The First Week is Completed

It is hard to believe I have been gone a full week.

The days are hot - the evenings quite cool. We had a huge rain shower yesterday - just buckets with thunder, then it was over.

My group is growing - if they all show up - it will be nine now - in about four different levels of learning. I have to do lots of my own preparation to be ready to give them work to do. Monday we will start some basic computer work with them. There are three vols now (one who has been here six weeks already) and another woman besides myself - that will make teaching the levels easiest - though I will be doing the more advanced English (Simple, Continuous, and Perfect tenses - do you remember these in school???)

Tomorrow is a day off and we will go to a temple and have a picnic and play cricket. All of the vols have been invited to a wedding on Wednesday night - how exciting! Last night the women tried on sari - quite a project to get it on but quite beautiful. I am glad we don't have to wear them all the time.

The food is good - I found out mutton is actually goat - and I can eat it with no problem! Sometimes I grow tired of spice three times a day - but then I eat more rice/roti/and yougert to cool it down.

The CCS staff takes wonderful care of us and are full of good information to ease our journey. It is very hard to get used to so many differences.

I took my first yoga class this morning - the teacher asked me to show my version of sun salutation and then we did it his way. There were three of us in a very small room (in a pinch, it would hold maybe eight total mats). We did some sun salutations, then shavasana, then sitting poses, a twist and a brief chant - no ending shavasana (?). I will go again tomorrow - five classes are 1000 Rupees (about $20 US).

Thanks for all your comments and questions.

The pictures are of me in a sari and the house I am living in-this download thing takes quite a while....but pictures are worth so much here to show it reality of it.

In Dharamshala

Hello everyone:
We were delayed 3 hours in Delhi on Monday but arrived to Dharamshala to a great hairpin turn drive to the CCS house. It is so hard to describe. This is considered a middle-class town but there is little or no plumbing and the gutters are "interesting". The steps are steep. Monkeys roam through the streets, as do cows, dogs, donkeys, kids, etc..
I have an interesting and challenging placement - the women's group is changing. There were several older women who had little English and were just working on writing - they may or may not be staying. We have added two women in their late 20s or so that have good English but want more specialized grammer (so I am studying how to teach verb tenses!).

I love the people - they all recognize us as CCS and great us. I have one salwar kameeze and am having another made for about $30 US.

We are two or three to a room and seven to a bathroom. The food is awesome but spicy. It is plentiful with eggs and rice and vegs for breakfast. Usually roti (flat bread) and some curry and fresh cucumbers, radish, and tomato. There is no chocolate and little sweets - though we are having ice cream and tandoor and naan tonight for a going away dinner for the people transferring out.
Everything is so strange - all preconceptions must be left behind. Clean is a non word here - sweaty in the day- cold at night...
I don't seem to be able to read regular books and have determined that my mind is satisfied and full and I don't need any escape! Please feel free to post comments and ask questions.
I am slightly overwhelmed and don't know where to start. I am hoping to include a few pictures here.

I am in Delhi!

Wow- long long flight but Cathay Pacific was great - space to move, decent food, etc.

Hong Kong airport is amazing in its modern, clean, yet so foreign.

Arrived on time in Delhi - no "real" customs inspection. Off on absolutely wild 45 minute ride to the CCS house. Remember they drive "British" - keeping to the left - sort of - cars, buses, bikes, c0ws, goats, people and every other conceivable living creature vies for space - horns are a constant - and it seems only by luck one survives. The contrasts are enormous - with schools and neat hotels side-by-side with shacks, garbage, vendors of all sorts - ads in English and Hindi about modern stuff like bank accounts and being a modern "dad". Horns are day and night and seem to be blown just for the "rule" - Seattlites beware!

Light Indian lunch awaited with roti (bread), some dahl (lentils), yougert, and cucumbers and tomatoes. Dinner was chicken curry and more of the above - plentiful - actually more than enough. People arrived all day and night and there was paperwork.

Between was shopping - a wonderful young woman at the clothing shop helped me to coordinate an outfit - just one for now that cost $1200 R - about $25 US.

