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Published: December 13th 2005
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The big news today is that I was awakend last night by the earthquake in Afghanistan. I understand it was 6.8. I woke up with a start and felt the bed shaking. My heart was pounding and I really wondered what was happening. But I quickly assumed that it was an earthquake. I experienced them regularly when living in Tokyo, so my earthquake experience came in handy last night!
I only have one picture today because I was recharging the batteries for my camera today. I took this one of my new good friend Varada. She is pretending to cry, but can't stop laughing. She is such a wonderful girl, full of fun, and she likes to perform for people. I am really enjoying our relationship, and everyday I teach her new things. (She is teaching me, too!!) Today I was teaching her how to take portrait pictures. She took several of me, but I don't want to post them because I am too vain. My skin is red and blotchy -- I am now convinced I am having an ongoing allergic reaction to the air here -- and I am puffy from retaining water due to the rich, salty food!
The adjustment period continues ...
Ajay and I planned to go to Agra tomorrow so I could see the Taj Mahal under the full moon -- highly recommended by the poets. But when the family heard about our plan, they decided they would like Varada to see the Taj Mahal, too. She has never seen it. So, we are all going to go together on the weekend. Such is life in an Indian family. There is more togetherness, and less freedom. It is such an amazingly rich experience to come here for the first time and immediately be part of a family! I can't imagine what I did to be so lucky.
Yesterday I went on another shopping spree to Fabindia. It is exhausting so I couldn't get everything I wanted the first time. The first time I bought silk and wool "suits." Yesterday I bought cotton. Three cotton outfits (three pieces each: salwar (the tunic), churidars (the narrow-style pants) and duppatas (the scarf) ), plus an extra duppata and beautiful Indian style leather shoes cost 3,600 rupees, which is about $90 CDN. Now I almost have enough clothes to dress Indian style every day.
Buying suits is a very creative act. You choose each of the pieces separately, and most of the time is spent matching the colours. As a clueless foreigner, I received a lot of help from the Indian women shopping there, too. They were invaluable, and seemed to really enjoy helping me.
I am still having my challenges -- such as making myself understood by the servants, staying warm in the evening, breathing fully, digesting the rich food, figuring out the complex family dynamics, an dnot getting anywhere nearly enough exercise -- but I am slowly falling into the rhythm of this family.
However, I am also planning to leave for the south of India (where it is warm day and night!). I cancelled my plan to go to Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai (Madras) for the two week course, Yoga for Women. It was coming up too soon, I don't want to leave here yet and they have been having torrential rains in Chennai. Instead, I am going to go to an Ayurvedic resort / centre in Kerala, and I am just now beginning to make a plan.
I feel very lucky that I have the flexibility to change my itinerary. And also lucky that I have the time to really relax and get to know India, as my friend Gosia pointed out in a recent comment to this site! On the other hand, life moves so slowly here, and it is so hard to get anything done, that I need the time. I have had a list if errands I wanted to run for a week now and I can only get about one done per day! For one thing, the day gets started so late. Every day it seems like it is 2 p.m., or even later, before I can get out of the house. Also, I have seen very few of the sites. Doing anything is so tiring! But I really must get to Old Delhi soon.
I will try to take some street scene pictures soon. If you've never been here, or anyplace like this, it's unbeleivable. I saw a tiny beggar girl today with a enormous humped back running into traffic when the light turns red to beg from the drivers. That is common here. The car comes to a stop, and you are swarmed with beggars and boys selling books and magazines. I look down and let Ajay handle it. He talks to them in Hindi, I guess telling them no, we are not interested, etc.
Also the traffic continues to amaze me. Cars, bikes, autorickshaws, every manner of vehicle, horses, and who knows what else move together in a chaotic melee to the tune of a constant cacophony of horn-honking. Instead of following the rules or the lines on the road, Indian drivers honk. So glad I don't have to drive.
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anonymous
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the Ayurvedic resort is a greatidea! It should be the TLC that you need to help you adjust.... just what the doctor ordered. if you are anything like me, its a very fine line when it comes to yoga and a challenged immune system.... if you are too weak I find it can be the straw that breaks the camels back... love the blogs... Chrissy