Of course, during my time here in India, I am extremely appreciative of my host parents for taking care of me, and providing me with the best experience they were capable of. I am thankful for my friends and family back home, and my exchange student friends in Gujarat, for keeping me sane and happy, and getting me through the times that needed getting through...
But here is a list of thanks, to the people here, who unknowingly made my year that much better, and that much more memorable!
Thanks to... the fitting room attendant in Pantaloons department store, who gave me a big hug and wished me a Happy Diwali during the Diwali festival. This was my first hug after arriving in India, and I appreciated how this lady, unlike so many others who just stare or point at me, accepted me, and welcomed me to be a part of the culture here.
Thanks to... a young boy at my school Sathya Sai, for giving me a friendship day bracelet! Friendship day is a popular holiday here, and most commonly, students exchange chocolates or bracelets. A few girls in my class gave me bracelets, but it was odd for me when they just dropped them on my desk while walking by. I had to stay after school that day to talk with my accounts teacher and try to understand the material (a lost cause). Because of some activity going on that day, he moved me into a grade 7 class room, where a few young boys were still studying. A few of them passed glances as I entered the room, and then they laughed and ran out of the room. One of them stayed though, and he smiled at me. He immediately began asking me questions about America, and why I had come to India. He seemed genuinly interested, and we kept talking for 10 minutes. When he had to leave, he gave me a small bracelet that said "Friends of the heart, Shall never part." It was such a small gesture, but it was the first time a student in the school had reached to me, and I was so grateful.
Thanks to...the five ladies in my train compartment who kept me company on an overnight train journey I took by myself. I am not sure if they were sisters or friends, but the image of those five ladies, all in sarees, with their legs crossed sitting on the train benches, shelling huge bags of green peas, is unforgettable. In broken English, they asked me so many questions, and offered me to shell some peas with them. They shared some snacks with me, and we went on like this, talking and shelling, for a few hours! Though I have so many other adventures travelling on Indian trains, I will always remember those five ladies!
Thanks to...a host family I had in Punjab for one night, during my North India tour. In Punjab, us exchange students were paired up with Rotarian hosts, who volunteered to host for one night. I went with two of my good friends Haley and Stine, to stay with an elderly couple. When we reached their home, Haley was really sick and went straight to sleep. Stine and I were talking with the couple for a little while, and the husband asked if we would prefer a "formal or casual dinner." We both said we were a bit exhausted, and would appreciate a casual dinner. Well, about 15 minutes later when the food was ready, they called us to come. I thought we would be eating at the dinner table, but soon realized, that through the door of their bedroom, I could see a vinyl tablecloth spread out on their bed. Needless to say, the four of us enjoyed a full Indian dinner, lounging on their not-so-big bed, and it was one of the most candid, and innocently hysterical moments of my year!
Thanks to... the girls in Kindergarden who took the school bus with me in the afternoons. These girls made every bus ride home entertaining, and made me laugh even when I wasn't feeling in the mood to. Everyday they would talk to me in Hindi and ask me to open their water bottles, or fill theirs up with my own water, or point to another girl and tell me something that she did. And I don't think some of them ever caught on that I couldn't understand a word they were speaking! They would ask me my name, and I would reply "Chloe". Bacause they didn't recognize this name, they tried to repeat it the way I had said it. After about a week, all the started calling me lovely. I was confused at first, but then realized they though Lovely was my name! When I would get on the bus they would grab at my uniform and say "Lovely didi" which means big sister (they called all the older girls on the bus didi). I thought this was so cute, I never told them they had my name wrong. I liked being Lovely didi! In my last week at school, they saw in my notebook I had out that I had written my name in Hindi. I pointed to it and said "this is my name" in Hindi. They sounded it out, and started whispering "Chloe" to eachother. The one girl on the bus who spoke english looked at me and said "But didi, you told us your name was Lovely!" That same girl became the translator for the others, who would ask her questions and she would ask me in English. One day, she asked me "Didi, do you eat eggs?" to which I replied yes. She said "Didi, do you eat meat?" and I answered no. She smiled and told the other girls, but then looked back at me and said "Didi, please don't eat eggs." The girls were so innocent and lively, and I could never focus on reading whatever book I had in my hands, because they would always distract me. One day, I heard they were playing some game in front of me. I looked up and thought it was "Rock, Paper, Scissors" but when I listened to what they were saying, it was soon clear this was no ordinary game! This was "Lady, Hunter, Tiger" where hunter kills tiger, tiger bites lady, and the lady gets to slap the hunter!
Lastly, Thanks to... a neighbor I met one time in my colony. I introduced myself, and she said "Oooh I like your name! Very spicy!" I thought it was so funny, no one had ever called me spicy!
That was until I came to know she thought my name was Clove...a spice.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Namaste! नमस्ते!
How is it that on one of my last blog entries while in India, that I JUST discovered how to type in Hindi on this program? How amazing is this!
नमस्ते। मेरा नाम कलोई गमर हैं।
Namaste. Meraa nam Chloe Gummer hain. = Hello. My name is Chloe Gummer
Quite amazing indeed!
नमस्ते। मेरा नाम कलोई गमर हैं।
Namaste. Meraa nam Chloe Gummer hain. = Hello. My name is Chloe Gummer
Quite amazing indeed!
What a Wonderful Ride!
Happy Easter everyone!
Well like I said, what a wonderful ride this has been. I have just 3 days left in India, two in Indore, and the last spent sitting in the Delhi International Airport for 14 hours! It is almost surreal that this time has come - but alas, I'm heading home. Though I was scheduled to return May 8th, I will now be arriving home April 8th. I feel the need to see, and be with my family right now, and I am very thankful that Rotary understood. My family is my number one prized possession, and though there is a great distance between us, they have stayed close by, in my heart (no matter how cliched that sounds, it is how I feel!).
