Qutb Minar--Up Close

Qutb Minar

This is another of India's World Heritage sights. The tower was built almost a thousand years ago to celebrate the Muslim victory over the last Hindu king. Remains of the oldest mosque in India still stand at the base of the tower. The spire itself is encircled with script. Loosely translated, the text of the inscription on the detailed photo reads "no spitting from upper levels." Or something like that. Seriously, it is an incredible sight in which history feels quite close.

Humayum's Tomb

This is Humayum's Tomb, some famous guy. But the tomb itself is most famous because it was designed and built by the same architect who built the Taj Mahal--another famous guy whose name we don't recall. And no, Jen is not trying to use that fountain as an Indian bidet.

A Day in Delhi and Schools of Fish…

Surreal. It’s hard to know where to begin in describing our first 24 hours in India. Even when things turn out to be exactly like you imagine they will there’s still plenty of room to be blown away by reality. I’m pretty sure that’s what the guide book refers to as “culture shock.”

Take driving in Delhi for instance. As we packed into the back of a taxi smaller than a Geo Metro, it felt like we had just gotten in one of those underwater exploration vessels rather than a cab. We were quickly submerged into a sea of foreign sights and sounds for which no travel book could prepare us. Holy cows roaming freely in the streets. Traffic moving like speeding schools of fish, flowing seamlessly only inches apart. Horns beeping incessantly like a spastic morse code. Men sleeping on mats right next to the busy street as rickshaws wove in between overcrowded buses. Sheet metal shacks in the shadow of cellphone billboards. Monkeys walking along fence tops, oxen pulling carriages, beggars waiting at red lights, families of five all packed on a zooming scooter…

Every time we stepped out of our little bubble, we were enclosed by the thick Indian heat and swarms of faces waiting to “help” us wide-eyed foreigners. From carrying (grabbing rather) our luggage or offering a rickshaw ride to acting as a tour guide or scheming for donations, those faces caused an uncanny mixture of suspicion and compassion in me.

More later when we've got a faster connection and more time. We miss all of you very much! Lots of pictures to follow!

I really don't think its all going to fit . . .

Jimmy and I have a routine we go through every time we prepare to go on a trip. We pile all the stuff up (see the pictures) and then try and reduce. Jimmy's already given up the boomerang and a favorite pair of pants, I've yet to agree that I won't need all five pairs of shoes I've selected. Right now, less than twelve hours from departure, the routine shifts into a new mode wherein I feel completely overwhelmed with the task at hand, start whining about just wanting to be on the plane and on our way. This is Jimmy's cue to morph into his superhero identity--Spatial Relations Guy. No funny spandex outfit, but he does have an alter-ego voice and a riff of a theme song worked out. When the hero emerges, I am banished to other parts of the house (hence the fact that I'm blogging now instead of helping) to stew in my neurosis. In another few minutes, I'll be able to rejoin him, and maybe even assist by handing him items.

But right now, I'm guessing that my unrest has less to do with the huge pile of junk yet to be packed and more to do with the fact that this adventure--and its costs--are upon us. We are so grateful for this chance and this experience, but there's a lot we'll leave behind and miss. Amazing friends, a great community, Christmas with our families. . . mexican food. And though there's nothing that could keep us from going, these things that tie us here are pulling harder on my heart right now.

And there's no way any of that will fit in my backpack.

Don't try this at home . . .

So when Inder Preet offers to cook for us, I sort of hem and haw a while, and make some polite noises about how she is our guest and really I don't want her to be doing all the work, but in the back of my mind, I'm shouting YES YES YES YES PLEASE COOK SOMETHING! Not only is it nice to have someone cook for you, the food is amazing. A few days ago, she set an eggplant on fire . . . ON PURPOSE. The sight of that giant vegetable flaming on my gas stove burner was just so transfixing, so gloriously odd, that I couldn't even be moved from my fascination to get the camera and document the moment. I also had wierd fantasies about the looks on the faces of the fire department when they arrived and we told them, "Yes, sir, the fire just leapt from the eggplant to the valances and then it was all over. . . " But luckily, that didn't happen. Here Jimmy gets in on the action making parandha--a sort of flatbread used in lieu of forks to scoop up the yumminess. The only thing in danger of burning here are my husband's fingers. . .

One week until we fly to India!

Driving Ms. Bradbury . . .

Inder Preet Sahney has arrived from India! We've been spending the last week working on school stuff, navigating the perils of social security, banks, and the DMV. We've also discovered that we were pretty well matched--we both love Indian food, shed hair by the handful when forced to brush, and are excited about this experience of living and teaching in another country.

Perhaps the biggest challenge so far has been driving. But after a shaky initial start (when Inder Preet tried to drive on the left), she is gaining confidence and avoiding using the horn too much!

Getting started . . .

This all seems a little scary . . . beginning a blog and jumping into the world of web posting. But with all the adventures on the way, it seems only fitting. Check back often for updates!