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!