Indian Mornings, Indian Evenings

We have begun our regular schedule for school now, which is the real reason for our trip. The students are attending classes with their Sreenidhi buddies, and we teachers are visiting and teaching classes here and there. Fortunately, the school has a wonderful lounge for the teachers with an air conditioner (a luxury) and a computer for us to use. Hence, I can blog in comfort when I am not observing or teaching.

For some mysterious reason, I sleep more soundly here in India, despite or perhaps because of the fewer creature comforts here. I fall fast asleep each night at 9:30 and don't stir again until 5:30. I feel no aches or pains during the night or in the morning when I awake like I do at home. Is it the food, the slower pace, the air, the light, a combination of all? I don't really know. I just know that I feel better here than I have in a very long time, which is quite a relief.

For the past two evenings, we have taken our group along with Sreenidhi friends to tourist sites here in Hyderabad. Tuesday, we visited Golconda Fort, an amazing source of eastern history, an architectural marvel, and a beautiful place. Here is a description: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golkonda The students loved the trip, even though it included an arduous climb up a huge hill to the top of the fort. Our guide was a hilarious man who has taken this climb every day for the last twenty years to support his family. It is hard to imagine how people five hundred years ago were able to accomplish such a feat, and it was very fun to see the pride the Indian people take in their heritage.

Yesterday afternoon, we visited Chowmahalla Palace outside of Charminar, which is part of "Old Hyderabad." The Charminar area through which we traveled is primarily Muslim, so the streets were filled with burka-clad women shopping and dodging mopeds. The palace is a marvel in itself, boasting some of the most amazing chandeliers in the world and a beautiful grounds that would rival any European palace. This is the palace where the royal Asaf Jahi dynasty lived during India's "brief" inclusion in the Mogul empire. Here is a link to its description: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chowmahalla_Palace

And for those of you concerned, yes, my luggage did arrive, within 48 hours, as a matter of fact. The only thing missing from it was a small bag of costume jewelry I had packed. If I had planned on stealing something from it, it would have been the kitchen gadgets I brought as gifts for people here, but I guess jewelry is "cooler." Fortunately, I still have plenty of the money Lufthansa gave me left, so I can buy all the bangles and dangly earrings here I desire for much less than I would in the states. In the end, I am breaking even, and I'm actually pretty impressed with Lufthansa. Three men from the airline arrived at the door of my bedroom in the guesthouse here with the luggage, waking me from a nap. They were all very official, and we really didn't have to move a muscle here to get it back once I reported it stolen. It was great to get the things I had prepared so carefully for this trip. My stay was already comfortable but is even better now that I have my Proactive face kit, my Oil of Olay wrinkle fighters, my Indo-American hybrid fashions I created, my chocolates, and all the other tiny things I thought of to bring.

I'm going to wait until tomorrow to write about my classroom experiences. No need to describe it all at once. Miss you all, but loving this place. Ciao.