I have almost finished my packing! I am proud to say that everything I wanted to bring home fits into my two suitcases, including my hula hoop, a Ganesh idol that I sculpted, 15 sets of bangles, and a few kg (not pounds!) of Indian sweets! It is strange to see my bedroom almost empty. It appears almost as it did when I first arrived here! Don't tell my hosts, but the only noticeable difference to the room after I leave will be a few stains on the walls where I killed unsuspecting mosquitoes. I guess I had to leave my mark in some way!
Even though the clock on my computer reads 1:42 AM, I will try to pump out a few blogs tonight that I had been planning on writing throughout the year, and never got around to doing!
Peace and Love,
Chloe
Well like I said, what a wonderful ride this has been. I have just 3 days left in India, two in Indore, and the last spent sitting in the Delhi International Airport for 14 hours! It is almost surreal that this time has come - but alas, I'm heading home. Though I was scheduled to return May 8th, I will now be arriving home April 8th. I feel the need to see, and be with my family right now, and I am very thankful that Rotary understood. My family is my number one prized possession, and though there is a great distance between us, they have stayed close by, in my heart (no matter how cliched that sounds, it is how I feel!).
I have almost finished my packing! I am proud to say that everything I wanted to bring home fits into my two suitcases, including my hula hoop, a Ganesh idol that I sculpted, 15 sets of bangles, and a few kg (not pounds!) of Indian sweets! It is strange to see my bedroom almost empty. It appears almost as it did when I first arrived here! Don't tell my hosts, but the only noticeable difference to the room after I leave will be a few stains on the walls where I killed unsuspecting mosquitoes. I guess I had to leave my mark in some way!
Even though the clock on my computer reads 1:42 AM, I will try to pump out a few blogs tonight that I had been planning on writing throughout the year, and never got around to doing!
Peace and Love,
Chloe
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Be prepared...unintentional ranting ahead!
Everything has changed since I last wrote...
In the end, I didn't move to a new host family. The doctor ultimately declined, saying it was too much for her right now to take in an ''American girl"...this leads me to say...
I don't understand why so many people declined hosting me during this year. Every time, it was the same. They didn't say, "We're sorry, but we can't host an exchange student right now." It was always, "We're sorry, but we can't host an American girl right now." My host mom (who has confessed to me that she agreed to host me, only out of obligation because she was also sending her son) said to me once, that because I'm American, because I'm from such a developed country, many families here will feel uncomfortable, and even ashamed of their homes and lives, if I stay with them. What will I think of the food they serve? What will I think of the squat toilet I have to use?
But who am I? Some foreign nobility they must impress? I have had this same feeling so many times throughout this year, and still, I get fed up. Why must people here look up to me, because of my nationality? Why should they be ashamed to share themselves with me, and teach me about their culture. I would have never signed up for this program, or chosen India as number one, if I wasn't ready for a year that was completely different from everything I knew.
Do people here really have only one perception of Americans? If so, that makes me extremely sad. Contrary to popular belief, I am not some rich girl, who has my own car, and eats McDonald's for lunch and pizza for dinner, every day. I am not a Christian who goes to church every Sunday. I have not had multiple boyfriends. My education was not easy or simple. Oh yeah, and I am not afraid of "Blacks".
But unfortunately, this is what most people think after taking just one look at me. By the color of my skin, and the clothes that I wear, I am labeled an outsider, and that label, I believe, can never disappear in their minds. And on top of being an outsider, I am American. Sometimes I resent this label. Why can't I just say I'm from, say, Switzerland? Maybe then, I wouldn't have to deal with the misconceptions of being American.
And don't think I receive negative attention for being American. It is quite the opposite. It's the admiration that I loathe, the sparks in peoples' eyes when they realize they've met their first, real life, American. So many American tourists suggest to wear Canadian flags while traveling. But if you want to get anywhere in India, show that Red, White, and Blue proudly, wave those stars and stripes up high. Because nothing is cooler than the land of McDonald's, Akon, or High School Musical. Believe me people when I say, this is what we are known for! Somehow, this is what our reputation in India has come to!
I am done explaining to my teachers at school, or to Rotarians, or to my dance and cooking instructors, what my life at home is really like. I think it is time that America creates a positive, and accurate public image, because I am tired of doing all the explaining!!!
Note to readers: It is 2 AM, it's about 100 degrees, I can't sleep, and the above rant was unintentional. I know it is biased and overgeneralized. I innocently went to write a blog, just to provide an update on my life. But instead, this came spewing out of my head. Maybe tomorrow, I'll read it again, and question what I was thinking, but for now, I will leave it posted.
Goodnight I guess!
In the end, I didn't move to a new host family. The doctor ultimately declined, saying it was too much for her right now to take in an ''American girl"...this leads me to say...
I don't understand why so many people declined hosting me during this year. Every time, it was the same. They didn't say, "We're sorry, but we can't host an exchange student right now." It was always, "We're sorry, but we can't host an American girl right now." My host mom (who has confessed to me that she agreed to host me, only out of obligation because she was also sending her son) said to me once, that because I'm American, because I'm from such a developed country, many families here will feel uncomfortable, and even ashamed of their homes and lives, if I stay with them. What will I think of the food they serve? What will I think of the squat toilet I have to use?
But who am I? Some foreign nobility they must impress? I have had this same feeling so many times throughout this year, and still, I get fed up. Why must people here look up to me, because of my nationality? Why should they be ashamed to share themselves with me, and teach me about their culture. I would have never signed up for this program, or chosen India as number one, if I wasn't ready for a year that was completely different from everything I knew.
