Horn. OK. Please.

We made it to India!
No pictures yet- it's much more comfortable to carry around a camera in America than when I already stand out so significantly.

I'm glad to already have a base knowledge level about the many cultures that exist here, and about the tumultuous, rich history of the region. It makes the sensory overload a bit less overwhelming. When I went to India in high school, I remember Dee telling me that there is absolutely nothing like going to India for the first time. It's true; nothing is the same without the innocence of being a blank slate.

So far I'm staying healthy and keeping myself on a very strict regimen of no street food, no iced drinks, and using bottled water even to brush my teeth. So far, so good.

I live in a middle class colony in the southwest of Delhi called Vasant Kunj. So far I don't know the area very well, but my roommate Natalie and I are practicing how to bargain with the autorickshaw driver for a better price on our hour and half commute. every morning. My host family consists of a grandmother and grandfather, and their two children who both are married and live elsewhere but spend lots of time at the flat. Their granddaughter is also around a lot since her mother works all day. She's three years old and so adorable. We've only been here two nights, but I'm very excited to learn to cook, buy some Indian clothes so I don't stand out so much, go to the Bahai temple again, and enjoy the sounds of honking. Hopefully find some time to do my massive amounts of homework, and hopefully I won't get in an accident.

Today we're off to Haus Khas to do some neighborhood mapping. Hopefully my 3am wake up due to jetlag won't be too much of an issue... Cafe Coffee Day, here I come.