Go Shorty, It's Your Birthday

False, it's MY birthday!  Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes and presents!  And most of all, thank you India for giving me the best present of all: a ticket OUT of India!  Ahh, but I joke, I joke.  I love you, India.  And I love to hate you.  It's complicated.

Today has been great so far.  I've just been packing and had a birthday/going away lunch with my expat lady-friends.  They got me a wonderful (and HUGE) book on Iyengar yoga so I can continue to practice no matter where I am!  The book is amazing; it has pictures and detailed instructions of all the asanas, as well as a detailed yoga plan so you can do it easily on your own.  I also got a beautiful silk scarf and purse, which I promised not to re-gift to my lady-family members back home - sorry, Mom.

Matt always makes me a birthday card, and this year was no exception.  I think this time he really outdid himself.  For every holiday, the hotel gives us a "WelcomScroll" explaining (sometimes in far too much detail) the holiday and the meaning behind it.  Matt, in his infinite genius, copied their format and made it into a birthday scroll for me.  Behold:

Caitlin Streett Birthday Holiday - 28 February 2011

Each year, the American holiday of Caitlin Streett Birthday is
celebrated on the 28th of February.  This holiday is to commemorate
the day on which leader, visionary, and adventurer Caitlin Streett was
born.  This day is auspicious because it is the last day of February,
a short month, during non so-called “Leap Years.”

Caitlin Streett was born in a small town of Yellville, Arkansas in
America.  Local legend has it that babycaitlin was weighed on the
scale at a super market.  From early age, the strength and mental
prowess of street was clear and evidently.  It would not be said that
that Streett’s rise to the top was meteoric, even though it was.

In 2004, Steett once had an awkward birthday just to see what it was
like.  It is rumored and well documented that Amitabh Bachchan himself
in 2010 interrupted filming of a “Bigg Boss 4” episode to call Caitlin
Streett and tell her hppy bday.  Also, in Mother India, Streettji’s
birthday is celebrated with fireworks, some nice kite flying, and
dancing.  If you stand on RC Dutt Road one afternoon, it is possible
to have a glimpse of Streett having a brisk walk.  Sometime, Streett
birthday coincides with Hindi holiday of Holi, which is a great and
momentous occasion indeed.

Other notable celebrities born on this date include bombshell Ali
Larter, tennis star Jelena Jankovic, US Energy Secretary Steven Chu,
Italian-American race car driver Mario Andretti, notorious criminal
Bugsy Segal, and country music sensation Jason Aldean.  Jennifer
Kapoor, actress and husband of Indian star Shashi Kapoor, was also
born today.

On this day, 28th February, in 1948, the last British troops left India.

As a guest of Welcomhotel Vadodara, the management and staff wish you
the best of regards on the Caitlin Streett Birthday Holiday and hope
that the holiday celebrations are truly special.  We thank you for
choosing ITC Welcomgroup hotels, palaces, and resorts and trust that
your stay is comfortable. 

It had a WelcomHotel Logo at the top, but that didn't paste on here.  Also, he did the typos on purpose, as all the WelcomScrolls have typos and he wanted to be as accurate as possible.

Saturday night we had a scavenger hunt at Karen's house.  Karen has been living in Baroda for seven years and always has an annual fundraiser dinner to raise money for one of the orphanages in town.  This year was the first time they did a scavenger hunt, and it was awesome.  Matt's team came in first, and my team came in (a very close) second.  I think that's pretty admirable, considering we had to get items such as a turban, diya (those little oil lamps they use at temples), a brown hairy coconut, pictures of team members in an auto, etc.  We both won prizes (German meat, which we gave away, and an MP3 player!), and then I won a door prize of brunch at Little Italy!  I had to give that away, too, because we're leaving, but still.  It feels nice to win.  It was an honor just to be nominated!  (Forgive me, I watched the Oscars this morning on Star Movies.  Congrats winners.)

Anyway, that's about all I've got to say about that.  We leave this evening for Delhi, and then will be back in Chi on Thursday.  Can't wait to see everyone! Love to all, peace on earth, goodwill to men, etc, etc.  