Do people here really have only one perception of Americans? If so, that makes me extremely sad. Contrary to popular belief, I am not some rich girl, who has my own car, and eats McDonald's for lunch and pizza for dinner, every day. I am not a Christian who goes to church every Sunday. I have not had multiple boyfriends. My education was not easy or simple. Oh yeah, and I am not afraid of "Blacks".
But unfortunately, this is what most people think after taking just one look at me. By the color of my skin, and the clothes that I wear, I am labeled an outsider, and that label, I believe, can never disappear in their minds. And on top of being an outsider, I am American. Sometimes I resent this label. Why can't I just say I'm from, say, Switzerland? Maybe then, I wouldn't have to deal with the misconceptions of being American.
And don't think I receive negative attention for being American. It is quite the opposite. It's the admiration that I loathe, the sparks in peoples' eyes when they realize they've met their first, real life, American. So many American tourists suggest to wear Canadian flags while traveling. But if you want to get anywhere in India, show that Red, White, and Blue proudly, wave those stars and stripes up high. Because nothing is cooler than the land of McDonald's, Akon, or High School Musical. Believe me people when I say, this is what we are known for! Somehow, this is what our reputation in India has come to!
I am done explaining to my teachers at school, or to Rotarians, or to my dance and cooking instructors, what my life at home is really like. I think it is time that America creates a positive, and accurate public image, because I am tired of doing all the explaining!!!
Note to readers: It is 2 AM, it's about 100 degrees, I can't sleep, and the above rant was unintentional. I know it is biased and overgeneralized. I innocently went to write a blog, just to provide an update on my life. But instead, this came spewing out of my head. Maybe tomorrow, I'll read it again, and question what I was thinking, but for now, I will leave it posted.
Goodnight I guess!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Mind Games...
I've returned to the dusty, noisy, and over-crowded city that I temporarily call home. It's strange, but after a month of traveling, I feel as if my year here in India is complete. I know I still have 2 months here. That's 8 weeks! That's 56 more days!
Some times, I think about that figure, and it seems so small. How am I going home so soon? What have I been doing here, what have I seen and experienced? Is there anything else I want to do before I leave? Yet other days I think about my time left, and I feel my homecoming couldn't come soon enough. I can't wait to see my family and friends. I can't wait to see my town and my house and see how everything has changed, yet also remained the same.
Two days back, after unpacking my suitcase and sending all of my clothes for washing, I couldn't bring myself to put my suitcase back up on the shelf where I keep it. I just had the desire to pack up my suitcase! I tested to see if my novels fit in the grooves of the metal frame. I tested to see if I could manage zipping my suitcase shut with my hula hoop inside. Then, I went through my two dressers and desk, putting aside all of the things I am planning to leave behind in India.
But what is it, that is subconsciously driving me to do this? I know that ideally, I would want to come home before May 1st. I want to visit my Grandma and family in Ohio, I want to see my parents and friends, and I want to be productive with my time (ie. A JOB). But also, I don't want to cut short my time here in India. I should complete my goal of 10 months in India, and not leave after just 8. Besides the three things that I mentioned that are pulling me to want to come home, there also seems to be a general 'nothingness' going on here, that is pushing me to go home. I hope that I'm making sense.
All I mean is that aside from my tours with the exchange students, my mom and aunt visiting, and the exciting Hindu festivals, my life here is pretty ho-hum. I am extremely appreciative of my host parents, who have done so much for me; arranging mehendi and art classes, taking me on many day trips, teaching me about their culture and customs, taking me to I think 10 Indian weddings, taking me shopping, and to see movies, and to swim at the health club, and giving me the opportunity to try every new Indian food! But they are so protective (for good reason, I know), I have never been able to discover anything on my own. No matter how much I tried to convince my self that it wasn't, school here was pretty much a failure. And frankly, the rest of my time is spent in our house, in the quiet last lane in our colony, reading, watching movies, dancing, doing mehendi, anything to pass the time.
In two days, I will be making my first host family switch. According to Rotary Youth Exchange guidelines, a students usually stays with three host families, for about 3+ months each. Well Rotary in India kind of throws all of those guidelines out the window. So, for that reason, after 7.5 months, I am making my first switch. But that family that I am going to (two doctors and three senior citizens...) can only host me for a week. Their situation has changed a bit, with the wife fracturing her wrist and the son's wedding date being preponed to early June. So after a week, I will move in with a different host family (this time for 2 weeks). Then I will be back here for my last month.
This is not the ideal situation, as I am trying to make plans as how I can spend my last two months. I have found a local non-profit, where 80 illiterate and underprivileged girls from small villages live, and they are taught basic skills in cooking, gardening, stitching, as well as health and self confidence. I visited the institute a few days ago, and while I thought it was a great place, doing a wonderful service to the women in need, I didn't see where I could fit in. It may seem like I am not trying, that I am too quick to make judgments, or that if I just go there, I will find something to do. But I am not sure yet whether I will be going there.
I have also found traditional Indian dance classes, that may be a possibility. I would love to learn Indian dance, and it is something I have been inquiring about since I first got here! I also have the opportunity to take a cooking class. This, I am certain I will do! I want to be able to come home and prepare meals for my family, and bring the traditional recipes over from India! I know I will miss the food here tremendously, and it will be great to be able to cook it for myself!
~ ~ ~
I think one of the best pieces of advice I received before coming here was from a past exchange student. He said, 'though it will be hard, try not to have any expectations of what your year will be like'. I have tried to do that here, though I have not always been successful at it, and I have been let down many times. But I feel that this advice needs to carry through to my return, I cannot have any expectations of my emotions upon departing, and I cannot have any expectations of what my life will be like back home...
Peace and Love to All.
***Good night***
Chloe
Some times, I think about that figure, and it seems so small. How am I going home so soon? What have I been doing here, what have I seen and experienced? Is there anything else I want to do before I leave? Yet other days I think about my time left, and I feel my homecoming couldn't come soon enough. I can't wait to see my family and friends. I can't wait to see my town and my house and see how everything has changed, yet also remained the same.
