MONTHLY REPORT -SEPTEMBER

            I could almost swear that it isn't October! What happened to September? ...And how is it possible that I have been here for two and a half months already? Time goes by so fast! Nevertheless, you know the expression, "Time flies when you are having fun," and that is exactly what I am doing!

            September was an amazingly full month. There were many activities that I was able to take part in and I enjoyed them all dearly. The first ten days of the month were the Ganesh Festival. I felt so lucky to be able to play dhol on the first day of the festival and felt like a true Indian. However, all of the people that were lined up on the streets to watch the processions go by did there best to make me feel like a foreigner. Taking pictures of me, pointing me out to their friends, and just staring as I walked by were just a few of the reactions I received, most all at the same time.

            I was sad that I could not attend more of the Ganesh Festivities, but after I played dhol at night on the first day, the pollutants and mainly the rain got to me and I ended up staying close to home to get better. I was all better by the last day of the procession, and couldn't wait to share my dhol skills with the crowds. When I got to the meeting place for dhol, I felt so happy when members came up to me to ask me where I had been and if I was feeling better. Sadly, however, I was not able to play dhol due to a misunderstanding, but I was still involved with the procession with the other exchange students from Rotary. We were able to walk the procession route and let the onlookers gawk at our light skin, hair, and eyes. You could tell by most of their faces that they were happy we are here and taking part in Indian culture. We were dressed in typical, if not formal, Indian dress.

            September was also the first time that the exchange students were able to officially meet one another. Together we were able to attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the Pune Festival, where I saw the more foreigners there than I had in my first two months of being here in India. It was an amazing cultural display of India at its best. We, the exchange students, also had our first official Rotary meeting, and pocket money distribution! I had been so nervous about meeting the other students, but I instantly clicked with many of them and it has been great getting to know them better over the month.

            During the Ganesh Festival, I was happy to be able to participate in the Ganpati functions with my extended family here. All of the religious aspects were very interesting to me, and I am sure next year I will be celebrating Ganpati in the US. By gathering for meals as a family, performing chants and rituals praising Ganpati, as well as sending the Ganpati statue down the river at the end of the proceedings. It has been great to experience the culture and religion firsthand.

            The month was scant on school days however. With the Ganesh Festival, we had holidays, and the beginning of October marks the internal exams at my college, so once the syllabus is completed the teacher no longer comes to class. I was able to sleep in everyday and just enjoy time at home with my family. I also have had a lot of time to go shopping for gifts and souvenirs, and am getting great reactions from my families. In the US, my family is wondering if I am going to buy the Taj Mahal before I come home because I am purchasing so many other things. Whereas my family in India just laughs at me every time I come home with something new and is wondering how a person can buy so much stuff. I came to India with one checked bag on the airplane, but I will be leaving with at least two, if not three. :)

            The Rotary district here does not organize monthly events like the one in Minnesota, so the exchange students have taken it upon themselves to get together whenever possible. Together, we went on a tour of Pune and caught many glances from onlookers. With seven very light-skinned students, walking around it almost caused some accidents on the roads from people staring too long. Of course, the rickshaws tried to take advantage of us by wanting to charge us ten times the actual amount, but we were strong and either forced them to use the meter as the charge or found another driver who would. Together we visited the outside of Shaniwar Wada (an old fort in the city part of Pune). Notice that we only visited the outside. The charges for Indian residents is five rupees and for foreigners, it is 100 rupees, because we are living here for a year and have paperwork to show we are in fact residents, we wanted to pay five, but there were only Marathi speakers, so we just left when they kept forcing us to pay 100.

            After the fort fiasco, we traveled outside the city to Agakan Palace, where Gandhi was placed during house arrest with his wife and secretary. We then paid the 100 rupees, but felt better about it because it wasn't the rude people at the fort. The palace was huge, but more importantly, it was beautiful. You have to look at the pictures I took of it on facebook to understand the greatness of the palace; a picture is really worth a thousand words. It was not only pretty, but also very historically interesting. There was a museum of sorts with artifacts of Gandhi's life in the Palace and as a whole. Nevertheless, what was wonderful to me was seeing Gandhi's Samadhi, or where his ashes lay at rest.

            September also marked the end of my two and a half vegetarian streak. My family went to Pizza Hut for dinner on night and practically forced me to have non-veg. Let me tell you, I don't think that I have ever enjoyed a pepperoni pizza as much as I did that night. It wasn't only the meat, but the pizza was just like Pizza Hut in the USA, so it really reminded me of home. Then when I was out with the exchange students, after the palace, we went to a mall food court and the other American and I mooched off the Brazilian's KFC. Which was also very much like America: both the mooching and chicken. I'm not quite sure how I will spend the rest of the year, but I'm planning to eat non-veg if I have the chance, but I am still entirely happy with the food that my mom cooks for us at home.

            I'm really glad that I am here and am so happy for the family I was given and the friends I have made. I am having a grand time, and I know it will get better in the months to come. ...And not only because the trips that will be taking place with both Rotary and my family.