Banaras: Forest of Bliss

I have to remind myself how much and why I love living in this city.  My trips to Delhi and Goa, while fun, are deceptive and they make me distrust and dislike my "home town."  But when I come back home I fall in love again with the place.  There is just so much to love.


The other day we took a boat ride down the Ganga- seeing the sunrise, passing by villages, and heading past the ghats.  A former program participant was with us, he now lives in Delhi and is in charge of Fullbright in India, and it was through him that again saw this place as amazing.  I needed to be told why people love Varanasi, what brings them back and back and back.  On the boat I was able to see the city in a far more relaxed and peaceful way.  The sun hitting the buildings, the people all bathing, the cows meandering, and our boat slowly passing it all by made for an very touching pictures.  I now walk the ghat twice a week, and each time in the silence of the night, I am reminded about how lucky I am to live here, how fast this is all going, and how I want to cath and grab every second that passes through my fingers.  Varanasi is opening up to me in the most wonderful of ways, and I know I need/will come back.  I have meet some people from Europe that have been living here for over 20 years-- I wonder if I could hack that one


Lately I have been searching and really thinking about what I want to do when I get back home, and everyday the list grows longer.  I am happy I have my mom there to give me my needed dose of reality.  I would like to stay in India over the summer, but I just don't know if I could hack the heat- 120 degrees daily.  I would like to come back home to Rockford and hang with my family (anybody have a job for me?).  I would like to move back to Madison.  And now the newest in the string of outrageous ideas: San Francisco, my friend just signed on an apartment for the summer in the Mission.  But as my mom told me: one of the most expensive cities in the US and also in the state with 3rd highest in unemployment. Blah Blah Blah- but she is right.... sigh :)


The semester is ending and I have a bit of work to do: but enjoyable work: finishing some silk weaving, going around town and collecting samples of different silks, brocade styles, and regional textile designs. I have an outline to write and small five pager to do to.  But after those things I have my break and then the real work begins when I come back home: PROJECT, COLLECTING DATA FOR MY PROJECT, miniature painting, wrestling, and learning learning Hindi!  This is really a great way to learn

Beard Bustin'

Say Hello to My Little Friend
2 months ago I made a bet with Craig, after receiving the best shave of my life in Mussorie, to not shave my beard until November 18th.  Well 2 months are almost complete (WOW time flies and both languishes in India-- I'll be home before I even know it) and soon this animal will be shorn off my face.  I can't even remember what my chin looks like.  I am also told daily that I look like I am from Iran or Afghanistan, and actually real life Afghanis thought I was one of them (oh the irony).  Soon I will be 1000 rupees richer (20 dollars holla!) , as compliments of Craig's wallet.

I AM BACK

I am back.  It has been quite a while since I even signed into my blog, but I have just been so busy lately.  And time is passing so so quickly.

I had a wonderful time in Goa!  It was relaxing and it was definitely a welcome diversion from my studies (which I am continuing diligently!)  I would recommend Goa to anybody: it is beautiful, the people are friendly and laid back, the sun is bright and hot, the beaches are beautiful, there is no hassle, they take a siesta from 12.00 to 3 pm, they eat meat!  Everyday we would eat fresh coconuts and there was one night we were able to escape the 100 GIRLS and go to the beach for a party!  Goa is wonderful—it is like being in Brazil or Costa Rica.  I would like to go back—but I have other places to jaunt off too! But the joys of Goa faded fast when I got on the bus to return home from Delhi- 24 hours of sitting on a bus (3 to be exact) is far from enjoyable— hours and hours and hours of hot dusty fields really can make your mind go very numb (but I had a good book- The Baron in Trees—about a boy who leaves his family and lives in a tree for the rest of his life and  NEVER comes back down)

In December we begin our winter vacation—and I have finally finalized, made final my plans.  We will all be given a the entire month of to do as we please.  One girl is going to Turkey another to Nepal.  I am sticking a little more close to home.  I will be in Varanasi for two weeks again learning and exploring the city (and saving a little money) and then leave to Lucknow over the 15^th with my friend Eamon (who is in LOVE with Lucknow- he lived there over the summer)  Lucknow is the capital of Shi’a Islam in India and over that weekend is Muharrem, the festival commemorating the death of Ali’s son Hussein.  It is supposed to be amazing, beyond amazing there.  People mob the streets, renting their hair and mourning the death 2000 years ago of Hussein.  A white horse walks down the street as people throng it, attempting to touch it and commune with the saint (as represented by this horse- the white horse he rode into battle).  There will be Qawwali performances (devotional song) and lots of gooooood food!  Leaving Lucknow I will arrive in Delhi hang out there for a while—hopefully finally going to see the National Gallery of Modern Art and various other galleries around town.  I then will board a 48 hour train to Kerala- God’s Green Thumb and the setting for my favorite favorite book in all the Land- The God of Small Things.

I am heading down to Kerala with a group of 10 others—friends of my really good friend Emma.  While in Delhi a month ago they were planning their trip to Kerala and I was invited along.  I will be sharing a beach house between Christmas and New Years in Kovalam.  There will be Brazilians, Frenchies, Amis, Brits, Dutchies, Germans all sharing this house together and hopefully making real merry!  I hope to also make some solo adevntures to see some very famous murals (The Mattancherry Murals that really inspired my favorite artist Amrita Sher-gil) see an all night long Kathakali dance performance, and head out into the hills and view tea plantations.  OH so so so much to do.