Going To Market

We took a rickshaw to market the other day and it was such an overwhelmingly amazing experience. The markets here are much different than in the US and instead of buying from a grocery store, most families have specific places and/or street vendors they go to to buy their vegetables, fruits, pastries etc.. There are so many people, noises and new aromas but it is such a wonderful thing. Everything is so fresh and grown so locally. An immense amount of fruits and vegetables of which I have never heard of or even seen before. Anxious as I am to try new things, every corner and every stand was a learning experience in itself.

Realizations of Relativity

Tonight I went to the Transformers movie at a theatre with my host siblings. It was so interesting to learn these little differences and similarities that we all share. For instance, the theatre was in a mall, much like we have in the US, but you have to go through metal detectors (common for many buildings here) to get in. At the start of the movie, the national anthem is played. There is an intermission! (I thought it was the end of the movie and was very upset because I wanted to know what happened to Optimus Prime) People clap and woot and holler whenever something cool happens, and at the end of the movie. 

Though these are petty differences and unimportant In the ultimate scheme of things, it helped me to further realize that we are all very similar beings. Though born and raised thousands of miles apart from one another, we all develop very similar habits and have similar forms of entertainment and humor. People are people and we are all somehow related. It was a cool realization that I had, siting in this theatre that looked exactly like the one I have at home. It's amazing how similar we all are.

What Indians Know About America

This afternoon, after we finished our Hindi classes for the day, we went to a local school to volunteer and talk with the students. We were asked to discuss famous people from our countries. When I was with my two little students who speak very little English, trying to talk and point and sign language to give my words more meaning, I managed to ask them what they know about America. 

Justin Bieber. Michael Jackson. Lady Gaga. 

These answers disgust me because I realized that this is all they know about American culture and how there is this pre-disposed assumption of what Americans are like. It makes me sad because when I think of famous Indian people I think of people like Mahatma Gandhi and Ravi Shankar. When these children, who barely speak any English, are asked about my country, they think about Ke$ha.

Just an interesting thought to ponder...

Day By Day

As I have been going to school for almost a week now, I am finally adjusted to the time, food and people. My schedule day by day is starting to become more prominent and I am able to develop a sort of rhythm. The school I am going to is a private school in Pune and it is made out of old train cars. It is very unique and a very neat atmosphere to be learning in. 

So my day starts at about 7:00, I wake up, drink tea and my driver picks me up and takes me to school. We then eat breakfast (generally iddly and chutney or rice) meditate, and start our Hindi lessons for the day. 3 hours of learning (more like struggling) and we take a chai break. 1 more hour of lessons and we eat lunch (usually dahl, chapati, rice, potatoes and other vegetables). Then, depending on the day we either have an hour to talk to students of the school in Hindi about cultural things, or we have grammar practice, teacher help, or peer meetings with our director. After that we have [more] chai, dance class, yoga or volunteering. We go home around 4 and spend the night with our families. My days are long and hot and filled with so much information. I am thoroughly exhausted but could never be happier.

Chaos In The Streets

We were given some time today to walk around and wonder through the streets and stores nearby. Being a blonde and white American I attract many stares. I am the only blonde (besides another student I'm with) that I've seen in 4 days. 

There are so many people and so many noises 24/7 so it's much different than I am used to. Honking is inescapable. People are ubiquitous (to say the least). Trash is found in every nook and cranny of the streets. Stray dogs roam the area, searching for anything they could possibly eat. The roads are like a sea of rickshaws and motorcycles; one of my friends actually compared crossing the streets to a game of frogger. 

The city itself is beginning to feel more and more comfortable and I am already becoming used to seeing many of the sights; much like this one. 

Welcoming Ceremony

Tonight, after a day of in-city orientation, we walked through the city a bit to a building where we were welcomed to India and introduced to our host families. We were given a traditional Indian welcome; complete with a traditional religious song, lighting of candles, beautiful flower necklaces and smearing of red paste on our foreheads. It was an incredibly beautiful ceremony. Afterwards we were able to talk with our new parents and siblings for a bit. Tomorrow will be the day that we are "handed over to our new families," and I am very excited because my family seems incredibly hospitable and caring.

Plane and Bus Ride to Pune

We made it!!! We departed from Newwark Airport at 8:00 p.m. And landed in Mumbai at 9:20 p.m. After going through customs and immigration and taking a very long bus ride we finally arrived in Pune at 3:00 this morning and checked into our hotel. Walking out of the airport in Mumbai was a huge gust of humidity, heat and people. The bus here was extremely chaotic with hundreds of new sights and smells and it was surprising how many people were out in the early morning. This is the first thing I woke up to this morning; my first sight of India in the daylight.

Traveling and Pre-Departure Orientation

After a super long day of traveling yesterday, and trying to learn Hindi on the plane, I met with another girl traveling from Montana and we got on a shuttle to the dorms that we are staying at. Driving through the city was incredibly overwhelming. A combination of scary driving (running 3 stop signs in total), new smells, strange sights and no mountains. We checked into orientation, ate dinner and met the people we will be spending the next seven weeks with. 

Today, we woke up, ate breakfast and began a full day of learning and reviewing rules, expectations, goals and ways to be safe in the city. It was a long day but very helpful in the overall mental preparation for departure and what to expect from our host families, friends and teachers. We finished orientation at 5 then were set free into the city with a stipend, a curfew and a radius to stay in. We were able to go get our last American burgers then went out and found a movie theater. 

Tomorrow, our flight leaves at 8:00 p.m. and we will be on the plane for either 15 or 17 hours (no one seems to know), but regardless, it's going to be a super long day because when we land in Mumbai we are headed straight to our in-city orientation. 

I've been starting to learn the Hindi alphabet but it's been extremely overwhelming and difficult. I'm hoping to get a few basic phrases down before landing in Mumbai. Although we are leaving tomorrow, the reality of it all has yet to hit me. I still feel as though we have weeks until our trip.

24 Hours Away

Everyone keeps asking me "are you scared?" "are you nervous?" "did you hear about that rape?" (etc..)
and I kept brushing it off. Maybe becuase I hadn't fully thought of the entirety of my situation. And then I did. (that's when I got nervous)
This could possibly be explained by the fact that I am travelling 7,985 miles away from my home and everyone and everthing I know. Maybe it's because I have never met anyone that I am going with. Or it could be the fact that I am going to be immersed in a language I don't speak. A language I have never even heard being spoken. Well, whatever may be the cause to my nervousness, I think fear is a very valid emotion and ultimately going to be helpful and an overall beneficial learning experience.

T-5 Days

Hello to all friends and family! I am less than one week away from embarking on my travels to India, where I will be learning Hindi and about Indian foods, traditions, religions and holidays for seven weeks. I will be going with 15 other students from all over the US, on a program sponsored by the department of state, called NSLI-Y. I am so extremely excited yet nervous at the same time. This will be such an incredible learning experience and opportunity for which I am so entirely thankful for. I will be continuously updating this blog so feel free to check in often to learn of my travels, my stories and my experiences.