Happy New Year!
What can be accomplished in a week?
What can be accomplished in a week?
1) The Flight in
On December 23, we arrived at MCI, 2 hours prior to departure. When we got to the ticket counter, they looked at our E-tickets and invoice, and told us that there was a problem. They could only find that one of us had been ticketed, even though we were both in their system. It took us over an hour to get this matter straightened out, and after being transferred to various airlines, they finally found our other ticket at the first counter. After hurrying through security, and getting our luggage checked, overweight with no charge due to the hassle involved, we boarded the plane.
We successfully made it to Charlotte, Atlanta, and Frankfurt. Gradually, through each airport, the ethnicity of the people began to change, and we began to see more of our people group. Sheena was able to see her grandmother in the Atlanta airport and we enjoyed lunch with her and her husband before flying out through Lufthansa.
Once we got into Delhi, it was about midnight. All the lights seemed dimmed and muted from the plane, like there was a haze over them, and the city seemed so dark. After getting through customs with minimal difficulty, and explaining we would not be leaving the Delhi airport that night, we proceeded to get our bags since they could not be checked all the way through to our final destination, and then freshen up in the bathrooms before trying to find our next terminal. We asked for directions, and were told it was outside. When we went outside, it was very dark, and there were many taxi drivers asking to take us to a hotel, since we had a 12 hour layover. We politely refused, stating we would wait in the airport. They took us up to the visitor’s lounge trying to convince us that it was too dirty to wait in, but we told them it would be fine. The guard told us that it was 30 Indian rupees, which he converted to $5. While I waited in the visitor’s lounge, Brian practiced haggling, and told him that was too much, that we would wait outside with our luggage. Another Indian man came up, and told the guard that 30 rupees was only equal to about $1.50, and so we got by with only paying $1.00. The Indian man, who was a Hindu, came into the lounge with us and talked to us for about an hour about being students and our reasons for visiting South Asia. Later, we found out that the lounge is free if you have more than an 8 hour layover, and we got refunded completely. When we went outside that morning, we found the terminal was right in front of us the night before, but they city was so dirty that no light could pass through to see it. We boarded our flight and arrived at our final destination with no problems.
On December 23, we arrived at MCI, 2 hours prior to departure. When we got to the ticket counter, they looked at our E-tickets and invoice, and told us that there was a problem. They could only find that one of us had been ticketed, even though we were both in their system. It took us over an hour to get this matter straightened out, and after being transferred to various airlines, they finally found our other ticket at the first counter. After hurrying through security, and getting our luggage checked, overweight with no charge due to the hassle involved, we boarded the plane.We successfully made it to Charlotte, Atlanta, and Frankfurt. Gradually, through each airport, the ethnicity of the people began to change, and we began to see more of our people group. Sheena was able to see her grandmother in the Atlanta airport and we enjoyed lunch with her and her husband before flying out through Lufthansa.
Once we got into Delhi, it was about midnight. All the lights seemed dimmed and muted from the plane, like there was a haze over them, and the city seemed so dark. After getting through customs with minimal difficulty, and explaining we would not be leaving the Delhi airport that night, we proceeded to get our bags since they could not be checked all the way through to our final destination, and then freshen up in the bathrooms before trying to find our next terminal. We asked for directions, and were told it was outside. When we went outside, it was very dark, and there were many taxi drivers asking to take us to a hotel, since we had a 12 hour layover. We politely refused, stating we would wait in the airport. They took us up to the visitor’s lounge trying to convince us that it was too dirty to wait in, but we told them it would be fine. The guard told us that it was 30 Indian rupees, which he converted to $5. While I waited in the visitor’s lounge, Brian practiced haggling, and told him that was too much, that we would wait outside with our luggage. Another Indian man came up, and told the guard that 30 rupees was only equal to about $1.50, and so we got by with only paying $1.00. The Indian man, who was a Hindu, came into the lounge with us and talked to us for about an hour about being students and our reasons for visiting South Asia. Later, we found out that the lounge is free if you have more than an 8 hour layover, and we got refunded completely. When we went outside that morning, we found the terminal was right in front of us the night before, but they city was so dirty that no light could pass through to see it. We boarded our flight and arrived at our final destination with no problems.
2) Meeting our co-workers
As soon as we arrived, things had already been planned for us. Our supervisors picked us up at the airport and we tried to have a short conversation with them and other co-workers in the parking lot while beggars surrounded us. We then got back to our flat, and got set up with food. We then went to a Christmas party with a friend from back home, and many new friends. We had orientation for the next 3 days, visiting the stupas, learning how to use the taxis, and getting everything arranged between Hands On and ICS.
As soon as we arrived, things had already been planned for us. Our supervisors picked us up at the airport and we tried to have a short conversation with them and other co-workers in the parking lot while beggars surrounded us. We then got back to our flat, and got set up with food. We then went to a Christmas party with a friend from back home, and many new friends. We had orientation for the next 3 days, visiting the stupas, learning how to use the taxis, and getting everything arranged between Hands On and ICS.
