WEEKEND FUN

WELL GUESS WHO WAS BACK WHEN I GOT BACK TO MY APARTMENT THIS AFTERNOON…MR. GECKO-PANTS! (ACTUALLY, I THINK I WAS RIGHT IN MY PRIOR POST WHEN I SAID HE PROBABLY HAS FRIENDS HE LEFT BEHIND – IN OR NEAR MY ROOM.) LUCKY ME. HE’S GONE NOW – AND I GOT A GREAT PIC. OF KULDEEP (ONE OF MY APARTMENT GUYS) TRYING TO USE A SQUEEGEE TO CHASE THE LIZARD OUT. IT WAS QUITE HUMOROUS. SINCE HE AND AN OLDER GENTLEMAN WERE HAVING TO MOVE FURNITURE, LUGGAGE, ETC. ALL ABOUT MY ROOM, I’M NOT SURE HOW THEY LIKED THE FACT THAT I DECIDED TO TAKE A COUPLE QUICK PHOTOS. I DID TURN THE FLASH OFF AS TO BE MORE DISCREET ABOUT THE PHOTO TAKING! (THEY CAN JUST CHALK IT UP TO “WEIRD THINGS AMERICANS DO” AND ADD IT TO THEIR EVER-GROWING LIST.)

DAVID HAD A REALLY NEAT BOOK WITH HIM WHEN WE HUNG OUT – IT WAS A “MANUAL” THAT FORMER INTERNS AT HIS OFFICE HAD WRITTEN TO HELP FUTURE INTERNS SURVIVE THE REAL ISSUES OF LIVING IN DELHI. (I.E. HOW TO SHOWER WHEN THE WATER DRIPS FROM THE HEAD INSTEAD OF SPRAYS; WHAT “CLASS” OF SEAT YOU NEED TO PURCHASE ON A TRAIN, ETC.) ALTHOUGH THERE WERE ONLY 3 OR 4 ENTRIES – THEY WERE GOOD. THEY MADE YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE – LIKE “OH, I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THOUGHT THAT WAS WEIRD? WHEW!” ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE MANUAL WAS ADVICE ABOUT CROSSING THE ROADS – “YOU DON’T CROSS WHEN THE ROAD IS SAFE, YOU CROSS WHEN THERE IS THE LEAST CHANCE THAT YOU WILL DIE.” THE INTERN ALSO NOTED THAT IT ONLY TAKES ONE OUTING IN DELHI FOR A PERSON TO UNDERSTAND THIS PRINCIPLE. I MUST SAY THAT I AGREE WHOLE HEARTEDLY! AS AMERICANS, WE ARE TAUGHT ALL OUR LIVES NOT TO RUN INTO TRAFFIC OR CROSS 8 LANES OF TRAFFIC ON FOOT – HOWEVER, IN INDIA, IF YOU TRY TO WAIT FOR A SAFE “GAP” IN THE TRAFFIC – YOU BETTER JUST GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM. YOU LEARN TO RUN--RUN QUICK--AND KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS ALERT. SOMETIMES I THINK IT WOULD BE EASIER IF I HAD THAT HEAD IN THE EXORCIST MOVIES – THE ONE THAT SPUN AROUND ON HER SHOULDERS. (OK, I KNOW IT WOULD STINK TO BE POSSESSED, BUT IT WOULD SURE HELP WITH CROSSING THE ROADS HERE!)

I TRIED OUT THE MCDONALDS HERE TODAY – YUM! (ALTHOUGH IT WAS WAY TOO CROWDED FOR MY COMFORT!) SINCE THERE ARE LIKE 800 MILLION PEOPLE IN EVERY SQUARE INCH OF INDIA, WE HAD TO WAIT FOR A SEAT FOR 10 MINUTES AFTER GETTING OUR FOOD. AND WHEN ONE FINALLY OPENED UP A LADY WALKED AROUND DAVID (WHO WAS HEADING FOR THE TABLE) AND THREW HER SELF INTO ONE OF THE CHAIRS – THUS RESERVING THE TABLE FOR HER AND HER 4 FRIENDS. UGH!) ON A BETTER NOTE - I HAD A VEGGIE BURGER AND BOY WAS IT GOOD. IT WAS NOTHING LIKE VEGGIE BURGERS IN THE U.S.! I WOULD HAVE TO SAY IT WAS CLOSEST TO…MAYBE A CRAB CAKE – SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT HAD REAL VEGETABLE PIECES THROUGHOUT THE PATTY, AND A DELICIOUS OUTER COATING – ALMOST CRUNCHY. I’M NOT DESCRIBING IT WELL, BUT JUST TAKE MY WORD ON IT. IF YOU ARE EVER IN DELHI – GET A VEGGIE BURGER AT McDs! DAVID WAS BUMMED THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE THE ICE CREAM THEY ADVERTISED IN THE WINDOW, SO LATER WE HAD TO STOP AT KFC FOR HIM TO GET A CONE. THAT REMINDS ME – TODAY WAS THE HOTTEST DAY EVER! ALTHOUGH WE LOOKED IT UP AND THE WEATHER CHANNEL SAID 93 DEGREES – I CAN SAY FIRST HAND – THAT IS BULL! IT WAS SERIOUSLY LIKE WALKING ON THE EQUATOR! AFTER 2 HRS. OF EXPLORING WE HAD TO COME BACK TO THE AIR CONDITIONING. WE WERE FEELING TOO WORN OUT FROM THE HEAT (AND DAVID WAS ACTUALLY FEELING A BIT ILL).

AFTER HE WENT HOME, I DID ANOTHER LOAD OF LAUNDRY IN MY WONDERFUL WASHER/DRYER COMBO. ;) (A LOAD BEING 5 PIECES OR LESS – DEPENDING ON THE ITEMS.) TONIGHT I AM GOING TO RELAX AND TRY TO GET TO SLEEP EARLY! I WAS PLANNING TO RELAX TOMORROW TOO, BUT NOW I’M THINKING I MIGHT HEAD BACK TO CONNAUGHT PLACE (THE CENTER MARKET OF DELHI) AND EXPLORE SOME STORES MYSELF. I’M HOPING THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THINGS ARE CLOSED ON SUNDAY (YES – APPARENTLY THAT IS THE WAY IT IS HERE TOO) MEANS THE CROWDS WILL BE SMALLER. ASK HANK, I DON’T DO WELL IN CROWDS. I KINDA’ FREAK OUT! ANYWAY, I GUESS I WILL SEE HOW I FEEL TOMORROW WHEN I GET UP.

AS PROMISED HERE’S A LINK TO SOME NEW PICS. http://picasaweb.google.com/April.Gay/IndiaPicsMay312008

I MISS EVERYONE SOOO MUCH. I CAN’T WAIT TO GET BACK AND SEE ALL YOU CRAZY PEOPLE! (AND MY #1 PUP!) UNTIL NEXT TIME…

BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL

AS I SIT HERE WATCHING MY FRIEND REST PEACEFULLY IN MY OH-SO-COMFY INDIAN BED, ALL I CAN THINK IS "BOY, TOO BAD THAT'S NOT ME!" OK, SO NEEDLESS TO SAY WE NEED SOME BACKGROUND ON HOW WE GOT TO THIS PLACE: ME SITTING IN THE CHAIR, HIM ENJOYING A RESTFUL SLUMBER IN MY ROOM.