Two days back, after unpacking my suitcase and sending all of my clothes for washing, I couldn't bring myself to put my suitcase back up on the shelf where I keep it. I just had the desire to pack up my suitcase! I tested to see if my novels fit in the grooves of the metal frame. I tested to see if I could manage zipping my suitcase shut with my hula hoop inside. Then, I went through my two dressers and desk, putting aside all of the things I am planning to leave behind in India.
But what is it, that is subconsciously driving me to do this? I know that ideally, I would want to come home before May 1st. I want to visit my Grandma and family in Ohio, I want to see my parents and friends, and I want to be productive with my time (ie. A JOB). But also, I don't want to cut short my time here in India. I should complete my goal of 10 months in India, and not leave after just 8. Besides the three things that I mentioned that are pulling me to want to come home, there also seems to be a general 'nothingness' going on here, that is pushing me to go home. I hope that I'm making sense.
All I mean is that aside from my tours with the exchange students, my mom and aunt visiting, and the exciting Hindu festivals, my life here is pretty ho-hum. I am extremely appreciative of my host parents, who have done so much for me; arranging mehendi and art classes, taking me on many day trips, teaching me about their culture and customs, taking me to I think 10 Indian weddings, taking me shopping, and to see movies, and to swim at the health club, and giving me the opportunity to try every new Indian food! But they are so protective (for good reason, I know), I have never been able to discover anything on my own. No matter how much I tried to convince my self that it wasn't, school here was pretty much a failure. And frankly, the rest of my time is spent in our house, in the quiet last lane in our colony, reading, watching movies, dancing, doing mehendi, anything to pass the time.
In two days, I will be making my first host family switch. According to Rotary Youth Exchange guidelines, a students usually stays with three host families, for about 3+ months each. Well Rotary in India kind of throws all of those guidelines out the window. So, for that reason, after 7.5 months, I am making my first switch. But that family that I am going to (two doctors and three senior citizens...) can only host me for a week. Their situation has changed a bit, with the wife fracturing her wrist and the son's wedding date being preponed to early June. So after a week, I will move in with a different host family (this time for 2 weeks). Then I will be back here for my last month.
This is not the ideal situation, as I am trying to make plans as how I can spend my last two months. I have found a local non-profit, where 80 illiterate and underprivileged girls from small villages live, and they are taught basic skills in cooking, gardening, stitching, as well as health and self confidence. I visited the institute a few days ago, and while I thought it was a great place, doing a wonderful service to the women in need, I didn't see where I could fit in. It may seem like I am not trying, that I am too quick to make judgments, or that if I just go there, I will find something to do. But I am not sure yet whether I will be going there.
I have also found traditional Indian dance classes, that may be a possibility. I would love to learn Indian dance, and it is something I have been inquiring about since I first got here! I also have the opportunity to take a cooking class. This, I am certain I will do! I want to be able to come home and prepare meals for my family, and bring the traditional recipes over from India! I know I will miss the food here tremendously, and it will be great to be able to cook it for myself!
~ ~ ~
I think one of the best pieces of advice I received before coming here was from a past exchange student. He said, 'though it will be hard, try not to have any expectations of what your year will be like'. I have tried to do that here, though I have not always been successful at it, and I have been let down many times. But I feel that this advice needs to carry through to my return, I cannot have any expectations of my emotions upon departing, and I cannot have any expectations of what my life will be like back home...
Peace and Love to All.
***Good night***
Chloe
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Another Perspective...
I am not trying to be lazy, and replace my own thoughts and experiences with those of someone else, but I have found a great blog about travel in India. Interestingly this guy is also from Connecticut, and this is his blog about his travels around the world. Reading his biography, he was a video game designer, uninspired by his work, who one day decided to take a trip to all the places he wanted to see. Everywhere he went, he took a video of himself doing a little jig. He made a video of his dances across all seven continents, and became somewhat of an internet dancing sensation.
I have only read his journal entries about India, but I found them very interesting and entertaining. He visited many places that I have been, and surprisingly, had many similar experiences (with Tibetans in Dharamsala, toilets on the train, dealing with beggars, and so on). His writing style is quite sarcastic, and his attitude is a bit judgmental and stubborn. But I like something about the way he accepts all of his experiences as parts of the whole...
Click here to view the blog!
I have only read his journal entries about India, but I found them very interesting and entertaining. He visited many places that I have been, and surprisingly, had many similar experiences (with Tibetans in Dharamsala, toilets on the train, dealing with beggars, and so on). His writing style is quite sarcastic, and his attitude is a bit judgmental and stubborn. But I like something about the way he accepts all of his experiences as parts of the whole...
Click here to view the blog!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
2010!
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
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Dear Santa…My 12 Christmas Wishes
A list of recent wishes, and what I’ve missed from home in the past 5 months! After number one, the other wishes are NOT in any order of importance.
1. I wish Health and Happiness for my family, friends, family friends, and friend’s families!!!
2. I wish I could sit around the Christmas tree with a fire in the fireplace, drink mom’s Spanish coquito, and snuggle with my kitties!
3. I wish to figure out what I will do in March and April, when I don’t have school.
4. I wish for a real pillow…such a small thing, but I would really appreciate it! I’m still sleeping on the travel neck pillow I bought for my flight!
5. I wish I could have a bowl of hot veggie dumpling soup right now! Mmmm
6. I wish that Obama’s approval ratings rise, and that the White House delivers its promises in 2010!
7. I wish I could have more freedom to be myself. In this conservative society, I often feel oppressed by the expectations placed on a teenage girl.
