A Subcontinental Breakfast and Other Things

    What did the "Dha" say to the "Da" when no one in the NSLIY class could pronounce it correctly?
    "I'm exAspirated!!!"
    Jokes.
    This week has been incredible.  I haven't blogged much, and I'm really sorry about that, but I've written everything down in a notebook every day so I don't forget.  Also, I've talked to my parents several times, so if you have questions, you can ask them!
    Here's a quick run-through of this week:
    Breakfast: Strawberry frosted flakes at home (I keep telling my family to not change their diet for me, but apparently they buy it for my host brother and sister).  We come to school in vans sans seatbelt and I have my second breakfast at school in a train car.  The first, second, and third graders here are taught in converted train cars, and yes, it's adorable.  Then, instead of the national anthem and a cult-like pledge of allegiance, the entire school meditates together and sings a prayer in Sanskrit.  I know we can't pray in school and all, but I would be 100% in favor of including meditation periods in our school day.  We have several hours of Hindi class Monday through Friday, including music, dance, and yoga.  The dance is even harder than it looks.  If you want to see some traditional Indian dance like my host sister does, look up "Kathak, Bharatanatyam, or Kathakali for folk dances, Garba and Bhangra or any Bollywood badassery", in the words of Nina K (I asked her for suggestions).
   Also, I don't want to forget: we've been coming up with Hinglish slang such as "acchutney", which means awesome sauce.  Acchaa (great) + Chutney (sauce).  Get it trending.
    My host family continues to be amazing and super sweet.  My host brother and I talked yesterday about bullying and bad Indian advertisements.  Life is good.  Anyway, I have to go to lunch, so that's all for now.  Miss you all!

Mum, bye!

     Right now I'm sitting in the lobby of our hotel. On my right is a cricket pitch, and it's sunny and in the 70's. Typing a blog post on my phone isn't easy so I'll keep this short.

     Before I came here, I imagined Pune to be like Boston, westernized, only with more traffic and Indian culture. Instead, it's hard to compare them. First difference: the traffic is everything you've heard about India and worse. The issue isn't bumper-to-bumper jams, instead, the only bumpers meeting bumpers is when a car hits a motorcycle or rickshaw. Crosswalks are merely decorative; people run across the road when they can get across without (definitely) getting hit. 

     But there's no reason to dwell on the negatives, because India is incredible. The streets are so busy: stray dogs, fruit vendors, women wearing scarves around their mouths to keep out the pollution while they speed by on motorcycles, men talking in alley-way shadows at night, et cetera.

I met my host family yesterday during a wonderful ceremony. After our host siblings put Tilak (the red powder traditionally used in welcoming guests) on our foreheads and we received necklaces with orange and white flowers, we spoke for some time. My whole family speaks English and seems very sweet. I won't say too much about them because internet safety and privacy are important, but trust me, I'm in very good hands. 

     Breakfast is soon, so I'll tell you all that the food here is amazing. Except for the onion and lemon juice and hot sauce, which I learned are meant as garnishes.  Don't eat them together.  For your own sake.
     Picture of moment of impact forthcoming.  

Time of Departure

     This is my last night at home before I leave for New York City in the morning.  Flight at 9am, arrives at 10am.  (Not the 15 hour flight to Mumbai quite yet).  Given the fact that I'm still in an advanced state of denial over this whole thing, I'm not sure how to describe my emotions.  When you talk about something and explain it in the same words day after day, you start thinking of it in a limited way: 

"I'm going to India this summer!"

"That's so cool!  For how long?"

"I'm going for 6 1/2 weeks."

"Wow!  How come?"

"It's a State Department program for American high school students to learn languages that aren't commonly taught in schools..."

et cetera.  I have it memorized.  So it feels like I say that "yes, I'm really excited" and "no, I'm not that nervous" more than I think about being excited or nervous.  Frankly, I just don't know what to expect.

     I plan on looking back at this blog in the future so I can see how I was before my trip.  So, future me, this is for you.

     I believe that India will be extremely loud and chaotic with a ton of people, all the time.  My family so far seems very kind and I look forward to meeting them.  I don't know anyone on the program too well yet but I am really, really pumped to meet people tomorrow!  Lauren, my Resident Director, seems like she knows what she's doing and will be a great resource.

     I'm anxious to entering an India that's entering a new phase like I am--an India under a new leader.  I can't wait to look down on North Africa and the Atlantic as I fly over the globe FOR 15 HOURS.  Most of all, I look forward to getting enough rest tonight, since I have to get up at 5am tomorrow.  Therefore, good night all.
     (Here I am, cleaning up my blog, looking back at my old writing.  And so, past Erik: It is.  They are.  You should be.   You will.  She does.  She was.  Don't worry.  We flew over Iceland and Russia, idiot.  Good night.)