Delhi - First Impressions

Big. Dirty. Crazy. Rather backward. They speak a funny english ("Don't bamboozle me. We might have to tussle.") Half-stepping embrace of law and order. We're actually at a hotel for the first couple nights, apparently. Close to our program coordinator Brinda who lives down the street here in South Delhi. Brinda seems great. Very warm and mother-like, which, I admit, I really could use right now. Hope I stay on her good side. :) Of the 9 people in my program, Rob, Jennifer, Marla, Mike and I are here. Noel and Mira get here tomorrow at some point. I couldn't sleep very well last night, even though the room has air conditioning. I slept from maybe 1-6. From 6-8:30 I wrote and read "The Death of Vishnu," which Elaine Sawtelle gave me before I left. After that I watched the Pistons kick the crap out of the Lakers. I was in disbelief that a team that good could be so thoroughly dominated and demoralized. The second half of the third quarter and the whole of the fourth were just ugly... Our assistant coordinator, Rudy, and the rest of us went out and around a bit in Delhi today. Such a crazy place. I feel like I stick out in a major way. Luckily the sun is so intense that I'll probably have brown skin in a month. :) On that note, it's unbelievably hot. It's supposed to hit 42 degrees celcius this afternoon: 108 degrees fahrenheit. Holy crap. And it's humid, too, because it rained last week apparently. I can't wait to get to the mountains. I don't know what my internet/computer situation will be for the next few days. I'll update and email as soon as I can. Love you all. Yes, I'm still alive.