classes, dal, and the eternal persuit of the perfect roti

It is amazing how one's environment can change so radically, yet their level of work remain the same. Classes began yesterday and I already have enough work to keep me busy all night and all day (its like I never left my apartment in Ann Arbor if you just think about books and dictonaries.) There is relatively easy access to the internet, so my usual procrastination techniques are also available. There is also a mall relatively close to my school, and I have been there quite a bit lately. This is mostly because the mall is air conditioned and I can buy clothes without having to bargain. I enjoy bargaining, but no matter what, you are told after that you paid too much (kinda like buying a new car) and sometimes, especially after 5 hours at school, bargaining is a little overwhelming and taxing on the soul. The mall also has a cafe and there you can get as close to a cup of coffee as I have found in India. I am currently on the (not very fruitful) search for a french press, if I find that (keep your fingers crossed), then I get to start looking for coffee beans. It is funny how much I enjoy coffee and how coffee powder just doesn't seem to be doing the job.

Classes are pretty good and I think I am getting better at understanding Urdu and speaking Urdu, although I still have a long way to go. Free time has been quite enjoyable, too, and I have done some very interesting things. Most of these interesting things revolve around shopping for clothes, but I hope that I now have enough conservative Indian outfits to last the summer and can take a break from clothing buying. The clothes are amazingly important on how people talk to you and react to you. Yesterday, I wore a long skirt that I brought from America. I guess it looks a little bit like a sari petticoat, and two different women stopped me and asked me (basically) why I was outside in my underwear. :)

On Sunday, two friends and I went to an older part of Lucknow and looked around the bazaar. It was beatiful, with vendors selling many wonderful items, narrow streets, unique homes, and nice people. While we were there, the monsoon rains (finally) came and we got very wet riding on the bicycle rickshaw back to the house. The rains have cooled the weather a little and everyone seems to be in a carefree mood.

I miss you all a lot and think about you often. The next time it doesn't rain, I am going to bring my computer to school to post my pictures, so keep an eye out.

Finally in Lucknow!

I am sitting in my room in Lucknow, eating the breakfast that my auntie-ji just brought to my room. I arrived in Lucknow on Monday, on Tuesday arranged to begin living in my room, and made the move on Wednesday. The family I am living with is very friendly and very patient with my painfully small amount of Urdu and my (probably constant) rude manners as I struggle to remember all the little things that indicate that I am a polite person. It is hard to remember everything, especially when I am constantly struggling to put together a rudimentary sentence. I am finding these beginning moments in my language immersion process to be challenging and fun.

Regarding my living situation, I live very near to my school and only have a minute walk to classes in the morning. I think that five family members, in addition to myself, live in the house. I live in the room on the second floor. My room is very nice and comfortable. One wall is windows – this gives me the option of opening the windows and using the ceiling fan or turning on the AC. Yesterday it seemed quite hot and I used the AC. I am looking forward to the beginning of the monsoon, when the weather breaks a little and the rains and winds come. The windows in my room open to my veranda and look out onto the street. In the morning, I eat breakfast alone in my room, look out onto the garden, and watch people on the street. In the evening, I eat dinner with my auntie-ji. I am looking forward to the time when my conversational Urdu has improved to the point where our dinner conversation is not punctuated by long silences and confused stares. The food here, as at the school, is very good. I am happy here.

Since my arrival in Lucknow, I have spent time quite a bit of time at my school, but classes have not officially begun yet – they will begin today. HOORAY! I have explored some of the shopping areas of Lucknow, but I have yet to see the historic monuments. The city seems delightful.

Before I came to Lucknow, I was in Delhi. I had a wonderful first visit Delhi - despite the heat and smog. My friend and I went shopping and purchased some salwar-kameez – the pajama pants, long shirt, and scarf worn by many Indian women. These clothes are much cooler in the heat than any of the clothing that I brought and I am wearing them almost exclusively. We also went to quite a few historic monuments including Raj Ghat, the place where Mohatma Gandhi was cremated following his assassination, and the Lotus Temple, a Baha’i temple shaped like a lotus. We also visited Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, it was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the mid 17th century. While we were at the Jama Masjid we climbed the minaret and we rewarded with a fantastic view of the city and of the Red Fort. The pictures in this entry are of me on the steps of the masjid and of the view of the Red Fort from the minaret. We also visited the Red Fort, also built by Shah Jahan, it was very impressive with a beautiful garden and intricate detailed buildings.

Well, I guess I should start this

In less than a week I am heading to India to stay for about a year. While I am there, I am going to study Urdu and (hopefully) attain a pretty good level of fluency by the end. Currently my Urdu could be confused with the unintelligible sounds an infant makes when hungry, so this is a necessary and exciting excursion, as well as an execllent opportunity. I am looking forward to crazy adventures, new friends, and challenging happenings. Today, however, I am a little bummed to be saying goodbye for a year to so many people that I adore.....