Start of my blog about India(October 30)

Hey everybody! I thought I would start a blog so people could know what's going on here in India, and Bria encouraged us to so important US people could know that this program is such a great opportunity and is helping diplomacy, u.s.-india relations, etc. I know it is kind of late to start a blog but I will try and catch you up on what I've done over about the past 3 months. I can't believe it has been 3 months though!!! Time has been flying!

Washington D.C. was where it all started. We had an orientation over the course of a few days and learned a ton. We visited the state department, went to the Islamic history museum and Islamic cultural center, ate at a fantastic Malaysian restaurant, and toured the mall a little. It didn't really feel like I was going to India for a year at that time though, because we were so busy and talking about hypothetical situations. When we finally went to the airport though, I knew it was real. We went through security, waited at our gate, and got on our plane. I was excited, scared, nervous. I cannot accurately describe how I was feeling because I don't even know. I have to admit though, I was beginning to wonder if I had made a huge mistake after the plane doors closed. I knew then that I wouldn't be back in America, with all my friends, family, comforts, and I was going to somewhere totally unknown to me and to meet people I who I don't even know.

We got into India at two in the morning, and it was crazy. It was hot, muggy, and smelled strange. We had to go through several checks at the airport for swine flu. When we got outside, there were lots of people looking for other people. All sorts of rickshaws, taxis, and cars driving all around honking their horns. All we could do was laugh because we couldn't believe we were actually here. We then proceeded to have an orientation that seemed to go by really quickly. We (our group was Helen, Annah, Amerah, Sarah, and me) met up with some Italian girls for the orientation, but I think all of us were tired and dazed, so we didn't concentrate that well. At least we had tea breaks!

When we finished our orientation, Annah and I flew down to Mumbai with Dushyant (my counselor/liaison). I was so nervous because I was about to meet my host family. We walk out of the airport and we look around... And tada! They see me and give me a rose and some chocolate as a welcome gift to India. We then proceed to go home. The car ride home was... well... not the most awkward car ride like AFS said it would be, but it was definitely silent and a little awkward. I tried making some conversation, and they tried making some conversation, but I think we were all a little shy. Luckily, I love my host family! I have one host brother, host parents, and a host grandmother. They are all really nice and we are very close now. We talk a lot, laugh together, and we are really getting to know each other well. AFS always prepares us for problems with our host families, but we haven't had one. I think that I have adapted to them and they to me, so we work well together.

India has been so amazing. Mumbai is the busiest, most crowded, most fun, and craziest city I've been to. It is unbelievably different than little Salt Lake City, Utah. I started school right away here, and for 7 weeks we had school 6 days a week. This was because there was some complications with swine flu and they had to make up school days. I explored my neighborhood (I live in south bombay now, definitely the best part), so I know the surrounding areas well. And our school is far away so driving there every day has taught me other areas too. Bombay is so big, but I am learning more and more about it. School is very fun. I go to an IB school, one of the best in Mumbai, and the other students are very nice. My classes are economics, geography, math, french, hindi, and english. My favorite classes are Hindi and French. Who would have thought I would go to India and learn french though?!? Right now we don't have school classes, but we have to go to night school to practice for a play that is next weekend. It seems like a waste of time, but I am looking on the bright side. When am I ever going to be in a school play in Mumbai that involves everyone in the school? And I even have a line! It is "Imagine no possessions..." I have to say it all ominously. That is one thing that I have already learned to do. I like to look at the bright side of things here. I don't see a point in getting sad or upset about such menial stuff because I am on a once in a lifetime experience and why should I be upset?

I have recently gone on vacation to southern India during our Diwali break. I went to Mysore with some school teachers, two who were going as tourists and one who grew up there. I stayed with a family who was my teacher's cousin. They didn't even know me, hadn't talked to me ever, and they let me stay with them. I can't believe how unbelievably nice people are! They made me fantastic food (and just kept giving it to me... I am sure gained some weight down there) and we got to know each other. So now I have some friends in Mysore! I love meeting new people, and I think I am already more confident and not as shy. While in Mysore, I went to all sorts of palaces, temples, and animal sanctuaries. The palaces were from old kings who aren't in power any more. My favorite was Mysore Palace. We couldn't take pictures inside so I went home directly after and described the whole palace to the best of my memory in my journal right away. I then wrote a huge letter to my parents so they could try to imagine it too. The temples were magnificent as well. My favorite was in the town of Sharanabelagola (or something...) It was a Jain temple that had the world's biggest monolith. The temple was on top of this mountain with 612 steps (big steps too) to the top that were carved into the side of the rocks. You climbed in your bare feet too because it was a temple. We got there right as it was about to close, but they let us go in anyways. It was so peaceful because we were the only ones there surrounded by wonderful architecture and this huge statue. Another fun temple was the Golden Temple near Mysore, which is a refugee kind of place for Tibetan monks. It was amazing inside, then we had some fantastic food at this teeny Tibetan restaurant. The animal sanctuaries were fun tool. I saw so many monkeys and migratory birds. There were quite a few marsh crocodiles in the water too, which was a little freaky because we went out in a boat. I also got to ride an elephant!!! And give one a bath!!! I gave a bath to one named Ekidunt, meaning one tooth. They are surprisingly hairy.

India is so amazing, fantastic, magnificent, but sometime sad and unbelievable. I cannot explain it well because there are so many different aspects that are intricate and multidimensional. I love it here and I am so happy. I have so many new friends and am meeting so many new people. I can speak fragmented Hindi and can understand quite a bit. As I think back to that moment of regret on the airplane the day I was leaving America, I wonder how I could possibly have thought that. I now know that there will be good and bad times, but if I try to see the bright side or just remember how lucky I am, I will have a great time here. I hope that the U.S. government understands how important this program is. I am meeting so many people and doing my best to be the ambassador for all the wonderful people in America, how could this not be beneficial to us? I will try to keep more updated blogs because this was just a quick overview of the last three months. I will talk to you all soon!