The hostile hostel

Now I'm over exaggerating a bit. The place we are staying is not that bad. However when I woke up from my nap in the bus on the way to our 'hotel' I was quite terrified. First off the place is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from the airport (but given India's traffic I'm not sure what means. Second of all the dormitory buildings are protected with two armed guards at all times, and there is a security gate. The location also appears to be in the middle of nowhere. Also, the building is currently under construction. If not for the locked gates at certain stair levels and floors I could walk off a hole in the building.

We arrived after dark and we're greatest by a small "gang" of Indian men. I say gang, because when we first arrived I was so confused I actually believed we might be sold into white slavery. (A little terrifying, but what's a little culture shock. I'm serious mom, I know you're probably freaking out. STOP! I'm probably safer here than I would be in the south side of Chicago.) 

These men thankfully carried our bags up to the third floor where we got our room assignments,

(From left to right) Alex, Allie, and Alyssa (my roommate on the trip) hanging out in our room. 

Our room is humble. It hosts two very firm beds, and when I say firm I mean a thin laver of  memory foam over a woodblock. We each also have our own desk and what I would call a locker-closet. I believe the function of this over grown locker is to be used like a closet. Even the doors are different here, or should I say the locks. To lock our door from the inside we have to lock it behind the top of the door. And this is the lock from the outside.

It really is only slightly terrifying theat pretty much anyone could lock us in if they wanted to. I really hope no one would be that cruel, because that is my worst nightmare. Okay, so that is a little dramatic, but still it's terrifying.

While some rooms are different styles they all contain the same things: beds, desks, outlets, safes, strange door locks, etc.

Our room is technically suite style, but since it's only us in the suite we don't have to share the communal bathroom.

Speaking if the bathroom, practically every experience I've had has been an adventure. 

The only reason I am telling this story is because it is funny and can some up the cultural differences between Indians and Americans. 

So, I hadn't gone to the bathroom since we were on the airplane, you can probably guess where this is going. I went to Alyssa's and mine shared bathroom to do my business. Everything went well, until I tried to flush the toilet. I am in the bathroom for about 5 minutes before I realize I don't know anything about American plumbing, and I know even less about Indian plumbing. 

Defeated, I walked out of the bathroom, locked it from the outside (you can lock just about anything from the outside), washed my hands, and walked back to the group laughing uncontrollably. I mean, I was embarrassed. I had basically done my duty and ran. Through my laughing tears I finally atritcukated the situation, and the boys immediately sprung into action. Now, I was really mortified.

While they are in there working on the John, some girls and I are talking about wifi. I'm having a little bit of a panick attack because there is no wifi. That's when Bridget said probably the funniest thing I heard all day, "Your toilet doesn't even work. Don you really think they'll have wifi?" It really out things into perspective.

Mean while, the boys fixed the toilet. Because water is a scarce resource they only turn it on for the toilet when they need it. That's right, from now on I will have to turn on the water to go to the bathroom.

If that were the end of our troubles that would fine.

However we also don't have any warm water. The building isn't even heated. To give you an idea I don't think it was warmer than 55 today. This means the building is cold, and the water is just above freezing. Discovering how to use the shower was trouble enough, but it was impossible to get warm water.

Rather than go three days without showering I hopped into the shortest shower of my life. I think I was in there for three minutes tops. Just long enough to shampoo and condition my hair (not very well apparently because I had a ton of shampoo still in my hair when I was done) and wash my body very briefly.

Finally, with no wifi and really nothing else to do, Alyssa and read our books until we fell asleep to the sound of stray dogs howling outside our window. It stayed that way until about 4:15 am when I had to go to the bathroom again. I debated with myself for about 30 minutes if it could wait til morning before I decided it couldn't. I still am not 100% sure how to work the water, but I gave it my best. This was perhaps the scariest bathroom run I've had to make. I scurried from room to room; thankful that Alyssa is such a deep sleeper. I can only imagine how terrifying it would be to wake up to the noises I made rooming for my phone to use as a flash light and tripping over my suitcase.

This experience had really made me appreciate American plumbing, and made me all to ready to stay at the Holiday Inn in Jaipur. I'm optimistic though that things can only get better from here. After all, it's near impossible for them to be any worse.

चिंता मत करो खुश हो (Don't worry, be happy)

First hour in India

I We arrived on time. Surprisingly, it didn't take long to unload 300+ people off the plane. However, passengers had to sit in line so that the airline workers could read off everyon's individual ticket number. I'm not sure why they did this, but I am sure there is good reason for it.

We also went through customs relatively fast. I actually think I was the only one there for more than five minutes. It wasn't anything serious, just a dialect miscommunication. I couldn't understand what the guard was saying. I thought he kept asking for my name, so I kept repeating it. After a while I realized this wasn't what he wanted to know, so I listened very hard to understand what he was asking. It turns out he wanted to know what it meant. Frazzled by this question I simply stated I didn't know. I vaguely remember looking up my name's meaning in middle school. I think it's along the lines of beautiful song. Oh well, I guess the man won't name on of his daughters after me, but still it was flattering he wanted to know.

We also grabbed our bags within 10 minutes of reaching the baggage claim. Our bus driver greated us before we found Bandhana (our teacher). She was running a little late. 

I learned a lot in the roughly 40 minutes we waited for Banhana. 

For one, if you find a bathroom USE IT! You will not find a bathrooms and the signs pointing to bathrooms are lies!

Also there are stray dogs EVERYWHERE! I wanted to play with them, but I didn't for obvious reasons. 

There are also armed guards EVERYWHERE! I know it should make me feel safe, but I have never been comfortable around guns.

