Sat in the A/C all day and read Shantaram. This book is helping me experience India from the confines of the school grounds. Did yoga inside. If I do yoga outside, the girls will come and ask me to teach them and I won't be able to practice. Which is fine, but I need time for my own development.
I managed to go outside once today to walk across the street to buy mangoes, they're in season right now. Oh my god the mangoes are so ripe and delicious I could eat two in one sitting.
I don't even deserve a shower today. I'm fighting the urge to continue reading this amazing book so I can go some decent sleep and get up at 5:25AM to go to yoga. Then I will deserve using the water for a shower.
A friend, Kristina Nielsen came into town yesterday. We were going to go out exploring today but the airport lost her bag and we waited all day for the airport to call so she could go pick it up. Tomorrow we are going to go sightseeing. I'm dying to get out more but I don't feel confident in my abilities with rickshaw drivers. I'd like to meet some people my age but it's difficult in this neighborhood. Not much going on, just schools and churches and hospitals. I just want to meet some people like me.
But where do the thinkers and readers and music appreciators hang out in Chennai? There isn't much of a bar scene. I'm stuck right now! In a city of 7 million people there has got to be a place where freaks like me hang out. Coffee shops, perhaps. The one on campus never has anybody inside, and the nearest coffee shop is a long walk away. I'm going to walk there some day because it's something new and you never know what's going to happen when you try something new. Maybe a bookstore, too. Tomorrow will open up new possibilities, I'm sure of it. I just need to get more comfortable taking rickshaws places. They tend to try making a few extra rupees from tourists, not that it'll be a huge detriment to me but it's the morality behind letting them get away with taking money from you that deters me.
Last night was awesome, though. We went to this great restaurant called Sangeetha's and I had my first South Indian masala dosa. I managed to snap a picture half-way through the meal. It was fantastic. I was happy. We had gulab jamun afterwards, too.
-Le sigh.- Still oscillating in and out of this funk, I hope it doesn't last my whole journey. Perhaps this funk is part of the learning process. There are times of great joy and amazement at this new culture but times of depression and feelings of hopelessness. The thought crossed my mind that I'm too consumed with communicating with people at home and telling them about my experiences, and don't think that's it. I just have so much free time, I don't know what to do with myself. I want to make some friends but don't know where to start. Exploring is fun on your own to a certain extent. I did it in Munich but I can't help it, I'm human. I want to share my experiences with other people. I have high hopes that tomorrow is going to be an eye opener. We'll see. For now I must surrender to sleep and my incessantly vivid dreams, have to get up super early for yogas.
I managed to go outside once today to walk across the street to buy mangoes, they're in season right now. Oh my god the mangoes are so ripe and delicious I could eat two in one sitting.
I don't even deserve a shower today. I'm fighting the urge to continue reading this amazing book so I can go some decent sleep and get up at 5:25AM to go to yoga. Then I will deserve using the water for a shower.
A friend, Kristina Nielsen came into town yesterday. We were going to go out exploring today but the airport lost her bag and we waited all day for the airport to call so she could go pick it up. Tomorrow we are going to go sightseeing. I'm dying to get out more but I don't feel confident in my abilities with rickshaw drivers. I'd like to meet some people my age but it's difficult in this neighborhood. Not much going on, just schools and churches and hospitals. I just want to meet some people like me.
But where do the thinkers and readers and music appreciators hang out in Chennai? There isn't much of a bar scene. I'm stuck right now! In a city of 7 million people there has got to be a place where freaks like me hang out. Coffee shops, perhaps. The one on campus never has anybody inside, and the nearest coffee shop is a long walk away. I'm going to walk there some day because it's something new and you never know what's going to happen when you try something new. Maybe a bookstore, too. Tomorrow will open up new possibilities, I'm sure of it. I just need to get more comfortable taking rickshaws places. They tend to try making a few extra rupees from tourists, not that it'll be a huge detriment to me but it's the morality behind letting them get away with taking money from you that deters me.
Last night was awesome, though. We went to this great restaurant called Sangeetha's and I had my first South Indian masala dosa. I managed to snap a picture half-way through the meal. It was fantastic. I was happy. We had gulab jamun afterwards, too.
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| Cost: 100 rupees for a giant dosa and a fresh papaya juice ~ $2 |
Hang in there Mariah, I think we all experience culture shock after the initial thrill of the adventure wears off... Did you wish your Dad a Happy Day's Day??? You have all the right stuff, just be patient and try to let India come to you, don't try to push yourself into it...Don't know if this makes any sense, but I LOVE reading your blogspot. I just saw the Exotic Marigold Hotel and it really shows the life in India....It's Intense!
ReplyDeleteStrahl
Yeah but that's what I'm here for. I knew it wouldn't be all fun and games, this place isn't like Paris or Barcelona. It's ugly, but beautiful at the same time. I know what you mean by letting it come to me, it's going to take some time. I just get frustrated when I hear about how much fun my friends are having at home. I'm going to stop calling home so often, it makes me depressed.
DeleteI also think the depression could be from this sleep-aid I've been taking. I'm having way too many dreams, constant dreams throughout the night. It's entertaining but it's way too much REM sleep and that can lead to symptoms of depression.
Yes I wished him a happy dad's day-- indirectly. I called home and told them to tell him I called :P
My friends tell me you either love or hate India. I love and hate India.
ReplyDeleteDont let your fear of something stop you from having an experience, even if it's a bad one (in reference to getting swindled).
ReplyDeleteI had similar problems when i first arrived in Hawaii. You will find a way to branch out (I made some of my best friends on myspace) and you will make mistakes.
Take opportunities! Make opportunities! Everything you want is at your fingertips, you just need to figure out how to move your hands.