It's been a long time gone

Amazing things keep happening over here on the other side of the world, and I can't help thinking that it has something to do with the fact that ... well ... it's the other side of the world.

The updates I have to share are far from slim, which, ironically, is why there haven't been any updates. It is a busy, busy time.

What I do have to say up front is this: culture shock is no myth. It's actually pretty fascinating. I've gone through some interesting phases in my feelings toward India and this experience as a whole. It has ranged from my initial excitement and thrill with every new scene, all the dirty way to some nasty thoughts, generalizations, and downright bitterness at the fact that "oh my gosh, this country is not catering to ME. Why would they do that?!" Sad, isn't it? A little disappointing that I would actually feel so selfish. But somehow, by some miraculous act of God, within the past few days, that has all changed into a feeling that is so much better because it is, for lack of a better word -- ACTUAL. And now I love India. For being what it is, for having all these incredible differences, and yet being so similar to every other culture at its very core.

I think I have settled into what I would call an acceptance phase. I don't mean that in a negative way at all. Every time I leave campus I see something totally new that I would never, ever see back home. And that is exciting, whether it's a woman designing a carpet of flower petals into an intricate design on the floor, or it's a hole in the floor with a cockroach trying to fly out at me... and I am somehow supposed to pee in it.

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Class has not been a piece of cake for me, and this is good. I like a challenge. I have failed 2 tests. I have sat for hours on end staring at a function and not getting why the hell its existence is necessary. But for each of those failed tests, and every minute I've spent saying "F--- this!" I have only come to understand more than I did before about computer science. But I am not going to lie. There have been moments in which I have ventured into that realm of "maybe I just can't do this." But only moments. And fleeting ones.

On a totally unrelated subject, I recently had another such fleeting moment in which I had a strong desire to stop eating meat. That desire frightened me so much that I actually ordered a side of bacon and sausage at my next meal. On top of a club sandwich that came with chicken, egg, and ham. But then it came back, that desire -- and I "accepted" it, if you will. And now I am a veggie. This may not last, but it's been a few days so far and I kind of like the new thought process it involves. India is the easiest place in the world to go veg, I think, so it hasn't been a big struggle. I'll let you know when I start protesting leather and grow dreads.

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A couple weeks ago, the chief mentor and founder of Infosys, NRN, came to speak on campus. He also met with just us from the U.S., which is incredible. This guy is really cool - he's the Bill Gates of India, and is so highly respected, that to talk with him like he's someone from HR was really kind of incredible when I think about it. Then last week there was a writer from the New York Times here. He interviewed a few from our group and took pictures during our class session, so I'll post the story once it's out.

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Many a photo has been taken in recent weeks. I'll let the captions tell the stories, but to sum it up:

-A group of 11 of us spent our 3-day weekend at a marble beach house on the east coast of southern India in a town called Mahabalipuram. This town was struck hard by the 2004 tsunami but has recovered marvelously. We saw temples, cows, temples, beaches, cows, etc... It was an awesome time.
http://picasaweb.google.com/debbie.thiegs/Mahabalipuram

-Last weekend some of us went on a day trip to check out two nearby waterfalls. I took a good tumble and messed up my knee and wrist, but I also got to sit in a giant woven basket while a guy rowed us over to the falls. It's neat, sitting in baskets is. Oh. We also visited a temple.
http://picasaweb.google.com/debbie.thiegs/TheKegTheFalls9207903PM

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In other upcoming news:
I'm going to an Indian wedding! Last weekend I was in town at the tailor's shop getting some pants and a shirt made (from scratch -- this is the way to do it, I'm telling you). While waiting for the boys to finish up, myself and my friends Sarah and Ruth sauntered into a jewelery shop where we met Bhajana - our new best friend. After chatting for a while, Bhajana informed us that she was getting married on September 14th to an Indian guy from Houston. Then she invited us, just like that. In India, this type of spontaneous invitation is not uncommon, and often it is more a courtesy than an ACTUAL invite. But Bhajana took down our e-mails, our mailing address, and within one day we got a detailed invite to the wedding, complete with contacts and a detailed description of the culture of weddings in her family. Two days later we got official invites in the mail. It has silver lining. :)

This weekend I'm going white water rafting. And visiting a temple. How did I ever not love it here?

"Why is this in my FACE?!"

Here is an awesome video montage created by one of the guys in our group. This should give you an idea of some of the everyday scenes/ experiences one gets living in India. About 1/4 of my face is in it -- can you catch where?

Enjoy!

Holy Cow, he knows his place

Some video of my friend Sarah and me "encouraging" two guys while they try to back out of a parking space being blocked by nothing other than a holy cow.