Well it's been a while since I have posted a blog. I have been really busy trying to balance out work along with my ph.d and my cousins wedding which recently took place here in Aizawl, the capital of the state of Mizoram. Everything went well and it feels good to be back on track now. I had been so caught up with things I needed to get done, things I needed, and things I wanted to do. We often forget about the simple pleasures that life has to offer. I was reminded that it's the simple things in life that ground me and keep me focused to do a good job with what is in front of me. I have been dying to share my experiences and journey while meeting the borrowers and a little about the wedding as well. The past few weeks has been inspiring, motivational, eye opening and a good workout. You will eventually get what I mean when I talk about a good workout.
Zohmingthangi, who belongs to 'Bambie Group', is one of the many borrowers who really inspired me. She is a 32-year-old mother of 3 kids who purchased a loom with the loan for weaving. She knew her business so well and was happy to share and answer all my queries. She even helped me locate other borrowers whom I had to meet. Her work of art and the quality is worth talking about and sharing. She weaves 'puans' which are traditional wrap around skirts worn by Mizo women. She even showed me some of her finished work of art. As my mothers birthday was just around the corner, I bought her one as a gift. Boy! my mother was pleased. The passion that Zohmingthangi has for her work made me realise that you can overcome a lot of stress whether its a relationship, family problems or anything by doing something you love.[caption id="attachment_5401" align="aligncenter" width="581"]
Zohmingthangi carrying her sleeping baby while she takes a break.[/caption]Â [caption id="attachment_5403" align="aligncenter" width="689"]
Threads of various colours used for weaving.[/caption][caption id="attachment_5406" align="aligncenter" width="691"]
A display of the beautiful 'puans' made by Zohmingthangi.[/caption]Thinlaihnemi, the lady with an unusual name, Â is another borrower, who showed me that life may not go the way you planned but there is always hope to start something new. For a mizo her name is very unusual and everyone at the office were all eager to meet her. It actually means someone who comforts your heart. She is a divorcee and a mother of three children. After her divorce, she fell into depression. However, through the support of Milaap, she started selling vegetables at the market in Zuangtui, which is a little far away from the main town, Aizawl. Being the only vegetable vendor in Zuangtui, business has been going well and she has been able to support her children. This has given her back her self-confidence and hope. She was a soft hearted lady who smiled throughout our meeting.[caption id="attachment_5414" align="aligncenter" width="626"]
Thinlaihnemi, the lady with the unusual name.[/caption]One of the most hardworking woman I have ever come across was Lalthlangi, a 47-year-old mother of 3 children from Thuampui in Aizawl, Mizoram. Despite her husband being the bread-winner, his alcohol problem has affected their family emotionally and financially.  To support her family and ease her problems, Lalthlangi keeps herself busy by hiring a truck to commission stone chips (used for building houses) which she gets from a quarry on the outskirts of Aizawl. She also sells eggs in her neighbourhood and supplies sacks of sticky rice in the main town sent from the villages. At night she weaves and sewing bags which are sold at the market.[caption id="attachment_5416" align="aligncenter" width="709"]
Lalthlangi weaving bags.[/caption]These are just a few from the list of borrowers who really inspired and motivated me. Now about the wedding. Two days before the main event, our tent which had been set up and decorated collapsed because of the heavy rain. There was chaos at the scene. We had just one day left to set up everything from scratch. 60 policemen were sent to setup the structure at 6 in the morning. While some were putting up the structure, others were decorating and the rest were washing materials used to cover the structure in the swimming pool. It was quite an unusual and spectacular sight. By 11 at night almost everything had been completed. The flower and seating arrangements were also done and the venue looked beautiful. On the main day, everything went smoothly and everyone had a good time. [caption id="attachment_5417" align="aligncenter" width="701"]
One day left to set up the entire structure.[/caption][caption id="attachment_5418" align="aligncenter" width="702"]
Almost done....[/caption]Now finally about working out. As we know that Mizoram (land of the hill people)Â is a land of rolling hills, valleys, rivers and lakes. As many as 21 major hill ranges or peaks of different heights run through the length and breadth of the state, with plains scattered here and there. This means that one has a lot of climbing up and down to do during field visits. I even climbed over a fence because I did not want to climb up 200 and something stairs to get to the other side. Despite all the trekking, the breath taking view from every hill and meeting the borrowers is worth it.[caption id="attachment_5419" align="aligncenter" width="679"]
Stairway to losing weight.