Yog

Today was my last day of yoga, which was surprisingly really sad!  This yoga class has definitely been the best part of my time in India by far.  It's been an amazing stress reliever, which I've absolutely needed on this assignment.

Anyway, today I took my camera in to class so you guys could get an idea of the kinds of stuff I've been doing the last three months.  Remember, I'm not very advanced, so none of this is going to be amazing, but don't forget I can do a headstand, too!

 

This is Mina (from Korea) and me doing a variation of the Adho Mukha Svanasana, aka "Downward Facing Dog".  I'm actually not doing it correctly here, but you can't really tell.  

 

Carrie in a handstand.  She can just kick-up into one.  Very impressive.  I can do one, but only with lots of help.  

 

Me in the rope Sirsasana pose.  This is my favorite thing to do.  After the initial blood-rush-to-the-head-woozy thing, it feels great!  It is really amazing for your back.  Forget inversion tables.  All you need is a rope and some hooks!  

 

Mina in some sort of "legs over the head" pose.  

My instructor, Smita, has been amazing.  She is a wonderful teacher and absolutely radiates kindness and serenity.  I'm really going to miss her both as a person and as an instructor.  Of course I have nothing to compare her teaching style to, having never taken a yoga class before this, but she is a wonderful teacher.

 

Smita and me.  I look like a giant.  She is very short.  Lots of Gujaratis are.  I don't know if that's offensive.  I don't think it is, but if I'm wrong, I apologize.  

Homecoming

WE'RE DONE!  Well, technically not done, but IOCL has agreed to release Matt and replace him at least until it's time for the test run in a few months.  All this really means is that we're coming home!!!  Matt got reassigned to a job in middle of nowhere Kansas, so we will be heading there the 2nd week of March.  We're planning to fly out of Baroda on Monday night (this is like the best birthday present ever), then go visit the Taj and Delhi (because we still haven't been), and then fly to Chicago on next Thursday.  I can't believe in less than a week I'll be walking on American soil.  Amurica!  


Awhile back (when Ben left... so like 2 months ago) I found this great Shawshank quote that I swore to use when our turn to leave came around.  The time has come for one last (modified) Shawshank quote:  

I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head.  I think it's the excitement only a free woman can feel, a woman at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain.  I hope I can make it across the border.  I hope to see my friends and shake their hands.  I hope Lake Michigan is as blue as it has been in my dreams.  I hope.  

That quote is perfection.  I haven't been able to sit still since I found out we were leaving.  That said, at the risk of seeming completely hypocritical, I do have a few mixed feelings about this new development.  Mostly I'm sad to be leaving all my new friends.  I've never had this many friends on an assignment before, and these women have really made my stay more fun and exciting than just bearable (or unbearable, as it surely would have been had I not met them).  I had been planning a trip with four of these women to go to another area of Gujarat for a few days, and we were set to leave next week, but now I guess I can't go.  They are all kind of upset and disappointed, but at least this way there will be more room in the car for them!  Anyway, we'll probably be back in April/May/June, so I might see them again after all.  


In the end, all that really matters is we're leaving Baroda.  On my birthday.  Thanks, universe.  I appreciate it.  

My Life in Cotton Balls

About three months ago, I ran out of cotton balls and had to go buy some from the store.  I deliberated over whether to get the 50-count bag or the 100-count bag.  The 100 count bag was only 10 rupees more, and had twice as many balls, so I thought, what the hell?  I will get those and then throw the rest out if I need to, because surely we won't still be here in 100 days.

Yesterday I ran out of cotton balls.  I use one a day.  So that's what depression feels like.  

Downhill Slide to 30

It's official:  Matt turned 26 Friday.  He is no longer a young and vibrant 25-year-old, much unlike his wife, who still has a week to go before she starts her downhill slide to 30.  Friday also marked the seven-month-versary of our second arrival in Baroda.  If that's not a great birthday present, I don't know what is.  

 

Birthday decorations.  That creepy picture is the "Raja of Cochin".  

