here and there.

So I’ve decided to consolidate my blog and my actual journal, because I am really repeating myself a lot, and writing by hand is really hard for me. So be ready for even more posts than usual. (and mom, I really don’t have that long on the internet ever, I write these at night before bed and then post them in my ½ hour break at school.)

Today Betsy, Dana, Emma and I got up extra early so we could run over to our favorite internet café for all of our skype dates. Of course, as the computer was almost done booting up, a “scheduled blackout” took over Raja Park, which lasts for around 2 hours, and I still haven’t figured out the method to their madness. So I sadly had to call ian to cancel our chat. It’s hard when you’re almost 12 hours apart, very few times work when you are both awake, and both with internet capabilities. But not a huge deal, I’m not much of a phone talker, I just miss you alls voices.

Hindi was as always an adventure, and I’m getting really good at the alphabet, I can read most things, but my speaking skills are decidedly lacking. Practice practice practice. The rest was all class as usual. I got to talk to anna for a few minutes, I have no idea how we’ve been able to make it this long without seeing eachother. I missya sista.

Our host family is really starting to open up to us. Today Manjuji taught us how to make “chay” the Indian way. In the winter, she uses cinnamon, pepper, and cloves to spice it up. Then we went to the market with her and Girdhariji, our host dad. It made me not want to come back to America. None of this self service self checkout talk to no one no eye contact convenience above all sort of society we live in. Here all the groceries are behind the counter, like you are at a jewelry store or something, and you tell the guy working what you’re looking for, he pulls down some options, and checks you out right there. Oh and there is one store just for snacks. Bins and bins of crispy crunchy snacks. Wow.

For dinner we had south Indian again, and I’m under the impression that we will keep having south Indian until the coconut curry from the party they had the other night has run out (and this is not a complaint, it’s delicious). We also had soup, and the cutest thing Girdhariji has said to us, “we make this noise to show we like it.” And slurped up his soup.

Other things that made me happy today:
• We found a store that rents out movies for 75 cents, and they have big fish.
• I can finally sleep without my coat on
• Only one more day of school this week
• I don’t have to ship my suitcase home anymore
• My jeans are clean for the first time since I’ve gotten here

Love,
sarah