URMUL Schedule

Here is a little summary of Eriks and my time with URMUL so far.
URMUL NGO Internship/Field Placement Schedule:

Oct 30: Travel from Jaipur to Pokran, meet some URMUL staff at Pokran office (including Maga Ram and Vimla-ji), have short planning meeting with 3 Head URMUL staff members-Bhera Ram, Sujan Ram and

Oct 31: Tour of Weaving Training Center and Showroom at Pokran with Sujan Ram and Bhera Ram, End of Month full URMUL staff meeting, break-out session with OXFAM India program, night music with staff members

Nov. 1: Full staff meeting all day with singing and presentations of each project update and future planning, purchase URMUL kurtas

Nov. 2: travel from Pokran to Jaisalmer with Maga Ram, unpack and get settled in Jaisalmer office, visit haveli with Maga Ram and Vuta Ram, visit the Jaisalmer vegetable market, go for a short walk around the office, play cards with Vuta Ram, Vuta Ram stays the night at the office

Nov. 3: Chandan field visit with Vimla-ji and Maga Ram, Vimla-ji stays the night at the office

Nov. 4: Lathi field visit, visit Vimla-ji’s home and family, visits with neighbors and family members, dress up in Rajasthani fashion, sleep over at Vimla’s house

Nov. 5: visit famous temple near Lathi with a bunch of kids, BARACK WINS US Presidential election, Sodakore field visit with Vimla’ji, return to Jaisalmer

Nov. 6: Amarsagar field visit with Vuta Ram, lunch at Maga Ram’s house, meet Maga Ram’s family

Nov. 7: Mulsagar field visit with Vuta Ram

Nov. 8: Model Village field visit with Maga Ram on motor-bike, Maga Ram’s house for lunch and dinner

Nov. 9: Sunday rest day, use internet, (bed taken by neighbor’s mother-in-law), wash clothes

Nov. 10: visit from Phalodi staff, visit Sam sand dunes, ride camel, big sleepover with Phalodi staff at Jaisalmer office

Nov. 11: visit hospital because of Radha’s sister’s delivery, visit the Jaisalmer fort with Vimla-ji and Vuta Ram, travel to Lathi with Vimla, stay the night at Vimla’s house

Nov. 12: travel from Lathi to Jaisalmer, Frank and Vanessa arrive in Jaisalmer

Nov. 13: Rent taxi with Vanessa and Frank, Masuri field visit, Sam sand dunes, camel rides

Nov. 14: Visit Jaislamer Fort and haveli with Frank and Vanessa, Frank and Vanessa leave for Jaipur, dinner at Maga Ram’s house

Nov. 15: Erik gets his ears pierced, purchase Rajasthani shoes and earrings

Nov. 16: pack-up, travel from Jaisalmer to Phalodi with Maga Ram, move into guest room at Phalodi campus, look at photos with Khalu Ram

Nov. 17: look at photos with Raju Ram, Teacher Training session at Phalodi campus-inter-organization workshop focused on issues of library development, reading kits, and the “Room to Read” initiative, night time singing with some URMUL staff

Nov. 18: Teacher Training session at Phalodi campus, write poems about books, teachers, children, school, book-bags, visit residential quarters, sweets in town with Surjan Ram-ji

Nov. 19: Teacher Training session at Phalodi campus, visit URMUL family residential quarters, design students at URMUL campus

Nov. 20: meeting at Pokaran with Dr. Meeta Singh, sweets in town with Surjan Ram-ji

Nov. 21: Eika village visit with Save the Children Finland URMUL team: meeting on quality education and child rights and protection, tea at LIC, visit residential quarters

Nov. 22: Surjan Ram-ji’s village with Surjan Ram-ji, Khushal and “greaser,” visit weaving community member homes, meet Tina and visit her home, boy youth group at URMUL campus

Nov. 23: FINALLY FOUND INTERNET IN PHALODI AND UPDATE BLOG!