The One With a Few Near- Death Experiences

I originally took this picture because it was the
first health related store I had seen in my entire
three weeks in India, but now I feel like the
blur of the people sums up my experience here
and the pace of Banaras (Varanasi).

After the overnight train ride we met up with Sanghamitra (our Indian program coordinator) at a very crowded Varanasi station. Since we had our large packs, we could only fit two people per rickshaw and so Cody and I hopped into one together and prayed that the driver knew how to get us to Assi Ghat (where I am living).  It was literally the most insane rickshaw ride/ experience of my life.  We hit two bicycles, one motor bike, and got stopped by a small gang of Indian men as we blocked an entire street and got a cart stuck.  Also, our rickshaw would occasionally stop running in the middle of the road and so we would have people swerving around us honking.  I am laughing about it now, but it was quite an introduction to Varanasi.  The parts of the city we drove through were very crowded, but thankfully Assi Ghat is much quieter with less people and wider streets.

Vedika and me on my first night at my homestay

We stayed a few days at Yoga Mandir, which is a beautiful ashram next to the Ganga (Ganges).  In the morning (at 7am!) I took yoga and I really love the teacher.  I hope I can continue with him once I start my internship.  We spent the rest of the day exploring different internship options and just bonding as a group.  Yesterday we moved into our homestays and my family is really nice.  The two parents (Nitya and Pinku) are young and so nice.  Pinku-Ji is a Hindi teacher and Nitya-Ji teaches cooking classes.  Their 7-year old daughter Vedika is adorable and has been translating everything for me.  She has perfect English (and French) and the parents also speak a good amount of English.  Her grandmother is also living there and taking care of Vedika's two year old cousin Omesh, who is the cutest kid I've ever seen but also the worst behaved.  He basically defines terrible twos, but at least he seems to listen to me so that is good.  

A textile market in the heart of Baranaras.

My first day at the house was probably the hardest adjustment period I've had yet.  It was difficult to be separated from the group for the first time and to adjust to how rustic the living situation is.  I have now gotten my room set up, and figured out how to lock the doors and get myself hot water.  Though I was originally quite overwhelmed, I think that this is going to be a very positive experience for me overall.  Last night I had a wonderful dance party with Vedika and breakfast this morning with the family was really nice.  I am looking forward to talking with them more tonight when I get back from exploring our different class options.  

The spider...

The other "near-death" that should be mentioned was my small spider incident last night.  I came into my room and saw a spider as big as my hand on the wall.  Though Kaitlin will certainly find this surprising, I have been killing spiders for myself since I got to college.  This spider however was definitely a different story, so I went down to my homestay parents' room and asked them what to do.  They swore it was not poisonous and told me to kill it.  I got up the courage to get it with my sneaker but then it ran under my bed.  I ended up having to sleep with it under there (after a 20 rupee phone call with Annie who reassured me that it would rather stay under the cold bed than in my warm sleeping bag).  I am hoping it decides to relocate to another room tonight...

A new brand of water....

Buying necklaces along the ghats.