Comfort

I honestly had a moment after being in Pune 4 days and having become ill every one of those nights where I questioned my decision to come to India. I am going to be here til the beginning of May, and at that point I wanted nothing to do with Indian food every again. I ate fruit, toast and rice for 3 days until my stomach recovered. Luckily once I was feeling better those thoughts passed very quickly. We had a discussion in my social justice class the first day about our observations about India and differences between it and the US. One girl commented that what was so surprising to her was how comfortable she was. The differences weren't really that big. I felt that same sentiment sitting on a bench at the park with Didi and Hannah where a group of women were talking about how to prepare a popular Indian dessert, exchanging recipes while their children played on the playground. Hannah and I keep having dreams about being at home in the US where we are trying to get back to India (don't worry Mom I will come home).

Didi even made us pasta in cheese sauce and mashed potatoes after I felt better, which were absolutely delicious (she called them bland- yes, our food is quite bland compared to flavorful, spicy Indian dishes). Although I can't seem to remember half the names of the food that I eat, it all tastes delicious and my spice tolerance is definitely increasing. I was scared to explore our surrounding area with Hannah the first weekend in case we got lost (always the party pooper), making her turn around after 20 minutes so we could retrace our steps, but the next weekend we walked around and she took pictures for 2.5 hours in absolutely no direction. Walking without direction is kind of freeing, and I have less fear of losing my way. The security everywhere is also pretty strict, with bags being checked at stores and all; I have yet to feel unsafe here. I can't go so far as saying I feel comfortable crossing the street, but I definitely have fewer panic attacks as I weave step by step through the motorcycles who I am confident probably maybe hopefully that won't hit me. I am amazed at how traffic functions so well with motorcycles and cars and buses having no speed limits or lanes, just a common direction and lots of honking communication. Although the honking can become irritating when its in your ear, the soundtrack of life has its own wonderful quality to it. In our flat, there is always the noise of construction, birds, cats fighting, babies crying, people yelling, children laughing, school bands, Didi on the phone, Hindi music on the radio- a variety of sounds that have become comforting. 

I am off for three days to a tribal village six hours away with my group. I have to observe and write papers for two of my classes, but I am looking forward to it, especially after hearing stories from my public health professor about his two year experience living in a tribal village.

Here's a link to my photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2083674&id=1337370166&l=256eff2ec4

Namaskaar!

I truly don't know where to begin. I have officially been in Pune for 2 weeks already, living with my host mom and another student from the program, and in India for almost 3 weeks. Today I received my personal internet stick connection so I will be able to post now successfully!

After a 15 hour plane ride from Newark to Mumbai, our group gathered in the airport, most of us having been on the same flight, and went to a hotel for the night. We left the next morning for a 3 day recover-from-jet-lag orientation at a forest lodge in Durshet, halfway between Mumbai and Pune. All 30 of us were exhausted, loving the variety and flavors of the Indian food served, and super excited to be in India. A young school group stayed overnight at the lodge, having a talent show that we were invited to watch as well as a massive dance party that we were forced to join. Tea was outside our door every morning at 6:30 am before breakfast (it was also served between meals with biscuit cookies), and we learned how to take bucket showers. We were taught a few phrases in Marathi- the language of the state of Maharastra including "I'm full. Stop!" so that our host mothers don't overfeed us, and "Take me to this address" to use with the rickshaw drivers. No one made fun of each other for going to bed at 9:00, and we sat through a whole 3 hour long Bollywood movie, Jab We Met (when we met).

Arriving in Pune, we were taken to the Alliance for Global Education's program center (the organization that runs the study abroad program) which is on the Fergusson College campus where we take classes this semester. All of us eat breakfast at the program center every morning and do homework/hang out during the day between classes. Indian students from various colleges in Pune (there's over a 100 according to Wikipedia) had lunch with us and toured us around the city, showing us how to rickshaw our way around, navigate the roads/sidewalks and cross the street safely- something that takes a lot of practice and calm.

Didi, what Hannah and I call our host mother (meaning elder sister), was standing on her little balcony, when we pulled up to meet her. She knew the drill- she's hosted students from the Alliance a few times before and has also traveled quite a bit, including the US. Didi is retired after having been a principal and teacher of mentally challenged children, and she's currently making documentaries about their success stories. It's just the 3 of us in her apartment (flat), with Didi's grown children living abroad with their families (one in San Fransisco and one in Singapore). We live about a 45 minute walk from the college, which Hannah and I have already done many times. Didi walked us around the neighborhood and local area and apologized for everyone staring at us, but what else can we expect? We get stared at a lot, like all the time. Laughed at, talked about, creepily smiled at and just plain gawked at. I'm waiting for the day someone falls off their motorcycle (fun fact- there's more 2 wheelers in Pune than 4 wheelers) staring at us.

I will catch you all up with everything- soon! Have to get some sleep for my 6:30 am yoga classes though.