South Tour

 I have been to the point of India and back :) For the past 23 days I have been traveling with 10 other Rotary exchange students and one tour guide all throughout South India, recording everyday in my journal. I have decided to share with you the shortened version. If anyone is interested in the detailed, full version, just email me and I will be more than willing to share everything with you!

After only twenty three days I have seen so much more of India. I have learned, experienced, and SMELLED so many new things. I have ridden on top of a moving tour bus on a remote street in a small village. I have climbed up 1,700 steps carved into a huge rock, arriving at the top to a 100ft. statue carved from one boulder. I have ridden an elephant, been where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, ridden in an Indian train, received a famous Kerala massage. I am used to cockroaches and rats, I no longer think much of unexplainable red dots on my skin. I have been to the gate of India, become a master at bargaining, slept on a houseboat and had freshly caught fish. I have woken up at 2am in the morning to avoid pro-communism protests, gone on jungle safaris, been to the highest point in South India and gone to the bathroom in a train (you will have to experience that one for yourself!). I am thankful to be able to experience some of the most magical moments of my life. Leaning out an open train door as India goes by in flashes, knowing there is so much India hides. No matter how much I learn about her, I know there is always another religion, belief, dish, song, person, or language that is yet to be discovered. And that is why this year, I am determined to become her best friend, no matter how many times she hugs me and then slaps me in the face. Because that is India and you can't do much more than try to learn her secrets and stand back in awe. 

Diwali

Namaste!
I am sure some of you have heard of Diwali, the festival of lights. You have probably also heard that it is one of the most beautiful festivals in India. Well, it is! Maybe it is the excitement of the entire family coming over for dinner (Indian families are big!), firing illegal fireworks (illegal in America of course), or maybe it is all the lights that are hung on every single house. I think the most beautiful moment of Diwali was when I watched a single paper lantern float into the sky. I know it sounds cliche, but it was truly picturesque.
For 10 days before Diwali, everyone frantically cleans their houses. It is like the Indian version of Spring cleaning, except they actually do it :). For the 3 days of the festival, there are poojas at homes and shops, where the owners pray for prosperity of their business' and families. 

Many people underestimate the amount of fireworks that are blown up, as well as the unsafe conditions. You walk down the street and there are children lighting matches and jumping over fireworks! Of course, someone is bound to get hurt. The first night of Diwali, my host brother was lighting a firework and somehow decided it would be safe to hold onto it as it went off! He burnt 3 of his fingers! But I suppose I shouldn't talk, as I burnt my finger on the last day while lighting a firework. Ice is everyone's best friend during Diwali :)  

I leave for the tour of South India in 8 days! I can't wait to see more of India. Can't wait to share my experience with you all!

Namaste,

Hannah

A Day in the Life of an American in India

Today I woke up at 8am, ate breakfast (prepared by my wonderful host mother) and was out the door and in an auto by 9:15am. The auto took me to BVM school, which is where me and the other exchange students take our kathak and tabla classes. From there, the other students and I went in search of another auto. Like most times, we had around 4 autos surrounding us, 3 out of the 4 already filled with people. I am not sure if the drivers planned on dumping out there passengers and taking us or if they just stopped to marvel at the Americans!  Either way, we found an empty one and made our way to the Madame Principal's house (the principle of BVM school). She had invited us to a pooja(celebration) for her Goddess. After performing the pooja, which consisted of throwing a handful of pedals on a beautifully decorated temple, we were served lunch. It was delicious! I even had something that tasted like key lime pie :)
 At 2pm we met our kathak teacher at the school where I taught her ballet, Felix taught German dance, Zevi taught Waltz and Salsa and Britney taught Tap. It was a lot of fun!! At 5pm, after dancing all afternoon Britney and I went to Jaripatka (my neighborhood) and shopped for kurti fabric. I am becoming quite the expert at bargaining, but my host mom is still in 1st place out of anyone I know! After my mom took me to the tailors to have some kurtis and suits made, I helped her cut tomatoes, onions, and paneer to make khatti rolls, which are one of my favorite meals here. The dinner was delicious!
I miss everyone and hope you are all doing well :)
Namaste,
Hannah

Pictures

I have been asked to share photos, but because of the amount of time it takes to upload them to websites such as photo bucket, I will be uploading them to Facebook. You can add me as a friend to view the photos!! I apologize if this is an inconvenience...

