I made it here and I'm still alive!

Well, its been a pretty whirl-wind experience so far! There are lots of things that are incredibly different and I don't think anything could have fully prepared me for what I'd go through. I keep coming across things that I really think are just too much and won't be able to handle, but it turns out that I can! For instance, the squatter; that's what they call the toilets here, because thats how you use them. You just squat. But thankfully they do have a cistern attached and they flush super strong! I also was positive that I wouldn't be able to handle taking a cold shower using two buckets. The shower head doesn't work so you turn on the water and it fills up a big bucket while you scoop up water using a small bucket. I was terrified to use it the first time, but after the initial shock of freezing water it felt amazing! I think even if I had hot water I wouldn't want to use it, thats how hot and humid it is here. I have serious doubts as to whether or not my hair will ever be entirely dry until I leave. I'm trying my best to get to know everyone here and throw myself into the local language and culture and what-not, partly because being busy keeps me from feeling too homesick. Well its time for breakfast, but later I will tell all about my first auto-rickshaw ride, and how one of the planes
I rode on had misters on the ceiling that made it look like a night club.

Take-off

Well this is it! We're getting down to the wire, I leave from Seattle at 6 am on Thursday morning, then over to Chicago, then Frankfurt, then Delhi, then Hyderabad, and FINALLY Vishahkapatnam. I will consider this semester a successful one if by the end of the four months I can properly spell the name of that town.

I made a blog!