HOLI aka BEST DAY IN INDIA (so far)

Holi is a Hindu-based festival. It's a bit lengthy, so I thought I'd leave it to someone else to tell you how it started: http://www.holifestival.org/legend-holika-prahlad.html

Bhavani ji told us why we throw colors: It's a sign of equality. It's like we are all different hues of colors (different religions) but we are all colors. I LOVE this concept. Bringing all religions together.

I did not take my camera with me for the event, as I was terrified it would be destroyed, but I stayed on campus with a big group of friends and had the absolute best day (so far) in India. It was so fun. I'm not sure how to explain it any better but with my friend's photos.

Please check out Miss Maggie's blog: http://magsmcgingmischief.blogspot.in/2012/03/festival-of-colors.html and http://magsmcgingmischief.blogspot.in/2012/03/portraits-of-post-holi-tagorians.html

Me, Megan, Emily: BEFORE PICTURE (Photograph from: Megan)

Me, Megan, Emily: AFTER PICTURE (Photograph from: Megan)

New Friends :) (Photograph by: Jessica Wilus)

A bit blurry, but this shows how happy I was with the whole idea of bright colors being thrown around all day :) (Photograph by: Jessica Wilus)

My love affair with India.

 I get a lot of, "How are you?"s and "How's India?"s from friends and family.

 Well, I have decided that India and I are having a love affair...dating, really. Complicated. Emotional. Sometimes I love India, sometimes India makes me sick (literally), sometimes I want to completely end it. I can not explain how I am or how India is in a quick chat bubble on Facebook or a Skype date. India and I have a bit of a complicated relationship, as all relationships are.

 I'm really anxious for when the time comes at home when everyone asks, "How was studying abroad?" What should I say? "Awesome!"... sometimes. "Fine."... that sounds lame. "Interesting!"... that's an understatement.That's like asking someone, "How was your past relationship?"

 I have about a month and a half left here. And then it will be completely over. India and I will break up. I suppose, like any relationship, once it's over you carry the past with you forever (the lessons learned, the memories, and etc.). Breaking up is such a bitter sweet event.

 When I leave India, I will get to see all the ones I love! I will get to drink cold milk! I will get ice cubes from my own FRIDGE! I will have soft grass to roll around in with my dog! When I leave India, I also will leave the ones I love. I will not get to laugh in joy for cold water and brownies. I will not take two naps a day (that is really going to be horrible!). I will no longer get to spend mornings with beautiful, migrant children who are so happy with life, I cannot help but know that the world is good.

Some friends and I made a leaf string-thing to hang outside the Aksharavani. It is considered a blessing to the home if one hangs mango leaves above the front door.

Only picture I have of me and some of the kids. We celebrated Ugadi together :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugadi (Photo taken by: Megan Scheetz)

 I am in love with India. Darn it. Hopefully we'll get back together someday :)

Warangal

A few weekends ago the ISA clan went to Warangal. It was not the best trip ever, but I got some amazing pizza and saw an awesome fort, so I suppose it was worth it. It took over 3 hours to get there, which was not too fun. We went to a couple touristy spots, saw some temples, ruins, old buildings, etc. We did have a very interesting time at a Hindu temple devoted to Kali, though! Kali is a female goddess. According to my book, Hindu Gods and Goddesses by Swami Harshananda, she is the power of time and time destroys and devours everything. India has greatly added to my feminist views, so I think this goddess is pretty awesome, personally.

Kali

We went to a pizza place and I ate the best pizza I have had in India... and it had CORN on it!!!

I got the 'Corn Feast!' It was just like bein' in good ol' 'braska!

After another hour in the car, we went to a fort, which was actually really cool!

The fort was huge, as it was built on top of a gigantic hill.

Baby Monkey!

I didn't go to the top-top because I thought the monkeys were much more exciting.

trees+ruins

There were tons of old buildings, staircases, hidden rooms, etc. It was amazing.

Great ending to my day :)

Sky Lantern Festival Promotion (more pictures to come)

