First day in India!

It is the first day in India and I am already having a blast! I love everything so much already. The time change wasn't even that big a deal, I am used to it already, although it might bge due to the red bull I was able to sneak into my suitcase.

Our first day has been so jam packed with sights, smells and new people. We met a bunch of girls from the college here as well as some of the faculty. The university is much different than any in the United States. Open air classrooms and hallways give off a slight breeze to the un-airconditioned parts of campus. I am just so excited to be in India that everything here is new and fantastic to me.

For breakfast we ate a traditional south Indian breakfast. There was a pancake sort of dish, along with a spicy sauce (which, to me, wasn't too too spicy). Along withthis was a coconut paste, which the others thought was spicy, and a sandwich made with butter and shedded cheese. It was not really what I expected to have for breakfast, but it wasn't bad.

After this, we sat in a classroom and learned about the University and the history behind it. It was very interesting to hear about the many opportunities open to thee Indian women.

After the panel we went on a tour of the campus, which was really interesting. As I said before, the campus is so different than anything I have seen before. Their campus is full of many types of people, and buggies, and stray dogs. It is like a mini-Mumbai. On the lawn there are a few students playing cricket, and a man we were touring with said he might even be able to teach us how to play!

After the tour we had lunch, which was a local dish, but I was not able to catch the name of it. It was like a paste, which a man was making on a large pan over an open fire. With it was served hamburger buns which were grilled on the pan next to the paste. It was really good, and very unique, I guess it is the favorite dish in Mumbai (how fitting).

We sat in the classroom after this listening to a few of the women speak about the college and the roles women play in the workforce as well as in home life. It was interesting tohear about the ways they are able to balance thehome life and work all at the same time. It sounds like what many American women still have to go through. Having to choose between career and family.

Now we are sitting in the computer lab typing away, and next up on the schedule is henna art and a buffet dinner and cultural event with the students here. I cannot wait for what lies in store, I can already tell that this is an experiene of a lifetime!