Adventures of the Holladay family…
Culture and Superstition
A lot of times I hear of other cultures being criticized for how superstitious they are. I heard lots of times about how superstitious people are in Central America. Going there, I found that it was true—people told some wild stories about devil possession and people or things changing form or shape and ghosts is a big fear there.
34 hours on the train.
Yeah. That was definitely an event.
I got really peeved when people kept passing by our seats/beds and pulling back the curtains we’d closed. One time this guy lifted the curtain up and was looking in and I said (in my head) “Oh, no, you didn’t!” and pulled the curtain out of his hand.
I’m not feeling 100% today, so I figure I might take a minute to write in my blog. One of the other students, Stefanie, is a serious inspiration to me because she’s taken on the challenge of writing her blog every day which is no easy task. It’s really interesting if you wanna check it out: http://off-to-byu.blogspot.
I’m not very good at writing things in order, because I don’t really remember things in order–but I have to tell you about our dance class experience.
One of the girls, McKenna, is studying dance for her project. The translators helped her to meet this renowned dance teacher who wants to teach McKenna… so she was going to go try it out, and I guess the first time she saw her she said she was really “intense” so she asked if me and Alexis wanted to come along.
I feel like I’m getting a really slow start on my research, but it was pretty much, “See this, see this, see this,” while my professor was still here. And right when he left they have Sankranti, or Harvest Festival, so the translators took most of three days off for that. So I haven’t done much more than get settled in, buy some books, get my laptop working, and got some clothes for the stay. (Still haven’t gotten my saris done yet. It’s quite the process–you have to buy the sari fabric, then go and get a “petticoat” or “liner” (flat sheet skirt to go under), fabric to make a blouse and fabric to line your blouse. Then you have to go to the tailor and get measured so he can make the blouse for you… Yeah. I haven’t gotten mine done yet… I got two since I figured I’ll only wear them on Sundays, but the other girls wore them yesterday and people were SO pleased to see them wearing saris because, “You are wearing our traditional dress! You are dressing like a Hindu person!” Continue reading “Cows and Caste”
Well, it’s been an interesting almost week since I’ve gotten here. I’m not really sure where to start. I guess the Mad Hatter would say: “Start from the beginning and when you get to the end—stop.”
My first day we went and visited the Krishna temple across the street. The next day we went shopping and tried to set up our internet and stuff… which… we got it working for everyone but me… which really makes me worry there is something wrong with my computer… I didn’t know we need an adapter as well—so hopefully I can get that today. Americans are weird about their cords I guess. I guess no one else uses enough electricity that they have to have an extra safety prong on their plugs. Continue reading “First Week in India”
Usually I find the things that I am worried about aren’t a problem–and the things I’m NOT worried about end up being the problem instead.
Pre-worry: eating with only my right hand. I thought, geez, there is no way, because I CANNOT use a fork and eat rice with one hand. I have to use my left hand to scoop.
Continue reading “First Days in India”