I wanted to make Matt's birthday something special because we were both so bummed out about still being here - but of course my options were severely limited.  I eventually settled on presenting him with (miniscule, inconsequential) gifts throughout the day, and then decorated the room (poorly), and then "took" him to dinner at our favorite restaurant, Kai Asia.  But that's not all.  In light of the fact we can't order alcohol with our dinner, we devised an ingenious plan to sneak some white wine into the restaurant; we poured it into empty ginger ale cans.  Ha!  Ahh, man, what great achievements can be made when we put our minds to work!  I haven't felt that much like a high schooler since... I was in high school.  It was the best night.

 

This creepy picture is Matt with his birthday cake.  

 

Blowing out the candles.  Those "My Little Pony" dolls are for Bella, not Matt.  I just thought they made a nice addition to the birthday decor.  

 

Trick candle.  Haha.  Works every time.  

Saturday night we went to a party hosted by one of the Indians in the International Women's Club.  I was a little nervous about it because we didn't know what to expect, but it turned out to be fairly awesome.  It was a huge blowout with a fully stocked bar, food from both Little Italy and Mainland China, as well as a performance from a couple of male strippers.  There was a huge crowd around the male strippers so I couldn't see anything, but I was told the most they took off was their jackets - under which they were wearing vests.  Ahh, India.  Your conservativeness astounds me daily.  Matt and I boogied for quite a while to all the super cool hip hop music (think Lil Wayne, Usher, Akon, etc), but eventually they started playing strictly '70s tunes, and that's not how we roll, so we left.  I was pretty amazed to see just how deserted Baroda gets after midnight.  We got back to the hotel at 2am, and there was literally no one around.  We stood in the middle of the street marveling at our isolation.  I swear, this place is worse than Yellville (Arkansas).  The only people we saw were the ones sleeping outside by the road.  There were a lot of them.  Talk about depressing.  One day I will take my camera out and photograph them, so then you'll all really know what poverty looks like.  It is unbelievable.

Anyway, on a brighter note, we watched a pirated copy of 127 Hours last night.  That's the one where James Franco gets his arm stuck under a boulder for 127 hours before he cuts his arm off.  It is a metaphor for our lives in India.  I guess that wasn't such a bright note after all.  

Wedding Season

Last Thursday was my yoga friend, Dhwani's wedding.  As you all know, I had been looking forward to this thing for weeks.  I didn't have a saree so I borrowed one from Srila, but after wearing it, I think I might just need one.  They're so pretty.  

 

Dhwani, the bride.  I think this is really typical Gujarati wedding attire.  She told me her nose ring was bigger than most.  I'm jealous.  

Matt and I were fairly nervous going to this wedding, mostly because we didn't know anyone and didn't know the etiquette.  Did we need to bow and curtsy?  Do we have assigned seats?  Does it matter that my shoes are sinking in the mud?  Where do I put the wedding gift?  Can I put my clothes in the dishwasher?  We were pretty pleased to discover that everything is extremely laid back and no one really cares what you do - at least they didn't care what we did.  Sometimes being a foreigner is nice.  Anyway, the wedding ceremony takes place up on a stage which is set up in a huge open area.  All the guests sit in the lawn to watch, and the bride and groom are up on stage... with their families and maybe some friends... and all the different people performing the service... and all the photographers and videographers.  

 

My view of the stage.  The groom's part of the ceremony had already started at this point.  Not that anyone really cared.  

Very different from a Western wedding, but it works.  This part of the ceremony lasted maybe three hours (there was also a morning ceremony that I skipped), so people just kind of watch for a while and then get up and mingle and go eat and maybe jump to get a better view.  

 

Guests watching the action and taking pictures.  

It's pretty strange and feels a little inconsiderate, but I like it.  Maybe I'll do this for my next wedding.  

 

Dhwani getting her feet washed by her aunt.  Don't ask me the symbolism or tradition behind this. I wouldn't tell you even if I knew.  

I watched almost all of the ceremony and took literally no information away from it.  I didn't know what I was looking at, and had no one to tell me.  Was cool though.  

