Halfway High Five!

This post is a scattered collection of some notable happenings this past week... the 10th week of my 20 week long adventure! HALFWAY HIGH FIVE!! 


For those who don't realize, thats referencing a swimmer (or water polo player's) feigned enthusiasm for a long set. Speaking of swimming, Suzanne and I finally found a pool! It sounds simple, but it was a long struggle that led to a very gratifying first dip... 


We had been trying to get membership the beautiful olympic-size pool near our campus, but the process was a lot of jumping through hoops... its outrageously expensive and only one hundred people get membership each month. So, you have to wake up at 4am to get in line, but its not exactly clear what day, so it may take multiple tries. Oh, and you have to have passport photos and a form from your doctor. What, India? Instead, Suzanne and I miraculously found a different lap pool that is open reasonable hours, close to our home-stay and very affordable. Hello, Pulela Gopichand Badminton Academy!!! 

Saturday morning was our perfect chance to swim-- the sky was blue and had been for the last few days, allowing the sun to bring this unheated pool to a very pleasant temp. Plus, we had gone for a run the day before and even attempted to lift weights for the first time in two months... our muscles needed to stretch out. So, we inquired about female hours and paid 100 rupees (around $2.50) for one hour of swimming. Not bad! But, don't be fooled, this establishment still had a set of ridiculous rules of its own-- caps and dark swimsuits required! But, really, who cares. The feeling of being back in a training suit and pushing off the wall in this clear blue water can only be described as "right". I just felt so so RIGHT! When I put the suit on, it was like reuniting with an old friend. I just wanted to dance around forever and never take it off. I didn't have googles, so I did a lot of floundering around and some head-up swimming/treading for water polo. When our hour was up, we sat by the side of the pool. Our rarely-exposed skin soaked up the sun while we gazed over the odd combination of palm trees and barbed wire to Hyderabad's skyline, illuminated by the morning light. 

So, that was just really really great, but it was not the only memorable event of the weekend. The Ramanan household (my home here in Hyderabad) has be a HOPPING place lately. First, a CIEE alumni who once stayed with the Ramanan family for an entire year came back to pay a visit. She stayed for two weeks before continuing to Lucknow, where she will spend a year studying Urdu. It was really interesting to get to know her and hear her insights about life in Hyderabad, classes at the University, and transitioning back to America. Her precense brought some nice family time, including Uncle's much anticipated vocal concert! 

At the peak of all of this excitement, Soumya came home for a visit (the adult daughter currently living in America, mentioned in a pervious post). Soumya just got engaged, so she is back to do all sorts of exciting wedding shopping and preparations. For context, in Indian culture, weddings are a BIG DEAL. And, the Ramanan's son is also engaged right now, so the love/marriage/settling down is basically always the topic around the dinner table. Me and my fellow home stay students joke that living in this house has us all thinking about marriage entirely too much! 

Since Soumya is currently living across the world and has been for a while now, her return home has brought visits from every friend and extended family member in India. As if there wasn't enough of a commotion, this weekend, her fiance surprised her by flying in from America! And, this trip is the first time that he has met her family!! Naturally, his visit brought an impromptu "function" at the house-- around 30 guests, lots of small talk, outrageous amounts of delicious food, so so many pictures of the same people in different combinations, chocolate cake, and even karaoke. My stomach was really happy, but my evening was kind of tainted by the fact that the loud house kept me awake tossing and turning until 3am, when I had specifically gone to bed early for an important meeting in the morning. Such is life in a full house in India. 

Through all of this excitement, I have learned a lot about Indian marriages and families, or at least those of modern, high caste, Hindus from Tamalnadu. I am constantly so so grateful to be living with a family in a home. Along with great food and easier access to the city, my home-stay provides invaluable opportunities to genuinely experience Indian culture. You cannot get the same first-hand knowledge from reading culture books or going to museums or just talking to Indian classmates. While all of the family affairs have been amazing, me and my fellow home-stay students really miss the usual intimate family dinners.  Meeting the extended family has been a reminder that we really are temporary, superficial characters in this family, as profound as our relationships are beginning to feel.  Like an older sibling annoyed by everyone cooing over a new baby, we are ready to have Auntie and Uncle all to ourselves again. The endless amount of Indian sweets can stick around though, no complaints there!

This week wasn't all swimming and parties! On a much less cheerful note, I am bidding farewell to my most favorite of favorite shoes to ever own ever. It is tough to part ways, but the time has really come..... 

So, goodbye dearest Birkenstock sandals-- Thanks for bringing from Garrett Park to Atlanta, to Water polo tournaments in Florida to the dirt hole that is Camp Moshava.. and then all the way to India! I am sorry that you beautiful suede fared so poorly in heat and moisture of Hyderabad. It is a shame for you to leave this world in such a smelly, moldy fashion. Know that you are very loved and will be sorely missed. I will try and replace you with another sturdy sandal, but you will never be forgotten!

In fact, I think I may replace them this weekend, with a pair of authentic camel leather shoes from Rajastan.. thats right, its finally time for my big trip to Jaipur and Agra!!! There are seven of us making the trip together, leaving tomorrow night after classes and staying through Sunday. I am a little nervous, because I did a lot of the planning for the group and I really hope it all goes smoothly. I am also just anxious about my first big venture without the program holding a safety net. And it is a BIG venture.. two days and two nights in the hot, bustling, historic city of Jaipur, and then a train to nearby Agra for two nights and one big day of site seeing, including the Taj Mahal. Obviously, the nerves are mixed with so so much excitement for break from routine, great eats, beautiful sites, and LOTS of shopping. Time to get some serious textiles! I will be off my comp for the next week-ish, but you will all get an update with LOTS of pictures when I return. 

So, I am commemorating the halfway mark of this semester of adventure by visiting a wonder of the world. Not too bad! Send me safe and happy vibes, please :)