I Think I'm on the Surface of the SUN

I left home June 1 around 10am and finally arrived in Delhi at 4:30 PM on June 2nd. I sat in JFK airport for around 5 hours before my direct flight to Delhi left, and happened to find myelf sitting in the exact same spot we did with the group, almost one year ago. It was an odd and very, very sad feeling. I began to get the feeling that being in India without them was going to be much lonlier than I anticipated. We landed in Delhi and the pilot told us that the weather outside was 50 degrees Celcuis. Having no idea what this meant in Fahrenheit, I waited to find out myself. I had another flight to catch before reaching “home” in Jaipur and after a half hour of waiting for my luggage and then another half hour of trying to find the trolley to get to the domestic terminal, I was finally given correct instructions on where to go.

We landed in Jaipur around 8:30 and there were no rickshaws in sight. I got a taxi, and headed home for 260 rupees, what should have cost me 50 in a rickshaw. The minute I stepped out into the evening air, I immediately knew what 50 degrees Celcius meant. It had to be over one hundred, it just had to be. I drove through Jaipur and eventually reached my homestay house, with everyone waiting for me. It felt good to finally be there after traveling for so long, but it just was not the same without the rest of the group being there. The moment I stepped into their kitchen, I was blasted with heat and immediately started sweating. I had no appetite and was not tired, just feeling weird. Because it was so hot (I later found out that 50 degrees Celcius meant around 115 Farenheit) they would not let me sleep on the second floor where my old room was. I put all of my things in the old room, washed up a bit, changed my clothes and proceeded downstairs to where I was to sleep, in the same room as my little brothers. That room is air-conditioned, thank goodness, I don't know how else I could have done it!

I have felt quite faint adjusting to the 120 degree heat, but it is getting better. I just don't know how the Indians do it! I had an adventure getting this internet plug in for my computer, and they tell me it might not even work on the desert farm where I am eventually going. We'll see.

Everything else is going well, I venture out of the house when I can, but even the house is scalding hot, the fans are powered so low and the power is continuously going out. But hey, if they can do it I can do it. And I will. I plan to leave for the farm this Wednesday, and will try my best to update this while I am there. Otherwise, it might be a while before I can again.