 

Dhwani and Amar (the groom) light the fire.  Those two old men on either side are like priests.  I think.  Maybe they just wanted a closer view.  

 

Then they run around the fire five times and people throw stuff at them.  

When the ceremony is over, I guess guests get up on stage to give their gifts and get a picture with the newlyweds.  I did this and was so nervous about it I was shaking.  I'm no good in unfamiliar situations.  Especially with my translucent white skin gleaming under the lights.  I only almost fell twice though.  Some stories have happy endings.  

 

The couple with their friends.  Don't you love all the colors?  Why don't we dress like this in the states?  

Which brings us to Matt and me in all our finery:  

 

Yeah, we're sharp.  So sharp it stings the eyes.  

Matt made fun of me for taking this picture, but I wanted to show off the back.  

I had to call the receptionist to come wrap me in the saree.  She pinned me in there really well so nothing would fall out.  Thanks, Priyanka.  

That is all I have to say about that.  It was fun.  Probably we won't go to another here, as wedding season is almost over and we are staring scorching summer in the face... unless we're still here next February.  Can't say that's not a possibility, though believe me I wish I could.  

 

This is what happens when Matt makes fun of me.  I get my revenge.  This is his Barney Stinson pose.  

I'm Still Standing

Yup, we're still here in India.  Contrary to popular belief (or at least contrary to what I've been implying through various emails and Facebook postings), we're not doing all that bad over here in good old Baroda.  We had a minor morale dip earlier this week when Matt heard they were going to replace him with a guy from Delhi, and then realized not only was IOCL not going to accept the new guy, they were going to fight to keep Matt here... forever.  Or so it seems.  I know that isn't really news because we knew we were staying, but it's hard to keep getting our hopes up that we might leave, only to have them dashed at the last minute.  Ahh, but life goes on.  

While Matt's been struggling with UOP Delhi and IOCL, I've been doing a lot of expat women stuff - ie shopping, eating, chatting, etc - as well as going to yoga five days a week.  It's been pretty fun, and I'm more than grateful for all the diversions. 

My yoga friend Dhwani is getting married tonight, and guess who gets to go?  Why, me, of course!  And Matt.  This will be our first foray into Indian wedding culture, and it should be really interesting and fun. I'm thinking if all goes well, I might just have to start wedding crashing.  Probably I'd have to buy a saree first.  Tonight I'm just borrowing.  Tuesday Dhwani invited me over to get mehndi (henna tattoos) on my hands in preparation for the wedding.  I've seen people doing these here on the street, but I haven't wanted to just get it done for the sake of it; now that I finally had an excuse, I was all over it!   

Dhwani getting her mehndi done.  

Because Dhwani is the bride, she had to get the most mehndi, and the most intricate designs.  She had it all up her forearms - front and back- and on her feet.  Just the application took more than 4 hours!  I couldn't believe she could sit still that long, but she's a trooper.  Then she had to wait a couple more hours for it to dry (for the color to set into the skin) before removing the dried out henna pieces.  

 

Dhwani told them she wanted peacocks and paisley, and this is what they came up with.  Not too shabby.  

 

Dhwani's feet.  

My application took about 20 minutes, and I could barely sit still through that.  Then I had to wait a couple hours before removing it.  One of the servants took pity on me and started feeding me snacks and sips of water while I waited.  I wasn't even that pampered on my own wedding day!  

I don't know that there's ever been someone as excited to get mehndi as I was.  I almost peed.  In my pants.  

I had to scrub really hard to get the hardened henna crust off.  My new maid friend came and rubbed cooking oil on my hands to soften the stuff up.  Kind of gross, but it worked.  Plus, then I smelled like hushpuppies the rest of the night, which is always a good thing.  

 

Finished product!  They say the darker the mehndi, the more your husband loves you.  I think he loves me on the inside...

 

...But not so much on the outside.  They told me the color is always darker on the inside because the warmth from your palms heats it up and lets the color sink in deeper.  