Photo by: Jamie Bunker

On March 3rd, a Saturday, I was sitting in the TV room around 4 pm, drinking tea in my pajamas with some friends (the day had been quite unproductive up to this point). Before I knew it, a very loud and excited woman came in the room and talked us all into going with her to a promotional event for the upcoming Sky Lantern Festival. We were soon whisked away (in the car of one of the main organizers) and put on a boat (that waited over an hour for the foreigners/us) to the huge Buddha statue in the middle of the lake, Hussain Sagar. There we helped release 200 paper lanterns (which were completely biodegradable). It was absolutely amazing; one of the most beautiful, man-made things I have ever seen.  Since it was a promotional event for the upcoming big release (which will include breaking the world record and letting go 15,000 lanterns) there were a LOT of cameras. We were all  interviewed by the news multiple times. Here is an example of my interview:
              news guy: Something something something
              me: WHAT? (holding microphone)
              random lady: He wants you to say your name, why you're here, what you think about the festival, and that you are excited for the big event!
              me: OKAY!
              news guy: Okay go!
              me: Um...... Wait what am I supposed to say???
              random lady: (grabs microphone and rolls her eyes) Hello, what is your name?
              me: My name is Alisa (smiling big)
              random lady: Why are you in Hyderabad?
              me: I am in Hyderabad because I am a student studying at the University of Hyderabad!
              random lady: What do you think of this promotional event?
              me: Oh WOW!! It's sooo amazing! Really cool! (I start walking away, as I thought I was done...)
              random lady: Wait! Say something about breaking the Genis World Book of Records for the most sky lanterns let go at once!
              me: OH! Uh, oh sorry!!! Um, this event is, uh, this event, uh, is to, well, it's to ummm, break, or no it's to beat the gennnnn, (pause) Genesis Book of Records...(pause)... WORLD Records.
             random lady, camera man, and news guy: (blank stare)
             random lady: Um. Okay, thank you!

So, um, that was awkward! But, it gave me a good laugh afterwards. haha.

Afterwards, we went to a club/restaurant, which was quite fun.

woo hoo! (Photo taken by: Kelly O'Brien)

     
             

Thank you, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, from Aksharavani

 These are the children who attend the Aksharavani Migrant School. Thanks to my talkative mother, many people have donated to these children's education. I thought I might share some of their faces :) http://hcumigrantschool.wordpress.com/

The Walking Toothpick

The tiniest little lizard I have ever seen. He is so cute I think I might die. (He is the third lizard I've had in my room this semester)

An Indian 21st Birthday!

My birthday was last Monday, the 20th! I turned 21 in India :) Luckily, it was a school vacation, which allowed me to do anything I wanted. Most of my friends were gone on trips, but luckily Megan, Amber, and Sarah were here to celebrate with me. The day started with skyping and opening gifts from my parents and grandparents. 8:30 began our adventure to the SPA :) Because I don't drink, I wanted to do something amazing that would be new and exciting... so I (along with Sarah, Megan, and Amber) went to the Park Hotel to enjoy a couple hours of spa treatment.

Me being a diva.

Amber, Megan, Sarah

We all sat by the pool that overlooked the largest lake in Hyderabad.

We were all pretty excited...

We choose what we each wanted and were lead into the locker room... by locker room I mean: huge jacoozi tub, steam room, rain showers, lotions, soaps, and even Q-Tips!After a good steaming in the steam room with twinkling lights in the ceiling (actually we thought we were going to die of suffocation in that room) we went to the 'relaxation room' to, well, relax until they called our names. We all had seperate rooms and our own massuse and facial person. First, I had my 'Back Rest' massage. OH WOW. . . I don't even know what to say, but WOWWW. It was grand. At one point, this little tiny lady actually climbed on top of me with her knees in my thighs and feet in my calves... It freaked me out, but I got over it quickly. This lasted 30 minutes. Next this really nice lady massaged and facial-ed my face for an hour with papaya and other stuff. It was AMAZING. This lasted a whole hour. A cup of green tea and honey was served to me before I went into the locker room again. I then took my time in taking a bath and 2 showers. It was so fantastic. :)

(Photo by: Sarah Sheehan) Me continuing my dive-ness, even after my spa treatments.

   By the time we were all ready to go, we were starving, so we got some lunch, 2 servings of ice cream, and browsed a bookstore. We took the train home, which I always find so exciting. I told this Indian woman she looked like JLo, an American movie star. She replied, "MEEEE?????!" and grinned the biggest smile I have ever witnessed. The whole rest of the way, she smiled from ear to ear. I think that was my favorite part of the day.
   As soon as I reached Tagore, I headed out again to pick up all my friends from the airport. We ate airport food and desert and they all gave me wonderful presents!!! I was so surprised and excited that they had thought of me, even while on vacation. I really have wonderful friends here. The day ended with another skyping session with Nana and Papa and Billy. A perfect ending for a magnificent day.

(Photo by: Kelly O'Brien) Me and my birthday dinner. It wasn't spaghetti and spray butter (haha, I can't believe I still eat that), but it was still delicious veg biryani :)

(Photo by: Kelly O'Brien) 2 more servings of ice cream (yay!) and a dried out piece of cake. Definitely missed Mama's carrot cake.

Because of the lack of candles to blow out after the end of the happy-birthday-song, I 'blew' out Jamie's fingers!

I can always count on this girl for a good laugh.