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July 6th, 2006
02:30 pm
Well I'm back at the internet cafe sooner than expected! I'm here with Aaron and Barret. Nothing huge has happened since I last updated so I guess I'll focus on some little things. Those are always nice.
A couple funny things happened. Actually a lot of funny things happened, but I'll just give a few examples. So, we were in downtown Pune on Main Street and we had just gotten a bunch of food from Pizza Hut. Yes, I know we can get Pizza Hut any time at home, but we needed a break. Anyway, so we had all just gotten in the car and the window was down. Out of nowhere this man appeared in the window holding up a bunch of small pink and orange plastic guitars. He said "Guys" and then gave one of the guitars a good strum. It was hilarious. He was only in the window for about three seconds because he realized we weren't going to buy any but the whole situation was hysterical. We laughed for about ten minutes and still laugh really hard whenever someone mentions it. Now that I write about it, however, I realize there is not really any way to give it justice. Just trust me, it was really funny.
That same afternoon, we were pulling out of some parking lot and Katie and Barret were sitting in the back seats, which face the sides of the car instead of the front. They saw a man walking toward them and he was looking right at the car, but then he just ran right into it. They just sat there stunned for a second, and then burst out laughing.
Aaron and I argued about who should hold the umbrella for about ten minutes before realizing it wasn't raining anymore.
And finally, another great Barret moment:
(Aparna walks into the room)
Patty: "Hi Aparna!"
Aparna: "Hi Patty!"
Barret (in creepy voice): "Hello Clarisse!"
A few facts about everyone:
Katie has a cold :(
India has made Barret really funny
Aaron makes weird noises
Aparna wore a sari yesterday!
Greg has taken to walking straight into traffic just like the Indians, but all the rest of us are still too scared.
Greenspan is obsessed with his umbrella
and I am just the coolest ever, naturally
Well that's all. Hope everyone is doing well!
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July 3rd, 2006
07:20 am - Numbah Two
Okay, I have finally managed to make it back to an internet cafe. We have all been a little on the gloomy side lately because we all caught some bug which caused everyone but me to throw up and have you-know-what. I got sick too but not with all the extra side effects... I guess I'm just special. But the truth is even when we were sick we still had fun. That's just how we are. We're just that cool.
The people who were not sick/feeling better worked on and off but mostly we took about three days off last week to get better. We're all still recovering a bit, and now there may be some throat thing going around. But not to worry. We are mighty and we can get through anything. Heck, there are no adults here with us at all and we still managed to nurse ourselves back to health.
The only really exciting events worth mentioning occurred over the weekend. On Saturday we rented a taxi for the entire day and went to some attractions in town, like a garden with some really beautiful ponds and rock walls and some shrines. We went to the zoo also and saw a lot of animals because that's what there are at zoos, but the coolest was definitely the white tiger. Yup. We also went to a restaurant where the waiters began serving us as soon as we sat down. In fact, as soon as we came through the door they started running after us. Basically it's this certain type of restaurant where you don't have a menu and everyone eats the same thing. They just fill up your plate with stuff and hover over you so that as soon as you finish the last crumb (or drop) of something, it's resupplied. It was not, to say the least, a peaceful meal. Tasty though, although most of us were still needing to eat more bland food items.
On Sunday (yesterday) we took the same taxi to Kamla Caves from the first century b.c. We had to climb up 150 (big) steps to get to the top and along the way there were lots of vendors and stuff. At the top there were hundreds of people dancing to music and under waterfalls or standing in line to get into the caves. It was loud but the energy was enough to make us grin broadly. We all just wanted to go dance in the rain with them, but they would have looked at us funny (not that they weren't already: a man actually asked a few of us if he could take a picture of us). And yes, it was raining. It wasn't so bad on the way up but on the way down we were practically sliding down a waterfall. We got drenched but it was totally worth it. By the end we completely didn't care. The caves were amazing, and the celebration there even more so. There were oceans in our shoes. Afterward we stopped by some hill stations, which are small town-ish touristy places where they sell lots of things (actually we're not really sure what they are). We saw some monkeys, and those were cute. At the other station we bought a bunch of candy. Then we stopped to get some presents for people but I won't spoil the surprise.
We're having an amazing time, we get along together perfectly, and we never get sick of each other. I think we've all grown stronger just from the fact that we are capable of surviving completely on our own, and in a place like India, no less. Which means, if I may say, that we can pretty much do anything.
Today we returned to work and every moment is a good time and we laugh constantly, usually about really ridiculous things that I'll refrain from saying because, well, it just wouldn't be funny to you. But I think these will be:
Greenspan: "I think the existence of Mt. Rushmore was a relatively minor effect of the Civil War."
After laughing for about an hour at the most ridiculous things out of pure exhaustion, Barret gave this wisdom: "You know you're slaphappy when you laugh at the word bubbles." (Katie and I burst out laughing).
Me: "I peeled off my entire stomach once."
Aaron: "My name is Aaron."
This one's hard to explain. So, we were ordering in a restaurant, and Greg tried to say the name of what he wanted in an accent. They asked him if he wanted butter on his nan (breadish stuff we eat with every indian meal basically) and he said "no butter" but he was still using the accent. They said "What?" and he said it again, but he was STILL using the accent. It would have still been funny if he had only said it once as though it were an accident. BUT he didn't. He said it twice. After the waiter left there was silence. Then we just exploded. This is probably the joke we bring up the most. And I for once laugh just as hard every time someone mentions it.
