Sensory Overload

Complete sensory overload! So much as happened in the past week, I don’t even know where to begin…

I guess I’ll rewind alllll the way back to our lunch adventure from Tuesday. Jacob (our advisor/ India mentor) guided our way to the restaurant by getting us on and off the citybus a timely manner, and by timely I mean FAST! The bus he took us on was considered to be more “upscale”, costing 15rs, which is about 25cents in American money. But, Jacob told us to not compare it to our money, because to them 15rs is expensive. So, when the bus first stops, Jacob is sternly yelling at our group of 15, “Come, come, come”. Of course I, not being the most aggressive person, am stuck standing in the aisle with nothing more than a plastic swinging handle to grab onto overhead. Now, along with my lack of aggressive movement, I’m also not the sturdiest person on two feet. In fact, a select few family members like to use the term “gumby” to describe me and my floppy condition. So to give you a basic overview of the situation, I’ll say this:

Me + swinging hand rail + Indian driving = annoyed passengers, laughter, and quite the     experience

So once we got to the restaurant we had a table reserved and HUGE buffet waiting for us. I have to admit this was really my first time having Indian food, and I did try just about everything. Some… a little too spicy for my wuss of a mouth, but I’m hoping to build up my tolerance. So far, hasn’t changed much, but work in progress. The crispy baby corn was hands down my favorite and I’m really loving all the dosas and naan. I can’t really remember the names of the other items… 

So afterwards we went back to campus where Jacob had arranged for a bus to pick us and take us back to our apartments, but we all decided to venture our way home. It was the first time we all had to cross the street without the assistance of Jacob and it was the craziest, scariest, most hilarious experience. We have this huge group of like 15, so we look like a herd trying to cross the street. Only here cows are sacred and are quite safe walking down the street, unfortunately I can’t say the same for us. As soon as we stepped out into the road our herd turned into a bunch of fleeing geese and headless chickens, screaming our way across. Some of them made it the whole way in one shot. A few straggles (including myself) barely made it to the middle and had to wait there for some time before finally getting the whole way. But, hey we did it!

We all crashed around 6pm (our first time getting sleep in about 48 hours) and woke up around 6am with minor interruptions throughout the night-2:30am barking/howling dogs & thunderstorms that shook the entire apartment- and then power outage in the morning. So no fans, lights, or clean and hot water… oh the Indian life. 

I thought maybe it was the storm that knocked it out, but no. It goes out about 2-3 times a day, and I think we have traced it to the water heater and water filter switch. If those are on along with the lights, fans, and internet… then it usually goes off. We have figured out how to turn the electricity back on, so we’re dealing. I think it’s quite hilarious and just adds to the experience.

more to come...

Made it!

Finally here in Bangalore! Currently on campus getting ready for orientation. We got to our apartments at 5am this morning, unpacked, showered, and were picked up at 8am to come to campus. So i really haven't slept in almost two days, but the ride to campus definitely jolted me awake. It was crazy! Drivers and traffic are absolutely insane here. Horns blaring in every which direction, cars driving in every which direction, and I definitely learned real quick that pedestrians DON'T have the right away. Who needs coffee when you have a morning pick-me up like that?!

Well, orientation is starting soon, more updates to come :)

Up, Up & Away

              Sitting about 30,000 feet above ground, sipping on a glass of wine, watching “Love and Other Drugs”, all while being served a nice warm meal complete with salad, bread, and oh yes dessert… I must say; Life is good today. Being granted the luxury of a window seat, I look to my right and I see blue skies, fluffy clouds, and the beautiful icy mountains of Anchorage, Alaska below. I look to my left and I am accompanied by two Asian men, both whom have been extremely kind and helpful to this rookie of a traveler who had a hard time working the remote control…which has pictures… and is in English! Fortunately for me, and them, I’m a quick learner and am proud to say I now know how to not only get my remote to snap back into place, but also turn on my overhead light! So, yeah I’ll say it again; life is good today, and it’s only getting better because somewhere within the next 24 hours I will be landing in Bangalore, India. Yes, that’s right, India!

                 Now over the past three months or so, I have gotten many different reactions to my destination of choice, ranging from “Omgsh that’s amazing”, and that’s “badass”, to the oh so popular, “Indiaaa?! Why India?!!” While I wish I could have come up with some genius response about all the glory that is India, or how it has been my lifelong dream to travel there, I couldn’t. I couldn’t because really, before 6 months ago, I would have been saying the exact same thing. For those who have seen my “Paris Dream Land” of a room, you probably would have assumed that had I ever had the chance to travel, I would be on the first flight to France or some other fancy, fashion-crazed European country (hey you and me both), but for some reason I went complete opposite. I don’t know how it happened or exactly what it was that initially hooked me, but I sure got reeled in.

India probably isn’t your ideal summer vacation destination, but that is exactly why I chose it. I’m not taking this trip as just a fun four weeks away from home. I’m taking this trip as four weeks of a life changing experience; personally and academically. I want to go somewhere completely new and different from where I live. I want to be completely emerged into a new culture and tradition. I want to be challenged, taught, impacted, and inspired. I want India.

And with that said, I do believe I see the drink cart rolling my way and a glass of Cabernet calling my name. 4,078 miles to go… well to Hong Kong that is.