Well it's 2010! Hard to believe, huh? Yesterday marked exactly 6 months in India, and still I'm learning about this country, and its sometimes nonsensical practices! Like yesterday, I learned something from my host mom; plants cannot be touched, watered, or plucked at night time, because, well, "plants sleep too." I find that in India, everything has a specific time to sleep. All Hindu gods sleep for some time each day, and a curtain is drawn in front of them in every temple to mark this. Rajkot, a small city I visited in the state of Gujarat, naps every day from 2 to 4 PM, and the streets become almost deserted (for Indian standards)! I, on the other hand, have not taken to the Indian pastime of napping, and have kept up my same sleeping habits from home (bed time on a school night is 12...)!
Moving on, I have to say that I have A LOT to look forward to in the coming months. First of all, next week, I can officially hang up my two hideous navy blue and baby pink school uniforms and put away my clunky black sneakers because...I'm finished with school! Just a few more days, and I'm done! I have permission from my principal for a leave in February, and then in March, the school has exams (which I don't take). After exams, there is a short break, and April marks the beginning of the next school year. It's quite a different academic schedule from mine back home, but it seems to work in my benefit! Before I came on my exchange, my grandma asked me why I was voluntarily doing a fifth year of high school. She said, "You're already smart, you don't need it!" Well I do believe that human beings keep growing and learning every day, and from all sorts of experiences, but my grandma was right. Almost everything that I've learned while over here in India, has occurred outside of my school.
I mentioned above that I'll be taking leave for the full month of February. It is because two big things are happening next month. First, my mom and aunt Mitzi are coming to India! I am so excited to see them, and to show them where I've been living, what I've been eating, all that I'm learning. It will be interesting to be with them when they experience all the 'culture shocks' that I experienced in my first weeks here. They will stay here in Indore a few days, then we'll go together to Delhi and Chandigarh, to volunteer with Rotary's PolioPlus program. I'm sure we'll have an amazing time, volunteering, sight seeing, and just experiencing India!
After two weeks with them, I'll leave again to go on another tour with the exchange students. This time, to southern India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Goa). I'm so thrilled to have the opportunity to visit the south! All the sights, smells, tastes, and languages will be completely different from what I have been exposed to for the last six months. Some things I know about south India; Coffee, pronounced "coppy", is the drink of choice, not tea. Coconut oil is used in all of the food preparations. Most south Indians eat a mountain-like pile of rice at each meal. It has a more tropical climate than where I stay. South Indian silk is absolutely gorgeous. Once ruled by the Portuguese, is one of the most popular Indian tourist destinations, known for beautiful beaches, fresh sea food, and sex tourism...I'm only interested in the beaches!!!
On new year's eve in Gujarat, I made a short term resolution to hula-hoop and exercise everyday. I was starting to feel lazy and even though I've lost a little weight over here, I just wasn't feeling great. After three consecutive days of hula-hooping, all I had a bruised waist. I guess I jumped in too quickly! So now I'm trying to be more well rounded, also doing yoga and dancing in my room. My next host family lives in walking distance from a sports club, and they told me I'll be able to go swimming every day! I am also planning on taking some more art classes and a dance class in March and April, which I am looking forward to!
I'll try to blog this month about some things I never made time to write about: Diwali, North India Tour, Christmas, and Gujarat Tour. I'll try to fit it all in before I leave in Feb., and I won't be able to blog for the entire month!
Happy New Year to you all!!! Chloe
Moving on, I have to say that I have A LOT to look forward to in the coming months. First of all, next week, I can officially hang up my two hideous navy blue and baby pink school uniforms and put away my clunky black sneakers because...I'm finished with school! Just a few more days, and I'm done! I have permission from my principal for a leave in February, and then in March, the school has exams (which I don't take). After exams, there is a short break, and April marks the beginning of the next school year. It's quite a different academic schedule from mine back home, but it seems to work in my benefit! Before I came on my exchange, my grandma asked me why I was voluntarily doing a fifth year of high school. She said, "You're already smart, you don't need it!" Well I do believe that human beings keep growing and learning every day, and from all sorts of experiences, but my grandma was right. Almost everything that I've learned while over here in India, has occurred outside of my school.
I mentioned above that I'll be taking leave for the full month of February. It is because two big things are happening next month. First, my mom and aunt Mitzi are coming to India! I am so excited to see them, and to show them where I've been living, what I've been eating, all that I'm learning. It will be interesting to be with them when they experience all the 'culture shocks' that I experienced in my first weeks here. They will stay here in Indore a few days, then we'll go together to Delhi and Chandigarh, to volunteer with Rotary's PolioPlus program. I'm sure we'll have an amazing time, volunteering, sight seeing, and just experiencing India!
After two weeks with them, I'll leave again to go on another tour with the exchange students. This time, to southern India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Goa). I'm so thrilled to have the opportunity to visit the south! All the sights, smells, tastes, and languages will be completely different from what I have been exposed to for the last six months. Some things I know about south India; Coffee, pronounced "coppy", is the drink of choice, not tea. Coconut oil is used in all of the food preparations. Most south Indians eat a mountain-like pile of rice at each meal. It has a more tropical climate than where I stay. South Indian silk is absolutely gorgeous. Once ruled by the Portuguese, is one of the most popular Indian tourist destinations, known for beautiful beaches, fresh sea food, and sex tourism...I'm only interested in the beaches!!!
On new year's eve in Gujarat, I made a short term resolution to hula-hoop and exercise everyday. I was starting to feel lazy and even though I've lost a little weight over here, I just wasn't feeling great. After three consecutive days of hula-hooping, all I had a bruised waist. I guess I jumped in too quickly! So now I'm trying to be more well rounded, also doing yoga and dancing in my room. My next host family lives in walking distance from a sports club, and they told me I'll be able to go swimming every day! I am also planning on taking some more art classes and a dance class in March and April, which I am looking forward to!
I'll try to blog this month about some things I never made time to write about: Diwali, North India Tour, Christmas, and Gujarat Tour. I'll try to fit it all in before I leave in Feb., and I won't be able to blog for the entire month!
Happy New Year to you all!!! Chloe
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