update & photos from India

[nick normal]

Updates always online on the blog: http://theoceanofblood.com/

Kickstarter campaign - 25 days to go: http://kck.st/nkrLFb

Thank you to everyone who has donated thus far!!

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Some ups and downs at camp Swimming Cities. A nasty head cold went around the crew, laying out folks one by one for a few days at a time. Intermittent power, water, help and use of tools has slowed us quite a bit. We had a hard meeting yesterday. Some tears were shed, grievances aired, a new work plan laid out. We're delaying the launch by five days to create a more humane work schedule. 16 hours a day in 90-degree heat while camping is unsustainable...

It's very draining living at camp. Water comes from a well 50 yards away, has to be filtered, all eating and cooking surfaces have to be sanitized. There is power here 10 hours a day. We have solar power and candles the rest of the time; the generator too, is loud and stinks. We fight a daily battle with ants, dogs, mosquitoes, monkeys, local kids, mice, snakes and about 1,000 insects we've never seen before. Everyone is finding their groove, but it takes 1/3 of the work day just to take care of yourself. 

We finished the kitchen raft yesterday, complete with food storage, purified water, and a shower. Water pressure comes from a 12-volt bilge pump submersed in a 300-liter water tank on the stern. Yesterday we had the faucet set in a concrete statue of Hanuman, the monkey god. Lots of ingenious little systems being created here... made a toaster out of coat hangers today, and 12 C clamps out of 2x2 metal box tubing and bolts.

Little victories, big hurdles yet. The river waiting...

--Porter Fox

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A group of women gathered at the gate of the college yesterday and asked to see our project. I gave them a quick tour. They were so excited to see women who were welding.

Drew sends in these photos – they have to come in one at a time and only when near an Internet cafe (see owner below).

welders in Fatehgarh

Marin & Satbir on one of the motorcycles heading back to the college.

Internet cafe owner and his wife

[mafa]

beautiful photos! thanks!

> <http://theoceanofblood.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/group-of-women.jpg>

>
> A group of women gathered at the gate of the college yesterday and asked to
> see our project. I gave them a quick tour. They were so excited to see women
> who were welding.
> Drew sends in these photos – they have to come in one at a time and only
> when near an Internet cafe (see owner below).
>

> <http://theoceanofblood.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/fatehgarh-welder.jpg>
>
> welders in Fatehgarh
> <http://theoceanofblood.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/picking-up-fabric.jpg>

>
> Marin & Satbir on one of the motorcycles heading back to the college.

> <http://theoceanofblood.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/internet-cafe-owne...>