Anyway, after the mehndi excitement wore off (yeah right... like it would ever wear off!), I went to a city called Surat, a couple hours from here, with some expat ladies.  Srila was looking for inexpensive but nice sarees to donate to an all-girls orphanage in Baroda for them to use as uniforms.  Surat is the single largest producer of textiles in India... and that's saying a lot considering India is one of the largest producers in the world.  

 

A guy putting sequins on a saree.   

We went to one of many gigantic textile markets in Surat, with each stall selling pretty much the same things as the previous stalls.  

Tons of these guys were hauling loads of fabric on their heads and shoulders.  

 

Annie (from France), Dori (from Canada), and Srila (from Michigan)

Surat seemed to be pretty much same same as Baroda and Ahmedebad, only bigger than both.  We didn't do anything besides saree shopping, but it was nice to see something (a little) different.  

So that's that.  I am roaring and ready to go to this wedding, and so is Matt - he even got a suit made here just for this event.  Friday we're heading out to Mumbai for a long weekend away.  Gotta get new alcohol permits.  Should be legendary.  

To Infinity and Beyond

I guess it's official - Matt and I are staying in Baroda, and everyone else is leaving.  Everyone else has already left, in fact.  They left last night.  HUGE bummer to be left behind in India again (I think this is the third time it has happened), but we'll be all right.

 

Me being bummed out.  I think this is from when Ben left, but it was the same last night when the others departed... maybe a little worse... maybe I was doubled up in the fetal position on the floor, but as there are no pictures to document it, we'll pretend I wasn't.  

In fact, it is probably a good thing we're staying because Matt and I have a lot of unfinished business here.... They are building a new Courtyard Marriott in town, and we'd really like to see the completion of that... they haven't broken ground yet, but I imagine in about 4 years it will be done and we can move out of the WelcomHotel for good.

Anyway, just to be clear - Matt and I are staying in Baroda (alone) to finish up this project.  He will be doing data collection until they are ready to do the test run (or until they realize it is a lost cause and sign the guarantee agreement).  So.... anywhere from 2 to 6 months... or indefinitely.  I am fully aware of how frustratingly vague that is, but it cannot be helped.  We found all of this out on Tuesday, but I just didn't have the heart to tell anyone until now.

We're doing okay... I may have been a little hasty/insensitive when I posted "Depression hurts" on my Facebook wall... sometimes sarcasm doesn't translate well over the Internet.  On the plus side, I did get a lot of concerned comments and compassionate text messages from friends, which helps.  To clarify: I am not depressed... at least not in the way that would warrant any medical attention.  I'm just bummed out, homesick and feeling sorry for myself, which isn't all that unusual for me, as you all know.  Honestly, I think that Matt and I will be great.  I actually have made a lot of friends here, (which is more than I can say about any other assignment we've had) and I know that they will help me pass the rest of our time here.  As for Matt... well, I will help him pass the rest of his time here.  On the plus side, his job just got about a million times easier, so he will probably be less frustrated and stressed out.  Cross your fingers.

 

In case you've forgotten, this is what we look like.  

To our families: we love you all and miss you all and will be busy buying you all loads of presents to make up for all the Christmas/birthdays we are missing. To our friends who are in nice locations: no comment.  To our friends who are in worse locations: we'd love to hear all about it!  To everyone: care packages would be more than appreciated.  Preferably filled with mood-altering substances we can abuse.  I think an addiction and then dramatic rehabilitation and recovery would really help pass the time.  Love to all.  

Week in Review

It's Friday, and that means a few things.  Around here, it doesn't mean much, as our weekends are usually pretty much the same as my weekdays, but you've gotta have something to look forward to, right?  My something is Fridays.  This week was fairly eventful... compared to my usual GTL ("gym, tan, laundry" thank you, Jersey Shore) routine.  Monday I recovered from a weekend of kite flying and learned how to do a handstand in yoga (with assistance), Tuesday I had a lunch date with the expat ladies at a new restaurant(!), Wednesday.... um... oh!  I video Skyped with Aura for the first time!  Pretty awesome.  While it gave me mild nausea to go on a virtual tour of her new house, I can definitely see the draw.  Why don't more people know about this?!  (By more people, of course I mean more people in my family/friends circle.  I'm pretty sure we're about the last people on this bandwagon.)  

