lockdown

Unfortunately today we are on security lockdown here at CSI. I don’t know how many people have heard about this but there has been some terror bombings that took place in two cities in India. Don’t be alarmed, we are all fine and we are hundreds of miles away from all the action but here is a summary of what The Times of India has reported so far:

Back-to-back Terror Bombings leave urban India feeling vulnerable.
The Indian army has been called in after more than 50 people were killed in two cities. Ahmedabad, in the State of Gujarat, suffered the worst when 17 small bombs went off periodically throughout Saturday. The next day, more bombs went off in Bangalore. The Times says that the bombs were placed in cars and bicycles throughout the city and exploded at different points in the day. Other news outlets have said that there is a Muslim extremist group that took credit for the attacks and say that if things don’t change, then more is to come. Exactly what “things” they are referring to, we don’t know. The tv stations have also rumored that three men here in Chennai have been arrested for being associated with the incidents in Ahmedabad. Those are about all the details we know of. If you want to read more about the situation go to
www.epaper.timesofindia.com.
However if you are my mother I do not recommend you go read more because it will just make you worry.

For now, we are not leaving CSI unless we have to teach. In which case we are no longer taking the city buses and IAPA has organized a private van to transport us from here on out. We are also forbidden from the movie theaters, Spencers Plaza Mall, and the bizarres (basically anywhere with big crowds).
No one here is really all that worried though. The locals seem unperturbed and the other students and I are just irritated that our plans for the day are getting messed up.
I guess this gives me more time to write. Next up - stories from Delhi, where we went for the weekend to see the Taj Mahal and experienced out first domestic air travel here in India!

keep the peace everyone

-S

[Oh yes, I just found out that here at the hostel, there is a small ‘communications room’ near the Church main office where they will let us use computers with a decent Internet connection. I am thrilled that they will let us use it but a little upset that I have only discovered this seven weeks into the trip...go figure ]