Castles in the Air

Tuesday, I Think It's Still August, But I'm Not Really Sure What the Date Is, 2010

Two nights ago, I met with my first example of Indians who disapprove of us being here. I went to a puja (basically where they give a religious offering), and one man started grilling me with questions about why I was here. When I said I was here to study culture, he basically said that I was just going to form my own uninformed opinions about things I know nothing about and then go back to the US and spread my prejudices. Good times.

Yesterday after class, we went to a place called Choki Dhani. It's pretty much a theme park, and the theme is Rajasthan, India. There were dancers and musicians and puppet shows and a tightrope walker. People did mendhi/henna on us, and we got to ride a ferris wheel. When it's not wet and rainy, they give camel rides, too. It would have been kind of cool if it hadn't been just sad. You can always see in a person's face how they feel about what they're doing, especially when it comes to music and dance and things like that. And when you looked at the dancers, there was no joy from what they were doing. Mostly, there was just worry and pain mixed with discomfort. It's awful to think that that's just how these people live... doing the same unpleasing thing every single day just to survive. And despite that, they're so much better off than so many people here. No matter how unpleasant or trying their job is, at least they have one, and have a steady income. As wonderful as the dancers and performers were, I couldn't really enjoy watching them knowing their hearts just weren't at all in it.

And it was too wet for camels... sad day.

I miss Latin. I'm also a nerd. I don't think I've ever really realized how weird some of my interests are. When I'm at school, it's totally normal to pull out a Latin book for some reading because when I'm there, I'm always in some Latin classes. However, Sunday afternoon, when I pulled out my Latin grammar textbook and read a hundred pages or so of it for some fun reading... not so normal. It just kind of hit me then that I have some weird taste in reading materials.

I've had Don McLean's Castles in the Air stuck in my head for the last few days. I really like it at the moment. He's an interesting change from my normal Regina Spektor/Rob Thomas playlist. I kind of wish I had more Don McLean on my iPod. I only have about five of his songs. :(

Curate ut valeatis,

Anne