Sleepless Nights...

It's 2am here and I have been unable to really fall asleep for a couple of days now.

Navratri is going on now. It's a nine day festival here, full of dance and fun. It's really nice, just very exhausting. I am getting better at Garba, one of the dances they do, it's really cool. People really get into it. =)


I am starting to become an Indian. I am living, breathing, eating, sleeping, speaking and living in this wonderful culture. On top of that, my English(speaking) is getting worse...=D That's a good thing. My English accent is going away and I am speaking less and less English each day. I literally have to concentrate really hard when I do speak English now... I understand a lot more that is going on around me. I feel good now. I am not confused anymore, and if I ever am, it's not really that hard for me to accept. It's would be bad otherwise if I did deny all the confusion because then I would get no where.

I guess you could say that I am homesick, but, I knew this was coming. Been gone for more than two months now and finally getting use to idea of me being here. At the same time, it's really hard to concentrate being here at times, just because I have a life in America as well, that has not halted just because I left. Life goes on, there and here in India. My friends and My family are still living their lives and I won't really be there for a lot of things in their lives.

Another thing I really miss is karate. I knew I would. I feel like this is a test. I am alone when I do karate, completely. My Dojo is not here with me. So, I just close my eyes, and move. I do karate with my eyes closed at times, just to soak it up even more when I do karate. I've always had it in my life, and I don't plan on leaving it behind just because I have left my physical dojo and instructors as well. It's okay though. I do karate by myself. It's nice to step outside and not have anybody there to give you feedback, gives me the challenge of realizing what I am doing myself and not paying attention to anything else. To concentrate my breathing, my energy, my mind and body. I am starting to think that this might just be what I needed in my training...

Reminiscing does not help homesickness, I know. But just had to get it out. I am still living in the here and now. Still can't believe that I am here in India... Just blows my mind. I have been here for more than two months, and I am still stunned that I am here. I really am... It's a great feeling to be here, you have no idea, it really is. It's a dream come true.

I miss you all. Hope all is well at home...

Stray Puppies

Every night, when I walk back from the bazaar on an errand to get bread, cheese etc. There are these puppies, these stray puppies. Skinny as can be. Scared of humans. Four of them, each time I see them, they become skinnier and skinnier. And outside of the apartment building that I am staying at, there is always a watchman. Just to make sure nothing happens and what not.

One night, instead of avoiding the puppies, I stopped. Because it just kept breaking my heart when I didn't stop to give them the attention they wanted. Hesitantly, they came towards me, then finally nudged my hand with their noses. I was so happy. The watchman saw how friendly they got with me and started to talk to me in Gujarati, I didn't know what he was saying to me. Then I looked up at him and he was making a motion of eating. He was asking me if I had any food I could give the puppies. I nodded immediately and rushed upstairs to get some biscuits. I brought a big biscuit for each one of them. As I hand fed them, they chewed on them happily. I felt good then. Now I try to see them when I can and have the time, and try to give them food, if I can.

Every Little thing Going to be Alright.

So, I don't have time, but I thought I would say that everything is going well. And Rotary is the most amazing because they are helping me go on the North India Trip.

I also got henna here(Manidhi) and it looks awesome, so I show a pic. [Mom, it's not permanent... don't worry]


I love you all, I miss you all. tata.

Helllo!

Hey everybody!

Haven't written in a while, I know. I was sick all last week, fever, coughing, sneezing, you name it. I am better now though.

I am trying not to get on the internet too much, it kind of distracts me, so that's bad.

The celebration of Lord Ganesha's birthday just ended a couple days ago, it was a ten day celebration, lots of fun, very colorful. It was nice to participate.

There is a lot more I can say, but I can't spend too much time on the computer...

I will say that the language is frustrating me more than anything. I have become this timid person now. It's strange because I am never usually like this in America. I have changed already. I can't say what I want though without language getting in the way. I hate it. But there was nothing I could have done in America to prepare, Gujarati was not something you could find a teacher for in a small town in NY.

I am getting kind of better at understanding...

On another note, the North India Trip is coming up. Sadly, I must say that I can't go on the Norh Trip, or even the South trip. Kind of depressing, but I look at the fact that I am here in India and I realize I shouldn't be sad at all. So that helps.

Don't know when I will get a hold of a computer next, so tata for now.

Hope all is well at home....