So... I finally made it to Jodhpur after much a-due. I got my visa last week and had to wait to get my flight ticket because they were so expensive. But I left on Wednesday from Houston, and arrived to Jodhpur on Friday at noon. The flights were grueling and extensive. The first flight was to London, and luckily I choose the right seat and was allotted 3 seats without anyone next to me. That was nice, except I couldn’t sleep so I watched movies the whole time and felt terrible once I was in London. I had a 10 layover in London! Luckily I rented a miniature hotel that was in the airport called a Yotel (the purplish pictures below), which was like the size of a closet, but I got a couple hours of sleep before having to venture through the airport city to find my terminal, which took me 45 minutes on public transportation.

Anyways, I had a mini-freakout while getting on the flight to Delhi, which was surprising because I hadn’t felt anything until then. It’s not like I was numb to the idea, I just had no idea of what to expect, and still don’t really. But I calmed myself down and had to sit next to an older Indian couple who didn’t speak a lick of English and somehow convinced me to fill out their arrival cards because they were in English. After arriving in Jodhpur, I was terribly tired and got some errands run then checked into the guesthouse for the night. The other interns were meeting the program coordinator and myself at the guesthouse for dinner, so I took a nap then went to rooftop cafe. I met them all, all girls at this time, but chose not to eat and went straight to bed after taking a much needed shower and popping an ambien.

Today was pretty uneventful, I had my first Hindi lesson, which proved to be easy enough so far... Mai Hannah se hei (My name is Hannah). I didn’t learn much yet, but I will. Other than that, I got a cell phone, some Kurtas, long Indian shirts that women were with leggings and scarves called dupras, which I will get tomorrow. Other than that just a few orientation things and dinner with the interns. Tomorrow I go to work at the village, I think.

My travel plans to India had a start date of September 22. My flight and my exciting adventure were suppose to start after my arrival on September 24 in Jodhpur, India. Unfortunately, this was not the case and I have been delayed due to the Visa outsourcing office not getting my visa in time. I still do not have a date on which I will be leaving for sure now, although it will be soon... hopefully.

I am currently in Texas, visiting family. The plan was to be here for 10 days to visit family in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and Fayetteville. Now, however, I am staying in Fayetteville with my mother and her husband, but am quite bored although I am getting plenty of reading done. Glad I bought that kindle, though I am reading all the books before I leave! Anyways, just in a waiting game now with no particular end.

I will update the news when I get some!

Hello All!!

I am writing this first post just to have an update on the blog.

I am still in Nashville right now and am getting ready to move and travel abroad. It is a bit overwhelming and I can’t stop wondering how much my life is about to change. I don’t have any expectations and I try not to worry about how different things are going to be for me; I have found this is the best way to travel. International travel can be very exhausting and culturally shocking for some people, so it’s always best to not expect too much and go with the flow once you arrive.

For now, that’s all I have to say, but when I leave, I’m sure this blog will be full of emotions, photos, and revelations.