boat, boat, madam would you like a boat??

I am now in the city of ghats, Varanasi..on the Ganges. It's a pretty wild place and a nice change of pace after 4 days staying in Old Delhi. It's filled with hippies from around the world, sadhus, funerals, and of course the given: cows, goats (sometimes wearing sweaters and painted), and dogs. We finished up classes in Kerela last week and had to say goodbye to our new friends at DePaul Institute of Science and Technology. Our small group (8 Americans, 16 Indians) had a great time blasting together and I already miss their faces!

Delhi brought us a trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal (amazing pics to come) via the craziest driving ever seen. We were going the wrong direction on a major highway, crossing medians, and swerving monkeys. Also experienced was the Red Fort, Gandhi Museum (place of assassination), the fancy Connaught Place, fancy late night life, and the constant motion of the cycle market of Old Delhi.

I can not believe that I have been here for almost a month. Life here is very different then anything that I have experienced before, but it is truly amazing. Every city has been unique but the one common thing is the kindness of the people, and their smiles which seem to be contagious because I can't stop either. I wish everyone could be here with me experiencing this!!

Tomorrow Dan Dave and I will be visiting place where Buddha gave his first speech. And on Thursday I return to Pune, to get settled in, finish papers, and start work.

All the best from Sita Guest House (the best place in Varanasi)

(Nelly has a tattoo, it says lunatic)

Come on Barbie, let's go party!!! ooooooyeah

Yes, I am still galivanting around India...sorry for the lack of activity. I have emerged from 3 nights in a tribal village and a 25 hour train ride where internet was a centery or two away. I am now on the coastal south near Kochi.

Every experince so far has been beyond imaginable and it looks to contiune that way. This weekend we are riding elephants and headed to Cherrai Beach.

Everyone that wants to see me plowing with bullocks or in a sari...hold yours horses, it will happen soon.

boooooooooooooom like an 808

estamos en pune!! estamos en pune!!

Greeting from my new home Pune, Maharastra, India. Alisa and I reached Mumbai airport early Saturday morning and made our way through the beautiful valleys and hills down to Pune. The trip took 4 hours, and was a great intro in India...less then 1 minute from the airport I saw my first cow....it's true they just hang out as they wish. I also got a glimpse into one of the world's largest slums, Dharavi, where close to a million live in unimaginable conditions.

So far Pune has been a grand adventure, and the traffic is nothing short of insane!! I will be turning in circles my whole time here. Alisa and I have settled in nicely, seen some great sites...a 18th century wada (or palace), crazy shopping streets, I bought some Aladdin pants that the shopkeeper insisted on but I can't figure out how to wear. We also managed to eat at a great restaurant, accidently swallow some water while brushing teeth, and eat some raw veggies but still no punishment from the belly.

Sorry so short but we are meeting up with a teacher and visiting his classroom!! Playing with babies!! my fav. Tonight we meet up with our classmates and professors. I hope to write more soon, so much has already happened and I'm loving it!!

indiaisthebomb.com

sp

--Laying over in Abu Dhabi

Howdy Ho from the UAE, the first leg of the flight flew by! Thanks to a window seat, a friendly anti-graffiti salesmen on his way to Karachi as a seatmate, a couple movies, wine and a good sleep. We even arrived to Abu Dhabi an hour early. The airport is very sparkly, in both the clean and bejeweled sense. It is also very calm amongst the wide variety of people here.

I just bought some lip gloss for 39 DHK, and have no idea what that means. I've been told that I should be doing some duty-free shopping but for now I am off to do some serious people watching before my flight to Mumabi.

Miss ya BAMFs already

I'm leaving on a jetplane....TODAY

I'm singing (mostly Christmas songs from ELF and Jai Ho) and dancing (practicing my Bollywood moves) and can't stop smiling; even more then usual. Why?? Because I am leaving for India today!! No turkey and cranberry sauce for me this year, what I will be lacking in calories, I will be making up in airplane food as I start my 21 hour journey.

Why am I going to India?? Adventure, to meet and enjoy new people, to check more sites off the list, to learn, to help and soooooo much more! I am going over with DePaul and around 20 fellow students from the School of Public Service to continue two classes I took this quarter. Two weeks of school work; including time with an NGO, staying in villages, and classes with Indian masters students, couple days of travel to see Delhi, Agra, and Varanasi, and then I will return to Pune for an internship until March.

I am ready!! I am tired of waiting! It has been all details lately and I feel that I am set as I'll ever be and my backpack is ready for the journey as well. I did have a hiccup in my infinite packing wisdom last night when I realized the plug for my computer charger had gotten into my storage unit, not my bag for India. It was 8pm, a rainy evening in Chicago, and I needed to get to the Apple Store pronto! On the phone they couldn't tell me if they had the part or not, so with the help of my cab driver, we prayed it would be there....and it worked. The nice guy at Apple even gave it to me for free and wished me happy trails! If that is the worse of my packing woos all is good.

With this blog, I hope to keep my friends and family in the know and supplied with photos. Im not sure how much access I will have in the first couple weeks but once I get settled into Pune, I hope that I can keep it current and hear from you all as well. This is my first attempt at a blog, so suggestions on what you what to know, see....and comments of what you are tired of are very welcome!

Here is a quickie iternery:

11.28 - arrive Mumbai -- travel to Pune

11.28 - 11.30 - check out city, visit 2nd graders

12.1 - 12.3 - classes @ WOTR in Pune

12.4 - 12.7 - village stay

12.8 - 12.9 - return to Mumbai and travel via train to Kochi

12.10 - 12.15 - classes in Kochi with DIST students, trip to beach

12.16 - 12.20 - travels in Delhi and Agra (Taj Mahal)

12.21 - 12.23 - travels in Varanasi

12.24 - return to Pune, settle in, finish papers

1.1.2010!! - start internship at WOTR

Lots of love to my family across Iowa, Nebraska, Arizona and Hawaii, will miss you all and can't wait to see you all when I return! And also a thank you to everyone for always supporting me through my adventures; I can't imagine having a greater network of love surrounding me, wish I could take you all with me!!

Will miss all you Omahoes, Zonahos, and friends as well, keep up the good life and let me join back in when I return! I will also miss my third home, Chicago, it's been good to me and I will be back, just try to get rid of all the snow and slush by March!

A special shout out to Mia and Ann down in AZ for their birthdays this week, it's strange not being at MiMi's today. What I miss most... the rolls!! Just joking, I miss you all tons!

PEACEandBESOS

stacy

**for more info on the NGO I will be working with check out www.wotr.org They do great work throughout drought prone regions, and have much success. I am very lucky to have to chance to be a part of their organization

**check out www.depaulonline.org for more info on the DePaul program

lum