Day One

2/3/10

Well, I made it. I am currently staying in an ashram in Delhi. It’s so beautiful and peaceful. I woke up to the sounds of birds chirping (more like squawking I suppose) and children playing in the playground nearby. I met some fellow students at breakfast (which wasn’t too bad- some sort of chick pea thing and rice...and chai of course) and we explored the ashram a little bit. We took the elevator to the top floor and then climbed a ladder to the highest roof. From there we could see the sun through the fog/pollution and the moon was right across the sky. It kind of looked like Israel a bit but…India. It definitely doesn’t smell as bad as I was expecting, which is a good thing.

I just left the mediation center. I couldn’t really meditate because there are so many things on my mind right now. Everyone seems really down to earth and chill, which I guess you kind of have to be if you’re going to India on an arts program.

So here’s what happened last night on my way to the ashram from the airport….

I got off my plane and found my luggage and guide fine. I have to admit I was scared but I stayed cool, calm, and collected. My guide and I found a taxi and that’s when things started to get interesting…

Driving in India is like Florida, New York, and Israel all combined into one times a billion zillion. I have never been so scared in my life. I now know why they are all so religious here, you have to have a strong faith in SOMETHING to get though the traffic here. Apparently all the traffic lights and signs are irrelevant and I have yet to find a working seatbelt. All turning signals and any form of communication between cars are replaced with honks. There is never a two second interval that isn’t filled with a honk. One girl told me that if you do follow the traffic laws you are sure to be killed. I don’t know what traffic laws you could follow because there definitely are none. It’s every man for himself here. The roads are full of rickshaws, taxis, cars, trucks, bikes, cows, children performing tricks to get money, people selling useless crap such as tape on moustaches and bobble head dogs (in case you wanted to wear a moustache to work one day) trash, dogs, and women carrying around babies begging for change. It’s definitely a lot to take in, especially when they crowd around your car at every intersection scratching and knocking on your window.

I can’t wait until I’m finally settled in and in a routine. I hate the first couple of days, so uncomfortable and awkward.

9:50pm

So far no emotional breakdowns yet.

Today was our first day of Hindi class. Luckily I was pretty well versed so I wasn’t too embarrassed and could follow along swimmingly. Storm-ji (our academic advisor/teacher- she’s the big boss) taught us about Indian culture and the do’s and don’ts of everyday life such as don’t point the soles of your feet at anyone while sitting down (its like giving the middle finger), always eat with your left hand (your left is thought to be used for wiping yourself in the bathroom…yuck), and always stand up when an elder walks into the room.

Our Hindi instructor was pretty tough so I’m going to have to stay on top of things. I can’t wait until I can hold a conversation and fight with the rickshaw drivers in full Hindi.

We went out to dinner with one of the advisors, Arjun-ji, to a Punjabi restaurant. Since we didn’t know anything on the menu he ordered everything. Surprisingly everything tasted really good! I guess I do like Indian food after all. We asked Arjun-ji about himself and urban Indian life and got to know him pretty well. Apparently he used to be an amazing basketball player but had to retire because he got married (in an arranged marriage) and just had a baby girl two months ago. He said he definitely had no regrets because being a father to a little girl is the most fulfilling feeling he has ever experienced.

We drink chai constantly here! We have two chai breaks before noon and then even more after lunch and dinner. I’m not used to drinking so much caffeine so I’m shaking and anxious all the time but I can’t resist, it’s so good! I’m going to be so addicted when I get home, I can already tell.

The poverty here is unbelievable. It’s so sad. I knew it was bad in India but until its right in front of your eyes 24/7 it’s hard to really understand. We had a whole lecture today on how not to give to beggars in the streets because it just continues the cycle of begging which turns out to be quite lucrative. Everywhere we go there are eggers tapping on our window or tugging at my shirt. It’s so hard to say no to small children carrying drugged out babies but you can’t give to them all. Most the kids are addicted to glue and paint thinners and are so brain dead that it’s almost impossible to get them to function normally in society again. I guess it just shows how lucky I am and to embrace the life I have fully.