First day

Well, today was my first full day in India. I'm getting used to being here already. I know in the last post that I mentioned it being dirty here, well I still think it is but you get used to it and it just becomes part of the scenery?

This is where I'm living:

I must say, it's pretty damn nice. I think that might be because there are supposed to be more than just three people living here but it's very spacious tha

nks to the attacks in Mumbai (people dropped out).

When I have more pictures I'm going to make a facebook album but I haven't been taking many. I feel really awkward taking pictures of people and places but I know I should just do it regardless of how self conscious I am because I want to have something to remember this by.

Let's talk about the important things... what did I do today.

Today started out with a orientation type chat where I spoke with the director of the India program and she told us what to expect and such. We made plans for future hang outs (going to see a Bollywood film and getting our eyebrows threading, AND LEARNING HOW TO THREAD EYEBROWS hah).

We talked about the government and things it can do to try and eliminate the massive amounts of poverty in the area. Also, the problems foreign aid has with the dependency and then wealth of a country later on in life. For instance, India was left by the British in a terrible state but is not independent and working on the poverty issue. We spoke about how Africa is still relying on other countries for aid and that many of the social programs in the area are not sustainable.

After that we went to go eat at this AMAZING restaurant.. seriously, amazing. I am so paranoid about eating something nonvegan by accident and getting sick. I not only have to worry about eating any nonsterile food but also about meat and dairy. WHAT NEXT. But it was good. Then we went on a trip in the area to find information about. It was supposed to get us used to being in the area. That was fun. I had to ask a rickshaw how much it would cost to take me somewhere (google rickshaw delhi, I don't feel like posting a picture I'll have some up later).

Then we came back and went shopping for culturally appropriate clothing which does not look very flattering but.. what are you going to do?

Then came back and ate dinner and had a nice chat about friends and family with the girls in the program. All and all it's been very interesting.

Side note, I had my first experience with actual beggars today, a girl came up to the car window (saw westerners) and started to play a drum for us for a good half a minute ugh we just had to look away but it was very sad. Then later on a man came to try to sell us incense. Same deal saw westerners and spent extra time on us. It was very sad but it's just part of being here.

I'll leave you with a ridiculous picture of myself that I took this morning after my first shower... A shower in which I used a bucket to clean myself.