Question no 1. From Alan Webber

Answers from Dion, 20-something, waiter in a modern bar:

”How are India’s people handling the country’s transition into a growing world economic power?”
Many of the slums are getting smaller because there is a lot of building going on in the city. The buildings are getting safer. The people handle this change basly positive, they are changing there daily routine.
My reflections: The knowledge are increasing, not only because of the high education that are provide in the Universities in India, but because of companies that now has recourses to invest in growth, safety and to educate there staff. This is very obvious in the construction business, where the are building houses that are modern and provides basics like electricity and sanitary like toilettes and water. I would compare this to the Swedish “Folkhemmet”. By this the quality of life and health are increasing in India.

“ Do they feel any change in there status in the world?”
Yes, before we where just an English colonie.
My reflections: As the economic in India grows they are also shaping there identity, both between etch other and to the rest of the world. I believe that this identity is very important to a country’s development and to the people living in this community.

“ Is there more economic equity among the people as India’s economic performance grows?”
Yes, the rich and the poor value each other.
My reflections: When a country develops and they are investing in the country’s wellbeing, as in hospitals, cleaning up the streets, building houses, things that all people can take part in at some level it gets  more visible that every thing is connected in a community.
Peoples/ours actions affects others. In a good economy the standard of life changes, in this case positive and the people can more easily see how they depends on etch other and start to value each other more.

From heart to fart!

Yesterday, the annual holiday Holi. We, Tobbe, David, Ellen & My went to the closest shantytown, just a skip away from were we live.

Here the people were selebrating like never before. We truley got swept away by the atmosphere – so much love, happiness, curiousity & compassion in one place i hevent feelt before. In things/money they are realy poor, but my excperience from this day are that they are have find a way to happiness whitout material things. I dont know how correct my interpretation is. So Im going to spend more time in this shantytown to get richer in knowledge and maybe to help Siri and Pelle whit there project of getting internet in to the slum!

They celebrate Holi in colours! As you can se from the pictures.

Anyway, leter Elin, Ellen, Sophie & me meet up whit a friend of sophies and his friend at this fancy fancy hotel, you know those who have small rolled towles at the marmor restroom and a pianist in the enormous lobby?! From this hotel, to a posh bar by the ocean and a Cosmopolitan & then to a very trendy club whit our own stall and Absolut Vodka. From this to the restaurant over the club wher we wined and dined allso very fancy.

So from dancing whit the kids in the slum to be driven home by Sophies friends private driver at the same day. And this is what Mombai is fore me-a huge gap between rich and poor, diversety in many aspects and something for all. I feel very “blessed” to be able to take part in all the different parts of this community, painful aware of that Im one of few.