8. I wish that Mom and Mitzi finalize their travel plans to visit me!!!
9. I wish that my computer had space on it, so I could show you all my photos!
10. I wish that my Hindi continues to improve!
11. I wish that it would snow in Indore!
12. Lastly, I wish you all have a Very Merry Christmas and a Joy Filled New Year!
1. I wish Health and Happiness for my family, friends, family friends, and friend’s families!!!
2. I wish I could sit around the Christmas tree with a fire in the fireplace, drink mom’s Spanish coquito, and snuggle with my kitties!
3. I wish to figure out what I will do in March and April, when I don’t have school.
4. I wish for a real pillow…such a small thing, but I would really appreciate it! I’m still sleeping on the travel neck pillow I bought for my flight!
5. I wish I could have a bowl of hot veggie dumpling soup right now! Mmmm
6. I wish that Obama’s approval ratings rise, and that the White House delivers its promises in 2010!
7. I wish I could have more freedom to be myself. In this conservative society, I often feel oppressed by the expectations placed on a teenage girl.
8. I wish that Mom and Mitzi finalize their travel plans to visit me!!!
9. I wish that my computer had space on it, so I could show you all my photos!
10. I wish that my Hindi continues to improve!
11. I wish that it would snow in Indore!
12. Lastly, I wish you all have a Very Merry Christmas and a Joy Filled New Year!
Monday, December 21, 2009
I'm still in India...though I've been neglecting my blog...
My sincere apologies for not writing in over two months! My parents often remind me that I have family and friends back home who are concerned about me and are interested in my exchange and my thoughts on India. And I have been leaving you all in the dust! I really feel loved knowing how much support I have at home. Two weeks ago, I was talking with my aunties Jude and Reina, and Reina told me how her brothers, whom I don’t think I’ve ever met, ask how I’m doing in India. For some reason that really made me smile, to know that some people just want to make sure that I have the best exchange possible!
My last journal entry was October 10th; that was 10 weeks ago! In this time, so much has happened (I’m happy to say)! I can’t possibly tackle all of it in one blog post, and honestly, I don’t think anyone would want to read a never-ending essay of my last two months. So my goal is to post as much as I can before I leave on Christmas day for my Rotary District Conference and then my ten-day Gujarat trip.
To be honest, this blog post should have come a lot earlier. I’ve learned from four years in high school that procrastination never pays off, and now I’m really feeling the need to catch up! I am almost ashamed to say that I only had four days of school in November, and just five in December, and yet I still didn’t write! But if you are reading this now, Thank You for sticking with me, and still showing interest in what I’m doing here, half way around the world!
~ Namaste ~
Chloe
My last journal entry was October 10th; that was 10 weeks ago! In this time, so much has happened (I’m happy to say)! I can’t possibly tackle all of it in one blog post, and honestly, I don’t think anyone would want to read a never-ending essay of my last two months. So my goal is to post as much as I can before I leave on Christmas day for my Rotary District Conference and then my ten-day Gujarat trip.
To be honest, this blog post should have come a lot earlier. I’ve learned from four years in high school that procrastination never pays off, and now I’m really feeling the need to catch up! I am almost ashamed to say that I only had four days of school in November, and just five in December, and yet I still didn’t write! But if you are reading this now, Thank You for sticking with me, and still showing interest in what I’m doing here, half way around the world!
~ Namaste ~
Chloe
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Something I've Realized
In these past few weeks, I haven't written anything new. But actually, I have been kind of busy. For the first time since I've been here, I feel like there is a lot for me to do. In this time, I am still desperately trying to learn Hindi, but I can sadly say that it has hardly improved since the day I arrived here. We tried to find a class or a tutor, but nothing existed in the city. And the Hindi teacher at my school flatly said "No" when I asked for help with the language. So as I've been picking up a few words here and there, I realized why it is so difficult for me to learn!
First of all, it seems that Hindi consists of every phonetic change that makes foreign languages difficult for us Americans. What I mean is that, like German, V's and W's are switched, like Spanish, R's are rolled, and like no other language I've heard, B's and P's are usually followed by a semi-silent H sound, which is nearly impossible for me to recreate. Secondly, there are about three different ways in Hindi, to say any one English word. Lastly, words that sound the same to me, have entirely different meanings! For example; "kela", "kala", and "kaala" respectively mean "banana", "black", and "art"!
My goal, before I left for India, was to be able to order in Hindi at an Indian restaurant when I came home. I'm sticking with that goal. I'm confident that this level of Hindi proficiency can be attained by April! I think in this case, setting my goal quite low to begin with was a good thing, because I know I will not be disappointed in myself!
First of all, it seems that Hindi consists of every phonetic change that makes foreign languages difficult for us Americans. What I mean is that, like German, V's and W's are switched, like Spanish, R's are rolled, and like no other language I've heard, B's and P's are usually followed by a semi-silent H sound, which is nearly impossible for me to recreate. Secondly, there are about three different ways in Hindi, to say any one English word. Lastly, words that sound the same to me, have entirely different meanings! For example; "kela", "kala", and "kaala" respectively mean "banana", "black", and "art"!
My goal, before I left for India, was to be able to order in Hindi at an Indian restaurant when I came home. I'm sticking with that goal. I'm confident that this level of Hindi proficiency can be attained by April! I think in this case, setting my goal quite low to begin with was a good thing, because I know I will not be disappointed in myself!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Navratri!