Namaste,

Hannah

Envoy by Billy Collins

I was reading a book of poems that my mom gave me before I left and I thought this one described what it is like to go on exchange:

Envoy

Go, little book,
out of this house and into the world,

Carriage made of paper rolling toward town
bearing a single passenger
beyond the reach of this jittery pen,
far from the desk and the nosy gooseneck lamp.

It is time to decamp,
put on a jacket and venture outside,
time to be held in foreign hands.

So off you go, infants of the brain,
with a wave and some bits of fatherly advice:

Stay out as late as you like,
don't bother to call or write,
and talk to as many strangers as you can.


Namaste.
Hannah 

Only in India

I have found myself saying "only in India" quite a lot. I have had so many bizarre experiences in the past few weeks that I would never had imagined. At times I actually find myself wondering who I am. India has already changed me in 3 weeks. And that's another thing.. I can't believe I have been here for an entire 3 weeks already :) Time has passed so fast.
So as I was saying, I find myself in situations that last year I never would have imagined. I find myself doing things, saying things, and expecting things that actually scare me. I look back at them and think to myself "Who was that?"
I have ignored poor children begging me for money, walked away and not looked back. Already I am used to having a maid, used to expecting my bed to be made, my bathroom to be cleaned, my dishes to be washed. Many times I have argued with an auto driver about an unfair price, insisting on 50 rupees when he wants 70, afterwards realizing that his house is most likely somewhere in the many slums, he is trying to support his family, and all he wanted was a little more than a dollar. I have ignored and been angry with the many people who stare at me, finding it overly annoying, when they can probably count on their fingers how many white people they have seen in their life time.  I have seen so many slums and so many people who have nothing. I have kept walking, ignored them, done nothing.
Many times I have looked back at these experiences and not recognized this person. It honestly scares me! India is so much different from America. I can't even give justice to these 3 weeks with only words. But there are also the truly amazing moments that I don't think twice about.
Eating ice cream with the other exchange students, going to Cafe Coffee day (which is like starbucks, but Indian) every single day, riding on top of a car while it is moving ( I guess this is completely normal and legal...) but don't worry they only do it on the side roads! I have ridden down the highway with only my legs inside the windows, gone shopping in the market, played cricket in the street, gone 80 km per hour on the back of a motorcycle, worn a sari, tied rakhi to 7 new brothers, started to learn hindi, helped my host mom cook in the kitchen, and learned how to cross an Indian road ( well at least I haven't been hit yet!). But most importantly I have met people that will impact my life. People who I will know 60 years from now and still remember the year that changed our lives.
I keep having to remind myself that I have only been here for 3 weeks. It seems like I have been here for a year :) I know that there will be so much more to come during this year. I just hope I can keep up with the blogging so I don't forget anything about it!
Oh and I have been able to understand certain words that people say when they speak in Hindi. It is quite exciting to sort of know what they are talking about :) And of course I have been working on speaking it as well!
Namaste,
Hannah

Adventures in Nagpur

 Yesterday me, Felix and my host brother, Praveen went to "Crazy Castle water park". It was a blast, although Felix is now as red as a lobster. So besides the lack of intelligence to put sunscreen on, we had a really fun time. For some reason 90 degree, humid weather isn't hot enough for Indians so we had the entire park to ourselves :)  The rules about safety in India are a lot less than in America. That's one thing I learned at the water park :D
Today was my first day of school. It was very, very confusing! The classroom looks like a classroom from the old movies... My first class was Physics. It was... interesting. The teacher completely ignored me and the other exchange students. And I can't really understand when she is speaking English and when she is speaking Hindi! Oh well.
After school Felix, Donald, Zevi and I went to our Katak and Tabla classes. On our way to our hindi class, we all climbed into one rickshaw. That was a bad idea! Zevi and Felix were sitting on the outside with their feet towards us, halfway out the vehicle. Oh and did I mention it was raining really hard? After we told the driver where to take us, he ended up taking us to some random mall. We gave up and decided to go shopping instead, after searching for the temple (where our hindi class is). But I WILL say that I successfully got home in a rickshaw. I guess my Hindi isn't that bad. And he only charged us 30 rupees! That's less than a dollar!


