French people aren’t nearly as endearing outside of France. I’ve often found them to be overly self-assured, intelligent, and serious (to overgeneralize), and inside their native country they are tolerable because of what they cultivate: fantastic food, architecture, language, lunchtimes, etc. Here in Pondicherry (now Puducherry - but let’s be honest, not the same ring to it) we are suffocating in them at every restaurant, bar and beach due to their reign for a hundred years. Several hundred years. 62 years. Does it matter? I told you, I’m on vacation, dammit. I’m being an ass, but like most unpleasantries said, it stems from jealousy. Two Parisians who had just met sat behind me at a café and chose to speak in English the whole time. Show-offs! I listened to them struggle at times to properly communicate ... read more

Beggars here come in all shapes and sizes and utilize many different tactics. The most common come up to you, speaking softly, and follow you around or tap on the window of your taxi. The most annoying are the kids who poke, grab and sometimes scratch you. The saddest are the tiny kids who don't say anything, they sit naked with genitals directly touching the dirty, wet cement, barely moving. One made us giggle for awhile though. We were walking from the Haji Ali Dargah, a very famous (and breathtakingly gorgeous) Muslim shrine that has the equivalent of a 'relic' in Christian terms. This little girl taps me on the shoulder, and in a sing-song voice (a third melodic interval, the first syllable of each word being the higher tone) and says expectantly, "HELLOOOOO! MONEEEEEEEY!!!" For ... read more

Greetings and salutations! Namaskar/namaste (still haven't figured out the difference, though I'm going with the flight attendant and sticking with the former for now). I am speechless thus far. The only other travel experience to do this (including 6 visits to Europe, some to Canada, Japan, Mexico, etc) was visiting Dachau in Munchen, where nothing I could say seemed relevant or appropriate after seeing well-used human ovens. SImilarly, nothing I have read or heard or seen has prepared me for this bombardment of MORE here. More people (in mumbai, 27,000 per KM, to be exact), more colors, more smells, more stares, more poverty than I could ever imagine. Everything is a slum - including where we are staying, much to our surprise (we're probably going to change that soon, though). Not sure how much I will ... read more

I'm so happy these past few weeks! I hope it keeps up. Today I took pictures all day, some near a cemetery and most of small streets. A few are good, but most are shit. I'll post some soon. Just know I'm happy, and that's why I'm not writing as much. Can't wait to see you all in a month (exactly)! ... read more

This blog is due for a bit of positivity, n’est-ce pas? The title is a quote from my student. We were discussing the importance of proverbs and idioms, and she enthusiastically wanted to share some French ones with me. I loved this the most, and to be honest I’m not exactly sure I understand the meaning but I THINK it means you have to really search for happiness in life and help bring it into existence; it doesn’t just ‘happen’. Whether or not that is the real meaning (after all, giddy 17-year old French teenage girls aren’t the best French teachers), I couldn’t care less. It works for me. Here’s another quote from that book which I sadly finished (don’t you hate when you finish a good book?! Towards the end I tried to hit the ... read more