DAVID MADE IT INTO DELHI TWO NIGHTS AGO. SINCE IT WAS TOO LATE FOR US TO GET TOGETHER ON THE FIRST NIGHT, WE PLANNED TO MEET FOR DINNER AND EXPLORING ONE OF THE LOCAL MARKETS THE NEXT NIGHT (LAST NIGHT). AFTER GETTING A LATE START, BECAUSE HE GOT TIED UP TRYING TO GET A CELL PHONE ACTIVATED (TIED LIKE "DELAYED" - NOT LIKE "WITH ROPE." THANK GOODNESS!), WE FINALLY MET UP AND WALKED TO THE LITTLE MARKET BY MY APARTMENT. (THE ONE FROM THE PREVIOUS PICTURES.) WE HAD DINNER THERE AT THE LITTLE OPEN-AIR RESTAURANT THAT HANK AND I FOUND, AND DURING DINNER DAVID MENTIONED THAT HE MIGHT HANG AROUND MY PLACE FOR A WHILE ONCE WE GOT BACK THERE AND TRY TO GET SOME WORK DONE ON A MEMO HE HAD DUE THE NEXT MORNING (THIS MORNING). HE HAD TO SEND IT IN BY E-MAIL AND AFTER BRINGING TO HIS ATTENTION THAT HE'D TOLD ME HIS (SOMEWHAT SKETCHY) APARTMENT DID NOT HAVE INTERNET, AND THAT I COULD NOT ENSURE THAT THE LOCAL INTERNET CAFES OPENED BEFORE 9AM, WE DECIDED HE MIGHT HAVE TO SEND IT FROM MY PLACE (WHICH MEANT STAYING OVER).

AFTER DINNER WE BOUGHT A FEW SUPPLIES AT THE MARKET, BUT AS MOST SHOPS WERE CLOSED OR CLOSING, WE HEADED BACK TO MY APARTMENT. DAVID GOT HIS COMPUTER SET UP TO WORK, AND AFTER A LITTLE PRYING I DISCOVERED THAT HE HAD NOT 1 PAGE OF A 12 PAGE MEMO - DUE AT 9AM THE NEXT MORNING! WELL, THEN IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT HE WOULD BE STAYING OVER - HE WOULD HAVE TO PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER JUST TO GET THE THING DONE! (NOW, THESE "ALL-NIGHTERS" ARE VERY COMMON IN LAW SCHOOL, SO IT WASN'T A SHOCK TO EITHER OF OUR SYSTEMS. HOWEVER, SINCE WE'VE BOTH BEEN TRAVELING AND NOT SLEEPING WELL AT NIGHT -- WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD FOR HIM TO STRUGGLE THROUGH THIS TIME!) IT WAS AROUND 11PM WHEN HE GOT STARTED ON THE MEMO AND I DID MY BEST TO STAY AWAKE AND BE HELPFUL. I KNEW HE WAS EXHAUSTED AND ALREADY HADN'T SLEPT IN DAYS, (AND I KNOW HOW AWFUL ALL-NIGHTERS ARE!), SO I TRIED TO STAY UP TOO. I ATTEMPTED TO DO SOME READING - THAT WAY I WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO GET HIM SOME COLD WATER, CRACKERS, ETC. EVERY HOUR OR SO - TO KEEP HIM AWAKE AND ALERT (AND WRITING!). WELL, APPARENTLY I FELL ASLEEP WHILE READING ON THE BED AROUND 2 OR 3 AM. I GOT A COUPLE HOURS OF RESTLESS SLEEP AND AT 6:30 I HEARD DAVID STIRRING AROUND IN THE ROOM AND I WOKE UP. HE TOLD ME THAT HE'D JUST FINISHED AND SENT THE MEMO AND THAT HE WAS EXHAUSTED. NOW WE'D PLANNED ANOTHER ENTIRE DAY OF EXPLORING DELHI, SO THE SCHEDULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REARRANGED A BIT.

AFTER DECIDING THAT IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT DAVID WOULD WANT TO COME ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE CITY ONCE HE WENT TO HIS APARTMENT, SLEPT, SHOWERED, ETC. - AND DECIDING THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO GO TO CONNAUGHT PLACE TODAY TO BUY SUPPLIES AND SUCH, HE DECIDED TO TRY AND CATCH A FEW WINKS IN MY ROOM. (THEN WE COULD GO INTO TOWN AND HE COULD JUST HEAD HOME THIS AFTERNOON A BIT EARLIER THAN PLANNED.) WELL, I WAS STILL VERY, VERY SLEEPY, BUT AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES OF WATCHING MY FRIEND SLEEP IN THE CHAIR BY MY BEDROOM'S WINDOW, I FELT REALLY BAD FOR HIM. AFTER THE NIGHT HE'D JUST HAD, I THOUGHT THE LEAST I COULD DO WAS LET HIM USE THE BED IN MY ROOM. SO I GOT UP. UP - AFTER 2-3 HRS. OF SLEEP! YEAH, IT WAS AWFUL PRYING MYSELF FROM UNDER THOSE COVERS, BUT, I JUST THOUGHT THE POOR CHAP NEEDED A BREAK! AND FROM THE LOOKS OF HIS "DEAD-TO-THE-WORLD" SLEEP, I WAS RIGHT. I GUESS THE TIME WASN'T WASTED ANYWAY - I GOT TO CHECK SOME E-MAILS, BLOG, CHAT WITH HANKO, AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT HELPING A FRIEND OUT WHEN HE REALLY NEEDED IT. 6 HRS. OF MISSING SLEEP WELL INVESTED.