Alright time for me to go to sleep.
By the way please feel free to comment on my posts. It's nice to hear feed back.
Namaste,
Hannah

War

Hey everyone. At 2 in the morning today a war broke out between the christians and the sindhis. There were 2 sindhis and 250 christians. The christians beat the sindhis without mercy, resulting in one of them in the hospital and one dead. Because there were 250 christians and only 2 sindhis, the christians cannot be prosecuted. The police have to listen to the christians because they are the majority in the situation. They are saying that it was the sindhis who provoked them, but there are no sindhis to tell their side, so the police have no choice but listen to the christians. This is a completely unjust situation and it is very frustrating. How is it christian to beat people of other religions? As I recall God said "love your neighbors", not "beat your neighbors". But what can we do? It is just another situation in life that is unfair and unjust. Perhaps someday our world will be at peace. I hope I am alive for that day.
On a happier note, I am having a wonderful time in India and it has definetly opened my eyes to many things.
Namaste,
Hannah

When in India, do as the Indians do

Hey guys! Wow! Sorry this took me so long. The blog website wouldn't let me post. 

I think I will just tell you what I have been up to. 

On Monday I met 3 of the other exchange students in my city. Donald- from Germany Zevi- from America and Felix- from Germany. They are all very nice!! We signed up for tabla and katak- drums and a form of Indian dance. We have these classes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday as well as Hindi lessons afterward. Some things that I have noticed about Indian culture:

1. They are very straight- forward. If they think something about someone they will tell you. It has been a little surprising to me.

2. Burping is accepted as completely normal and no one seems to notice when anyone does it :O 

3. Cows know they are holy!! They saunter down the middle of the street as if there weren't people honking at them and yelling. Although I guess they do eat the garbage... so we have to be somewhat thankful to them :)

4. You WILL be fed wherever you go. Even if you refuse 100 times.

I have only been here for one week and I already feel like I have been here for a month. I have learned so much already. 

I posted some of my pictures on Facebook if you want to see them! Otherwise I will try to figure out how to get them on my blog soon :)

All the best!!!

Hannah

"Jaisa des vaisa ves" "When in India, do as the Indians do"

Cows, Goats and Dogs

Where do I begin? Well, first of all I found my way to all of the airplanes and didn't end up in Greendland, so that's something to be proud of! I think I will just tell you of all the new experiences that I had in just one day.
When I landed in Mumbai, as I looked out the window I saw barbed wire and behind that were slums. I glanced back and saw the shadow of a little boy watching the plane land. The outside of the airport was lined with slums, shacks and hundreds of blue tarps.
When I flew into the Nagpur airport, I had to use the bathroom. In the previous bathrooms in Mumbai airport they had normal tiolets.. and tiolet paper! Well, the toilets in Nagpur airport were pits in the ground (tiled of course!) with a water spray hose instead of tiolet paper :O That was a little terrifying....
As my new host family drove me home, I saw India for the first time! I can't even begin to explain what it looks like.
When I got into the car I discovered that seatbelts are not neccesary! As we started to drive, the stereo-type of "no lanes, honking" became true. Everyone was swerving around everyone and honking "just because they can". There were more motorcycles on the road than I have ever seen in my life. People walked through town, down the middle of the road, while the cars and motorcycles dodged them. As we drove farther into the neighborhood there were  dogs walking along the side of the road, sniffing through garbadge and curled up in yards outside buildings. And then I saw the COWS. It's true!!! There are cows and cows and cows. They just walk around all day, minding their own business, and people don't even  seem to mind! They just drive around them. It truly amazes me!
When I arrived at my new house I got to choose which bedroom I wanted! After I unpacked, I was immediatley given water, mango juice, a piece of cake and food and more food. They say that India is the one country where you will probably lose weight, but I 'm not so sure.. For example, I went to visit my new aunt and some of my cousins and my aunt sat me down and put a bowl of rice in front of me! After visitng their house, I was brought to the house of my other cousins and aunt. And guess what they tried to do?... feed me again!!! hahah so I have probably gained a few pounds already :)
Then came the motorcylce. My host brother, Praveen told me that we were going to bike around the neighborhood. The next thing I knew, I was on the back of a motorcylce, no helmet, dodging goats, cows. people, cars, motorcycles and dogs!! And it was funnnn!!! When you are the only white person around, people tend to stare at you, and that's just what people did. It's a little weird, but I guess I will get used to it.
Just one more thing. When we were driving through the neighborhood, we stopped for a few minutes at an intersection. Immediatley, a woman and her baby were at our open window, begging for money. After we gave her some rupees, she moved onto the next vehicle.

