So last night was another sleepless night. And when I say sleepless, I do mean, exactly that. I didn’t sleep a minute. I watched Wedding Crashers twice and Office Space for about the 3rd time on this trip. Our room has to be over 100 and with three of us in there, it just isn’t happening.
That and the combination of being outside practically all day yesterday, with no relief from the heat. Also, just constantly being around people in general is getting on my nerves. Yea……it’s all just a little too much.
So today, I am playing hookie from Rajiv’s little game playing of his so called “orientation week”. F – that. I needed some Janelle time and some time in an air- conditioned buildings.
I finally feel like I’m in my element again here in India. I have come to realize something, yet it contradicts itself.
I like being alone. I love being alone. I feel free right now. Finally. God. This is what I came here for…. to be… just to be. Today is good. I’m away, I’m me, I get to decide everything and uh… it’s lovely.
However, a select couple of you know, in reality, I’m scared to death to be alone. That doesn’t feel good to me. The thought of being alone, alone, is just so… depressing and sad. Who wants to do life alone?
I think this time and being here I need to continue to find this time for myself in this country that I love. The next few weeks it will be much easier to do that. In Palampur we start our volunteering with the children. I can’t wait. They are so damn cute. This is for a few hours a day. We’ve been told it is a quiet, majestic, and CALM city. So finding time and places to myself after working each day with the children is going to be ritualistic. I have a lot to get sorted out in my head and I think it’s going to be the perfect environment for this. A terrace that overlooks the Himalayas… really?
Next, onto Ahmedabad and that’s just plain out going to kill!! I love that city and have everything all mapped out in my head. That’s like autopilot. Get there and I am going to be a maniac – lol – I have so much to do, places to see, shop and people to see. Going to be great.
I am thankful for today.
Love, Janelle
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Where in the World is Janelle?
Just to give you an idea about me and my bitching of the internet connection, I thought I'd take a photo of the outside of this shop. Yup, here's where I am, in the upstairs of this building.
You can't see this in the picture, but, right in the middle one of the offered severics here are "Instant Horoscopes" .... you know I'm sooooo doing that! In fact I just inquired and they have several different varieties, based on price. The guy just advised me to do one in the middle range which will give me predictions for the next 5 years of my life! Wahooo!! I'm sooooo excited.
Next weekend I have a trip for the 4 of us planned to go to a Tibetan Astrology clinic, where they give you a full life horoscope if you know the exact day and time you were born. So that is going to be just phenomenal. Today will be a preview and super duper fun to compare.
Will update you after my reading - ha ha ha!
Love, Janelle
Or this one...
Guys on Guys - haaaa ha
So a few of you had asked for detective work on this subject, as it's one I found to be actually, pretty spectacular first time in India. (Except for the fact that I couldn't get Sean and Matt to stop holding hands and clinging onto one another when Matt was over - hahahha! JK. )
So in India it is not culturally accepted for men and women to display any type of public affection - including holding hands. Any hugging, kissing, hand holding between a man and woman is viewed (for the most part) as disrespectful. More progressive and urban cities like Mumbai this is not as true. But even here in Delhi I've only seen 1 couple holding hands so far. Anyway... onto the point of this post.
However, it is very common for males to display affection for one another as friends in a physical form. By holding hands, linking arms around one another's waists, putting ones arm around another, and I've also noticed, linking of pinkies.
So in India it is not culturally accepted for men and women to display any type of public affection - including holding hands. Any hugging, kissing, hand holding between a man and woman is viewed (for the most part) as disrespectful. More progressive and urban cities like Mumbai this is not as true. But even here in Delhi I've only seen 1 couple holding hands so far. Anyway... onto the point of this post.However, it is very common for males to display affection for one another as friends in a physical form. By holding hands, linking arms around one another's waists, putting ones arm around another, and I've also noticed, linking of pinkies. I think it's great. No, this doesn't mean these guys are gay. It is just a very accepted form of display of friendship here. Sorry for the repeat info for old blog followers, but I thought others would find this interesting enough to re-blog with new pics.
Love, Janelle
Mc India (repeat I know... but it's just too good not to)
So I realize this is pretty lame, but one of the things I was most excited about was going back to the Mc Donalds here. It' s so frickin' good! A lot of you know I'm a pseudo vegetarian and India Mc Donald's have this Mc Veggie burger (if you'll kindly turn your head sideways and see below)...
that I literally have had dreams about since we left. It isn't like any veggie burger I've had in the US it has real vegetables in it - not like all soybean. The peas are what crack me up the most. Anyway, soooooooo good! Wow this was a fantastic dinner. America totally needs to get on board with this sandwich.
And ps I don't know what the HELL is going on with this being sideways but I've attempted changing it 5 times now. Uh! Indian computers - lol - sorry.
that I literally have had dreams about since we left. It isn't like any veggie burger I've had in the US it has real vegetables in it - not like all soybean. The peas are what crack me up the most. Anyway, soooooooo good! Wow this was a fantastic dinner. America totally needs to get on board with this sandwich. And ps I don't know what the HELL is going on with this being sideways but I've attempted changing it 5 times now. Uh! Indian computers - lol - sorry.
