Our flight from Bangkok last night landed in Delhi around midnight. The sights and smells from the airport lounge and plane gave my brain a good head-start to realize that the next two weeks in India aren’t going to be as easy as the last one in Phuket. Even the time difference, one and a half hours earlier than Thailand, is unusual here.
(Backtracking a tad, Jamie and I went our separate ways after a total of 5 weeks in 3 different countries. My new companion: Chris, the head of Rustic’s Costa Rica programs and an all-around cool guy. While we travel around northern India, he’ll be finalizing next summer’s trips.)
Before even stepping foot on Indian soil, I learned that it’s a pushy, every-man-for-himself society. After the plane landed, I assumed that the two aisles of passengers would take turns in exiting. You go, now I go. That side, this side. Not so much. More like that side, that side, that side, that side…THIS SIDE (with a bit of elbow action). Grabbing my backpack from baggage claim wasn’t a breeze either. More like a tornado.
As we waited for our bags to appear on the conveyor belt, Chris and I had a chance to let India sink in even more. Men with faces sandwiched between turbans and beards, as thought they’re keeping it in place. Women adorned in all different colors, draped with cloth and pierced with gold. We saw one group of ladies hidden entirely beneath black sheets, not even their eyes visible. I joked with Chris that that’s my backup Halloween costume.
When we hopped into a cab, I felt like Dori from “Finding Nemo.” But instead of:
P. Sherman
42 Wallaby Way
Sydney
I was repeating:
A. Semple
American Embassy School
Chanyakapuri
My English teacher last year, Ashby (so scandalous not calling her Ms. Semple), left Harvard-Westlake to teach here, after falling in love with the country the summer before. When I showed her my itinerary in one of our last classes, she offered me a free meal and we talked about meeting up. That seems like forever ago. I can’t tell you how weird/cool it was pulling up to the heavily guarded American Embassy School and telling the security officer that Ashby is expecting us.
Her “haveli” lives up to its Hindi name: mansion. The apartment is incredibly spacious and nice, not to mention Babu. Oh, Babu. Babu is one of the resident chefs, cooking incredible daily meals for Ashby, and now for Chris and I as well. He’s such a Babu.
While Ashby taught, Chris and I took a bus tour of Old Delhi. Driving around the unplanned city, we got a feel for the unique road rules (or lack of) and personality of the streets. It’s amazing what you can quickly get used to: cows lounging around, monkeys playing on the sidewalks, public bathrooms really being in public, beggars of all ages tapping at the window, vehicles coming within centimeters of one another, etc. We got off to explore the Red Fort, the Gandhi Memorial, and an enormous Hindu temple.
After the tour ended, Chris and I headed back to the school. Remember those “Make A Plate” sets from the good old days, where you draw and color whatever you want and then have it on a plate for life? Of course you do. Well, it is becoming a tradition at the Ashby mansion for every guest to create one. It was awesome. I hope to come back and eat off of my Taj Mahal plate someday.
PS. Coolest way to say “Nice to meet you” ever: Ap kay milkee kushee wee, and feel free to draw out the weeeeeeeee!
PPS. Strike three on the Jewish holidays. Since when are they all so close together?
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, October 19th, 2005 at 10:50 am in V. India.
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
Since when were all the Jewish holidays so close together? Glad you were paying attention these last 18 years! Perhaps it was all a dream…Love, YGOP
October 19th, 2005 at 12:34 pmOk…so it has been like a year since I last posted a comment but I want you to know that I am up to date with everything!! I check up on you everyday and am really enjoying all the pictures!!! I am in the middle of midterms right now but I miss you! and I am so happy I got to ’see’ you!! Take care Charlie and keep having fun!
October 19th, 2005 at 2:56 pmxoxoxo besitos!!
Listen here mister; you’d better keep a close eye on Chris and not let him out of your sight. Ever since I rented “The King and I”; he thinks he is a maven in international cultures. Stay well and be safe. Chris’s old man
October 19th, 2005 at 5:39 pmHey Charlie!
I’ve been literally hearing your life story and hearing about all your awesome travels. So jealous, it’s unreal. Anyway, Erica, Emily, & I thought I should finally introduce myself, since all your friends are my best friends. So, basically, by the transitive property, you’ll LOVE me, and it’ll probably be mutual. Look forward to meeting you this summer, I’ll be in LA! Have so much fun, wherever you are.
