DC-Delhi-Affour

I've been in India fore only a week or so, but it feels like much longer because India doesn't feel so foreign anymore, and Bihar and the suburbs of Delhi are quite like home.

I spent the majority of the first week in Delhi. The temperature reached 44 degrees celsius, so it was quite hot (especially with pollution and dust factored in). The good news is that the flat in Delhi is quite luxurious with a Dessert Cooler (the poor man's A/C), a semi-automatic washing machine, and an inverter. These contraptions are unknown to most westerners save the brave souls who have stayed in ghaziabad.

Three days ago Anand and i left for Bihar. The train left an hour-and-a-half late, and ended up arriving in Chappra 9 hours late. Lucky for us our fellow passengers provided enough entertainment. Two groups of men (one returbning from work in Libya, the other from Mauritius) took up ALL the luggae space and upper berths with their TV's, DVD players, etc they were bringing home. There was another family in our compartment who also had loads of luggage. The father got REALLY drunk, passed out, and some men plopped him down nearby where his wife proceeded to justifiably curse him out.

So i've been in guddu's hgouse the past few days and will stay here until the 29th. My bhabhi (guddu's elder brother's wife) is about to have a baby any seconbd now. hopefully i'll be around for some of that action. the village is a nice place to be after taking exams-- you don't have to do much, just simple tasks like washing or cleaning. free time is spent chatting and napping.

i'll probably write again once i reach delhi.