My host mother, Aruna
Arjun-ji
A few photos from our final banquet!
Home!
Hi all! I’m safe at home and happy as a clam. I will post some final pictures soon!
All my love,
Anna
And I'm Free!
With my 33 page research paper on the life of Nur Jahan turned in Tuesday evening at 5 and my presentation over 20 minutes ago, I can’t even begin to describe the bittersweet emotions coarsing through me right now. I’m returning home in less than three days with the distinct feeling that I could stay in Delhi and India for another 3 and a half years and not have seen or experienced all that the capitol and country has to offer. That being said, I am incredibly excited to return home to my loving family, friends and town. Wish me luck on this plane ride, I think it will be a teary few hours, but one filled with reflection and intense gratitude for a 3 and a half month experience I will never forget.
Thanksgiving Mubarak Hein (Happy Thanksgiving Ya’ll)!
Sending all my love from a warm, sunny, Turkey-less Delhi,
Anna
Hi all! Sorry for the internet absence, I’m really living it up here in Delhi! It’s hard to believe that I’ve been here for more than two and a half months now and even harder to believe that I’ll be leaving in less than one month. I’m trying to squeeze in every last comical, awe-inspiring, frustrating, dusty and historical experience that I can and therefore have been everywhere but in front of my computer screen. That being said, Tom (blog designer extraordinaire) is visiting Delhi! It’s been a wonderful six days so far; we’ve visited the Qutb Minar, the Lotus Temple, the Jama Masjid, Purana Dili (Old Delhi), two museums and a number of GREAT Indian restaurants (you know me and food…). Above is a silly picture taken at the Indian Crafts Museum, which showcases everything from the idol-carrier chariot pictured to hundreds of antique silk sarees from every region in India. Tomorrow we’re taking a day trip to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal, Red Fort and the Itmad-ud Daula, should be a full yet extremely exciting day.
I hope this post finds everyone well at home! I’m certainly sending my love back to you all via Tom and Continental Airlines. See you sooner than I thought was possible (better start writing this research paper)!
Seasons Greetings from Our (New) Home to Yours
We’ve moved! Check out the digs and my two new roommates, Ellie and Isabel. Note, fireplaces in India do not exist. They are AC places.
This is an absolutely wonderful sketch (if I do say so myself) which my soon to be roommate, Isabel began while on excursion in Orissa. You can see her thoughts and photos of India on her blog at:
Back in Delhi and it feels so good…
What’s that in the air? Delhi feels a bit brisk in the morning (heavy emphasis on the bit)! Hello, Fall and 75 degree days!
I am happily situated back into my lovely homestay after the 18 hour train ride back from Jaisalmer, a quaint desert town in the heart of the state of Rajasthan. Five other students and I were treated to a week-long workshop focusing on Rajasthani folk music and dance, led by the Ustad Arba Music Institute. Besides spending about 6 hours a day with the musicians we explored the picturesque Jaisalmer fort and the chhatri complex located about 15 km outside of the town. Chhatris are open air, sandstone monuments generally containing a hero stone. They were generally constructed by royalty, in this case, the Rajput rulers, over the place in which a person was cremated. The complex was stunning, perched atop a sandy, bare knoll, the images of the intricate chhatris were juxtaposed against a nearby wind farm, with hundreds upon hundreds of white wind turbines dotting the sparse desert environment.
As you might have guessed from the camel picture, I was lucky enough to be able to ride on a camel…in the desert…IN INDIA (a lot of times I pinch myself to make absolutely sure that I really am here). Unt (camel) sort of resemble enlarged dinosaur horses and make what I would imagine to be similar noises. Our ride into the desert culminated in a concert by the members of the Ustad Arba as the sun set into a glorious pink behind the sand dunes. Overall, an evening, and trip which will not soon be forgotten.
I’m looking forward to my first Halloween in India and the conversations I’ve had attempting to explain the holiday to my host mother have been hysterical and endearing (“The vampires and the sweets, I just don’t know beti, how they go together?”). We’re planning a party at school, so I will be sure to post photos, as Indian inspired Halloween costumes are sure to be great. Thinking of you all and sending the scariest of Halloween wishes! Please eat American candy for me!
All my pyaar (love),
Anna
Ellie, Anna, Unt
Recital in the Sam Sand Dunes
Workshop completed successfully!
Chhatris and the Desert
Folk Music in Jaisalmer-WE RODE UNT (camels)!
More to come!
Khajuraho
Detail of temple at Khajuraho
Datia Fort
Meghan, Galen, Ellie, Isabel <3
For Daniel
A collection of photos from excursion!