During orientation one day, we went up to a stupa in another part of town where our supervisors live, and went for tea in a shop where they know a Tibetian family. We practiced what little language we had learned so far, and she spoke to us in TIbetian as if we understood everything she said. Occassionally she would switch to English, but then when she ran out of words she was comfortable using, she would hop right back to Tibetan again, 
and we would have to follow her facial expressions and gestures to get an idea of what she was telling us. Since they work in a shop next to the stupa where the monkies reside, they must be very careful when carrying food or plastic bags. She told, mostly in Tibetian, that her mother was attacked by the monkies last week carrying a plastic bag, and broke her leg. She told us about how she is taking medicine and seeing an acupuncture physician. We enjoyed talking with her and having good milk tea.
and we would have to follow her facial expressions and gestures to get an idea of what she was telling us. Since they work in a shop next to the stupa where the monkies reside, they must be very careful when carrying food or plastic bags. She told, mostly in Tibetian, that her mother was attacked by the monkies last week carrying a plastic bag, and broke her leg. She told us about how she is taking medicine and seeing an acupuncture physician. We enjoyed talking with her and having good milk tea.3) We break everything we touch…
We have had to set up so many different things. For the first week, we did not have any hot water as our "gas geezer" was not working when we got here. We also had an empty gas container to refill. Our phone would let us receive calls, but not call out (which means you need to pay the bill here), after our supervisor used our last phone call out. We had to get our cell phones set up, and reconnect the internet, and then call a repair man to fix the cable to get the internet to work correctly. Each of these tasks, though simple at home, took about a day each to complete here. Today, when we came home from language, we unlocked our door (here our doors are padlocked), and the lock fell apart in our hands. Unfortunately, the lock was still locked, though broken, so we had to take the lock completely apart to get inside. Thus, we had to go buy a new lock at the grocery store. We still don’t know how that was even possible.
We have had to set up so many different things. For the first week, we did not have any hot water as our "gas geezer" was not working when we got here. We also had an empty gas container to refill. Our phone would let us receive calls, but not call out (which means you need to pay the bill here), after our supervisor used our last phone call out. We had to get our cell phones set up, and reconnect the internet, and then call a repair man to fix the cable to get the internet to work correctly. Each of these tasks, though simple at home, took about a day each to complete here. Today, when we came home from language, we unlocked our door (here our doors are padlocked), and the lock fell apart in our hands. Unfortunately, the lock was still locked, though broken, so we had to take the lock completely apart to get inside. Thus, we had to go buy a new lock at the grocery store. We still don’t know how that was even possible.
4) Daily routine
Now that everything is up and running though, we are into a daily routine – that can change at any minute. Around 6:00 AM, we wake up with the city’s noises of guard dogs barking, car horns honking, and the monk’s clearing their throats in the flat above us. Today,
we woke up to Bollywood music, very loudly. We don't know where it was coming from. Along with numerous other sounds, but these are the most prominent. After showering and getting ready we begin studying. Now getting ready may or may not include electricity at this point, as we are on a load sharing schedule, which changes every two weeks. This means that during certain parts of the day we have power, and at others, we have no power at all. We do not have power more often than we actually do have power. So some mornings are colder than other if the hairdryer is unavailable due to no power. (In the picture to the left, you can see just how low our power lines hang. They are almost strung up randomly around here, and just because we're scheduled to have power doesn't mean we always have it.... I wonder why?)
Now that everything is up and running though, we are into a daily routine – that can change at any minute. Around 6:00 AM, we wake up with the city’s noises of guard dogs barking, car horns honking, and the monk’s clearing their throats in the flat above us. Today,
we woke up to Bollywood music, very loudly. We don't know where it was coming from. Along with numerous other sounds, but these are the most prominent. After showering and getting ready we begin studying. Now getting ready may or may not include electricity at this point, as we are on a load sharing schedule, which changes every two weeks. This means that during certain parts of the day we have power, and at others, we have no power at all. We do not have power more often than we actually do have power. So some mornings are colder than other if the hairdryer is unavailable due to no power. (In the picture to the left, you can see just how low our power lines hang. They are almost strung up randomly around here, and just because we're scheduled to have power doesn't mean we always have it.... I wonder why?)At 7:00 we are able to have a very healthy breakfast, of an Asian form of fruit loops, or make some toast using our skillet on the gas stove. This is usually accompanied by fresh fruit (after having been thoroughly washed in iodine for about 20 minutes). After breakfast, we review their language and do our personal studies before going to language class.
5) Getting to language class
To get to language class, we go past a field in front of our house. This field often serves as a public restroom facility. This is difficult to get used to. We walk down a stony dirt path where parts of it are under construction. If it rains, this path is muddy. On parts, the power lines hang very low, so we have to play limbo, lest we face a shock. We walk through a market area, which often has beggars on the road as well. Their language class is next to the stupa, so after working through the crowd, we go up to the first floor (which is the 2nd floor at home, here the “1st” floor is the ground floor), and begin our class.
