 weeks I’ve ridden a camel, met inspiring civic society leaders, and seen 1,000-year-old stone statues that are the basis of karma sutra.

I was told the best thing about the Foreign Service is that you’ll have incredible stories to tell and the worst thing is that no one will want to hear them. With that, here is another update from India.

1. Moving to India
2. My Job
3. Holidays in Hindustan

1. MOVING TO INDIA

Immediately after Election Day, my security clearance and medical clearances were approved, I said goodbye to most of my friends, and I jumped on a plane to India. I left the home of tax-free shopping and moved to a country with a 93% underground (non-taxed) economy. I left a state of under one million to a country of over 1 billion. All of my belongings were moved 7,500 miles from DC and DE to Delhi. It is odd picking up and moving overseas for a year and half. It is a long time to be away from family and friends.

2. MY JOB

The short version of my job is that I am doing human rights work for the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. The more detailed account is that I am responsible for coordinating anti-trafficking efforts with governments and nonprofits in India. Human Trafficking is the third largest income generator for organized crime and terrorists (behind guns and drugs) and it is a gross violation of human rights. I write reports, do research, go to conferences, travel some, meet with government and nonprofit officials and fight human trafficking. It is an extremely rewarding job, albeit terribly depressing at times.

3. HOLIDAYS IN HINDUSTAN

(India is sometimes referred to as Hindustan since there are so many Hindus here.) Courtney and I spent Thanksgiving on a camel with one of her best friends Caitlin, and we liked it so much that we are going to do the same for New Years when her father and brother come in town. In between these holidays, the Indians celebrated Diwali, essentially the Indian Christmas where there are lots of exchanges of presents and fireworks – so many fireworks.

We love being in India and this is the first time that we’ve gotten real homesick for our family and friends. There is zero chance of a white Christmas, in fact it is quite warm here. There is absolutely no football on television, and I still do not understand the sport “cricket.” Further, the hundreds of street dogs just aren’t the same as seeing my sister’s bulldog over the holidays.

Very soon we will have an internet phone set up in our house that lets people in the states call us by dialing “202-669-4497” and we can get mail for $.37 at 9000 New Delhi Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9000 USA. So, please feel free to call and write. (We are 10.5 hours ahead of the east coast and the answering machine on that number should already be working so call NOW.) Finally, if we don’t have your address yet, then send it our way as well.

So, here is an early “Happy Holidays” from the other side of the world. Enjoy all the warm bars on cold nights, crowded malls of stressed shoppers, and family and friends all together in one place.

Sincerely,
Scott Beale

p.s. I promise to get pictures online soon.