Well, it is 11:30pm and I have been awake for the past 2 and a half days so I think I'm going to sleep.
I can't wait for my second day, and I'm sure there are a lot more fun, interesting and scary experiences to come.
Namaste!!

20 hours, 30 min, 30 sec

At 6:30 am tomorrow morning I will fly from Portland to Seattle. From there, I will fly to New Jersey and from there I will fly to Mumbai. I will have a 10 hour lay-over (at night!) in the Mumbai airport, and at 6:55am I will finally fly to Nagpur where I will meet my host family!!!!!
No matter how many times I tell myself my brain and feelings will not be convinced that I am leaving in less than a day. I think it is the anticipation for the last 9 months. It is finally here, and it still seems like a dream.
Everyone has been so supportive and loving and I can't thank you all enough. I will miss you all so much, but will have so much to blog about. I will make sure to post pictures..lots of them :)
Until India,
NAMASTE!

18 more days....

I realize I haven't written anything for awhile, but I am going to catch you up! I am leaving on July 21st, but still waiting for my visa. I take a plane from Portland to Seattle, to New Jersey and then to INDIA! I have already packed and unpacked my suitcase, so you can tell I'm pretty anxious :D
My host family seems wonderful. They are Sindhi, so I will be able to go to temple and be vegetarian! My mom is a housewife, so it will be nice to have her around and my dad owns two rice and wheat factories. I have two brothers, one of which who is my age, will leave on exchange for Wisconsin in the end of August. My other brother will be starting his first year of university, so he will be living at home.
I am signed up for swim team, my brothers are going to teach me cricket and my grandfather is going to teach me yoga!!! Let me leave already :)))
I will be sure to write more often and especially before I leave.
Namaste!

Family

I am proud to present my first host family. I have been emailing my soon to be family for about 4 days. I'm already signed up for college (11th grade), and learning about Nagpur, India!!! I am so happy :) I also found out that I am leaving in the beginning of July!

Found Out!

I found out where I'm going next year!!! It is... (drum roll please).....INDIA!! So excited =) I'll let you know more when I find out more info!

Second Orientation

SOOOO tomorrow I am leaving for my second orientation, or the eastern oregon orientation. We stay in LaGrande and get to go skiing at Anthony Lake! On Saturday night we are re-submitting our choices and we find out where we are going on Sunday morning!! I am very excited. I am debating between India, Czech Republic, and Turkey. India is a little higher on my list but I'm not sure about it. We get to talk to the inbounds so I think I'm going to drown them with questions =)
I'll let you know where I'm going after this weekend!

1st Orientation

Ok so this last weekend I went to my first orientation for rotary. I met a lot of really nice people and the orientation was INTENSE! But it was FUN! We had the country fair so we got to talk to the inbounds(students from other countries) and the rebounds(people who went to the countries last year). It helped me with my decision a lot. I put India as my first choice and Thailand, Turkey, Czech Republic, and     Austria as my second choices. In three weeks we have the east oregon ski trip where we will re-submit our choices and find out where we are going!! I think I am going to change Austria to Germany and I might change my first choice, but I can't decide. I keep going back and forth. Oh well I will know in three weeks!!
Wish me luck!