Your Favorite New Friend,
Jbarr (jess, whatever you prefer)
October 19th, 2005 at 8:29 pmWould a drop in the stock market in India result in a droopy rupee?
October 19th, 2005 at 10:03 pmHolla!
So although we’ve talked recently, I haven’t posted in a while
. Although I have indeed been reading daily (I mean it is my homepage) and downloading pictures as well (you’re my desktop).
So Mom said that you called today - no call for your bro!! How’s India?? Sounds pretty crazy. Tell good ole’ Ashby that I say hello! How long are you there for? And what are you doing most of the time? I guess considering that you’ve been too busy to respond to posts I shouldnt’ ask questions, haha.
As for me (now that’s important) I’ve been swamped!!! I have a 7 page Shakespeare paper due tomorrow, two 8 page papers due Tuesday, Mom and Dad here this weekend, a black tie Pudding dinner tomorrow night, etc. etc. I barely have time to sleep!!
So the new video ipod came out! It’s skinnier, longer battery life, and you can watch tv shows on it!! They cost $1.99 on itunes. I was thinking that considering mine’s almost 4 years old I’d put that on my Hanukkah list. Sooo cool. They also came out with a new imac computer that has a remote control for watching dvds and the like. Ah technology. Speaking of which, I hope that we get a chance to video chat this weekend while mom and dad are here - would be really cool!!!!
Anyways, miss you lots and hope you’re safe and having fun in India. Hope to hear from you soon. Love you!!
-LB
October 19th, 2005 at 10:07 pmMy Favorite New Friend - it’s a pleasure.
Mr. Stakich - consider it done.
Nick - too many questions, i’ll call ya.
Melissa - you forgot the jewish holidays too, right?
Mr. H - you’re hilarious.
October 20th, 2005 at 1:37 amHey Charlie. Sitting here in Graphic Design in the STL, where the Cards lost yesterday and the Astros are going on to play the White Sox in the world series. (Not that I actually have started to pay attention to sports Since U Been Gone, but I saw it on the front page of the paper this morning.) And no, sitting here catching up on your high jinx is not the result of me slacking off in class: I have to make a movie poster for a fictional movie, and you my friend, are going to be the star. Last time I had class, I was sitting there, actually slacking off, checking my email, facebook, etc. and then stumbled across whereischarlie.com. (Not really a stumble, per say, more like thinking of anything to do but work on my poster.) And I realized, rather than recreating a poster for an actual movie, Where Is Charlie (or maybe I’ll have to revert back to the original Where In The World Is Charlie) would be the perfect premise on which to make my poster. So I’m going to steal your photos and your stories, and create a little slice of Melvoin life in the midwest. Miss you tons, and I hope you don’t smell too badly after all of this traveling.
(This long post probably counts as a little bit of slacking, but hey, I had to contact my star.)
October 20th, 2005 at 6:54 amMy Sweet Charlie: I can relate to what you are experiencing in India. We were there, maybe 8-10 years ago, and it was an experience. I cried most of the time seeing what I saw. Small children carrying babies and begging…well, wish we can change the world. Be careful what and where you eat. I got sick and thought I was going to die, and we ate at the Sheraton Hotel. Please take care (of the cows?), have fun, we love you much!
October 20th, 2005 at 9:53 amCharlie!! Wow I was just looking at everything you’ve been doing to sum it up your my idol!! Wow im so jealous it literally looks like your having the time of your life. College is crazy but I love it!!!! I can’t wait until next year when your in boston! Keep having the time of you life.
October 20th, 2005 at 9:24 pmlove u,
london
charlie!!!!!!!!!!
ahhhhh ur website is so… melvoin =) it sounds like you are having an AMAZING time. im so jealous, being stuck in senior year while youre out doing incredible things. art class just isnt the same without you- we all miss you so much. (even though i do take pride in the fact im the first one done with all the projects now). say hi to india for me and dont eat street food.
shanti,
October 27th, 2005 at 7:13 pmTessa
Hi Charlie!! My cousin Sylvie is over in India and I’m trying to get you two together!! She just arrived this week and is planning on staying 5-6 weeks! how shall we do this??
xoo
Karen
PS Missing you!! Halloween is coming!!
October 28th, 2005 at 10:34 amoops…forgot to leave email
October 28th, 2005 at 10:37 amkaren - tell her to email me!
dan - it’s too good to be true. but not enough time! haha, ill call you soon so we can work out the finer details (aka, if ill be in brazil or argentina).
October 28th, 2005 at 10:37 am