Feelin Hot Hot Hot

Ahh, I do believe I may be the worst blogger ever. Well, I never said I would be good at this but you would think that after two summers under my belt I would have been a bit more on top of things. Anyway, I'll do the best I can for now...

The title refers to both the weather here in India and also the fever that I had until yesterday(ish). I've totally accepted my sweatiness and yet you would be amazed at what fans can really do. Fatima and I were discussing if fans were more efficient here or if we just dont take them for granted. I'm feelin much better now, and although I'm trying to be careful with the food and my stomach, the fever is gone and my body feels much stronger now. Let's hope it stays this way.

India is difficult. I don't like that difficult as a negative connotation but I feel that's the word that sums up what I'm feeling right now. There is so much beauty here and richness, through the people, colors, smells, foods, but it's a really emotionally trying place to be. There is a lot of poverty right in front of my eyes that I have to deal with everyday. So many beggars, women, children, people missing limbs, etc that come up to you and ask for money. The difficult part is that you want to give them money, especially when you do the conversion and think of how little that is to you at home, but unfortunately the money won't be going to them. If you have seen Slumdog Millionaire then you know what I'm talking about. There are these slumlords that hire the poor to beg and then they bring the money back. So if you give them money then really you are supporting this vicious system, although it alleviates some of you guilt. I feel like breaking down about 5 times a day just from the intensity and the sadness that comes from not only witnessing but being a part of this. Especially when you are sitting in an auto rickshaw and some little girl places a flower on your lap so you will buy it and you have to look away...it's heartbreaking.

On a happier note, I love my homestay!! My family is incredible and Fatima and I get along so well (she was a great nurse when I had my fever). My mother (Gita-ma) and father (Anil-pa) treat us like daughters and joke around with us and we feel so included into the family, it's a nice place to come home to. We have two host brothers and two grandparents. Interestingly they came over from Pakistan after the Partition. There have been many great conversations (luckily everyone speaks English). Gita-ma cooks so well and we try to help out when we can. I was going to cook french toast for breakfast but then I got my fever so I didn't make it down for breakfast. I need to explore my neighborhood a bit more but there's so much to learn just from our family.

The group as a whole has been really good. I am still getting to know people but the more people I talk to the more I like them. My good friends from Detroit have transferred over to Delhi and I've been able to talk to others too. Everyone was so sweet when I was sick and asked how I was feeling and checked up on me. We're a good group!

Tonight we just got back from Agra where the Taj Mahal is. Needless to say, it's gorgeous! Of course I wasn't feel too great but I'm happy I went anyway.
I have many more reflections to write about India but I want to see if I can put some pictures up first so for now good bye! I am thinking of you guys all the time...
xoxo