I fell asleep at 8:30 p.m. in a small bedroom - shared with one other on her way also to Dharamsala on Monday.

Day 2 was talks and more orientation. Lunch was at a South Indian restaurant - great food, very very spicy at times, sorely lacking in protein...lots of rice and bread.

It has been very humid also today - will need a second shower before bed (yes - shower here is a "real" one).

I have tried to download a picture but can get the computer to read my photo card...sigh...

My mind and eyes are full - I am writing all of it down. Contrasts - surprises around every corner.

More soon.

D-Day is Here!

Well, after many, many months - the day has arrived. Goodbyes have been said; many meals consumed with friends, and lots of hugs all around. Yoga practice has been a precious rock for me as I have prepared for this time.

Now it is down to me and Cliff and Duffy and one last afternoon together.

I am all packed- such a ruckus but the weights and sizes are good and all is locked and ready for transport. First to LA (2 hours), then Hong Kong (14.5 hours of actual flight time), then on to Delhi (another 5 hours). I will arrive Saturday September 20th at about 12:30 p.m. Delhi time (about 11:30 p.m. on the 19th Seattle time - about 13.5 hours difference - the math is boggling!)

I am mostly nervous about the "little" stuff - like my checked bag getting there with me - especially the transfer in LA between domestic and international terminals...then customs at Delhi. I would have liked another book for the long flight but weight and size of carry-on prohibited (the 9" part was the hardest - but the back pack squooshes).

Thanks to everyone who has supported me in my journey before my journey. I promise to keep blogging and hopefully inserting pictures (picture is again from Gina at Silverhand Photography!)

Please, please, feel free to comment or email during my time away. You are all special to me and I am looking forward to adding new "specials" to my group of friends over the next three months.

Blessings, love and hugs

Syrinda

Getting Closer

Well, I have my placement for Dharamsala. I will be working with the Gamru Women's Group - a group of 40-50 year old women - I will be working with ongoing projects, teaching basic computer skills, and some English language work (any or all of the above and whatever else they may want).

I am actively meeting others from the group starting at the same time online through emails. We are quite a diverse group (from B.C., Australia, etc.)

I have also set my reservations in Japan for the closing week of my trip - I wanted to stay in a Ryokan (kind of like a Japanese B& B- with tatami, futon, and bath)...they are also quite less expensive. I have found one near the Ginza district - centrally located - though I will stay the last night in one out by the Narita Airport - to make departure less hectic.

I am packing, and repacking.

My last day of work was Thursday the 4th and then I went straight into the Driftwood Players 50th gala - it was a good time had by all. Picture is of me running the spotlight for the show! I love this group!

I am trying to take daily yoga classes - I really do enjoy how they center me and clear my mind from all the "stuff" it accumulates - and there is a lot to accumulate in these closing days.

I am happy that my daily "to do" lists get shorter and shorter.

Hope to blog with a photo at least once more before departure next Thursday.

18 Days and Counting

Well, September has arrived. For everyone who has "subscribed" this will be a good test. My den is full of malaria medicine, books, travel guides, etc. all waiting to be stowed and weighed. I have gotten a list from Cross Cultural Solutions of the 14 others who will be joining me for various amounts of time in Dharamsala (some are from Australia, B.C., New Zealand, and all around the U.S.) Airline keeps me on my toes, tweeking my schedule. My last day at work is Sept. 4th. My theater group (Driftwood Players) has their 50th gala on Friday; and then Saturday is full of a corgi meeting and a friend's birthday party. Sunday the 7th is mine alone - I will do nothing - no packing, no buying, no nothing....then back up and running on Monday the 8th to get ready - probably a first packing for weight and necessity.

So, for all of you "watching" - here we go. I can add pictures - Thanks to Gina for the photos she has taken - I will add with the posts. Again, this picture is courtesy of Silverhand Photography!

Please let me know if you have any trouble seeing/receiving/commenting on the blog.

Wish me well.