A TURN-AROUND

TODAY WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS THAT MAKE ME BELIEVE THE OLD ADAGE "YOU CAN'T APPRECIATE THE GOOD TIMES WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE BAD." AFTER SUCH A ROUGH DAY YESTERDAY, TODAY WAS A COMPLETE 180 DEGREE REVERSAL. I HAD PROBABLY THE BEST DAY I'VE HAD HERE, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT THAT WAS IN SPITE OF SPENDING ALMOST 12 HRS. AT THE OFFICE! I STILL WOKE UP A BIT LATE TODAY, BUT FOR SOME REASON EVERYONE AT THE OFFICE WAS SUPER FRIENDLY. ONE GIRL THAT I AM WORKING WITH FORCED ME TO SHARE HER BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, EVEN THOUGH I TOLD HER I'D HAD BREAKFAST AT MY APARTMENT (WHICH I HAD) AND THAT THE PIZZA I ORDERED FOR LUNCH WAS ON ITS WAY. BUT SHE WOULD NOT HEAR OF ME SITTING DOWN TO "GROUP LUNCH" WITHOUT A PLATE AND SOMETHING ON IT. THE OTHER GIRLS WERE SUPER INCLUSIVE TODAY TOO. THEY ALL LISTENED INTENTLY TO MY "CUJO" STORY (SEE PREVIOUS POST) AND EVEN SHARED MY PIZZA WHEN IT CAME. IT WAS SO NICE TO FEEL LIKE I FIT IN BETTER TODAY, AND WE EVEN PLANNED (OK, I SUGGESTED WHEN WE WERE ALL HANGING OUT GOOFING AROUND) TO GET TOGETHER ON A SATURDAY FOR YOGA IN THE PARK. THEY HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT YOGA -- ASKING ME IF IT WAS POPULAR IN THE U.S. AND THEY MENTIONED THAT IT IS BIG OVER HERE. SUPPOSEDLY THERE ARE GROUPS THAT DO YOGA IN THE VARIOUS PARKS AND YOU CAN JUST WALK UP AND PARTICIPATE. I AM GOING TO TRY TO PUSH IT -- SOUNDS FUN. I MEAN HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY "OH YEAH, I'VE DONE YOGA IN INDIA WITH 5 OF MY INDIAN GIRLFRIENDS!"? NOT THAT MANY, RIGHT? WELL, I WANT TO BE ONE! WE WILL HAVE TO SEE IF I CAN CONVINCE THEM TO DO IT. THEY DID MENTION THAT WEEKENDS ARE SACRED BECAUSE THE WORK-WEEK AT THE OFFICE IS SOOOO LONG, SO I'M NOT 100% SURE THEY ARE FOR GETTING TOGETHER WITH ALL OF THEIR COWORKERS ON THE WEEKEND. I GUESS WE WILL SEE!

AFTER I FINALLY GOT OFF WORK TONIGHT, I ENJOYED SOME OF THE PIZZA I HAD LEFT OVER FROM LUNCH AND DECIDED TO WASH A LOAD OF CLOTHES (JUST SO I DON'T RUN OUT OF SOCKS AND SUCH). I KNOW YOU MUST BE THINKING "WOW! YOU HAVE A WASHER AND DRYER WHERE YOU'RE STAYING?!" WHY OF COURSE I DO! HERE THEY ARE:

HA, HA...NICE, RIGHT?! WELL, DESPITE HOW I MIGHT APPEAR, I AM ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD AT ROUGHING IT. I ACTUALLY LIKE IT. I LIKE CAMPING, THE OUTDOORS, AND SUCH. AND HONESTLY WASHING MY CLOTHES IN A BUCKET IS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL. I THINK I WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED IF I WAS HAVING TO GO SOMEWHERE NICE AND I HAD TO WASH MY OWN BALL GOWN -- BUT HERE, NO BIGGIE IF MY SOCKS DON'T GET SUPER, SHINY WHITE. I'M JUST HOPING THEY DRY QUICKLY. IT IS REALLY HUMID HERE, AND THEY ARE HANGING IN THE BATHROOM -- WHICH DOES NOT GET THE A.C. (SINCE THERE IS AN OPEN WINDOW IN THE BATHROOM, I KEEP THE DOOR TO THE BATHROOM CLOSED AT ALL TIMES - AND BOY IS IT HOT IN THERE!) MY FRIEND DAVID ARRIVED IN DELHI TONIGHT (POOR GUY'S FLIGHT WAS DELAYED FOR HOURS!) AND SINCE HE WILL PROBABLY COME CHECK OUT MY PLACE, THAT IS ANOTHER REASON I NEED MY "ITEMS" TO DRY QUICKLY! DON'T NEED THOSE THINGS HANGING AROUND! ;)

OK, WELL I AM OFF TO BED TO TRY AND GET SOME SHUT-EYE. HAVEN'T BEEN SLEEPING WELL - JUST TOSSING AND TURNING UNTIL EARLY MORNING - THEN SUPER HARD TIME GETTING UP. BUT MAYBE TONIGHT WILL BE BETTER!

Well the Fun Never Stops!

I SHOULD PREFACE THIS BY SAYING THAT THIS POST IS AN ADDENDUM TO MY EARLIER ONE - AS IF YOU DIDN'T GET ENOUGH OF MY WHININ' AND CRYIN' IN THAT POST. SO YOU KNOW I HAD A PLAN TO GET OFF WORK, GET A PIZZA, VEG-OUT -- BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. WELL, AFTER GETTING OUT OF WORK AT ALMOST 9PM, I WALKED ACROSS THE STREET TO MY APARTMENT IN THE PITCH DARK (REMEMBER IT IS DARK AT 7:30 HERE). LUCKILY, I WASN'T ALONE, AS ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS HERE WAS PARKED ON A STREET NEAR MY PLACE, SO HE WALKED WITH ME THE ENTIRE WAY. WHEN WE PARTED WAYS, I WENT INTO MY APARTMENT BUILDING TO THE ELEVATORS ("LIFTS" AS THEY CALL THEM HERE) AND THE DOORS WERE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON THE BUTTONS. NOT A GOOD SIGN. THERE WAS A GUY STANDING BY THE LIFTS SO I ASKED "OFF?" HE SAID YES. THAT WAS ABOUT AS EXTENSIVE A CONVERSATION AS HE WAS ABLE TO HAVE IN ENGLISH. OK, TAKE THE STAIRS YOUR THINKING -- HOWEVER, HANK AND I NOTICED THE FIRST DAY WE WERE HERE THAT THE PEOPLE ON THE FLOOR BELOW US BLOCK THE STAIRS BY PUTTING STUFF ON THEM (BIKES, BOXES, A ROOM DIVIDER, ETC.), SO I KNEW THAT I COULDN'T TAKE THE STAIRS. SINCE MY ROOM IS ON THE 11TH FLOOR I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. (DON'T FORGET THAT IT IS 9PM -- DARK AT 7:30!) LUCKILY, MY TRIP COORDINATOR, SHALINI, WAS STILL AT THE OFFICE - I'D LEFT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE HER. I CALLED AND SHE SAID SHE WOULD BE RIGHT OVER. WELL, "RIGHT OVER" MUST BE A RELATIVE PHRASE BECAUSE AFTER STANDING ON THE DARK STREET FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES GETTING STARES, I FINALLY SAW HER COMING ACROSS THE STREET. SHE ALSO BROUGHT ONE OF THE GUYS WHO TAKES CARE OF OUR OFFICE (CLEANING AND SUCH) - WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD IDEA. (I'M A BIG FAN OF MALE PROTECTION IN UNCERTAIN SITUATIONS!) SHALINI TALKED TO THE GUY BY THE LIFT WHO INFORMED US THAT THERE HAD BEEN A WATER LEAK INTO THE ELECTRICAL OF THE LIFTS. WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE STAIRS. OK, LET'S TRY IT.

