Pics! Finally!!!

Ok, so I'm only putting up three pics right now, because it's taking for ever, but here's something to tide you all over. :) Also, I can't figure out how to rotate the last picture. Sorry. :/ Sabeen, maybe you can help?

Tomb at Qutb Minar

Moti Dungri!!! (From our roof)



Me in my blue kurta and some churidar-style pajama!!!!



Oof

Ok, so when they said intensive program, they really weren't kidding, at all. We have had so much to learn and do and study its been ridiculous. I had a whole short story, a two page film reaction (We watched Maasum), and class prep just for today! And the film reaction isn't just "I liked the movie because..." But more like "This film presents interesting conflicts and a difficult social message for a number of reasons..." Yeah, be impressed. :)

But classes are awesome, and I love the teachers. You can tell that they are all vastly overqualified to be teaching us Hindi, but they are awesome at it, continuously positive and helpful, and just all-around nice people.

Tomorrow is my first test, so wish me luck. :)

Last night, my incredibly talented host-sisters, Nainu and Tanishka gave an impromptu song/dance performance, and let me tell you, these girls are TALENTED. Nainu may be one of the best natural singers I have ever heard (Her versions of both Beyonce and Sufi songs put the originals to shame, and the girl's only 11!) and Tanishka dances like Shakira, but better. They are serious performers. :) But not too serious. Having sung and danced their hearts out, they started a game of "Let's steal Matt's stuff and run around the house. For like an hour." Obviously my favorite game. :)

OK, so I need to study, and other than drinking about 16 mango shakes, I haven't done much else in the last few days to write about. This weekend will give me something to right about, for sure, since my housemate and friend/tour-guide Laura is heading to visiting friends in Udaipur. I haven't nearly exhausted all there is to do in Jaipur, so I'm hanging back, and I'm going to do my best to get out and really see the city.

I'll write again soon!!!!!

Wow

Hey Buddies!

Ok, so this entry is going to be about the really awesome stuff I've done so far. Don't be jealous. But I kinda hope you are. :)

First, I have two new favorite places in the world. Birla Mundir, which I just talked about in my last entry, is absolutely amazing. It is enormous and entirely made of white marble. It is incredible beautiful, and is juxtaposed against the imposing, crumbling Moti Dungri Fort which is perched on the hill behind the temple. The terrace in front overlooks the major road in Jaipur, JLN Marg, and at night, when it cools down and people come from the city over for puja, it is basically magical. Music plays from specially designed speakers in the architecture, and little kids run all over the place, and I've been there three times already to enjoy the evening and get a feel for the city.

Secondly, Moti Dungri itself. It is comprised of a beautiful Shiv temple at the top of a massive hill (The Aravali Mountains, in fact), surrounded by a fort in the Scottish style, which, if you've seen Braveheart, you know is impressive. You can't go there anymore, except on Shivratri, a holiday that comes only once a year. Any no one I know has made it through the line to the temple itself. It is shrouded in mystery, supposedly having served as a prison for potential heirs to the Rajasthani throne and the residence of the famous Maharani Devi, widely considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. I don't how much of this is true, as local history here is often blended with lore and culture in a really compelling way.

The third is an all-white marble Jain temple on the top of an even higher hill, totally isolated. You can visit this, and we went late in the evening, just before the temple was closed for the night. The temple was totally empty, and my two friends, our host mamu and I wandered through until we came across an enormous murti (religious statue/icon) and then wandered out to a balcony that overlooked the entire city. I was literally one of the most incredible sights I have ever seen. At the risk of sounding utterly ludicrous, the lights of the city looked like the Milky Way, and we were perched on the edge of a mountain (were tigers are still occasionally spotted) facing the wind and utterly silent.

This has been an amazing experience so far. My Hindi is slowly getting a bit better, but it has definitely fallen through a few times. My understanding is coming along, dhire dhire, but we had a debate today about an article we read, and let me tell you, that was pretty darn difficult. I am slowly but surely building relationships with my host family, and have even gotten them to laugh with a joke in Hindi. (For those of you who speak Hindi/Urdu - My housemate, Laura, was trying to find us some Hindi names with the help of our youngest host sister, Nainu. The whole family was sitting together outside and was joining in the conversation. Laura suddenly suggested Khushbu, and I immediately came back with "Nahin, Badbu," and Aunty Ji almost died laughing. )

I promise pictures are coming, but the combination of the fact that I only get internet at school and the fact that so far everything has been too absorbing to document have made it a bit difficult. But they are coming. Promise.