Navratri, meaning "Nine Nights", is a Hindu festival worshiping the Goddess Durga, who represents strength and power. It is celebrated in different ways by different people, some go to the temple for each of the nine days, some fast, and some even refrain from speaking completely! But the most common celebration is the traditional Garba from the state of Gujarat. Garba is a specific style of dance, performed by many people all at the same time. The changing music indicates which dance pattern is to start, and in which direction the large circles of men and women should rotate. Many people take this dance very seriously, going to daily classes for a full month before the festival begins. It is also a time for the men and women (mostly between 20 and 30 years old) to dress up in beautiful traditional outfits, and impress their friends. Girls wear a dress called a Ghagra Choli, which is a floor length skirt and matching cropped top, as well as a chunni, a long scarf draped over the shoulder. All three parts of the outfit are heavily decorated with beads and mirrors. In addition, one must wear anklets, bangles, shining necklaces and earrings, as well as jewelry worn in the hair and around the waist. Men are also very much interested in dressing up to the fullest, wearing puffy salwar pants, mirrored vests, turbans, and even earrings! Some girls, instead of buying a Ghagra Choli, rent 9 different dresses to wear a new style every night of the festival! My host mom said that this festival was not here in Indore (as it is not a tradition in the state of Madhya Pradesh) when she was my age, and she was excited for me to participate in it. She bought me a beautiful dress, and lent me her jewels to wear! It was so fun just getting dressed up! She was taking photos of me, and I said "Neeta, I feel like I am going to Prom again!" On Saturday night, at 9:30, I went with Neeta, her mother, sister-in-law Lena, and niece Radika to a large convention center for the Garba. There was a live music blaring, blinking strings of lights hanging from the ceiling, and over 2,000 people! I danced for a while in the circles with Lena, which was so much fun. At first I was nervous because I stood out so much(because of my skin and my height), I didn't know any of the dances, and at least five reporters were following me with video cameras as I danced! I just laughed off my mistakes and enjoyed the experience; it will be something that I remember for a long time! We were there for two hours, but then were all exhausted, and came home, but Neeta said that the Garba would continue until One AM! Last night, we went to a smaller Garba at 10:30, with only about 200 people there. Instead of dancing individually, there were two circles, one inside the other, and moving in opposite directions. Each person held two Dandiyas, painted wooden sticks, that you click with each person as you pass them in the circle. This was fun, but more difficult than just dancing! At one point, I came to sit down next to Neeta to take a rest, and there was a woman sitting in a chair near to us, with her eyes rolled back into her head. I thought that she was having a seizure, or was severely dehydrated, but Neeta just said to me, "She is OK, I'll explain it later." When we got home at midnight (can you see how crazy Indian's are for their festivals?) Neeta told me that before I came over to sit, that women had been wildly shaking in front of the statue of the Goddess Durga. A few women helped her sit down, and then began touching her feet as if worshiping her. Neeta said, "You won't believe me when I tell you this, but that woman had embodied the goddess." I was shocked, that is never what I would have guessed. She explained that especially during this festival, some people, who have such a devotion to religion, and such a power over their own minds, become completely detached from reality, and believe the god or goddess has replaced their human soul. And amazingly other people believe this too. That is why the other women were worshiping her, praying, and asking her for advice! Because they believed the goddess had come into this woman's form, and that they were speaking directly to the goddess. I had never heard of anything like this, and it amazes me what this woman was able to will her mind to do. This level of devotion to Gods and Goddesses is so common in India; the presence and importance of religion in everyday life is much greater than anything I've ever seen at home.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
New York Times
My mom told me about this article from the New York Times, and I thought it was really a great commentary on the situation of women here in India, which I just wrote about in my last journal. Click HERE to see it!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Beauty Isn't Everywhere
Recently, one of my classmates said to me, “Chloe, what do you hate about India?” I couldn’t come up with an immediate response for her. I just said, that honestly, I think it is too soon for me to make any judgments. I’ve only been here for two months, and there is still so much I don’t know and don’t understand. But it got me thinking. There is a lot of beauty in this country, the people, the foods, the fabric, the exotic plants, the intricate dances, the extraordinary jewelry, the temples and palaces…but there is so much about this culture, which to me, is not beautiful.
First of all is the discrimination between the castes of people. Mahatma Gandhi worked all his life to bring peace, and abolish the caste system. But today, I still see so much segregation. Caste in this society is really a resilient force. Many people disagree with it, but it is so deep rooted; a perpetual circle that cannot be broken. Once in class, I asked a girl to explain the caste system to me. She was telling me about how it began, when different groups of people had distinct responsibilities in society. There were royal families, learned scholars, businesspeople, laborers, and untouchables. She began to explain how over the generations, these castes expanded, and people of different religions, or different areas of India, were given different statuses within society. She was trying to explain which people were viewed as the highest and another girl in my class who was sitting with us said, “Don’t tell her [me] that. You’re only saying they’re the highest because that is your caste.” They got into an argument about the status of people, and how the different castes are still viewed in society. Both of them had previously told me that the caste system does not exist anymore, and most people no longer judge people because of their last name, or the color of their skin. But they were so quick to get in an argument to defend their own castes, it is clear to me that this is something that still runs in the veins of all people.
