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!!