Love, Janelle
Red Fort
Nothing real interesting to say (apologies...). I am truly not getting internet time here like I had anticipated. But I'll put up some photos with the time I have. Hope you enjoy them.
Rajiv and one of his games.
Rajiv and one of his games.Later this evening we went to Akshradam temple, which is the largest Hindu temple in the world. It was amaaaaaazing. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take our cameras inside.
Well... se must get back before our "curfew" super lame. I am so wishing I was on my own. Melissa and I are discussing a trip to Italy next summer. She's been before and is in love. And from what she's telling me.... omg. How excellent would that be? So that piece of information is actually crucial. I am loving her! Tomorrow night we are going out with one of her friends from New York who is an anesthesiologist! Ya... he's going to show us Delhi "night life". We're super excited. So a partner in crime, I have found. We are going to try and room together in Palampur.
Good night:)
Love, Janelle
Pink car! 
Water break. One of many... 
Love, Janelle
What's Molding in Our Refrigerator Today?
Not sure if I mentioned, but my two roommates are from Nebraska; Katie and Carrie. Lovely girls. 
Well last night Katie discovered a refrigerator in the hallway, which we were all ecstatic about! Somewhere to put our hot (no joke) water bottles.
However, as we open the fridge up, we discover these three lovely molding items in it. Really? What is going on here?
Well last night Katie discovered a refrigerator in the hallway, which we were all ecstatic about! Somewhere to put our hot (no joke) water bottles.However, as we open the fridge up, we discover these three lovely molding items in it. Really? What is going on here?
Anyway, not like we can really be picky. We have been using the fridge for our water and in the morning it’s like fricking heaven having cold water. Because yea… the water we get for meals here is NOT cold.
Love, Janelle
Arranged & Love Marriages
After eating dinner the first night here, we went outside to see an Indian wedding. It's customary to have the bride and groom paraded down the streets, with a band, followers dancing and fireworks. 
We had seen this last time, so it wasn’t a big deal.
Thoughts??
Love, Janelle
We had seen this last time, so it wasn’t a big deal. Here are some street kids though, which made me smile and reminded me one of the many reasons I came back. 
The kids here LOVE to have their pictures taken and always seem to greet me with a smile. It’s so funny to me.
Today during our “lecture” (lol) this is where Rajiv tells us tidbits about Indian culture and other things he thinks that will help us be better volunteers in our various placements. Kind of a joke. Especially since the room is boiling hot.
Today I fell asleep in there. So not kidding. Anyway he was talking about weddings and I asked him what the ratio of “Arranged Marriages” is to “Love Marriages”. When the families of men and women to “choose” their future spouse for them = Arranged Marriage. Future spouses are chosen by the person’s family because the family knows them best. They are matched up according to income and education. For example, a man’s family will try to find his future wife to be someone of the same economic status and someone equally educated as their son.
Rajiv said in rural areas most all marriages are Arranged. In urban areas Love marriages are “on the rise” and becoming more accepted.
The kids here LOVE to have their pictures taken and always seem to greet me with a smile. It’s so funny to me.Today during our “lecture” (lol) this is where Rajiv tells us tidbits about Indian culture and other things he thinks that will help us be better volunteers in our various placements. Kind of a joke. Especially since the room is boiling hot.
Today I fell asleep in there. So not kidding. Anyway he was talking about weddings and I asked him what the ratio of “Arranged Marriages” is to “Love Marriages”. When the families of men and women to “choose” their future spouse for them = Arranged Marriage. Future spouses are chosen by the person’s family because the family knows them best. They are matched up according to income and education. For example, a man’s family will try to find his future wife to be someone of the same economic status and someone equally educated as their son.Rajiv said in rural areas most all marriages are Arranged. In urban areas Love marriages are “on the rise” and becoming more accepted.
He explained this concept works so well by providing us with an analogy to his dog, Jenny (below). 
He said his son’s dog had 5 babies and his son asked him (Rajiv) to take Jenny as a baby. Initially Rajiv did not want a dog, but then after realizing how important it was to his son, he accepted the dog. Now, after having Jenny 1 ½ yrs (even if forcefully) he says he couldn’t live without her. He said that just by being together “love grows” and this is between “animal and man”. He said their custom of arranged marriages works even better because love between a man and woman grows even stronger and faster, just by being together. Basically that by default if you are thrown together you learn to “love” one another as man and wife.
He said his son’s dog had 5 babies and his son asked him (Rajiv) to take Jenny as a baby. Initially Rajiv did not want a dog, but then after realizing how important it was to his son, he accepted the dog. Now, after having Jenny 1 ½ yrs (even if forcefully) he says he couldn’t live without her. He said that just by being together “love grows” and this is between “animal and man”. He said their custom of arranged marriages works even better because love between a man and woman grows even stronger and faster, just by being together. Basically that by default if you are thrown together you learn to “love” one another as man and wife.Thoughts??
Love, Janelle
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