Cooking Lessons and Durgapuja

I think that I've finally found the balance between constantly exploring and boring routine. Really, I don't think Jaipur could ever have a boring routine, just crossing the street is a matter of life and death. But I decided not to travel to the Himalayas this weekend, which I think was a really good choice because I haven't just walked around Jaipur in awhile.

I am definitely going to work in Udaipur with an organization called the JJVS. You can find their website at http://www.jjvs.org/ They do a lot of work with traditional health and rural development, so I'm sure that I'll learn a lot. This weekend I'm going to walk around the Old City, study Hindi at the Jawahar kala kendra (a nice, cultural, cafey, gallery-type building,) and hopefully wander a lot. I'm getting more confident about walking around by myself.

Also, if anyone wants to taste this chai and aloo that I love so much, my Mamaji just taught me how to make them this morning. Apparently salt, coriander, chili, and tumeric are the center of Indian cooking. I can't write much right now because I have to get home to watch the Durgapuja that my family is going to do. These next nine days are reserved to celebrate the goddess Durga. A lot of people fast during this time, and while all the chai and aloo that I've been eating probably means that I need a good fast, I don't think that I'll be participating.

I'll write more when I can think of what to write about. It's getting harder and harder for me to think of experiences to write about because everything is becoming more natural to me. Maybe I'll write a list of things as they come to me. Oh! And Carleton Residential Life has decided to hire me back--I'll be working/living on 3rd Goodhue during the Winter and Spring. It's far away from most everything, except for the Arb, the Rec Center, and Farm House. I guess I'll be running, working out, and eating vegan food a lot. But I've heard that Goodhue floors are always fun, especially in the winter, so I'm really excited to be living there. It's nice to know where I'm living when I get back.

Love,

Erica