WELL CAN I JUST SAY THAT I CARRY EVERYTHING I MIGHT POSSIBLY NEED IN MY WORK-BAG EVERYDAY. (CAMERA, BUG SPRAY, UMBRELLA, PLUG ADAPTER KIT, FLASHLIGHT, SNACK BAR, ETC.) SO MY SHOULDER LAPTOP BAG PROBABLY WEIGHS A GOOD 30LBS. BY THE 5TH FLIGHT OF STAIRS -- I AM HUFFING AND PUFFING. IT WAS EMBARASSING! SO, WE CLIMB AND CLIMB, AND WE MAKE IT TO FLOOR 10 (REMEMBER 11 IS THE GOAL) -- AND LOW AND BEHOLD WHAT DO WE FIND??? CUJO! OK, SO NOT CUJO EXACTLY -- BUT A DOG CHAINED TO THE STAIRCASE WHO THINKS HE'S CUJO! (FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN CUJO -- IT IS A HORROR MOVIE WITH A CRAZED KILLER DOG.) THIS IS NOT ONE OF THE SMALL STRAY DOGS WANDERING EVERY STREET IN INDIA -- THIS IS A CHOW LOOKING DOG WITH MANY, MANY LARGE TEETH! WELL "MR. FRIENDLY-DOG" IS GOING CRAZY! ACTING LIKE HE HAS RABIES OR SOMETHING! THE GUY WITH ME TELLS ME TO COME BY HIM, I WAS LIKE "UMMM....NO. I AM NOT TRYING TO GET BY THAT DOG." SHALINI FINALLY HAD A GREAT IDEA -- ONE OF THE ITEMS BLOCKING THE WAY WAS A BICYCLE WITH A BELL. SHE BEGAN TO RING THE BELL OVER AND OVER (OBNOXIOUSLY) UNTIL THE OWNERS OF THE DOG COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE AND HAD TO COME OUT AND SEE WHAT ALL THE FUSS WAS ABOUT. THAT TOOK ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF BELL RINGING. (DON'T FORGET THAT EVERY MINUTE OF THIS CLIMBING, CARRYING MY 30LB. BAG, FEARING FOR MY LIFE, ETC. IS BEING DONE IN 101 DEGREES - IN BUSINESS ATTIRE!) THE DOG OWNERS HOLD HIM TO THE SIDE WHILE WE PASS AND ALL I CAN THINK IS "GREAT" -- I'M GUESSING HE WILL BE CHAINED THERE TOMORROW, AND HONESTLY HOW QUICKLY DO WE THINK LIFTS GET FIXED IN INDIA?! ANYWAY, I WAS FINALLY SAFE AT MY APARTMENT, AFTER ONE OF THE TOUGHEST DAYS I'VE HAD IN A LONG, LONG TIME. OBVIOUSLY MY PIZZA PLAN WAS NOT GOING TO WORK OUT -- WHAT DELIVERY GUY WAS GOING TO CLIMB THE 10 FLIGHTS, BATTLE THE DOG, AND STILL GET THE PIZZA TO ME IN 30 MINS? (I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING "THAT IS HIS PROBLEM!" HOWEVER, MY FEAR WAS HE WOULD SAY "COME DOWN TO GET IT, I'M NOT COMING UP THERE!") SO IT WAS ANOTHER MEAL REPLACEMENT BAR FOR ME TONIGHT! YUM.

What a Day!

SO, TODAY WAS A ROUGH ONE. PERHAPS THE ROUGHEST I’VE HAD HERE SO FAR. BEING BY MYSELF IS FINALLY STARTING TO WEAR ME DOWN, AND TO TOP IT OFF I GOT OUT OF BED THIS MORNING 2 HRS. LATER THAN I’D PLANNED. (I STILL MADE IT TO WORK ON TIME – I AM A PROFESSIONAL! HOWEVER, I DIDN’T GET TO LET MY HAIR DRY FULLY, AND I CHOKED DOWN TWO PIECES OF TOAST IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS.)

UNFORTUNATLY THE FUN DIDN'T STOP WHEN I GOT TO WORK. ALTHOUGH I AM WORKING ON A BIG PROJECT, THERE ARE 4 PEOPLE ON THE PROJECT AND I FEEL THAT I AM UNDER-UTILIZED. (I.E. I OFTEN HAVE NOTHING TO DO – I JUST TRY TO LOOK BUSY WHILE WAITING FOR INSTRUCTION.) I FINALLY GOT A BREAK FROM THAT CHARADE AROUND 1:30 – LUNCHTIME. HOWEVER, TODAY LUNCH WAS REALLY A BIT AWKWARD. THERE ARE A GROUP OF WOMEN MY AGE, 4 OR 5 THAT ARE ALL CLEARLY FRIENDS, AND WHILE THEY ARE REALLY VERY NICE TO ME, THEY SPEAK TO EACH OTHER IN HINDI, SO I COULDN’T INTERJECT INTO THE CONVERSATION EVEN IF I WANTED TO. THEY ONLY SPEAK ENGLISH WHEN (1) MAKING A POINT TO INCLUDE ME IN A CONVERSATION FOR SOME REASON, OR (2) SPEAKING ABOUT WORK THINGS THAT I NEED TO KNOW. ANYWAY, AFTER ABOUT 15 AWKWARD MINUTES OF PRETENDING TO READ THE PAPER ON THE COFFEE TABLE, WHILE THEY TALKED AMONGST THEMSELVES, I POLITELY EXCUSED MYSELF TO TAKE MY PLATE THE KITCHEN AND REFILL MY WATER – AND I JUST NEVER CAME BACK. INSTEAD, I WENT BACK TO MY COMPUTER AND SURFED THE WEB FOR A BIT. AT LEAST I WOULDN’T HAVE TO SIT ON THE COUCH WITH THEM, STARING BLANKING (AT EITHER THEM OR THE WALL).

TO ADD TO TODAY’S “EXCITEMENT,” ABOUT AN HR. AFTER LUNCH I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED TO GET UP AND MOVE MY THINGS BACK TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM. (YESTERDAY I HAD BEEN TOLD I COULD USE MR. SINGH’S DESK WHILE HE WAS OUT POST-SURGERY.) I SAID OK WITHOUT QUESTIONING AND I WAS INFORMED THAT MR. SINGH WAS BACK. SERIOUSLY?! ONE DAY AFTER CATARACT SURGERY? WHAT A WAR-HORSE! HE SEEMS LIKE A VERY NICE FELLOW – ELDERLY, SMART AS A WHIP, AND FRIENDLY. (TOO OLD TO BE CALLED BY HIS FIRST NAME, SO EVERYONE CALLS HIM “UNCLE”) HA! THAT REMINDS ME – AS SOON AS I MOVED MY THINGS, HE SHUT THE DOOR TO THAT ROOM AND I COULD HEAR HIM HAVING SHALINI REPEAT MY NAME OVER AND OVER – SO THAT HE COULD LEARN TO PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY. GOTTA LOVE SOMEONE THAT CARES THAT MUCH ABOUT GETTING YOUR NAME RIGHT!