Love to you all, and a special shout out to all the dads who are reading, and especially my Dad, have a great Father's Day!!!!

Finally here, aka Pahunchke main aap logon ko likh reha hun. :)

Hey buddies!

So, it's been a while since I've posted, and a ton has happened, including one totally awful plane ride - screw you, sleeping pills. You are useless. :( But being here is wonderful! It is, as everyone warned me, incredibly, incredibly hot. It is a bit ridiculous, but I really am adjusting pretty quickly. :) My host family is a totally awesome Rajput family - shout out, Nayaab ;) - and the house is great-  no AC, but coolers-  the Indian answer to climate control, and all marble floors, etc. So far we have not started classesd - we had our class orientation and materials distribution today - it was like Hindi Christmas!!!! The program is intense - 7 pages of writing a week, at 10 page final paper, one oral presentation a week, a Hindi film and debate a week, but it's all very exciting!!!! :)

We spent only a few days in Delhi, but I got to spend a little while in Khan market (where I got two very classy traditional-style long kurtas) and walked arounf the Lodi Gardens twice. We stayed at the Taj ambassador, which all my Desi amigos will know is crazy awesome. all the Taj Hotels are. I got my first mitha paan *betel leaf filled with an assortment of sweet nuts and rose petal and cocnut, chewed for digestion*, and my friend, who ordered it for a few of us said that it was our first time, so kuch khaas hona chahiye - it should be something special, meaning, in turn, that it hardly fit in my mouth.

Then we had a 7 hour bus ride to Jaipur, where after a night at the Arya Niwas Hotel, we were installed with our families and the experience began in earnest. :) I have two host sisters who are totally adorable, and who are, to my delight, very impressed by my Hindi skills. I'm not thrilled, ut I am getting better everyday, slowly but surely. :) 

Last night we went to the mela (fair) near the Ganesh mundir (temple) and Birla Mandir that are within walking distance of my homestay. I got some Hindi posters and got to go into the beautiful, all-marble Birla Mundir.

Well, I have to go now, as class starts tomorrow and I have plenty to get ready, but I hope everyone is doing well, and I can't wait to hear from you all!!!!

Byebye!!!

Pre-Pre-Departure Orientation

Hey Buddies! और नमस्ते!

Ok, so I my OCD might be showing as I've now written two posts on the blog before I've even left the country, but I figure it's best to keep everyone up to date. I am now finishing u my last-minute packing before my departure to Washington, D.C., where I will have my Pre-Departure Orientation (hence the title. :) ), which is essentially a meet-and-greet situation Wednesday afternoon followed by a chance to see D.C. and get to know one another, as far as I can tell. Then, on Thursday we have a full day of lectures and seminars and speakers to prepare us for the trip, and then on Friday, at 2:00 p.m., I am on a flight and outta here! It is all very, very exciting. I have had quit a few adventures already in getting ready for the trip. In the hopes of having extra space in my suitcase for souvenirs and gifts, I got a VERY large new set of luggage, only to find my bag was a whopping 15 pounds over the weight limit. So, I spent my second-to-last evening at home paring down my luggage and sifting through shirts, thinking "How much do I really need 5 t-shirts? Maybe three would do - or maybe I could keep the 5 and drop 3 pairs of socks?" Needless to say, it has been interesting. Now weighing in at a much healthier 49.5 lbs, my suitcase is awaiting departure, next to my hot mess of a carry-on. I really didn't expect packing to be so intense. :/

Anyway, rather than bore you all, I'll cut this post off here, and get back to watching some good, old T.V., a well-deserved break. :)

I can't wait to get going, and I hope you all keep reading and keep in touch!!!!

Later, amigos!

For my Hindi Buddies - मुझे एक हिंदी स्क्रिप्ट ब्लॉगर पर मिली थी और अब मैं आप को हिंदी में लिख सकता हूँ! मैं अपने सफ़र के कारण बहुत ही खुश हूँ, और मैं और इंतज़ार नहीं करना चाहता हूँ!!!! मगर अब मुझे इंतज़ार करना पड़ता  है, इसलिए मैं ब्लॉग पोस्ट्स लिखता रहूँगा. मेरे पोस्ट्स पढ़ते रहिये, और हब सब बहुत जल्दी मिलेंगे!!!