Half Way!
16 Mar 05
Vanakkam (Hello) !!!
So a lot has happened in the last month, though I don’t really feel like I’ve experienced much of the craziness of India yet. I’ve been extremely busy with the program I’m in and have spent most of my time in Auroville. The second half of the semester has a lot more traveling outside of Auroville, so I’m hoping I will feel like I’m getting to know India more during that time.
We’re at our half way mark in the semester and it seems to me like it’s going to end so quickly! It’s strange to think that before too long I will be back in Redlands!
A few weeks ago we went on a weekend outing to Tirruvenamali, home to a mountain that is thought to be the embodiment of Shiva. It was nice to get to explore that part of Southern India. The ashram we stayed in had bed bugs – as if the mosquitoes weren’t enough! Unfortunately I swell up pretty bad to all of these bug bites. Apparently I’m also very reactive to the DDT that nearby villagers are spraying on their cashew crops. It stinks that I have to deal with being sick from crazy chemicals even in a place like Auroville, but that’s how the world is right now.
Yesterday was my last day at my KOFPU internship. I really enjoyed getting to know the wonderful people that work there, so I’m still going to go back to visit in the last few weeks I’m in Auroville (the rest of the semester we will be traveling in South India).
I’ve gone into Pondi a few more times to get some tailoring done – I now have a Punjabi! They starch all of the fabric and it hasn’t come out easily, so it’s still a bit too stiff, but I have worn it a few times!
I went to the beach for the first time since I’ve been here and it was so nice to be near the water! I hope I get to go back a few more times.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day (tomorrow)!
Poittu va (See you later) !
Tanya
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Posted by: Tanya on Mar 16, 05 | 7:13 am
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