AFTER TODAY I AM MORE EXCITED ABOUT THE OTHER UGA INTERNS GETTING HERE THAN EVER. IT WILL BE SO NICE TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THINGS WITH (AND HECK, JUST TO TALK TO!). I KNOW THEM BEING HERE WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR ME AT WORK THOUGH. I MEAN, I ALREADY DON'T LOVE STAYING PAST 7 EVERYDAY, AND SINCE THEIR OFFICE GUARANTEES THAT THEY GET OUT AT 5:30, I WILL BE STUCK AT WORK WHILE THEY ARE OUT SEEING THINGS. NOT COOL. I’M GLAD I GOT HERE FIRST THOUGH. I KNOW A FEW PLACES / THINGS I WANT TO SHOW THEM - THE MARKET I GO TO, CENTRAL PARK, ETC. AND BY SHOWING "NEWBIES" AROUND - I MAY ACTUALLY SOUND LIKE I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON (FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ABOUT A WEEK!). OH, I AM BEGINNING TO GET USED TO BEING STARED AT. HECK, BY THE TIME I GET BACK TO THE U.S. I’M GOING TO BE LIKE “WHY ISN’T ANYONE LOOKING AT ME – AM I NOT SPECIAL?!” OK, SO MAYBE NOT. TRUTHFULLY, I HAVE A FEELING I WILL SLIP BACK INTO THE ANONYMITY OF AMERICAN SOCIETY WITH GREAT EASE.

PLAN FOR TONIGHT: LEAVE WORK (WHATEVER TIME THAT MAY BE), ORDER A PIZZA TO BE DELIVERED TO THE APT., FIND A MOVIE ON ONE OF MY 4 ENGLISH TV CHANNELS, AND VEG.-OUT UNTIL MORNING (WHEN I GET TO START THIS WHOLE WONDERFUL SAGA OVER AGAIN.)

The Wrong Profession

I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE PICKED SOMETHING ELSE TO BE! (I'M KIDDING ABOUT THAT) BUT WHAT I'M SERIOUS ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT 10 HR. DAYS ARE NO FUN! AFTER MY SECOND DAY AT WORK I HAVE DETERMINED THAT 10+ HRS. A DAY IS GOING TO BE THE NORM AND THEREFORE GOING OUT WILL BE LIMITED TO THE WEEKENDS. SINCE IT GETS DARK AROUND 7:30PM HERE, AND I GET OFF AFTER 7, GOING OUT JUST ISN'T AN OPTION. (I MEAN WHAT AM I GOING TO DO, WANDER THE STREETS ALONE IN THE DARK? DOUBTFUL!)

ANYWAY, ON A MORE PLEASANT NOTE - THIS IS WHAT I WOKE UP TO THIS MORNING:

CUTE, RIGHT? I WAS SO GLAD TO SEE MY TWO FAVORITE FACES! (THANKS AGAIN HANKO FOR THE EMAILED PIC!)

WELL, YESTERDAY I BATTLED THE BEAST -- AND I WON! OK, SO BEAST MAY BE A BIT OF AN EXAGGERATION, BUT THERE WAS WILDLIFE IN MY ROOM NONETHELESS! THERE HAS BEEN A GECKO COMING IN MY ROOM FOR THE PAST COUPLE DAYS - SLIPPING IN THROUGH A CRACK IN THE WALL WHERE THE WALL-UNIT AIR CONDITIONER IS. WELL HE AND I PLAYED CHASEY-CHASEY A FEW TIMES, BUT I COULD NEVER GET HIM. YESTERDAY WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK -- HE WAS ON THE TOILET. (CAN WE ALL JUST SAY A "THANK YOU JESUS!" THAT I HADN'T SAT DOWN YET?!) WELL, I CAUGHT HIM IN A BIG BUCKET THAT IS IN MY BATHROOM (I ASSUME FOR CLEANING PURPOSES) AND I RAN FRANTICALLY INTO THE LIVINGROOM WITH THE BUCKET (WHICH I WAS GOING TO GIVE TO ONE OF THE GUYS HERE). NOW YOU MIGHT BE THINKING "UH OH, THEY DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH." NEVER FEAR - MY FACE SAID IT ALL! THE YOUNG GUY LOOKED AT ME, TOOK A TENTATIVE LOOK IN THE BUCKET, AND QUICKLY WALKED ONTO THE TERRACE TO DUMP OUT MR. GECKO. I AM GLAD HE IS GONE (NO MORE FEAR OF LIZARDS ON MY FACE WHILE I SLEEP) - BUT I AM PRAYING HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS HE LEFT BEHIND!

WE HAD A MEETING DURING LUNCH TODAY, SO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS -- FREE FOOD! SAY IT WITH ME NOW -- "APRIL IS NOT GETTING DELHI-BELLY!" (THAT IS A CUTESY TERM COINED TO DESCRIBE TRAVELER'S DIARRHEA.) I KEEP THINKING THAT IF I SAY IT ENOUGH, IT WILL BE TRUE. THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING WELL SO FAR, BUT THERE WAS DEFINITELY A FUNNY FEELING IN THE 'OLE TUM-TUM TODAY. SO, LET'S ALL HOPE FOR THE BEST!

First Day Shakin' the Money Tree

TODAY WAS MY FIRST DAY AT WORK AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT WENT EXTREMELY WELL. WE ALL KNOW THAT FIRST DAYS CAN REALLY SUCK – YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING OR ANYONE, AND YOU ARE BASICALLY IN EVERYONE’S WAY, AS YOU ARE AS USELESS AS A NEW BORN BABE, AND HAVE VERY LITTLE OF THAT NEWBORN CUTENESS TO PAIR WITH YOUR INABILITIES. AFTER GETTING SET UP ON THE OFFICE NETWORK AND BEING INTRODUCED TO EVERYONE (ABOUT 12 PEOPLE), I WAS ASSIGNED 1/3 OF A MULTI-PART DEAL TO INCORPORATE SEVERAL NEW INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS. UMM…DO THEY KNOW I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING? (SEE THE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS ABOUT FIRST DAY WORKERS!) I GUESS I WILL DO MY (AND HOPE FOR THE) BEST!

HERE ARE A COUPLE PICTURES OF MY HUGE OFFICE .





OK, SO IT’S HUGE BECAUSE IT ISN’T “TECHNICALLY” AN OFFICE – IT’S THE CONFERENCE ROOM. (MY BOSS INFORMED ME THAT THE ONE THING THEY DON’T HAVE IN INDIA IS SPACE.) BUT I AM NOT COMPLAINING! I LOVE THE OPEN SPACE – I HAVE AN 8 PERSON TABLE WITH CUSHY CHAIRS, WOODEN BOOKCASES FULL OF BOOKS, AND FRENCH DOORS THAT OPEN TO A SMALL TERRACE (AND LET IN THE BREEZE). EVERYONE ELSE IS 3 OR 4 TO AN OFFICE, AND SINCE THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN DESKS – THE OFFICES ARE REALLY CROWDED.

