India with 12 other Americans is one thing. India on "your own" is another.
In January we got to settle in to our American comfort zones with each other: debrief periodically, keep our American humor all day, be moved together, understand why the other does what they do, possibly question the flavor of a food or a peculiar smell.
After six days, I'm feeling settled. I'm coming to terms with being on my "own". (Sending lengthy emails to Kaj and parents helps me get-out my American-ness.) And best of all, my sleep is on schedule.
For those of you who were so worried about me and the heat: I'm doing just fine. There is an AC in my room that I use at night, and during the day I just deal.
Having a younger brother, Anu, is a lot more fun than I was expecting.We spend most of the day together.
My sister, Kalyani, returns from Sweden (five months at SVF) on Sunday. I'm so sure that having another sister will also be a joy. Shireen, my Indian mom, keeps the family going. And Daniel, who we (Shireen, Anu and I) are helping with his English, is a wonderful man of God. The pet fish are great too. Extremely active in their close quarters.
Yesterday Daniel and I went to Mumbai for a bus tour. Our tour at-a-glance: Gateway to India, boat tour, aquarium, modern art gallery, gardens, Bollywood stars' sea side homes, Mumbai Indians in the bus next to ours, beach along the Arabian sea. I made good friends, well as good as friends as you can be with someone who doesn't speak the same language and you only see for a few hours on a bus tour, with three girls from south India. We shared Sprite and a Rose drink by the sea together.
On Monday I will go to a local village, where the woman's empowerment project is, and start a program for the kids. I'll teach them the English alphabet, a rhyme or two, then venture off into having fun with games. I'm really looking forward to this.
As most of you know I love photography. And I have my camera with me. I'm finding it difficult to take a lot of pictures. There are many things that are memorable, and I think you all should see, but I can't help but think many are intrusive. Because most are of people and their environment. It's hard to point the lens at a situation where the person feels the most comfortable and I observe as an alternate universe. So when I do post pictures, you will get what you get. Otherwise, you will have to visit India on your own, or look at photographers who are more brave than I am.
D-Mart, the Wal-Mart-like store next to our flat, not only has bins full of great looking toothbrushes, but sensitive toothpaste. Something I have recently learned that delicate teeth really want. God provides. (If this doesn't make sense to you, read here: toothbrush.)
Do not fear anything except the LORD Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else. - Isaiah 8:13
I could type for hours. This is good for now.
Warmly,
Hannah Joy.
In January we got to settle in to our American comfort zones with each other: debrief periodically, keep our American humor all day, be moved together, understand why the other does what they do, possibly question the flavor of a food or a peculiar smell.
After six days, I'm feeling settled. I'm coming to terms with being on my "own". (Sending lengthy emails to Kaj and parents helps me get-out my American-ness.) And best of all, my sleep is on schedule.
For those of you who were so worried about me and the heat: I'm doing just fine. There is an AC in my room that I use at night, and during the day I just deal.
Having a younger brother, Anu, is a lot more fun than I was expecting.We spend most of the day together.
My sister, Kalyani, returns from Sweden (five months at SVF) on Sunday. I'm so sure that having another sister will also be a joy. Shireen, my Indian mom, keeps the family going. And Daniel, who we (Shireen, Anu and I) are helping with his English, is a wonderful man of God. The pet fish are great too. Extremely active in their close quarters.
Yesterday Daniel and I went to Mumbai for a bus tour. Our tour at-a-glance: Gateway to India, boat tour, aquarium, modern art gallery, gardens, Bollywood stars' sea side homes, Mumbai Indians in the bus next to ours, beach along the Arabian sea. I made good friends, well as good as friends as you can be with someone who doesn't speak the same language and you only see for a few hours on a bus tour, with three girls from south India. We shared Sprite and a Rose drink by the sea together.
On Monday I will go to a local village, where the woman's empowerment project is, and start a program for the kids. I'll teach them the English alphabet, a rhyme or two, then venture off into having fun with games. I'm really looking forward to this.
As most of you know I love photography. And I have my camera with me. I'm finding it difficult to take a lot of pictures. There are many things that are memorable, and I think you all should see, but I can't help but think many are intrusive. Because most are of people and their environment. It's hard to point the lens at a situation where the person feels the most comfortable and I observe as an alternate universe. So when I do post pictures, you will get what you get. Otherwise, you will have to visit India on your own, or look at photographers who are more brave than I am.
D-Mart, the Wal-Mart-like store next to our flat, not only has bins full of great looking toothbrushes, but sensitive toothpaste. Something I have recently learned that delicate teeth really want. God provides. (If this doesn't make sense to you, read here: toothbrush.)
Do not fear anything except the LORD Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else. - Isaiah 8:13
I could type for hours. This is good for now.
Warmly,
Hannah Joy.
