Meanwhile in Mussoorie...
We walk a lot. Hike up to language school, quick hike down from language school to chaar dukaan, hike down from chaar dukaan to Woodstock School, hike down from Woodstock School to Turner Garden, hike up from Turner Garden to Woodstock School, hike up from Woodstock School to Hanifl Center, usually another hike to Woodstock School for dinner/tutoring/gym followed by a final hike up to Hanifl Center. That has been my walking schedule for the past week, more or less. It seems that the lengths of the walks change everyday.
I really enjoy reading the Devanagari script. I gain immense satisfaction when I can sound out a word correctly, and even more satisfaction when I can recognize the word I have sounded out (but that's a rare occasion). My vocabulary is limited, and I take a pretty long time to process a question asked in Hindi and formulate a response. But overall I am enjoying learning the language, and especially the chai in between grammar and writing classes.
I like working at Turner Garden a lot more than anyone would guess from my complaining (which is almost always about the walking). I am not a big fan of the leeches or the 90 degree walk/climb up from the garden to the street, but I like weeding. It's nice to look back and see that you made somewhat of a difference in the clearance around crops. It's also sort of calming as long as you're not squatting too much. We started building a greenhouse today. Well I guess it would be more accurate to say that we watched a greenhouse
be built, but we had the chance to pound a few posts into the ground and practicce our Hindi.
Food in general at Woodstock is not my favorite thing. Occasionally the lunches and dinners completely surpass my meager expectations which is always exciting. We have gone out a few times to eat which is usually very good and always very cheap. I love playing soccer, ping pong, and badminton in the gym and having the chance to play the pianos in the music room.
We have less than a week left here. I'm excited for a change but also nervous because leaving here to Varanasi marks the real beginning of the program. We will be in Varanasi for 7 months, and the idea of 7 months in a new place that isn't my house is a lot to take in. I'm worried I won't find fulfillment and be helpful at my service site, and that my homestay family won't like me, but I guess these worries are typical.
Tomorrow we see the Dahli Lama! I'm excited especially because I have a complete set of clean clothes to wear. Until next time!
Ada
We walk a lot. Hike up to language school, quick hike down from language school to chaar dukaan, hike down from chaar dukaan to Woodstock School, hike down from Woodstock School to Turner Garden, hike up from Turner Garden to Woodstock School, hike up from Woodstock School to Hanifl Center, usually another hike to Woodstock School for dinner/tutoring/gym followed by a final hike up to Hanifl Center. That has been my walking schedule for the past week, more or less. It seems that the lengths of the walks change everyday.
I really enjoy reading the Devanagari script. I gain immense satisfaction when I can sound out a word correctly, and even more satisfaction when I can recognize the word I have sounded out (but that's a rare occasion). My vocabulary is limited, and I take a pretty long time to process a question asked in Hindi and formulate a response. But overall I am enjoying learning the language, and especially the chai in between grammar and writing classes.
I like working at Turner Garden a lot more than anyone would guess from my complaining (which is almost always about the walking). I am not a big fan of the leeches or the 90 degree walk/climb up from the garden to the street, but I like weeding. It's nice to look back and see that you made somewhat of a difference in the clearance around crops. It's also sort of calming as long as you're not squatting too much. We started building a greenhouse today. Well I guess it would be more accurate to say that we watched a greenhouse
be built, but we had the chance to pound a few posts into the ground and practicce our Hindi.
Food in general at Woodstock is not my favorite thing. Occasionally the lunches and dinners completely surpass my meager expectations which is always exciting. We have gone out a few times to eat which is usually very good and always very cheap. I love playing soccer, ping pong, and badminton in the gym and having the chance to play the pianos in the music room.
We have less than a week left here. I'm excited for a change but also nervous because leaving here to Varanasi marks the real beginning of the program. We will be in Varanasi for 7 months, and the idea of 7 months in a new place that isn't my house is a lot to take in. I'm worried I won't find fulfillment and be helpful at my service site, and that my homestay family won't like me, but I guess these worries are typical.
Tomorrow we see the Dahli Lama! I'm excited especially because I have a complete set of clean clothes to wear. Until next time!
Ada
woo hoo another post. Will you have to walk far to see the Dalai Lama? Will you tell him about your llamas? :)
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