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I have been really really busy during these last few weeks, just preparing to go home. It is an interesting experience because I didn't realize how quickly this year has really passed. It seems like only yesterday I was begining my journey and now it is ending.
I am seeing my friends a lot these days, going shopping and out to eat. My friends also had an amazing going away party for me, that was very nice! It made me feel even more aprehensive about the days to follow. But I have come to realize that my year in India will never leave me, the things I have experienced here will stay with me forever and I will always use the knowledge I have gained while being here.
No matter how many times I was sick, or missed my family I know it was all worth it. I will miss my host family, and my friends very very much when I leave, and I will most certainly keep in touch with all of them when I return home and one day I really hope I can return to India to see everyone!
I ran out of space!
I also went to Mysore to see all the touristy sights there! That includes Mysore Palace, The Art Gallery, Chamundi temple on top of Chamundi hills, St. Philomena's Church, Brindavan Gardens, a Bird Sanctuary,Gumbaz (Tipu Sultan's Tomb), and Tipu Sultan's Fort/Summer Palace.
The Mysore Palace was amazing! The inside was painted so beautifully, will different scenes! And even outside of the Palace there was an area where people could ride elephants! So of course Caitlin and I did not give up an oppurtunity to ride an elephant!!
Brindavan Gardens is India largest Garden. There are many fountains and flowers, as well as a lake in the center! Then at seven o'clock each evening there is a light show, where they have lights in a fountain and the fountain moves to the beat of the music in which they are playing!
Gumbaz was also very interesting because there are three tombs in the center room, Tipu Sultan's tomb, his mothers tomb, and his fathers tomb. Inside that room it smells very strongly of flowers!
The Art Gallery, also has one painting called the Glow of Hope, which has one lady holding a candle but she is blocking the flame with her hand. When you look at the picture it looks as though her hand is glowing from the candle!
Overall, my trip to Bangalore was amazing, not just because of the sights I saw but also because the culture in southern India differs so much from the Culture in North India. I learned so much more about Indian culture, and ate new foods! I think my favorite food I ate on the trip was Caitlin's host mom's Masala Dosa!! :) Those were ten days of my life that I will always remember!
In Mid March I was lucky enough to travel to Bangalore to see another AFS exchange student from the U.S. I left from the Ahemedabad Airport and flew to the Bangalore Airport and was greeted by Caitlin, her host brother, Narahari, and their driver. During the ride to Caitlin's house the three of us chatted about random things that were going on in our lives and Caitlin and I caught up a little bit after not seeing each other in 8 months!
When I reached Caitlin's house I met her host mom, and one of the cooks upstairs as well as her host Grandmom! It was quite late at this time so we had a quick dinner and then talked until we all decided it was too late and we needed to get some sleep! The next morning I met Caitlin's host father and younger host brother Nithin! We walked to the local grocery store, the four kids, and then came back for breakfast!
After Breakfast we went shopping to buy a silk sari for me because Bangalore is known for their silk sari's, and since I was in Bangalore I should get one! Then every other day, followed that first sunday, we went shopping almost everyday because Caitlin and I went into the city so I could meet her friends and that always involved shopping somehow!
Except for two days I guess! One day, was that Tuesday when I went with Caitlin's host parents to the site where they are building a temple because there was a puja for the new building! It was really interesting because I have never known anyone who is building their own temple till now! Also, on the same day I visited a yoga center where Caitlin took Yoga classes for a month straight, sleeping there and everything!
On March 10th and 11th I celebrated Holi with my host family! Holi is known as the festival of colors, but there is much more to it than just colors.
On March 10th, bonfires are lit known as Holika Dahan (death of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). This ceremony is held at night and during the day people fast (they only eat the fasting foods until they go to the fire, the fasting foods contain things made from corn). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad had when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. When people go to the fire they first light a small puja of their own and then later they will walk around the fire and throw a coconut into the fire.
Then the next day known as Dhulheti and is celebrated by people throwing colored powder and colored water at each other. This is the main day which for me was also lots of fun! First, I played with the kids in my neighborhood and then later went with one of my host sisters to her friends place, where they dragged me into a mud pile and put lots and lots of paint on me! :) Although it takes a while to get all the color removed, it is a lot of fun!!
Here in Baroda I am studying in 12th Standard. Just like in the U.S. here in Gujarat after 12th the students all go to college! So there were lots of celebrations for the end of school.
For example, on the Last Day of School everyone signed each others uniforms and took pictures!
Then there was the Valedictory function which is the equivalent of a U.S. graduation ceremony. All the students in 12th at my school wore the school sash and participated in the ceremony.
