June 8, sunday night, arrived in India

6/8/08
sunday night

SO i arrived safely at my destination. It really wasnt that bad, all in all. I slept 4 hours, finished packing and dropped my friend off at 2am, got up at 6am. We promptly realized my bags were 28 pounds too heavy. my mom and i started throwing things aside while my dad watched the minutes tick by. After downsizing both bags and even the carry on which could supposedly weigh 11 pounds, we set off for JFK, 45 minutes later than planned. We arrived at the airport with 2 and a 1/2 hours to spare, thanks to my dads keen driving abilities. The line wasnt long and we checked in smoothly. The receptionist made no comment about my bags weighing 5 pounds too much, and no one bothered to look at my carry on. We went towards the gate to get some breakfast and kill time until boarding. My mom got me a present of a neck pillow that doubled as a stuffed animal panda, it proved helpful on my journey. We were surprised we had to say bye as early as the line for security, and after exchanging hugs i proceeded with my carry ons towards the gate. After many wavings and smiles, interrupted by two alarm checks-blasting sound and flashing lights-i was cleared and went to my gate.
i waited until most of the people had boarded, i always get frustrated waiting in line on the cramped airplane while people get situated, and found my seat. unfortuantely it was a center seat among 3 thai businessmen. My disappointment was soon forgotton at the excitement of ahving a a personal tv with many movies to choose from. I was asleep before take-off, woke up to watch a silly romantic comedy, took a sleeping pill my doctor had given me and knocked out for 6 hours. i awoke to a delicious dinner of udon noodles, of restaurant quality. I watched a drama set in medieval times and afterwards popped another pill for the remaining 6 hours. The time passed pretty quickly, and the airport was clearly marked.
I mosied around a bookstore in the airport, the only thing avaialble besides perfume and alcohol. When i brought a novel, a hindi phrase book, a bottle of water and a package of dried mangos to the counter, hoping i could pay in dollars, i was stunned to hear them say, $35 dollars. i bougt only the bottle of water, which i had ot guzzle before entering the gate. They turned down my first five-dollar bill because it had two small tears. This reminded me of the warning a friend had given me that rickshaw drivers would rather drive you for free than take a damaged bill. I sat for a half hour reading my book and people watching the many indian families awaiting my flight.
This time i had a window seat and was again asleep before take-off. The man next to me woke me up uncessarily for the first round of beverages, though it was important for me to stay hydrated. wE struck up a conversation and he taught me the sanskrit roots of hindi. He gave me his card and offered to take me out with his wife in delhi. He seemed like an interesting man, though his manner of conversation was odd. I wasn't sure if he was deaf or had trouble with english. He told me that Goa was fine to visit during monsoon season, a concern that had been bothering me. He also gave me the name of a market where i could find pasta and sauces to cook. He was singaporean, chinese and Indian. He didnt explain what he did but showed me pictures of a beautiful palace at night in south india. I fell asleep again after a delicious vegetarian meal of chick peas and rice. We landed and I was finally in india. The first thing i felt when i steppd off the plane was the humidity and the heat. several people i ahd talked to told me it was dry heat and not to worry. the man on the plane even suggested that sunblock was not necessary because it was a different type of heat. tHE airport was sticky. My first need was to find a ladies room where i got my first introduction to an indian toilet. Inside the stall was a hole in the ground, a faucet and pail of water. Luckily i had some toilet paper with me and hoped it wasn't wrong to put it in the hole. Next I learned another Indian custom as soon as i got in line. The woman behind me was the definition of pushy. She found personal space entirely superfluous and no matter how far ahead i stepped, i would always feel her stomach pressed against my back. I was infuriated at first, trying to move as far up as possible, but then only found myself bumping into the man in front of me and irritating him! I steeled myself to accept it as a custom, reasoning that it was nothing out of the ordinary for her. as long as she wasn't trying to rob me, i would have to get used to it. I got through customs, waited long enough for my bags that i was worried, but headed back into the heat to a crowd of indians waving signs. I found the coffee shop i was supposed to meet my driver in but there was no sign of him. I promptly made my own sign with the name of the organization and sat in a chair near the shop. After 20 minutes there was no sign and i silently cursed my contact and myself for not arranging a back up plan or even a phone number.
Then i noticed a young man who looked as lost as i did. he came to ask the security guard near me if he could find a pay phone, and i took the opportunity to connect with another young american. I found out he was from uPENN and working in dELHI for the summer. i got his information and we decided to stick together as his driver hadnt arrived either. While waiting for him to exchange money i was stunned to see a familiar name on a card being waved in teh crowd. My family friends daughter from Colombia i had heard was going to india this summer as well. My heart leaped at the thought of a familiar face amongst all these strangers. i gave their driver my information and told him to tell alicia to contact me. On one last search i found my driver, who hardly spoke english, and promised to contact my new friend and hoped my family friend would contact me.
We headed out into the heat and packed into a jeep. we drove through bumpy highways with cows lounding on the side. a beautiful girl wrapped her duparta aound her head as she sat gracefully sideways on a motorcycle behind a man. A few times i thought we would scrape the side of the highway or a car but the driver knew what he was doing. i anticipated wandering the nighttime seen of small open air stores and people ahnging out on doorsteps. The driver slowed and pulled up onto the curb in an unmarked area. i was hesitant but figured i had to trust him. He had tried to chat but really didnt speak much english and my hindustani was slim to none. I hoisted my bags up to the 3rd floor where, after 3 locks clicked open, a young scottish man greeted me. We chatted about his year long trip around the world, and his past few days in delhi. I chimed in but after texting my parents i had arrived, retired to my room. i brushed my teeth with bottled water and crawled into my new bed,