Barret (in response to Katie teasing him, lovingly of course): "Well, you're... shanaynay!"
Me: "Barret, Shanaynay is a name, not a comeback."
Barret's idea for a shirt we should make when we get back: "Your subspecies has been voted out of the gene pool."
Barret, every few seconds in a dramatic voice: "Shire! .... Baggins!"
(In addition, Barret has mastered the art of reciting all of the commercial advertisements we've seen in India. Applause for Barret).
On a last note, we have become much more skilled in the department of crossing the streets since I last wrote. Even when it looks like there's no space in traffic, we've learned, you pretty much still have to go. They can always stop, even when it seems impossible. That's just how those Indians are. It sounds scary, but we've never seen any accidents yet. You just have to pretend the cars aren't there. You have to be fearless. And on that note, namaste, and we miss you!
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June 26th, 2006
06:30 pm - we're here!
We finally made it! The journey was long and at times frustrating, but we all managed to hang in there. We reached Pune Sunday around noon ish I think. I won't bore you with information about the flights and layovers, but here are some highlights from the journey that were the direct result of a severe lack of sleep:
written on a napkin at Garfunkel's restaurant at Heathrow Airport:
"Proverb: Remember, a little of what you tancy aoes you gooa"
(what was supposed to be an f looked like a t and the d's looked like a's. We laughed ridiculously hard.)
In response to Greg and Barret arguing about some history-related subject, Aaron said : "Why are you talking about that? It already happened!"
(funny because Aaron never shuts up about the civil war and Robert E. Lee, even to strangers he sits next to on airplanes)
After a tiring debate about religion, this conversation between Greg and Aaron ensued:
Aaron: I went to heaven once.
Greg: When did you go to heaven?
Aaron: Yesterday.
Greg: Oh really, with who?
Aaron: Peter Pan.
(a bit of a stretch for humor but as i said before, we were tired. Aaron conked out on the floor just a few minutes later)
Aparna talking about people stepping on her shoes:
"Wouldn't you notice if there was something between the floor and your foot?!?!"
After talking about how Clue is actually a game and a movie, we decided that Aaron should star in the game Stratego, a game where you move around little soldiers on a game board.
After reaching Pune, Aaron was heard saying: "Oh wow, there's a lot of humidididity!"
And lastly, everyone wanted me to tell you that when we reached Pune, our luggage was carried to the conveyor belt on a tractor.
Anyway, so after that long journey we checked into the hotel, and our rooms are very nice. There are only two beds in each room, and since we couldn't really split up three girls into different rooms, I slept on the floor last night. But I definitely don't have any hard feelings about it *sobs*
We had dinner last night and Aparna's aunt showed us around the city. There are little vehicles called rickshaws and motorclycles that fly through the streets, honking constantly and swerving in and out of traffic fearlessly, and there are no sides to the road. You can drive anywhere you want. It's a bit scary. We're all really afraid to cross the street but the Indians seem to just stroll casually into traffic. There are dogs running around everywhere and we've definitely seen some wandering cows.
Today we went to meet the people that work at the Sassoon Hospital orphanage. They were extremely nice and told us all about different facilities we can work at. We were shown around the orphanage and afterward we got to play with the kids, who were probably all younger than 2. They were adorable, and made us laugh hysterically, especially the one little girl that kept giving Aparna this absolutely malicious glare, but then was really sweet to Katie. Hahahahaha.
So that's about all that's new here. We're getting along fine, joking constantly, taking in the sights with fresh curious eyes, and simply enjoying life. Tomorrow we'll probably be working all day at the orphanage.
Other memorable quotes that occured after our flights are:
Aaron (exasperated): "Guys, I'm wearing a thimble."
Greg: "Sometimes, some people look more evolved than other people."
Also Greg: "It doesn't really seem appetizing to stick your tongue up your nose."
Right now I'm at an internet cafe as we don't have internet access in the rooms, so i don't know how much i can update but i will try to do it as much as possible.
Love,
all of us
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June 23rd, 2006
03:05 pm - here we go
Destination: India
Departure: 8:15 [if the flight is on time, of course]
Feelings: almost jumping out of our pants with excitement [i assume everyone feels the same as I]
I just want to say, thanks for everyone who made this trip possible, and we'll miss you!!!
Hard work has turned into a trip that will undoubtedly change our lives.
Bon Voyage!
Current Mood: jumping out of pants
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June 20th, 2006
07:23 pm - info
Just so this is posted in one common place, here is the information about the YMCA that we'll be staying at from June 25th to July 12th:
Address:
YMCA Poona
382, New Rasta Peth
Quartergate
Pune, 411011
Telephone Number:
(011-91) 20-261-31338
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01:06 pm
I just wanted to post these links that Dr. Rav recommended as a reference:
For weather reports:
http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/INXX0102.html
For Hindi lessons:
http://travlang.com/languages
That's all! :)
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June 18th, 2006
10:20 pm - testing testing 1 2 3
Hey everyone! I just wanted to practice with the commenting. Leave me a comment by clicking on "leave a comment" and tell me how you're feeling about the trip! Be sure to sign your name so I know who you are.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/moonmama/sillysuns/happy.gif) cheerful
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