The Principal gives a speech, and then the class teacher of each class also gives a speech. For example, there are 3 classes at Tejas. Science section, divided into the Biology Class and the Math class, and then the commerce section. So three teachers gave the speech. It was very nice because all the students could tell how much time the teachers took on the speeches to make sure that they were personal!
We also light candles as we sung the school song, and we were all called up one by one to receive our mementos!!
I enjoyed being able to participate in this ceremony for so many reasons!!
I was fortunate enough to be able to travel to Mumbai for a few days at the begining of February with my Host Aunt! Her Uncle had a religious ceremony at his house, well actually at two different houses!
Her Uncle was moving from one house to the other, so he was moving all of the Idols in his temple from the old house to the new house! There was also another ceremony which took all the sins from the old house out for the next family that lived there, and then another ceremony at the new house that took all the sins from building the house out of the house before they move into the house! =D
The first three pictures on the left depict the ceremony. The first picture is of the Idols being taken out of the old house! The second picture is of the Idol's being placed onto the horse carriage to be taken to the new house! Everyone walked with the horse carriage to the new house! It was lots of fun! The third picture is of the set up for the ceremony in the new house! They had all types of food set up, because they offered all the food that they would eat in the new house to the Gods before they would eat the food! It was very beautiful!!
Then since I was in Mumbai my Host Aunt decided to take me into "Proper Bombay" where the Taj hotel, and the Gateway of India are!!
Not only did I see the Taj Hotel and the Gateway of India, but I also saw Mount Mary a very famous church in Bombay/Mumbai, Chowpatty beach (pictured to the left) and Marine Drive/Mumbai Necklace!
Chowpatty Beach is a famous beach in Mumbai where people go to sit, eat, and talk! :) There was even an ice cream named after it!
The last picture is of the Mumbai Necklace off of Marine Drive! :) At night when the sun sets the lights on Marine Drive cover the shore of Mumbai so it looks like a necklace, people can see the necklace from the walkway of Marine Drive as well as from Chowpatty Beach! =D
Uttarayan (Also Known As..... Kite Flying Festival) was celebrated on January 14th and 15th! It was lots of fun for me because I had never really seen so many kites, and I also learned to fly kites in a different way! The purpose of flying kites is to cut the kite strings of other people! It is a lot of fun because whenever you cut someone else's kite string you yell "LAPET" which means "real it in!"
On January 15th I was able to fly more kites and I actually cut someone's kite, so I yelled "LAPET!" It is also funny when you are standing on your terrace and you cut you neighbor's kite, and you say "Sorry, Uncle!" But it is nice that way because everyone celebrates together and you are able to see all their friends and neighbors!
Uttarayan is celebrated to mark the end of the winter season and the beginning of the harvest season!
When I was in Bikaner I did not only see the Camel Festival but I was also able to see the Karni Mata temple which is known because of the all the rats that live inside the temple! It is actually in the Guinness Book of World Records for the number of rats! The rats never leave the temple they always remain inside the temple, and there are a few white rats. If one sees a white rat than they are going to have Good Lcuk! Unfortunately I did not see any white rats!
Finally I saw the man in the Guinness Book of World Records who is known for having the longest beard mustache combination. He was in the Mr. Bikaner competition at the Camel Festival on the first day!
Just recently I traveled to Bikaner, Rajasthan for the Annual Camel Festival! During this festival there are many events, including Camel Dancing, Camel Hair Cuts, Camel Dress Competition, Camel milking and Camel Racing! It was almost unbelievable how well people could train their camels so that they were able to accomplish such wonderful things!
These are some of the pictures that I took while I was there! The first is of the stage, the second is of one of the Camel's dancing, the third is a decorated Camel, the forth is of the Camel hair design competition, the fifth is of the Camel milking competition, and the sixth is of the Camel races!
Before I went on this trip I had no idea how much a camel could actually do! It was Amazing!
My school just recently had it's Annual Day function! It was lots of fun because I was able to participate with the ninth standard kids! The theme of Annual Day this year was Theater at it's Best! My performance was of an Opera, and I was the Opera singer! All the girls in my group wore makeup like Ballroom dancers and we all had lots of fun talking with each other! I never thought that I would be able to talk with a lot of the girls I talked to, and they thought the same way! It was a great experience!
The first and third pictures are of the performance, there was singing, and dancing combined in this Opera! The middle picture is of the entrance way to my school!
Each school here has an Annual Day Production, it is similar to the Winter and Spring Band/Choir concerts, and Dance Recitals that are done in the U.S. I am very happy that I was able to participate in this because it is different than anything I have ever done before!
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