Thursday my yoga friend, Dhwani, invited me to a glass workshop where she does projects sometimes.  She is an artist and got her masters in glasswork in Edinburgh, Scotland.  I've been there before, so that seems as good a basis as any to base a friendship. Anyway, she took me on her scooter to the industrial part of the city where all the factories and stuff are... I saw some monkeys and a guy picking through a lady's hair looking for lice - it was a nice scooter tour.  I was a little nervous when we got there because I was only wearing short sleeves and flip-flops, and I kind of assumed they'd make me change.  I even brought extra shoes just in case!  I mean, it's a glass workshop!  Do you know how hot it has to be for glass to melt?  Neither do I, but I'm assuming something along the lines of pretty damned hot.  Of course, I shouldn't have worried because this is India.  One guy wasn't even wearing shoes.  Anyway Dhwani gave me a quick tour and then showed me how to make glass beads!  Well, kind of.  She tried to show me.

  

First you melt the glass tube (in her right hand), and then when it's gooey, you wrap it around that kebab stick.  Voila.  

 

Dhwani is pretty good at it, even though she's only just learning.  I was horrible.  I attempted once and failed after about 30 seconds.   Of course I ruined both the glass tube and the kebab stick in the process.  At least I didn't shatter anything or get molten glass in my unprotected eyeballs, which was my main concern anyway.  

 

Some of the products this workshop produces.  They only work on commission, and didn't have a store, so I couldn't buy anything... like that cool lampshade in the corner.  

Thursday night Dori (Canadian expat here) called and invited me to the "Friday Market" in the Old City, and of course I jumped at the chance.  Everyone knows markets are always a good time.  This market was basically a huge flea market/yard sale.  It had everything: clothes, tools, lamps, scales, beds, couches, and every feasible part to anything ever made on earth.  

 

This could be anywhere in Arkansas. 

For whatever reason, everyone was really friendly to us, which was a nice change of pace.  Of course they wanted to sell us everything, but they also kept asking to have their pictures taken, and I was only too happy to oblige.    

 

This woman sold me some fabric and then asked me to take her picture.  I think she was pleased with the result.  

I was a little concerned because I only had 200 rupees with me (less than $5), but again, this is India.  I bought 3 huge piles of used fabric and spent all my money.  Later, Dori's driver, Sanjay, told me I overpaid... I felt kind of bad, but only because I guess I'm losing my bargaining skills. 

 

I keep telling people about the guys who sell earmuffs because it's winter.  I was so excited to finally get a picture of a real life earmuff vendor!  I think it bears mentioning that it was 88F today.  Prime earmuff weather.  

Unquestioningly the best part of the day was when I captured this picture:  

 

There are no words.

That about does it.  Dori and I have big plans to hit up the other side of the Friday Market next week to find even more great deals.  All in all, pretty solid week.  We'll see where the weekend takes us... probably to McDonald's.   

I Am The Only Human

Tuesday Chris and I finally forced and coerced each other to go visit the United Way of Baroda to see if they needed volunteers.  They did - kind of.  This weekend is the Kite Flying Festival , which, like every other festival, is celebrated extensively in Gujarat.  United Way was putting on a mini kite festival for some 200 disabled children in the area, so we helped a big group of volunteers tie kite strings and write "inspirational" captions on the kites.  My favorite caption (not by me, but only because I didn't think of it first) said "I AM THE ONLY HUMAN" in huge block letters.  I see where this guy was going (I'm only human), but I think you'd agree he fell a little short of the mark.  I think it's better his way, anyway.

Wednesday Little Britain (Chris... because he's British) and I went to some random park we didn't know existed and "helped" the disabled children with their kites.  I use this term loosely, only because I don't know how to fly kites, so the odds of me helping someone else do it are pretty slim.  Most of the kids laughed at me when I tried to help them, and then showed me how to do it.  I gave it up eventually and just walked around and took pictures, which was fine, because all the kids loved having their pictures taken!

