I just finished the first day of class. It was CLASS... I love it none the less. Here are a few pictures from my journey. New Delhi...Qutub Minar. Worlds Tallest Brick Minaret and very famous. This ancient ruin may appear tilted but it is not. I believe this tower is also a sundial. The last photo is from another ruler who failed to get his rival tower built. 

Not So Eloquent :/

Wednesday was filled with tireless CLS students and getting to the host family house.
Earlier we all ended up in a room entertaining ourselves with games after taking the placements exams. This entertainment consisted of games like "this is a what." Others involving coordination...it was funny and you know if you have ever played.

The school I attend is the American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS). It is located across the river, down the street, and on a block from where I stay.

My roomies (2 other CLS students) and I just came back from a shopping center people refer to as the "Big Bizarre." We got there by rickshaw** - a man on a bike that has a two-seater on the back.
The main roads here are paved. Metal sits all the way through the cement to where you can see it. It seems to make some roads more smooth... Ill have to ask my 'buddy' back home about that.
So..yes there are people coming from every direction! Opposite to the US they drive on the other side of the street. Only even on the opposite side there are people driving the opposite direction. There are cows, stray dogs, people, and vendors on the side of the street... That is in addition to the motor and bike rickshaws**, motorbikes (not exactly motorcycles), and cars. Imagine that!

(excuse my typos please...im exhausted and half functioning...im going to bed soon)

All is coming along :)

P.S. (btw) I dont mind e-mails.

People are People Everywhere...

Where have the days gone? There has been so much traveling and running around that it's almost unreal that I have been away for a week. I have attempted to write in this blog for a couple days now and either the internet went out or I was way too tired to understand enough of myself to make any sense.

Since Monday, there have been more orientations. The orientations became more enterataining but they have also come with a common message. A message of safety and a message of fear. Don't Eat the wrong thing! The doctors on many of the panels have been greatly informative. I dont think there is really any information you can give a person who doesnt eat spicy food... Monday I did get a little sick. Last night I also realized my body was fighting off a sinus infection which I never get. I trust my body though...even before I became sick to my stomach my tear ducts were warning me. I came to tears just looking at the food in front of me. I'm eating better since; keep me in your prayers.

Monday Evening:

Myself, Jyoti, Harleen, and Kim (new friends... two are studying Punjabi in Jarpur**) went out to India Gate, which has been explained to me as a place similar to our National Mall. It wasnt too far from the hotel. It was probably about a mile walk. This walk to crucial! I have never sweat so much in my life. It was HOT! lol... At India Gate there was more staring. We were actually stared at by a group of monk which totally found awesome. People were trying to get us to buy things... we didnt but I did learn how to give a stern "no." Many of them were persistant.

Tuesday and Random Realizations (In Lucknow):

• I realized my watch was taking bad time. I dont know what the deal with that was... the temperature maybe.
•  This place could easily fix water and electricity problems with the implementation of sustatinable living!!! Its really ridiculous. It puts into perspective the inequality of the world and blessings from above...the ones some of us take for granted.
• I've seen workers in New Delhi and recently in Lucknow and it's unfamiliar seeing one or two men working on a highway or building...in plain clothes using whatever small tools they use to construct with. It is weird because I know in the states people contract out for work and many people take no time to build or fix something like a road or a house.

I have those random realizations for days...

Anyway... Im in Lucknow. The streets are crazy ill explain that later. Another update soon!!!

Tired...Kinda...

Currently in New Delhi. Today is Monday...it's 7am. Yes, why am I awake? Well, I suppose it could be the jet leg. All is well. Ill try to post pictures soon. The group of people I am with is awesome! Everyone is super motivated and I love it. Yesterday we went to see some sites. We also went to the Kingdom of Dreams which is a popular place... almost like a Disneyland for Indians minus the rides :) - Food and Shopping and Dancing!!!

On the observant side of things...many people stare at our group. A giant group of mostly white kids...lol. They have taken pictures of us... some of the people studying here have already studied the languages the people speak out here (Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi...I think I said those right.) ... so at times we do get to interact but we have yet to scratch the surface of experience.

Well, its about time for breakfast for me.


Good Morning and Good Night.

Whatever is to come...

Namaste,

I am feeling the anticipation and the butterflies in my gut. It's a surreal feeling, and tomorrow we take off for New Delhi. Today was full of loooooooong informational seminars. We were told not to eat opened fruit from the fruit venders... not to walk alone at night (women)... to scream when being harassed... and yet to try Everything.

I definitely packed too much but I will be getting tailored clothes made for cheap with my rupees*.

I'm not feeling long winded. There is however a lot on the brain.

I've met a ton of great people. This program has picked very diverse citizens 595 of 5000 (something like that). Although I'm not ready for the heat, I am very ready to learn a new language and to learn about a new culture. 

Ill try to keep you posted.

Last Day Home

Tomorrow my journey begins. I travel back to Washington, DC and enter a world of Critical Language Scholarshipers :) Today, I am finally bursting with excitement... a rare live experience.

I have all sorts of thoughts on what is to come and on what is taking place. Being home, being in India... learning, living, adjusting, culture shock... If you could speed up time in order to see everything happening now that would explain it. It's amazing how time is slowed just enough for us to really experience life. Lets see what happens...

Anticipation

I'm not sure if I really will blog but this is a start. Soon - in like four days - I will be in India. Imagine that... I'm pretty excited. I am so excited I'm not sure exactly how to be. My current concern is baggage. I think i have packed too much. Since I am a compulsive over packer, it's shocking that I have downsized. So is it really too much???