30-08-2013
Today was an incredibly exhausting day. We woke up early to
leave for the Delhi airport, and caught our flight to Varanasi at around 11:00.
The flight was incredibly bumpy, and it had the most violent landing that I
have ever experienced. Oh, and did I mention that it is still monsoon season?
Well it is, as today demonstrated. It was raining on and off from when we woke
up until after dinner, though it was still incredibly humid and hot. After we
landed, we packed our things into two separate cars and drove off. The ride was
estimated at an hour and a half, though the distance itself was not great. As
we got further away from the airport, the paved roads turned into smooth dirt
roads, which gave way to a series of potholes placed randomly all over the path.
(On top of that, Indian traffic is possibly the most frightening thing I have
ever encountered. There don’t seem to be any rules, and though stop signs and
dividing lines exist, they are viewed as mere suggestions. Indian drivers use
their horns so frequently [and often for seconds on end] that it becomes almost
comical. They honk when there are
pedestrians, they honk when someone is too close or they are trying to swerve
in, and they honk back and forth at one another, though no one seems to take it
personally.) Though the car ride was rather nauseating, looking at the scenery
passing by was a lot of fun. We saw many many people and lots of animals
(especially cows) as well. The ample foliage thinned and eventually disappeared
as we reached the heart of Varanasi.
We had some rickshaw drivers take our baggage to each
respective house, and we all went into the Program Center House. It is down an
alleyway next to the cinema and past several cows, if you are wondering how to
get there. The center was aggressively air conditioned, which was a welcome
relief from the sweltering heat and relentless humidity of the outdoors. We
left most of our things while we went on “tours” of Varanasi, led by two
members of the Alliance (for Global Education, not the Alliance that the
browncoats opposed, keep in mind). Unfortunately, minutes into our walk, it
began to pour again. We had all been given umbrellas and we unfurled them, but
they were no match for an Indian monsoon. Soon, the streets began to flood, and
we were forced to wade through ankle-deep water. All I could think about was
the number of cow patties I had seen on the roads earlier, and how they were
now part of the soup I was mixing with my feet.
Eventually we made it back, but by that time the majority of
us were soaked, and the air conditioning was not as welcome as it had been
earlier. We sat down and I put my belongings away eagerly, hoping we would
finally get to go to our host family’s house. I was sorely disappointed when we
had to endure yet another lecture on health and how to contact doctors and
such. As I mentioned, I felt quite sick the other day, and this illness had not
quite left me. Sitting in a frigid room with dripping clothing, as you can
imagine, didn’t quite do the trick either.
When we finally were given leave to go, I felt sicker and
also much less excited to meet my host family than I had been previously, just
because of the general exhaustion. We walked the distance to their house (it
was still soupy but not actually raining anymore), and went in. We met our new
Indian family, Raja the father, Sarika the mother, Riti the daughter, and the
new baby son and grandmother whose names have slipped my mind. Amy and I, it
turns out, have separate rooms, each with our own private bathroom! Hers has a
western toilet, and mine has an Indian toilet. I have accepted the challenge,
and will prove to myself that I can overcome my bathroom anxiety here.
Dinner was delicious and handmade, and we talked to Raja and
Satika while we ate. Raja speaks fairly good English, and Satika speaks
spottily, but is obviously eager to learn. I was embarrassed that I didn’t know
anything in Hindi to support my end of the conversation. I have washed all my
dirty clothing (most of it by hand), and hung a lot of it in strange places in
the bathroom and around my room. I hope it all dries by tomorrow, because I
literally have no clothes left. I am only sleeping in underwear because I have
nothing else (the heat also contributed to this decision). The rooms are simple
and furnished with a desk, bed, and lockable cabinet, which is great. I have
put my valuables and clothing in there, and tried to put some other objects out
on the shelves to make the room look friendlier. As of now, my efforts have
been in vain, but I assume as I acquire more tchotchkes (whoa, I never knew
that’s how that word was spelled. Thanks, Microsoft!), the room will fill up.
The things on my shelf are the two books I brought (Sherlock Holmes and The Fifth
Head of Cerberus), three bottles of potable water, my glasses, and my two
journals (one for me to write in, and one that Lucy gave me full of amazing
bestie memories. I haven’t needed to look at it yet from homesickness, but it
is right there just in case).
I am now lying in bed typing this up, as I feel I should
have a bit more on my blog. We will get our cell phones with SIM cards and
Internet sticks on Monday, though, so then I’ll be able to update more often.
Tomorrow we will all meet our “student buddies” (BHU students who have
volunteered to become our Indian connections and show us around a bit), and
we’ll walk to Lanka and familiarize ourselves with the place. We will also meet
them on Sunday for chai, I think. Later on, we are allowed to call them and try
to make a more personal connection to them and the place itself. I am excited
to meet my buddy and also to invite her to go for chai and movies and music
things!
There is so much more I want to say, but I am sick and tired
and nearly falling asleep at my computer. Love you all.
Rose