They drive on the left side of the road, and it is strange when you don't use your horn.

Sorry to disappoint all the people who said India stink, but it haven't noticed any unusual smells. 

However, people are already staring at us.

जहां बाथरूम है? (Where is the bathroom?)

14 hours and 25 minutes later...

Well, it's been roughly 3.5 hours! And I'm ready to land. For some reason I stupidly thought we were half way there. (We were barely into Canada.) I have made friends with three (very cute) male flight attendants: Nacole, Nishe, and Gotum. Allie actually got Nishe's number, he said he could take the group to some fun places while we were in Dehli. Aside from making new friends I have also had my first bit of Indian airplane food, not bad. My seatmates and I also enjoyed some beverages and watch Despicable Me 2, which is basically a gif waiting to happen. 

The plane is very spacious compared to the trip I took to Australia, but other aspects are lacking, such as television shows (all they have is Charlie Chaplin). I'm getting ready to take a nap even though it is only 5:00pm back in Chicago. 

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Well, that was the plan, but a few scoundrels and myself ended up playing a drinking game, and made friends with a few more flight attendants. They informed us of lady's fashion and other need to know details of their native country. We chatted with Nishe some more but ultimately ended back at our seats. Too give you an idea of how much space there is we fit four people in three seats. The more the merrier right? We played King's cup for those of you who know what that is. Just got super excited for this trip, and this is only the beginning. It's 6:14 in Chicago. Taking a NyQuil. Time to sleep for real. Sorry for the false alarm.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Well, that as much shorter than I had hoped. I keep looking at the map and we're only halfway there. The plan is really hot, much like I would imagine satans armpit would be. Yet, I refuse the use the fan because it only circulates air already in the plane. I would rather be in a sauna than catch a cold. Stubborn? Yes, but absolutely worth it. I just finished the Wedding Singer. The movies are fairly dated. We have about five hours left. 

I can do this. Mainly because I have no choice. 

This is our route. As you can see we flew over the arctic circle, and not over Africa. I can only imagine how long that would take. It probably wasn't the best to drink tea, especially since I'm trying to sleep. I guess I'll probably be pretty jet lagged. Can't win 'em all. I really want to go to sleep, but it is is stinking hot the only way to do that would be to take off my pants. I'm fairly certain that is not socially acceptable.

Just checked the map again:

I should really stop torturing myself. People keep coughing. Yuck! How much Emergen-C can someone drink before it become ineffective?  We got snacks.... Yes, that is what I would call a cheese sandwich and cinnamon raise bread. The sandwich was pretty bland, but the taste improved with ketchup. If you can't tell I'm really bored. Perhaps I'll take another stroll.

A few hours later, 86 pages in a book, a cat nap, two water bottles, and another meal later we are less than two hours away. Definitely struggling a bit. I am beginning to develop bruises on my elbows from keeping them snug to the insides of the arm rests (a habit I picked up from flying a line so much). 

I am seriously debating moving to India just so I don't have to make the return flight back which is 16 hours.... 

मैं ऊब रहा हूँ (I'm bored.)

Unsolicited advice

When you travel to what some people consider a third world country, (FYI, it's not) you get a lot of unsolicited advice. Rather than argue with people who have never been, I simply listen and say thank you. Here are some words from the "wise":

1. Don't get raped. I feel like young women get this anytime they walk out the door. For the record no one ever tries to get raped, and rather than rant about that I will end the argument there.

2. Don't drink the water. Yes, the water is not safe to drink. I can't think of anything sassy to say.

3. Don't eat dairy. Their milk is diluted with the water. Okay, valid point.

4. Don't go off on your own. Pretty good advice. Besides the fact that I will be in a foreign country and have no idea where I am; I would have to insane to venture off by myself.

5. Don't get robbed. See rape comment.

6. Wear a burka to blend in. I'm going in a group with 15 other Americans. We're going to stick out regardless of what we wear.

7. Come back safe. As opposed to what?

8. Don't do drugs. International drug laws? Yeah, I don't really want to mess with those.

9. Don't get married. It's a safe bet I won't, but I can't make any promises.

10. Don't get sold into white slavery. This one is my personal favorite; anyone who knows me we'll enough knows they wouldn't want me. 

11. Don't smile at people, or they'll think you're a prostitute. Again, a valid point.

I love you all, and even though I think many of these are self explanatory I can't wait to come back rape-free, unmarried, and healthy. India might be vastly different from the United States, but I'm pretty sure I'll be okay.

सुरक्षित यात्रा (suraksita yatra - bon voyage)

'Twas the night before India...

...and all through the house, every creature was stirring and freaking out.

I'm just about done packing. I have to do some laundry, but that's it! I can't believe I leave for India in 21 hours. 

This is over a year in the making, and after constant begging and pleading my parents finally agreed to let me leave the country again. I am so excited to go to Asia, but also a little anxious. I've recently begun to notice crowds, and realize I don't like them very much. But my god-mother gave me some good advice, "It's only for three weeks."

That got me thinking: What do I want to accomplish before those three weeks are done?

1. Eat. I want to eat anything yummy looking I can get my hands on.

2. Ride exotic animals. Camels, elephants, cows; I don't care. If I can ride it, you can be sure I will be the first in line.

3. Grow. I want to be open to India's diverse culture. I want to be able to take it in, and allow it to change the way I see the world.

4. Learn. Obviously this is a school trip, so I will hopefully learn something about India's expanding economy and diverse workforce. 

5. Get outside my comfort zone. I want to try new things. As Hannah learns in Girls, the magic happens outside your comfort zone. 

Well I gotta finish packing. 

नमस्ते (Namaste - goodbye)