Living in a Dream World

Well today was a blast from the past.  I heard from Sid on Thursday that Roshen wanted to hang out with us on Saturday - was I free?  He didn’t even need to ask...I’m clearly always free for a triple date with Sid and Roshen.  The most exciting part was when Roshen texted, though, asking if I meeting at 4pm outside of Gangaram’s was ok.  I got butterflies in my stomach and almost squealed, “EEEEEEE” from my air-conditioned car.   Gangaram’s is a multi-level bookstore; what better place to meet Rosh than at a bookstore.  For old time’s sake.  But when I got there, we didn’t even step inside.  I heard him giggling before I even saw him, and he swept me into a hug and away over to India Coffeehouse, where we chatted quite awhile until, “Jen, I think we have exhausted our white privilege here, and we should move on to another coffee shop.”  Siddo met us at Coffee Day, and we caught everyone up on everyone else’s work...then moved to the Empire for dinner, where we hemmed and hawed and laughed and groaned over last year’s program, and finally on to Cornerhouse, which is simply the best ice cream I have ever tasted.  They have changed their sizing since I left in December, too - a regular is now 3 scoops, a junior size 2.  Same prices.  Booya.

Sometimes I feel like I am living in a dream.  As we were walking down the street to part ways, I finally verbalized what I had been feeling all night long - all week, even: “Guys, isn’t it weird that I live here now???”  Roshen just giggled.  

Sometimes I wait for something to happen to break the surreal feeling of it all, but as I rode on the back of the bike down back country roads, the Indian evening breeze whipping through my hair, it was pretty hard to believe that I had ever left at all.

A Fourth of July in India

As I write this early on the morning of July 5th, most of you are oooohing and ahhing over fireworks from a grassy hill, the end of a dock, or on a boat in the middle of a lake (sigh). And, contrary to popular belief, they still have the fourth of July in India. Do they celebrate? or care? no, not really. And quite honestly....we didn't realize or care either :)

How did I celebrate, you ask? Well, I picked berries with the girls, read about the negative consequences of the market economy, and spent a lot of time working on my capstone requirements for school.

But the best part of the day was when Melissa, another intern, stopped on the way in from town and picked up ice cream and chocolate. After dinner, we snuck into the kitchen and made us some ice cream sundaes, wishing each other a happy independence day. Then we snuggled up in my room to watch Ever After, which is most definitely the greatest Cinderella story of all time. I hadn't seen it for years, so it even had a surprise ending for me! We stayed up SO late talking, and I was up past midnight for the first time since being here. I crashed the moment my head hit my pillow, but it was a great night of good old "American" fun and bonding with my colleagues.

So I hope the fireworks were beautiful, the corn on the cob was the sweetest it's ever been, and that you got to "shred it up" behind the boat (that was for you, Jammin). and....can't wait to celebrate with you next year :)