The Basics

Update: I now have my suitcase in my possession and my bank card works! Yay! I also start my classes tomorrow :)

So I know some of you are curious about what I'm doing on a day to day basis, so here are some pics and descriptions of daily activities. 

My House

This is actually a really nice house that I'm staying in. I live with 4 other girls who came from UMB. My house is also right across from my school. There is no street name or numbered address, so I will post my mailing address at the bottom. 

My Bed

So, this is where I sleep. I sleep with just a sheet because it is so hot. We have a fan, but the mosquito net is so effective that it blocks a lot of the wind from coming inside. So many times I wake up sweaty, but that's India.  I also feel like Indians don't like or care about comfort that much because that pillow there, might as well be a brick. I could probably knock someone out with that pillow! But I bought another pillow today and I'm pretty pumped about it!

My Western Toilet!

You have no idea how pumped I am about this toilet. There is only one western toilet on campus. The rest are squattys, basically a hole in the ground. I will say I have yet to use one, but I know it's inevitable. Some of the other students say it's actually more convenient, but I'm still holding off for as long as I can. FYI, that little spray thing on the wall is for spraying down your junk, as opposed to toilet paper. Kind of nice to have the option. 

My Shower

So I'm definitely already starting to appreciate the small things. A lot of people here bath with a bucket, and as much as I want to be acclimated into the culture, when I get up in the morning, I don't want to put that much effort into my bathing process. Although, there is no hot water, so all my showers are cold, which can be nice sometimes given the heat here, but I'm still taking a little while to get used to the cold water.

The Inside of my House

 

The Living Room

The Dining Room

The Rest of my room, sort of.

The Kitchen

                                                                        

Where I Eat

The is the dining hall that I eat in everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 'The foreigners' always eat at their own specified table with different food because I think they serve us less spicy food. We always wash our own dishes right after we eat and then wash our hands because WE EAT WITH OUR HANDS ONLY, or I should say hand. We aren't supposed to use our left hand, the left hand is seen as dirty, so we just use our right hand. 

Food!

 This is a typical mean, rice with some sort of curry sauce. There is also a rice paddy bread thing to help scoop food. Take note of the pink spoon, that is my niece Olivia's spoon that I took with me to remind me of her. I don't use her spoon, but I take it with me to my meals! 

Acclimation?

This is me eating with my hands! I haven't fully gotten used to it yet, and it is obviously very messy, but I'm trying. There are also no napkins btw, so it's pretty much a dirty process. I will likely pick up some nice habits and go back to the States and people will think I look like an animal when I eat.....oh well :)