Photo on the left: Downward view from what I thought was halfway up the stairs.
Photo on the right: Definitely not halfway up the stairs.[/caption][caption id="attachment_5422" align="aligncenter" width="680"]
I was amazed to hear that nobody has ever had any accidents here.[/caption][caption id="attachment_5420" align="aligncenter" width="675"]
Climbing across a wire fence to get to the other side rather than taking those endless stairs.[/caption]Â Â Â
Zohmingthangi carrying her sleeping baby while she takes a break.[/caption]Â [caption id="attachment_5403" align="aligncenter" width="689"]
Threads of various colours used for weaving.[/caption][caption id="attachment_5406" align="aligncenter" width="691"]
A display of the beautiful 'puans' made by Zohmingthangi.[/caption]Thinlaihnemi, the lady with an unusual name, Â is another borrower, who showed me that life may not go the way you planned but there is always hope to start something new. For a mizo her name is very unusual and everyone at the office were all eager to meet her. It actually means someone who comforts your heart. She is a divorcee and a mother of three children. After her divorce, she fell into depression. However, through the support of Milaap, she started selling vegetables at the market in Zuangtui, which is a little far away from the main town, Aizawl. Being the only vegetable vendor in Zuangtui, business has been going well and she has been able to support her children. This has given her back her self-confidence and hope. She was a soft hearted lady who smiled throughout our meeting.[caption id="attachment_5414" align="aligncenter" width="626"]
Thinlaihnemi, the lady with the unusual name.[/caption]One of the most hardworking woman I have ever come across was Lalthlangi, a 47-year-old mother of 3 children from Thuampui in Aizawl, Mizoram. Despite her husband being the bread-winner, his alcohol problem has affected their family emotionally and financially.  To support her family and ease her problems, Lalthlangi keeps herself busy by hiring a truck to commission stone chips (used for building houses) which she gets from a quarry on the outskirts of Aizawl. She also sells eggs in her neighbourhood and supplies sacks of sticky rice in the main town sent from the villages. At night she weaves and sewing bags which are sold at the market.[caption id="attachment_5416" align="aligncenter" width="709"]
Lalthlangi weaving bags.[/caption]These are just a few from the list of borrowers who really inspired and motivated me. Now about the wedding. Two days before the main event, our tent which had been set up and decorated collapsed because of the heavy rain. There was chaos at the scene. We had just one day left to set up everything from scratch. 60 policemen were sent to setup the structure at 6 in the morning. While some were putting up the structure, others were decorating and the rest were washing materials used to cover the structure in the swimming pool. It was quite an unusual and spectacular sight. By 11 at night almost everything had been completed. The flower and seating arrangements were also done and the venue looked beautiful. On the main day, everything went smoothly and everyone had a good time. [caption id="attachment_5417" align="aligncenter" width="701"]
One day left to set up the entire structure.[/caption][caption id="attachment_5418" align="aligncenter" width="702"]
Almost done....[/caption]Now finally about working out. As we know that Mizoram (land of the hill people)Â is a land of rolling hills, valleys, rivers and lakes. As many as 21 major hill ranges or peaks of different heights run through the length and breadth of the state, with plains scattered here and there. This means that one has a lot of climbing up and down to do during field visits. I even climbed over a fence because I did not want to climb up 200 and something stairs to get to the other side. Despite all the trekking, the breath taking view from every hill and meeting the borrowers is worth it.[caption id="attachment_5419" align="aligncenter" width="679"]
Stairway to losing weight.Photo on the left: Downward view from what I thought was halfway up the stairs.
Photo on the right: Definitely not halfway up the stairs.[/caption][caption id="attachment_5422" align="aligncenter" width="680"]
I was amazed to hear that nobody has ever had any accidents here.[/caption][caption id="attachment_5420" align="aligncenter" width="675"]
Climbing across a wire fence to get to the other side rather than taking those endless stairs.[/caption]Â Â Â