To get to language class, we go past a field in front of our house. This field often serves as a public restroom facility. This is difficult to get used to. We walk down a stony dirt path where parts of it are under construction. If it rains, this path is muddy. On parts, the power lines hang very low, so we have to play limbo, lest we face a shock. We walk through a market area, which often has beggars on the road as well. Their language class is next to the stupa, so after working through the crowd, we go up to the first floor (which is the 2nd floor at home, here the “1st” floor is the ground floor), and begin our class.
6) Language class
Learning language is a bit of a challenge. We have to learn a new alphabet to learn how to read, and we have to learn how to say the alphabet. Some of our letters are very fun to say, as we’ve never made those sounds in English before! Our teacher, Kebin, seems to understand that these are funny sounds to us and can laugh with us about these. Kebin has also only spoken English here, so sometimes the words are not decipherable until he rights them on the board, which still are not always decipherable as they are not spelled correctly. We each have our strengths and weaknesses in language, and are pulling on one another’s strengths to make the class easier.
Learning language is a bit of a challenge. We have to learn a new alphabet to learn how to read, and we have to learn how to say the alphabet. Some of our letters are very fun to say, as we’ve never made those sounds in English before! Our teacher, Kebin, seems to understand that these are funny sounds to us and can laugh with us about these. Kebin has also only spoken English here, so sometimes the words are not decipherable until he rights them on the board, which still are not always decipherable as they are not spelled correctly. We each have our strengths and weaknesses in language, and are pulling on one another’s strengths to make the class easier.
7) In the community (around our stupa)
Afterwards, we typically go out in the community to eat and typically have some Tibetan thentuk. This is a type of soup which is very spicy. We really enjoy it, and Brian has even been eating his vegetables. Sometimes it is served with butter tea, and other times with milk tea. We
like the milk tea a lot, but the butter tea takes some getting used to. We are getting to know 2 of the girls at the Tibetan restaurant we go to, named Momatalama and Lhakpa. The other day, our didi (who is also named Lhakpa) invited us to her house to enjoy some Dal Bhaat. It was so much better than what we tried in L.A.! This consists of lentils, curried vegetables, and rice.
When they invite you to eat here though, you do not get to eat with the rest of the family. We were brought in to the family room where we were served our food while they prepared things in the kitchen. After our meal, they served us oranges and Lhakpa’s aunt came in and we practiced their language with her. Lhakpa showed us her photo album of her family, and we enjoyed seeing the pictures of her and some of our coworkers. We were then invited onto the balcony and were able to visit with Lhakpa, her aunt, her mother, and her grandmother. While we sat and talked with them, both the mother and the grandmother were going through their Tibetan prayer beads. We spent about 3 hours talking with them that day, and have been invited back for Dal Bhaat again.
We have also been able to visit several friends with our national partner around town. We had tea with his family the other day in their home, and he invited us over for their house fellowship in their language. We went there, and enjoyed hearing songs, reading and studying the story, and discussing together. We practiced their language with their family. We will also be attending another, larger fellowship soon, but have been unable to do so yet due to being so busy setting up here.
Afterwards, we typically go out in the community to eat and typically have some Tibetan thentuk. This is a type of soup which is very spicy. We really enjoy it, and Brian has even been eating his vegetables. Sometimes it is served with butter tea, and other times with milk tea. We
like the milk tea a lot, but the butter tea takes some getting used to. We are getting to know 2 of the girls at the Tibetan restaurant we go to, named Momatalama and Lhakpa. The other day, our didi (who is also named Lhakpa) invited us to her house to enjoy some Dal Bhaat. It was so much better than what we tried in L.A.! This consists of lentils, curried vegetables, and rice.When they invite you to eat here though, you do not get to eat with the rest of the family. We were brought in to the family room where we were served our food while they prepared things in the kitchen. After our meal, they served us oranges and Lhakpa’s aunt came in and we practiced their language with her. Lhakpa showed us her photo album of her family, and we enjoyed seeing the pictures of her and some of our coworkers. We were then invited onto the balcony and were able to visit with Lhakpa, her aunt, her mother, and her grandmother. While we sat and talked with them, both the mother and the grandmother were going through their Tibetan prayer beads. We spent about 3 hours talking with them that day, and have been invited back for Dal Bhaat again.
We have also been able to visit several friends with our national partner around town. We had tea with his family the other day in their home, and he invited us over for their house fellowship in their language. We went there, and enjoyed hearing songs, reading and studying the story, and discussing together. We practiced their language with their family. We will also be attending another, larger fellowship soon, but have been unable to do so yet due to being so busy setting up here.
8) Pictures
My camera battery has died, and I forgot to pack my charger, so pictures may be a while coming until we can get that, but until then, here are pictures of some of the things here we were able to capture before my battery died. And even once we get pictures, it takes about 15 minutes to load each one, not due to size, but due to the incredibly slow wi-fi!
My camera battery has died, and I forgot to pack my charger, so pictures may be a while coming until we can get that, but until then, here are pictures of some of the things here we were able to capture before my battery died. And even once we get pictures, it takes about 15 minutes to load each one, not due to size, but due to the incredibly slow wi-fi!
Left: This is a picture of 3 larger than life buddha's by a stupa where our supervisors live.
Right: This is the stupa by where they live, with the mean, hungry monkey infestation.
