Arrival!

After hours and hours of flying, a stopover in Brussels airport, and many delicious vegetarian meals of indian plane food... I have arrived in Mumbai safe and sound! Upon arrival in the Mumbai International Airport, I picked up my bag with no trouble and proceeded to get in line for customs where a man in uniform came over to me (just me, everyone else was waiting in line) and said "is this your only bag?" to which I answered "yes, sir" and he said "what is in it?" without thinking, I said "clothing" and he smiled and waved me through customs just like that. welcome to India!

I changed a bit of money to rupees and then walked out through the doors to find what must have been hundreds of people squished up against the barrier with signs of names on them. I was walking next to an Italian man who had almost just lost his passport at the currency exchange counter and we both tried for a few minutes to pick out our names from the waving pieces of paper. (This was all made more difficult because as soon as I left the airconditioned airport terminal, i stepped into air that you could move with your hand it was so wet! my glasses immediately fogged up!) I located my name on one of the many signs and pushed my way through the throng of people with my pack, my bag, and this man whom I was hoping against hope was the driver sent to fetch me. When we walked for a bit, I realized we were joined by a woman who was introduced to me as the drivers wife. (I later learned that his wife was with us to provide me with "physical comfort")

A 20 minute car ride through Mumbai (where they drive on the "wrong" side of the road) took us to the flat belonging to Prajakti (An aunt of Arjun Tasker, who just graduated this past year from Haverford and put me in contact with his family). I hardly know how to describe the generosity and welcome that I have stepped into here! (Arjun if you are reading this, a million thanks!)

I do not know what my plan is now because I had thought I would go to Goa (beach, chill, paradise) but since it is still the end of the monsoon season, im not sure that would be best idea... I have beed advised to go to Goa in the beginning of october instead when there will be more people there and the weather will be better. This entry is already too long, but as an example of the lifestyle here (holiday everyday!) today is lord krishna's birthday... and over breakfast this morning I was given a brief tutorial on the story of lord krishna. As a boy, he liked to steal curd, so now on his birthday people have strung pots of curd and water and money all over the city high above the streets! Today, everyone goes out into the street in huge masses and they form enormous human pyramids (maybe 30 people in one) with a child at the top who smashes the pot to release the money and curd onto the crowd!

Through my bedroom window, I see an amazing (and huge) city and the ocean. There is lots of exploring to be done, human pyramids to see, places to go and a pigeon just flew in the window. I will write more later and please keep in touch! love to all.