 

This kid most certainly didn't need my help.  I think he was born to fly kites. 

 

I was quite fond of this kid... he doesn't seem to be all that fond of me, though.  

 

This boy asked me to take his picture, and then he went into "pensive mode" for his portrait.  

After the excitement of kite flying wore off a little, some of the kids and volunteers decided to put on an impromptu dance party up on the stage.  From what I gather, few Indians can resist the fist-pumping, hip-shaking bass of a classic Bollywood tune. 

 

Coolest volunteers ever.  This could be a still from 'Tees Maar Khan' (which recently flopped hugely in theaters here).  

 

This kid has moves I'd never seen before.  He was the life of the party.  At one point, he sat down, threw his arms into the air, and two volunteers grabbed him and pulled him up on stage, where he proceeded to throw down some serious hip thrusts and robot moves.  Awesome.  

Today (Friday) is the beginning of the Kite Festival, which should be interesting.  I have been told repeatedly to be very careful of my neck.  Apparently every year birds and cyclists alike die from running into the glass-covered kite strings.  I'm not sure exactly how this works, but I'll do some investigative reporting and get back to you.  

2011

Huge news: Matt ran his very first 5k today!  And he did it in 29 minutes flat!  Good for you, buddy.  I'm so proud.  (He later said he would have done it a long time ago if he had known how much praise he would get.)

Anyway, a late Happy New Year to you all!  I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve celebration!  I know I did.  Maybe a little less wonderful than safe (can't get into too much trouble playing games in the residence lounge), but all in all, not too bad.  We were all pretty psyched to go to Carrie's (the expat from America who had Thanksgiving with us) house for a REAL New Year's Eve party, but she came down with the stomach flu at the last minute and had to cancel.  Either that or she ate some not so fresh Indian food... the jury is still out on that one.  Anyway, we watched the fireworks and Bollywood dancing on TV in Mumbai at midnight, which was pretty fun.  I set my camera on auto and captured the quintessential  happy New Year shot:

 

That's Andrew on the left kissing his girlfriend via video Skype.  Is that not the cutest thing you've ever seen?  Matt and I kissed, and then Chris kissed Andrew's girlfriend's roommate over Skype because he felt left out.  

Of course the hotel had a "special buffet" again for New Year's Eve dinner, and would you believe I went two times with the turkey fat loaf?  That's just asking for trouble.  However, all the boys were getting Dominos pizza (or "pijja" as the hotel staff call it), and I just couldn't bring myself to have pijja for the second time that week.

 

Matt carving the bird.  One of the waiters at the hotel invited me to take this shot, and not one to disappoint, I did it just for him.  

So I know everyone is dying to know my New Year's resolution(s) for 2011, and though I would love to keep you in suspense, that just seems wrong.  After lots of careful consideration, I have resolved to be more open and accepting of different cultures (ahem, India).  In addition, I will try to recognize how good I have it, and be more thankful for all the wonderful things in my life (ahem, Matt, family, friends, free trip to India...).  Also, I resolve to run 10 kilometers continuously at least once this year.  Also, I would like to learn 

the words to this song:

 

While in my quest for new awareness and gratitude for good things in my life, I discovered (or rediscovered) that I love yoga.  I am taking a type called Iyengar yoga, where we use props such as ropes, belts and chairs to get into the correct positions.  My instructor, Smita, is kind of strict, but really amazing, and she has helped me do a lot of things I didn't know I could do.  Allow me to demonstrate:  

 

This is me doing a kick-up headstand.  It may not look all that difficult, but it is.  Also, I don't know of you can tell, but I'm not touching the wall at all.  Yeah, I'm that good.  

I don't have any other pictures of me doing cool stuff, but believe me, I do it.  I do it all, and I love it all.  It is an amazing workout, and I sweat a lot, and all the other ladies in class make fun of me.  It's their winter here, so they think it's cold.  They wear sweaters in class.  It's embarrassing, but what can I do?  I'm a sweater.  Also, my friend Dhwani gives me a ride home from yoga, and today we rode on her scooter!  It was awesome.  

