autorickshaws fo life

hey everyone,

i know ive been super lazy about writing on this blog but i've been so incredibly busy. after landing in delhi after soo many hours of flying (i forgot what day it was it was that much flying/time zone changing), we went to start our orientation. the people are super cool and we've all meshed really well so far. it was all surprsingly fast. in delhi, we visited a famous mughal tomb called humayan's tomb, ate some traditional food of andhar pradesh, got some health and other general topic orientations, and got to explore a bit on our own. Delhi wasn't as cool as I expected it to be, but we didnt have much time to really see the city, so i probs. shouldnt judge yet. going to jaipur felt a lot more like being in India. Delhi had the same sort of chaos, dirt, poverty, and beauty, but Jaipur is a bit more romantic. when you think of india, jaipur is probably similar to stereotypes you might have. i have never seen a place with rickshaws, autorickshaws, camels, cows, and pigs on road along with people, goods of all kinds to buy, and a mix of strong (not all good) smells. Tempting as it is, I havent eaten the street food yet, but mark my words, i will eat it, and i will get sick. GET EXCITED. I'm really happy here. Our program center is like a white marble and floral oasis from the bustling city, and the food here (and really everywhere i go) is great. I just sort of miss meat. we had a huge discussion about western food the other day when we visited this las vegas strip hotel style rajasthani village resort, and it made me really want a good steak. oh well, only 4 months to go? i know this blog entry is such a stream of consciousness, but that's exactly what is going through my mind. trying to get my head around this multifaceted gem of a country is both exciting and tiring. There's so much i want to understand that i probably wont for awhile. Oh, on that vein. Apparently feminism never happened here (ok, so that's a bit of an exaggeration), but being a woman here is really like being a woman in the states in the 50s: respected, but unequal. I'm worried that I will feel very disempowered and offended by how i might be treated by my male host family members, but i really hope that my worst fears dont come true. on the other hand, the clothes are great. i got my first salwaar kameez yesterday of gold, blue, and green. pics to come. a few other comments: water pressure, consistently hot showers, toilet paper are relatively sparse. it doesnt really matter that much b/c i love it THAT MUCH. i wish i could really convey how i feel about this multifaceted gem of a country: it is chaotic, delightful, pleasant, dirty, and inspiring. some things about this culture are incredible, like the rigid manners/respect, reverence of food, and the importance of communication, family, and community. but i miss you all and sometimes find myelf wondering what you are doing and what i might be doing back in the states. i wish i could experience all of this with you. did i mention that we started hindi classes? its so different, but im so excited to converse with it on the streets. love you all and miss you. please keep and touch. ill try to send some personal emails.
love,
mimi