LUNCH WAS THE ONLY “WEIRD” THING ABOUT MY FIRST DAY. (AND OF COURSE I MEAN WEIRD FROM A WESTERNER’S PERSPECTIVE.) FIRST OF ALL, WE ALL EAT AT THE SAME TIME (NOT WHENEVER YOU GET A BREAK IN YOUR WORK.) I WENT TO THE KITCHEN TO GET MY LUNCH AND HEAT IT UP AND THE GUY THAT “TAKES CARE OF EVERYTHING” – MUCH LIKE THOSE AT MY APARTMENT, SAID “YOU WANT THAT HOT?” I SAID YES AND SAW THAT HE WAS HEATING UP EVERYONE’S LUNCH, ONE-BY-ONE IN A FRY-PAN. (ESSENTIALLY “COOKING” EVERYONE’S LUNCH FOR THEM.) MINE WAS HEATED ALONG WITH THE REST, AND I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYONE EATS TOGETHER IN THE LOUNGE AREA (WHICH IS A SMALL WAITING AREA TYPE THING WITH A COUPLE COUCHES). SO I SAT DOWN WITH THE OTHERS TO HAVE LUNCH, THINKING “THIS IS REALLY ODD” THE WHOLE TIME. A COUPLE OF THE GIRLS WERE TALKING ABOUT ME, BUT I COULDN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE SAYING – FINALLY ONE SAID, “IS YOUR FOOD TOO HOT FOR YOU?” I ASKED “WHY? AM I SWEATING?” SHE SAID “YOU KEEP DRINKING.” THAT’S WHEN I NOTICED THAT NO ONE ELSE HAD A BEVERAGE OF ANY KIND. NOW THAT IS REALLY ODD TO ME, BECAUSE I CANNOT CHOKE DOWN ANYTHING WITHOUT A DRINK! I ASKED “OH, YOU GUYS DON’T DRINK WITH YOUR FOOD?” SHE SAID “YES, WE DO. BUT AFTER WE EAT” I WAS TOLD DRINKING WITH MY FOOD WAS NOT A PROBLEM, BUT THAT THEY JUST DON’T DO IT UNTIL AFTER THEY HAVE EATEN. AGAIN I THOUGH - "ODD". I AM GOING TO KEEP DRINKING AND THEY CAN KEEP TALKING ABOUT ME IF THEY WANT. I DON’T MIND - AND FOR GOODNESS SAKE, IT'S LIKE WALKING ON THE SUN OVER HERE IN INDIA! (I NEED THE HYDRATION!)

My Mastercard

SO, TONIGHT I HAD THE TV ON IN MY ROOM WHILE I WAS STRAIGHTENING UP AND I HAD TO LAUGH WHEN I HEARD ONE OF THOSE SILLY MASTERCARD COMMERCIALS - YOU KNOW THE ONES: LIMO - $90, CANDLELIGHT DINNER - $120, REMINDING HER THAT SHE’S THE ONLY ONE FOR YOU - PRICELESS. ANYWAY, AS I’M IN INDIA RIGHT NOW, THIS ONE WAS OF COURSE PRICING THINGS IN RUPEES. IT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION AND MADE ME THINK "WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW THEY MADE THE EXACT SAME COMMERCIALS EVERYWHERE!" WELL, THAT COMMERCIAL MADE ME WONDER WHAT I WOULD SAY IF I WERE GOING TO WRITE ONE AT THIS VERY MOMENT. I DECIDED ON: PLANE TICKET TO DELHI: $1,500, SPF 70 SUNSCREEN: $12, BOTTLED WATER SUPPLY FOR 7 WEEKS: $50, HAVING INDIAN FOOD - IN NEW DELHI: PRICELESS.

THIS IS A LINK TO THE PICTURES I HAVE TAKEN SO FAR. http://picasaweb.google.com/April.Gay/IndiaPics02?authkey=OmTZfADK9EI FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS THAN "COMPUTER SAVVY" -- ONCE YOU SEE THE PAGE WITH THE SMALL PICTURES YOU CAN CLICK ON EACH ONE FOR A BIGGER PICTURE, AND YOU CAN ALSO JUST PUT YOUR MOUSE OVER THE SMALL VERSION TO SEE THE ENTIRE CAPTION. (I WILL BE TAKING MANY MORE PICS. ONCE I START TRAVELING WITH THE OTHER INTERNS ON THE WEEKENDS, BUT YOU CAN CUT YOUR TEETH ON THESE.)

First Couple Days (Recap)

IT'S OUR SECOND FULL DAY IN INDIA AND WE ARE PLANNING ANOTHER DAY OF EXPLORING THE NEARBY MARKETS AND RESTAURANTS. FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA - GET AN INDIAN CELL PHONE! (I SPENT APPROXIMATELY 1 HR. ON THE PHONE LAST NIGHT WITH VERIZON, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY SERVICE ISN'T WORKING LIKE THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD.) UNACCEPTABLE! OUR TRIP OVER WAS RELATIVELY UNEVENTFUL. THE 2 FLIGHTS WERE LONG -- MUCH LONGER THAN ANY I'D BEEN ON BEFORE (8 HRS. EACH) AND WE HAD A 4 HR. LAYOVER IN AMSTERDAM - (DIDN'T GET TO TOUR THE CITY, BUT THE AIRPORT WAS NICE.) [NOTE TO SELF: ALWAYS PAY EXTRA TO TAKE FOREIGN AIRLINES: THEY TREAT THE CUSTOMER LIKE A KING -- MULTIPLE MEALS, INDIVIDUAL TVS - FOR MOVIES/GAMES/MUSIC, AND PERHAPS THE BEST PART -- THEY ACTUALLY HAVE FRIENDLY STAFF!

ONCE WE ARRIVED IN DELHI, WE WERE BUMMED TO HEAR THAT PHOTOS IN THE AIRPORT WERE PROHIBITED. (WE HAD PLANNED TO MARK THE OCCASION WITH A QUICK PICTURE.) IT TOOK WELL OVER AN HR. TO GET THROUGH THE CUSTOMS LINE - BUT ONCE WE WERE THROUGH, AND HAD FOUND OUR LUGGAGE (LUCKILY, IT ALL MADE IT TO INDIA), WE FOUND OUR TAXI DRIVER IN THE MASS OF INDIAN MEN HOLDING "I'M HERE TO PICK-UP X" SIGNS. NOW, WE'VE READ ALL THE BOOKS AND KNEW THAT WE WOULD BE HASSLED BY TIP-SEEKERS FORM THE MOMENT WE ARRIVED IN DELHI - SURE ENOUGH, TWO MEN BEGAN TO WALK WITH US - ONE EVENTUALLY GRABBED THE LUGGAGE CART OUT OF HANK'S HANDS. WE SAID, "WE'VE GOT IT" BUT HE WOULDN'T HEAR OF US PUSHING IT OURSELVES. WELL, YOU GUESSED IT, AFTER WE GOT TO THE TAXI AND OUR BAGS WERE PUT IN - ONE GUY APPROACHED ME SAYING "TIP YOUR PORTER, MA'AM." AFTER REMINDING HIM THAT WE SAID WE DIDN'T WANT HIS HELP, I GAVE HIM $1 TO GET HIM TO GO AWAY. HE PROCEEDED TO SAY "MA'AM THERE ARE TWO PORTERS --> ONE EACH." I FIRMLY SAID "NO" BUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO SAY WAS "WELL, THAT'S JUST TOUGH COOKIES FOR YOU, NOW ISN'T IT?! SHARE THE DOLLAR YOU WEASELED OUT OF ME!" (NOTE: $1 IS QUITE A LOT IN INDIA.)

