Surprises!

Rooftop view of Jaipur

Tonight, I was talking on the phone with my parents, who asked about what things in India had surprised me. I think of some things that answer that question from day to day, and thought I might compile some of the answers here, so here goes:

- the amount of wild dogs on the street. There are lots and lots and lots. I think 6 live on one side of the block nearest my school.
- the amount of men peeing on the street. There are lots and lots and lots.
- chipmunks.
- bucket showers.
- drinking so much whole milk. And being able to lift the fat off the top with my fingers.
- marble. There is marble flooring in all of the rooms I spend time in.
- air pollution.
- kites stuck in the trees.
- key role of the roof top in Indian family life.
- switches oriented the opposite way. (Flick down to turn on.)

      I did not anticipate having so much trouble getting clean. I have not fully mastered bucket showers, and I am not sure that I will because I keep relying on the tap of the shower-like area to serve as a makeshift shower head. This method is far from perfect - today I thought that I had finally really cleaned my hair well until about 2 hours into class when I realized the entire back portion of my hair was slick with unrinsed conditioner. Ick.
     As I told my compatriots at lunch - tomorrow I will try again!