Another thing I recently found out that I love is when I bring a teacup back from the breakfast buffet, housekeeping will clean it out for me and then return it.  I did this 11 times, and 11 times, without fail, they cleaned my cup and gave it back to me.  

 

I don't know if they think I'm planning a tea party in my room or what, but these cups were proliferating like nobody's business.  Sadly, last weekend they asked me if they could take them away, and I had to say yes.  I've already re-started my collection.  So far I have two.  

In other news, the Hogs lost to OSU today, and Matt and I had to watch the game with Andrew, a diehard OSU fan!  Bummer for us, but it was a decent game.  We've always got next year.  In the spirit of Razorback victories of yesteryear, here is a picture of Matt and me going to the Arkansas/Tennessee game in 2006.  

 

If you'll remember, ESPN's College Gameday came to Fayetteville for that game, and Matt and I (supposedly) appeared on TV.  Ahh, how happy we look!  So young and carefree!  

Lastly, because I want to start the new year off right with total and complete honesty, I would like to share this one minor detail so you all won't be shocked if it happens... There is a chance that after this unit starts up, Matt will have to stay and babysit it for two to six months.  It's a long story and I won't bore you with the details, but it might happen.  I kind of flipped when Matt told me, but he swears it is "more of a possibility and less of a probability".  We shall see.  Come what may, I will have my yoga to keep me centered, balanced and (at least marginally) happy.  

A Christmas Miracle

In what can only be described as a true Christmas Miracle, one of our own gets to go home for Christmas!  Sadly, it is neither me nor Matt, but our buddy Ben, who has been with us since the beginning (or at least since July).  Of course we are happy for him, but we here at She's Gone Rogue just wouldn't be us if we didn't resent him just a little bit (okay, a lot) for leaving us here in the lonely, dusty, trash-filled streets of Baroda.  Thanks, buddy.  

 

Bye Ben.  We'll miss you.  This sort of looks like an obituary photo.  It isn't meant to.  It is supposed to be nostalgic, but not depressing.  Okay, it can be kind of depressing.  

Sometimes I don't know if I'll ever get out of here.  Maybe one day, when I have a long gray beard and two or three marbles rollin' around upstairs, they'll let me out. (Shawshank quote of the day.)  

In other news, Merry Christmas Eve, everyone.  I'm trying to be a little less bah humbug and a little more holly jolly, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way.  However, in the spirit of Christmas, I dragged Matt across the street to see Frosty the Snowman and take pictures.  

 

Meeerrrrryyyy Chrrrristmaaassss!  Ha.  This kind of looks like an obituary photo, too.  Feel free to use it if we die here.  

Oh yeah, we did, in fact go to Mumbai last weekend.  Matt took Monday off work and we flew out Sunday morning, then back here Tuesday morning at the crack of 6:00 a.m.  We stayed at the J.W. Marriott (using points, of course.  We could never afford that if we paid), and it was pretty fabulous.  The room was super nice, but the best of all was our access to the executive lounge, which had a beautiful sunset view, and all the free food and drinks we could stuff into our emaciated bodies.  And stuff we did.  

 

View of the super fancy pool and beach from the executive lounge.  Can you believe we got all this for the price of free ninety-nine?  Yeah, it pays to be married to a man with Platinum Marriott status. 

We only left the hotel to go downtown once, and we immediately regretted that decision.  Mumbai is huge (pop. 15 million), and very India.  It is nice to get away from Baroda, but the minute we left our hotel, we didn't feel far enough away.  We won't make that mistake again.  

Ahhh yes, India may have finally broken me.  I don't know if I can ever fully recover from this place.  But then I think about another (modified) Shawshank quote:  There are places in this world that aren't made out of trash.  There's something inside... that they can't get to.  That they can't touch.  What's that, you say?  Hope.  

Don't worry, I'll never lose hope.  I Hope that you all have a wonderful and happy Christmas.... I Hope that you don't forget about the little people (us Barodians, if you will) during the holiday season.... and most importantly I hope that some day, some time, I will be out of India, leaving it behind me forever.  I hope.  Happy Holidays.