AFTER THE TAXI DRIVER FOUND OUR APARTMENT, WE GOT INTO ONE OF THE SMALLEST, SCARIEST ELEVATORS I'VE EVER BEEN INSIDE AND WENT UP TO A BIG, WOODEN DOOR LABELD "THE TERRACE CHHABRA." SINCE WE ARRIVED AFTER MIDNIGHT -- IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET SOMEONE TO THE DOOR AND I STARTED TO GET WORRIED THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO HAVE A PLACE TO STAY THAT NIGHT. FINALLY, A YOUNG MAN CAME TO THE DOOR, OPENED IT AND WE WALKED INTO A LONG, PITCH BLACK HALLWAY. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS AT ALL, AND A "SECURITY GUARD" HAD COME UP FORM DOWNSTAIRS (TO CHECK ON WHAT WE WERE DOING). THE GUARD WALKED IN BEHIND US OUR TAXI DRIVER AND BEGAN TO SHOUT THINGS AT THE DRIVER (IN HINDI, I BELIEVE). THE DRIVER BEGAN SHOUTING BACK, TRYING TO CALM THE GUARD - I'M STILL NOT SURE WHAT THE FUSS WAS ABOUT (HANK SUSPECTS THAT TAXI DRIVERS AREN'T ALLOWED IN THE BUILDINGS AND THAT HE WAS BEING TOLD TO GET OUT.) ANYWAY, PICTURE THIS SCENE - INDIAN GUY IN FRONT OF US ("LEADING THE WAY"), ME, HANK (WITH ALL OUR BAGS), THE TAXI DRIVER AND THE GUARD WHO ARE SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER IN A PITCH BLACK HALLWAY (NO WINDOWS -- ONLY ONE DOOR -- BEHIND US -- WITH THE GUARD STANDING IN FRONT OF IT.) I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. I HAD NO IDEA WHERE WE WERE BEING LED -- IN THE DARK! -- AND I STARTED TO FREAK OUT. I SAID "WHERE IS THE LIGHT - TURN ON THE LIGHT!" (I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT AT NIGHT -- NO LIGHTS.) LUCKILY, THIS WAS NOT TRUE IN OUR ROOM - SO, LONG STORY SHORT -- AFTER A SOMEWHAT SCARY SCENE IN THE DARK, WE GOT TO OUR ROOM. I WAS ACTUALLY PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WITH THE ROOM - AC, TV, FRIDGE, BIGBED (OK, SO IT'S ACTUALLY TWO SINGLE BEDS PUSHED TOGETHER), DESK, CHAIRS, AND A PRIVATE BATHROOM WITH A SHOWER. OUR SLEEP SCHEDULE WAS TOTALLY OFF AFTER 20+ HRS. OF TRAVEL, SO WE HAD A PRETTY RESTLESS NIGHT. ALL I KNEW WAS THAT I WAS GLAD TO HAVE HANK WITH ME!

THE NEXT MORNING, THE LADY I'VE BEEN EMAILING WITH FROM MY OFFICE HERE IN INDIA CALLED US AROUND 10AM AND CAME TO PICK US UP. (IT WAS NICE TO FINALLY SEE HER FACE AND SHE SEEMED VERY FRIENDLY, SO I WAS A BIT MORE RELAXED.) SHALINI, THIS WOMAN, TOOK US TO MY OFFICE (JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY APARTMENT) - LITERALLY, THE BUILDINGS FACE EACH OTHER (ONE CONVENIENCE OF THE APARTMENT THEY CHOSE FOR ME). HANK AND I MET WITH PRITI SURI, THE FOUNDING PARTNER OF SURI & ASSOCIATES, AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT SHE IS DELIGHTFUL. WE SAT IN HER OFFICE (WHICH LOOKED JUST LIKE A U.S. LAW OFFICE) AND TALKED ABOUT OUR FLIGHTS, THE TAXI, THE APARTMENT, ETC. FOR OVER AN HR. SHE TOLD US ALL ABOUT MY JOB AND THE OFFICE AS A WHOLE, AND THEN DREW US A MAP OF THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD - INCLUDING 3 MARKET AREAS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE. SHE GAVE US SUGGESTIONS FOR RESTAURANTS, CAFES, AND SHOPPING, AND SHE ASSURED HANK (WHO IS LEAVING TONIGHT) THAT I WOULD BE FINE -- THAT THEY WOULD WATCH OUT FOR ME, AND THAT THERE WERE MANY WOMEN IN THE OFFICE (MAYBE 8 OF THE 12 ATTORNEYS & STAFF). AFTER TALKING TO PRITI, WE FELT A LOT BETTER ABOUT MY TIME IN INDIA (HANK WAS ESPECIALLY HAPPY WITH THE OFFICE VISIT).

WE WERE ON OUR OWN FOR THE REST OF THE DAY, AND WE DECIDED TO HEAD BACK TO THE APARTMENT AND LATHER UP WITH SUNSCREEN - PRITI HAD SAID SHE (A LIGHT SKINNED INDIAN WOMAN) APPLIES SPF 55 FOUR TIMES A DAY. WOW! SHE ALSO SAID THAT LAST WEEKEND IT WAS AROUND 120 DEGREES F. LOOKS LIKE A HOT SUMMER FOR YOURS TRULY! AFTER LATHERING UP, WE HEADED TO ONE OF THE MARKETS AND HAD LUNCH AT ONE OF THE RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS. IT WAS REALLY NEAT - AN OPEN AIR RESTAURANT WITH BOOTHS AND BAKED GOODS ON DISPLAY IN GLASS CASES. OF COURSE WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WE WERE DOING (OR WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO) AND SINCE THERE WAS NO ONE OFFERING TO GUIDE US, WE DECIDED TO SIT DOWN IN A BOOTH AND "SEE WHAT HAPPENED." A MAN CAME BY AND BROUGHT US ENGLISH MENUS - MAKING US LOOK EVEN MORE LIKE OUTSIDERS, SINCE NOT ONE OTHER PERSON IN THE PLACE WAS GIVEN A MENU. WE ORDERED SOME OF THE THINGS WE LIKE TO EAT AT THE INDIAN PLACE IN ATHENS AND THEY WERE ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME DISHES! (JUST A LITTLE BIT SPICIER) AFTER LUNCH, WE DECIDED TO PICK UP A FEW THINGS - BOTTLED WATER, FOOD, ETC., SO WE WENT INTO ONE OF THE LITTLE SHOPS. THIS IS WHERE I HAD MY FIRST NEGATIVE INDIA EXPERIENCE. WHEN WE WALKED INTO THE CROWDED SHOP, ONE OF THE WOMEN SHOPKEEPERS BEGAN TO FOLLOW US AROUND -- I SUPPOSE SHE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO STEAL. I WOULD HAVE BEEN OFFENDED, BUT HANK WAS CARRYING A BACKPACK, SO I FIGURED WE DID LOOK LIKE POTENTIAL THIEVES, WHETHER WE WERE AMERICANS OR NOT. WELL, WHILE SEARCHING THE STORE, I SAID TO HANK "IT IS SO HOT!" THAT'S WHEN THE LADY FOLLOWING US SAID "IT IS SOOO HOT" IN A MOCKING VOICE. I WAS SURPRISED AND THOUGH "WELL, HOW RUDE!" BUT I JUST LET IT GO AND DECIDED THAT I NEED TO STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE HEAT IF I WANT TO BE HERE. (I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE THEY ARE UNAWARE THAT IT'S 120 DEGREES!)