Another thing that really upsets me is the inequality between men and women. I know that women still receive less pay than men in the US, and that education and job opportunities can be unevenly distributed, but, at least to me, it is not that evident in society. At home, I feel like I can do anything with my life, if there is a career I want to pursue, I can achieve it. At home, women have more rights and freedoms, more opportunities. It is amazing to me how many women here do not work; most of my classmates say their mothers are housewives. It really saddens me to see how husbands view their wives as being weak, and dominate over their every move. My host mom Neeta, a very hard-working and successful gynecologist, has explained a lot of this to me, because she is very independent, and she also hates to see wives so reliant on their husbands. She told me that often times, it is husbands who call to make an appointment for their wife, and that they will stay through the consultation, to know the situation, and make the final decision over what to do. Many women do not drive, and have to rely on their husbands or a driver. Many women agree to the idea that they should not say their husband’s name in public. For example, if it were my parents, my mom would have to say “Chloe’s Papa”! Some husbands choose the sari and jewelry their wife wears before leaving the house. All of these restrictions on women really bother me, but what upsets me the most is that the women accept it. We went to a grocery store the other week, called Big Bazaar. To enter the store, you have to take an escalator from the street level entrance. I asked Neeta why so many women were waiting outside of the store, and she said that they are afraid of taking the escalator, so clearly, in their minds, they feel weaker than their husbands. Many women today have a more modern view, and want to make their own living and pursue successful careers, but still the inequality in the numbers is astonishing. In the newspaper, I see articles about the rural villages, where wives are bought and sold, and young children are put into arranged marriages. This is an aspect of this culture that many people try to ignore, but because everything is so new to me, I cannot just forget about it, and act like this inequality doesn’t exist. The saddest part to me is the treatment of baby girls. For most families, having a boy child is ideal, and baby girls are just seen as a burden. Neeta has told me that, more often than I would ever think, pregnant women will have an abort their pregnancy if they know it is a girl. Or that women who have daughters, will continue having children until they get a son. A few weeks ago, Neeta was called in for an emergency cesarean. A 48-year-old woman with 6 daughters was pregnant again, after several miscarriages. The woman had a placenta previa, and when Neeta got to the hospital, there was no fetal heart beat due to the internal bleeding, and everyone thought that the child had died. When she did the cesarean, the baby was alive, and it turned out to be a son. Though the mother could have died from so much blood loss, all that mattered to her was that she finally had a son.
Everything about my experience here in the last two months has been eye opening, and though it is not all ‘pretty’, I am so glad I have come here. I am witness to a different culture; a different way of life, and what I think it has taught me is to never take for granted what I have at home.
First of all is the discrimination between the castes of people. Mahatma Gandhi worked all his life to bring peace, and abolish the caste system. But today, I still see so much segregation. Caste in this society is really a resilient force. Many people disagree with it, but it is so deep rooted; a perpetual circle that cannot be broken. Once in class, I asked a girl to explain the caste system to me. She was telling me about how it began, when different groups of people had distinct responsibilities in society. There were royal families, learned scholars, businesspeople, laborers, and untouchables. She began to explain how over the generations, these castes expanded, and people of different religions, or different areas of India, were given different statuses within society. She was trying to explain which people were viewed as the highest and another girl in my class who was sitting with us said, “Don’t tell her [me] that. You’re only saying they’re the highest because that is your caste.” They got into an argument about the status of people, and how the different castes are still viewed in society. Both of them had previously told me that the caste system does not exist anymore, and most people no longer judge people because of their last name, or the color of their skin. But they were so quick to get in an argument to defend their own castes, it is clear to me that this is something that still runs in the veins of all people.
Another thing that really upsets me is the inequality between men and women. I know that women still receive less pay than men in the US, and that education and job opportunities can be unevenly distributed, but, at least to me, it is not that evident in society. At home, I feel like I can do anything with my life, if there is a career I want to pursue, I can achieve it. At home, women have more rights and freedoms, more opportunities. It is amazing to me how many women here do not work; most of my classmates say their mothers are housewives. It really saddens me to see how husbands view their wives as being weak, and dominate over their every move. My host mom Neeta, a very hard-working and successful gynecologist, has explained a lot of this to me, because she is very independent, and she also hates to see wives so reliant on their husbands. She told me that often times, it is husbands who call to make an appointment for their wife, and that they will stay through the consultation, to know the situation, and make the final decision over what to do. Many women do not drive, and have to rely on their husbands or a driver. Many women agree to the idea that they should not say their husband’s name in public. For example, if it were my parents, my mom would have to say “Chloe’s Papa”! Some husbands choose the sari and jewelry their wife wears before leaving the house. All of these restrictions on women really bother me, but what upsets me the most is that the women accept it. We went to a grocery store the other week, called Big Bazaar. To enter the store, you have to take an escalator from the street level entrance. I asked Neeta why so many women were waiting outside of the store, and she said that they are afraid of taking the escalator, so clearly, in their minds, they feel weaker than their husbands. Many women today have a more modern view, and want to make their own living and pursue successful careers, but still the inequality in the numbers is astonishing. In the newspaper, I see articles about the rural villages, where wives are bought and sold, and young children are put into arranged marriages. This is an aspect of this culture that many people try to ignore, but because everything is so new to me, I cannot just forget about it, and act like this inequality doesn’t exist. The saddest part to me is the treatment of baby girls. For most families, having a boy child is ideal, and baby girls are just seen as a burden. Neeta has told me that, more often than I would ever think, pregnant women will have an abort their pregnancy if they know it is a girl. Or that women who have daughters, will continue having children until they get a son. A few weeks ago, Neeta was called in for an emergency cesarean. A 48-year-old woman with 6 daughters was pregnant again, after several miscarriages. The woman had a placenta previa, and when Neeta got to the hospital, there was no fetal heart beat due to the internal bleeding, and everyone thought that the child had died. When she did the cesarean, the baby was alive, and it turned out to be a son. Though the mother could have died from so much blood loss, all that mattered to her was that she finally had a son.
Everything about my experience here in the last two months has been eye opening, and though it is not all ‘pretty’, I am so glad I have come here. I am witness to a different culture; a different way of life, and what I think it has taught me is to never take for granted what I have at home.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Let Us Be Inspired By Two-Wheelers!
Something else I have realized, no matter what you have to carry, it is possible with a motorcycle, scooter, or bike. Have a family of four? No problem, you can all fit on one scooter. Need to deliver four televisions? No problem, just bungee them to the back of your motorcycle. Just bought a new full sized mattress? Don’t worry, just tie it to some scrap lumber, and bungee that to the back of your bicycle. Anything we think we need to do with four wheels, is possible with two!
Is Honesty Always Necessary?
