Raju's Guesthouse

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It was my goal to have this posting written by this weekend and here it is 11pm on Sunday and I have yet to write anything. I wanted to get these photos up because this week is going ot be nuts and I hit the road again for a week starting the 14th.

Ok, now I am already on Tuesday so I need to get my act together and write. The past several weeks have been an absolute whirlwind in a really positive way. Our social lives in Delhi are bustling, making friends with other interns, expats, locals and future classmates. We are having fun attending cultural shows, exploring historical sites and checking out the wealth of incredible restaurants in Delhi. For photos of exploring around delhi click here

We are getting to be relatively settled and in somewhat of a routine. I even hit up a western style grocery store for the first time last week! (I Know it is six weeks in but better late than never is good right?). Last week we celebrated the fourth of July by going to the US Embassy for a hilarious party. They even flew in beef for hamburgers and BBQ. They had lots of carnival games complete with an Indian uncle sam on stilts! Check out photos here here We also had a crew of friends over to our place for dinner where we all had some delicious Indian! To see photos of our living room and some of the folks who joined us click here

One of the most exciting things that has happened to me this past week is that I have become friends with a classmate of mine from Stanford whose cousin is getting married this week. last night I attended the "mehandi" ceremony which is where the henna is painted on the bride and most of the women attending. It was incredible. It is at the beginning of a four or five day ceremony and we are attending the wedding tomorrow evening and I can't wait to go. Now I am writing to you on Thursday, and I have now attended the wedding, which has been one of the highlights of my stay here. To see photos of the mehandi and the wedding (as well as a video of some of the mothers singing a tradition Punjabi wedding song) please click here. here

About a week ago (now it has almost been two weeks0 the interns all headed up to Himal Pradesh in the Himalayas. (if you have noticed a theme of going to the mountains it is because it is so darn hot here!) We were between Kullu and Manali in the mountains in a beautiful remote place located on a river up in the mountains. We literally had to take a bucket across the river to get to Raju's Guesthouse, the wonderful place where we spent four days going on hikes and getting plenty of R&R. We had to cross the river in the little basket you can see to the left with Raju in it just to get out of the guesthouse! To see photos from Raju's place as well as Chandigarh - a centrally planned city designed by Le Corbusier click here
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I have been having an absolutely amazing time here exploring a new culture, working a different enviornment, meeting new people. It is exhausting at times and overwhelming, but I couldn't have asked for a richer experience. I feel very fortunate I was able to have this amazing summer and be surrounded by such wonderful, gracious, and hospitable people here.

I am in town through this Friday and then I head out of town for eight days on a train ride through the country looking at the community owned companies and stores in Gudjrat and Rajasthan. It also should be an eye opening experience that I look forward to sharing with you!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer and look forward to being in touch with all of you!

take care,
Siobhan

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Comments

[Gail]

Technology is working
Hi, got the phone call. All is going o.k. What a wonderful adventure you are having. Makes me want to dig out photos of Dehli from 28 years ago. Perhaps you will be able to identify things and settings long forgotten. Sending lots of love and cheering you in your lastest adventure. G