WE GOT OUR THINGS AND WENT BACK TO THE APT. TO COOL DOWN FOR A BIT. THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THAT ALL THE FOOD WE JUST BOUGHT WAS ALMOST A YEAR OUT OF DATE! I WAS REALLY SURPRISED BECAUSE IT WAS MY BOSS (A WELL-TO-DO ATTORNEY) WHO HAD RECOMMENDED THAT SHOP TO US! HANK AND I TALKED ABOUT IT AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT NOT ALL COUNTRIES GET TOP CHOICE OF EVERYTHING LIKE THE U.S. (AND OBVIOUSLY THE EXPIRED FOOD IS STILL EDIBLE - EVEN IF NOT AS TASTY.) IT WAS ACTUALLY A NICE EYE-OPENER TO HOW BLESSED WE REALLY ARE AND HOW MUCH WE TAKE FOR GRANTED EVERYDAY. WE PLANNED A QUICK NAP, THEN ANOTHER MARKET EXCURSION - HOWEVER, WE SLEPT FOR OVER 4 HRS. (I SUPPOSE THE LACK OF SLEEP WAS FINALLY CATCHING UP TO US) - AND WHEN WE GOT UP, IT WAS TOO DARK TO GO OUT AGAIN - SO WE CALLED IT AN EARLY NIGHT.

THIS MORNING WE ARE UP MUCH EARLIER AND WE'VE JUST HAD TEA AND TOAST WITH JAM ON THE TERRACE -- LOVELY! THERE ARE TWO GUYS HERE ALL THE TIME - HANK SAYS THEY ARE MODERN SERVANTS OF SORTS. ONE IS THEY YOUNG GUY FROM THE FIRST NIGHT, THE OTHER IS A MORE MIDDLE-AGED GENTLEMAN (LOOKS LIKE A BUSINESS MAN). THEY ARE VERY NICE AND ALWAYS EXTREMELY HELPFUL, BUT I FEEL WEIRD ASKING THEM TO DO THINGS. LIKE, ALTHOUGH MY APT. COMES WITH CLEANING AND BREAKFAST - I FEEL SO BAD WHEN THEY DO IT. I WILL HAVE TO GET USED TO IT THOUGH - SINCE THERE AREN'T FACILITIES FOR ME TO DO THINGS MYSELF. THEY SEEM TO LIVE HERE - THEY'RE ALWAYS HERE TO UNBOLT THE MAIN DOOR AND LET PEOPLE IN, AND THEY HANG-OUT IN THE MAIN LIVING ROOM (IN CASE YOU NEED ANYTHING, I GUESS). IT'S REALLY FUNNY, THEY ARE NOT LIKE SERVANTS YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU HEAR "INDIA" - THEY ARE LIKE...HAVING HELPFUL ROOMMATES OR BROTHERS. THEY WEAR AMERICAN CLOTHES, WATCH TV IN THE LIVING ROOM, STUFF LIKE THAT. THE ONLY THING IS, THEY HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH - AND BY LIMITED, I MEAN - WE MOSTLY GESTURE. I CAN ASK FOR "TEA" OR "TOAST" (STUFF LIKE THAT) BUT FOR "TOILET PAPER" - I JUST BROUGHT OUT THE EMPTY ROLL AS AN ILLUSTRATION. I MEAN, THERE REALLY IS NO POLITE WAY TO GESTURE THAT YOU NEED MORE TOILET PAPER - IT'S A FAIRLY SENSITIVE SUBJECT! ANYWAY, I HAVE NOW BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE APARTMENTS IN THE DAYLIGHT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS ONE MULTI-BEDROOM APARTMENT (5 OR 6 BEDROOMS). EACH PERSON HAS THEIR OWN ROOM AND PRIVATE BATHROOM, AND THE LIVINGROOM, TERRACE, AND KITCHEN ARE SHARED. THE FACT THAT THE MAIN DOOR TO THE APARTMENT IS ALWAYS BOLT LOCKED FROM THE INSIDE IS A PAIN - BUT SINCE THE GUYS ARE ALWAYS HERE TO LET YOU IN - I GUESS IT IS FINE. PLUS, THEY SCREEN WHO COMES IN AND OUT - SO THAT ADDS ANOTHER LEVEL OF SECURITY.

I HAVE TO SAY, I AM ACTUALLY SURPRISED HOW MUCH I LOVE IT HERE. AFTER ONLY 1 1/2 DAYS, I AM EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE. MY APT. IS NICE, THE OFFICE IS CLOSE, NO ONE HAS REALLY BOTHERED ME YET. I LOVE THE EXOTIC BIRDS, PLANTS, FOODS, CLOTHING, ETC. AND I AM REALLY ENJOYING ALL THE NEWESS OF LIVING IN ANOTHER CULTURE. I KNOW I WILL HAVE TO ADJUST AGAINST ONCE HANK LEAVES TONIGHT AND I'M ON MY OWN - BUT WE FEEL CERTAIN THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE. IN A FEW DAYS, TWO OTHER STUDENTS FROM UGA LAW WILL ARRIVE IN THE CITY, AND ALTHOUGH THEY WILL BE IN A DIFFERENT AREA, IT WILL BE NICE TO HAVE OTHERS TO GO SEE THINGS WITH. (WE PLAN TO TRAVEL ON THE WEEKENDS AND SUCH.) ONE OF THE STUDENTS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, DAVID - SO THAT WILL BE NICE. HE'S SAID HE IS WILLING TO ALWAYS COME TO MY SIDE OF TOWN, SO I'M NOT RIDING IN TAXIS ALONE AT NIGHT. HANK REALLY LIKES DAVID TOO, SO I THINK IT WILL EASE HIS MIND THAT DAVID'S IN THE SAME CITY WITH ME. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THIS 7 WEEKS WILL BRING. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENCOURAGED ME TO COME TO INDIA AND TO SEE THE WORLD!

- APRIL

UPDATE: ANOTHER DAY PASSED BEFORE THIS WAS POSTED -- SO, A QUICK ADDITION. WE HAD ANOTHER BUSY DAY AT THE MARKETS. I GOT REALLY PANICKED IN ONE OF THE OVERWHELMINGLY CROWDED AREAS (JUST HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON EVERY STREET) - BUT AFTER WE FOUND A PLACE FOR LUNCH AND CALMED DOWN, THE REST OF THE DAY WAS FINE. IT'S NOW 9:30PM HERE -- HANK JUST LEFT FOR THE AIRPORT TO FLY BACK TO THE U.S. AND I AM WISHING I WAS FLYING BACK WITH HIM. I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO LEAVE ME HERE AND I CRIED LIKE A BABY. I MISS HIM A LOT ALREADY. HOPING IT WILL BE BETTER IN THE MORNING. I WILL BE POSTING SOME PICTURES SOON!

LOVE YOU ALL!