One thing I’ve noticed about people in India (I don’t want to sound like I know all the people in India, I’m only speaking of those who I have met) is that they are always completely honest. At home, I think people will have no issue telling someone they look good, even if they don’t. But here, people say exactly what they think. Like when I put my glasses on in school for the first time, a classmate looked at me and just said, “You don’t look good in specs.” Well I didn’t really care, because I would rather see the board than look ‘good’, so I left them on. Then the girl next to me said, “You should really get more delicate frames. How much did those cost??” Again, I didn’t ask her opinion, but she gave it anyway!
Some More Great Businesses in Indore
“Cerebral Heights” a Board Exam training center
“Polite Plywood” a lumber shop
“Digital Needs” a DVD rental shop
“Café Bake Well” a fast food joint (?)
“Polite Plywood” a lumber shop
“Digital Needs” a DVD rental shop
“Café Bake Well” a fast food joint (?)
The Unfortunate Mess of Tuesday Morning
After being here a month, I thought I was getting used to the daily task of walking to my bus stop. See, my host family lives in a colony; it is a small collection of houses off the main road so life is a little quieter. Every morning, Pranjal and I have to walk to the main road, cross the street and hop over the cement divider, and go to our bus stop, which is an Indian sweets shop. Last Tuesday was like any other school day; walking to the bus stop means precariously avoiding the stray dogs and cows. But more importantly, we have to avoid the fresh cow patties that nearly checkerboard the streets.
I was considering not even telling this short story, to save my own embarrassment, but I’m trying to look at the event in a purely humorous way. Well anyway, after crossing the divider, I made sure to avoid stepping in a cow plop, the size of a serving tray. Then behind us, someone sped by, either in a rush to work, or just enjoying their foreign-made car. And just my luck, as the car’s wheel went through the pile of dung, three little plops were sent flying onto the back of my school uniform. Pranjal got hit too, and at the time we were so disgusted, we couldn’t even see the humor in the situation. All day, I felt uncomfortable, even though I had cleaned off my uniform. I guess these exchanges really do teach you how to deal in any situation!
I was considering not even telling this short story, to save my own embarrassment, but I’m trying to look at the event in a purely humorous way. Well anyway, after crossing the divider, I made sure to avoid stepping in a cow plop, the size of a serving tray. Then behind us, someone sped by, either in a rush to work, or just enjoying their foreign-made car. And just my luck, as the car’s wheel went through the pile of dung, three little plops were sent flying onto the back of my school uniform. Pranjal got hit too, and at the time we were so disgusted, we couldn’t even see the humor in the situation. All day, I felt uncomfortable, even though I had cleaned off my uniform. I guess these exchanges really do teach you how to deal in any situation!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
A day in the life of the atypical Sathya Sai student...
In my last post on my school, I didn't explain the meditation at my school, so at my mom's request, here goes...
On Monday and Thursday morning, the school has a "sitting assembly." This means that all students, grades 5 through 12, walk barefooted across the soccer fields, to the schools assembly hall. Students and teachers all sit on woven mats on the floor, facing the stage, where giant photos of Sai Baba are hung, and decorated with fresh flowers. On Mondays, we are led through a 20 minute meditation, and Thursdays, we observe the 'puja' or worship of Sai Baba. Both days, the school joins together in the singing of 'bhajans' or hymns. Because I don't understand the words of these religious songs, to me they are like lullabies. So every Monday and Thursday, I get a nice relaxing nap! The other four days of the week, we have "standing assembly" around the atrium of the school, where we listen to a "story of the day" and the "moral of the day", listen to the principal complain about the noise level during school, sing, and pray.
Some observations about the school:
-We are required to only write in blue pen, for no specific reason.
-My BS teacher (BS stands for Business Studies...not what you were thinking) pronounces his class as "Buz-nis-a Study".
-The dining hall is next to the windows of my classroom, and everyday, I start getting hungry at 10 AM, when they start preparing lunch...Yum!
-The girl with the best grade in my class is called the "topper".
-My accounts teacher had to explain that an account for "Narain Bros" is not said "Narain Brose" but "Narain Brothers".
On Monday and Thursday morning, the school has a "sitting assembly." This means that all students, grades 5 through 12, walk barefooted across the soccer fields, to the schools assembly hall. Students and teachers all sit on woven mats on the floor, facing the stage, where giant photos of Sai Baba are hung, and decorated with fresh flowers. On Mondays, we are led through a 20 minute meditation, and Thursdays, we observe the 'puja' or worship of Sai Baba. Both days, the school joins together in the singing of 'bhajans' or hymns. Because I don't understand the words of these religious songs, to me they are like lullabies. So every Monday and Thursday, I get a nice relaxing nap! The other four days of the week, we have "standing assembly" around the atrium of the school, where we listen to a "story of the day" and the "moral of the day", listen to the principal complain about the noise level during school, sing, and pray.
Some observations about the school:
-We are required to only write in blue pen, for no specific reason.
-My BS teacher (BS stands for Business Studies...not what you were thinking) pronounces his class as "Buz-nis-a Study".
-The dining hall is next to the windows of my classroom, and everyday, I start getting hungry at 10 AM, when they start preparing lunch...Yum!
-The girl with the best grade in my class is called the "topper".
-My accounts teacher had to explain that an account for "Narain Bros" is not said "Narain Brose" but "Narain Brothers".
Byebyes To Pearly
Sadly this week, I found out that just 5 days after I left home for India, my kitty Pearl died at home. All of you who know Pearl, know that her and I weren't the best of friends. But no matter how many times she scratched me, or jumped up on the counter to drink the dish water, or knocked over the garbage can, and no matter how frustrated I got her, she had been a part of our family since I was 5. And she was really the definition of "feline", smart, independent, and full of attitude. I am sad that she is now gone, but I know that she passed peacefully, in a place she loves.
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