Friday, August 3, 2012

Random Highlights and such

Melanie's been running the show here, but I thought I'd get off my lazy bum and tell you what I think of this India place. So, here's a hodgepodge from the depths of my mind:

-- We have like 40 light switches in our apartment. About ten of those turn on lights. The rest are for decoration.

-- Indian traffic is just crazy as those YouTube videos make it out to be. It's a miracle we don't get into accident literally every time we get into a cab or bus. Especially on the corkscrew road that leads up the mountain to the school. And the roads are soooo narrow. No idea how two buses manage to pass each other on them.

-- Life without TV, cell phones, and cars is interesting. I've been reading a good amount. Also playing video games. It seems like most people here have cell phones and TV. Perhaps we will break down and buy those some day. Right now we're just working so much that we don't have time for TV.

-- We've made it down to the bazaar (kind of like the downtown area) a few times. Most of the shops here are very small, but there are so many of them. The first time we went down we got roped in by this dude Inam, a tailor, who soft sold us into buying clothes. We had chai with him and it was easily the best tea I've ever had. And Melanie got a gorgeous salwar kameez.

-- This was the first week of school, and for Mel and I, our first weeks as full-time teachers. It was fun--the students are nice, hard-working, and smart. I assigned some quite difficult political philosophy the first night of class along with some questions, and I got a lot of good responses.

That's all I got for now!

Chris

13 comments:

  1. I am living vicariously through you. This is just so exciting to read about. Life without cell phones...I could do that.

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  2. Life without cell phones is indeed a great idea ... I am texting everyone I know to tell them about it ...

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  3. Good to hear from you, too, Chris!! Those 30 allegedly superfluous light switches MUST do something... Mustn't they?

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    1. Yes, Christine. They frustrate me.

      Hope all is well in Texas!

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  4. Hey, Chris,

    Glad to hear from you as well as Mel. Michael and I read your post together and laughed out loud several times! We've also been gathering info from your mom. I am so pleased with how well your adventure is going and am enjoying the glimpse into such a different culture. Love, Candy

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  5. Yeah, hang on to the living of life for as long as you can without much electronic interference. Did you hear about the Delhi 3 day power-cut? That was crazy. Pleased to hear the teaching's going well - that's really important just now.

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    1. Yes, the three-day power cut affected about 700 million people (!). Our school was not affected because we have generators--though I'm a bit surprised we didn't notice because they turn off the generators from 10pm to 7am. It's kind of embarrassing for India. Here they're trying to establish themselves as a global player and then they don't have power for three days.

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  6. Wow - it is a different life! Very exciting! Thanks for sharing with us and giving us a slice of what is going on there! I liked Tim's texting idea! :)Glad you're students are nice-smart and hardworking. Just like you in HS! Well - you were smart and often nice - not so much on the hardworking!

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  7. Happy to see you're finally picking up the slack when it comes to blogging. When I get to check my email on my break it's always exciting to see something from you guys! Glad your power wasn't turned off, and that teaching is so far so good. The light switches actually control various tree branches around your home, so if you ever see a monkey flying through the air it's because you just sling-shot him. Nice going.

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  8. That would be really handy.

    The baby monkeys are like the cutest thing I've seen. So maybe I'll install one of those smart slingshots that only shoots ugly, adult ones.

    By the by, I bought you a b'day present today. It should arrive in NYC by xmas.

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  9. Your comment about the light switches made me laugh... a lot. Never thought those could be used as home decor!
    So exciting that you guys have started teaching - I'm jealous!

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  10. Your comment about the light switches made me laugh... a lot. Never thought those could be used as home decor!
    So exciting that you guys have started teaching - I'm jealous!

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