I have decided to continue my blog for the sake of Annie Connell, love of my life. I arrived in India late last night! Even walking out of the airport last night, I could tell immediately that I was going to love it here. The weather is warm and sunny, with an occasional breeze lifting the otherwise muggy air. It smells just like what you would picture India to smell like-- a mixture of tropical humidity and spices. We are staying in a Christian seminary for the next few days before I move into my homestay on Saturday. The seminary is near the heart of Bangalore, a relatively developed commercial city. Mahatma Ghandi (MG) Street is lined with various banks, while Brigade street is overflowing with shops that are already tempting my wallet.
I have so far restrained myself from buying the beautiful kurtas (tunics) and salwar kameezes (traditional Indian outfits) because my bank account is temporarily frozen. But hopefully that will be fixed soon, and then I can splurge. My internet is about to run out, so I will write again later.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Yo,
I am at the UN right now, mooching off of their free internet. Switzerland has been great. We have gone to a bunch of really interesting talks on public health, HIV/AIDS, climate change and intellectual property rights. More and more, I think that I should go into public health rather than medicine. We went to the Old City of Geneva a few days ago. The architecture there was gorgeous and the history was interesting as well. I saw where Rousseau was born and where the first Calvin church was (Geneva is considered the city of Calvinism).
The adults in charge of my trip are probably the most interesting non-academic part. We have Earl, a 65 year old bald French-speaking Swiss man, who wears a button down Oxford shirt, collar popped, and a cashmere scarf every day. He speaks in a tempo with this adorable little accent. And when he walks, he literally looks like he is waltzing. It sounds like I have a crush on him, which I might have initially, but he has gone down in my estimations. He is OBSESSED with being Swiss and thinks everyone else sucks. One of the first things he told us was "Make sure you do not yell. The Swiss NEVER, EVER, EVER yell."
We also have Steffi, a condescending know-it-all hippie professor who introduced herself as someone who has "always hated American students." Good thing she will be my professor for another 4 months, right? She is very knowledgable. But annoying. Another professor, Chris, is a carbon copy of Greg Anderson. But, no one who would ever read this is a bio major (thank God), so nevermind.
In other news, I have made a bunch of friends. Quel surprise. Every time we go anywhere, you can tell that all the Europeans are looking at our group of 35 students thinking, "Stupid Americans." I feel like we have gained a little more respect as a nation since Obama´s inauguration yesterday. Which was amazing, by the way. Our whole group went to go watch it in an ex-pat bar down the street from our hostel. I don´t think I have felt that proud to be an American ever, except maybe when Obama was elected.
I don´t know how long I will keep this blog up-- I feel like this would be really boring to read, haha. Maybe once I get to India, I will have some better stories.
I am at the UN right now, mooching off of their free internet. Switzerland has been great. We have gone to a bunch of really interesting talks on public health, HIV/AIDS, climate change and intellectual property rights. More and more, I think that I should go into public health rather than medicine. We went to the Old City of Geneva a few days ago. The architecture there was gorgeous and the history was interesting as well. I saw where Rousseau was born and where the first Calvin church was (Geneva is considered the city of Calvinism).
The adults in charge of my trip are probably the most interesting non-academic part. We have Earl, a 65 year old bald French-speaking Swiss man, who wears a button down Oxford shirt, collar popped, and a cashmere scarf every day. He speaks in a tempo with this adorable little accent. And when he walks, he literally looks like he is waltzing. It sounds like I have a crush on him, which I might have initially, but he has gone down in my estimations. He is OBSESSED with being Swiss and thinks everyone else sucks. One of the first things he told us was "Make sure you do not yell. The Swiss NEVER, EVER, EVER yell."
We also have Steffi, a condescending know-it-all hippie professor who introduced herself as someone who has "always hated American students." Good thing she will be my professor for another 4 months, right? She is very knowledgable. But annoying. Another professor, Chris, is a carbon copy of Greg Anderson. But, no one who would ever read this is a bio major (thank God), so nevermind.
In other news, I have made a bunch of friends. Quel surprise. Every time we go anywhere, you can tell that all the Europeans are looking at our group of 35 students thinking, "Stupid Americans." I feel like we have gained a little more respect as a nation since Obama´s inauguration yesterday. Which was amazing, by the way. Our whole group went to go watch it in an ex-pat bar down the street from our hostel. I don´t think I have felt that proud to be an American ever, except maybe when Obama was elected.
I don´t know how long I will keep this blog up-- I feel like this would be really boring to read, haha. Maybe once I get to India, I will have some better stories.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Genève
Hi! So I am in Geneva for the orientation of my trip. I thought I would write a quick blog post because I don`t really have time to respond to individual emails. So far we have just been doing orientation things, like name-games etc. Everyone on the trip is great and I have already started to think that maybe I should go into public health rather than become a doctor. In more interesting news, my baggage got lost between JFK and Dulles, and just made it to Europe yesterday (sadly, not yet to Geneva), so I have gotten an earlier introduction to ruffing it than the rest of the group. I am going on Day 4 with the same outfit. I smell wonderful. But supposedly if it takes a really long time for them to find your bag, you get money to buy clothes...
My internet time is running out but I will write more interesting stories later! Miss everyone and hope those who are abroad are having a blast!
My internet time is running out but I will write more interesting stories later! Miss everyone and hope those who are abroad are having a blast!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Be my pen-pal?
Hello, hello.
Seeing as I will essentially be MIA for the next three and a half months (without a phone, computer, constant address or reliable internet), I thought I would start a little blog so that everyone is aware that I am still alive and well. I leave this Friday (the 16th) for Switzerland, then I am off to India, China, and finally, South Africa.
As I can't really talk to anyone regularly, I would love to become pen-pals with YOU. Send me your address for the semester! Here are mine, for each part of my program:
Switzerland (1/17-1/27):
Mariam Alam
IHP c/o Geneva Youth Hostel
28-30, rue de Rotschild
1202 Geneva – Switzerland
India (1/28-3/5):
Mariam Alam
IHP c/o Environmental Support Group
105 East End ‘B’ Main Road
9th Block, Jayanagar
Bangalore 560069 INDIA
China (3/6-4/3)
Mariam Alam c/o Li Xinhua
International Exchange and Cooperation Office
Central South University
Changsha, Hunan 410083
People’s Republic of China
South Africa (4/3-5/7)
IHP c/o Chris Colvin and Natalie Leon
For: Mariam Alam
7 Alfred St.
Observatory 7925
Cape Town, South Africa
Remember, it takes a while for mail to get to all of these places (at least 10 days). Okay, write me!
Seeing as I will essentially be MIA for the next three and a half months (without a phone, computer, constant address or reliable internet), I thought I would start a little blog so that everyone is aware that I am still alive and well. I leave this Friday (the 16th) for Switzerland, then I am off to India, China, and finally, South Africa.
As I can't really talk to anyone regularly, I would love to become pen-pals with YOU. Send me your address for the semester! Here are mine, for each part of my program:
Switzerland (1/17-1/27):
Mariam Alam
IHP c/o Geneva Youth Hostel
28-30, rue de Rotschild
1202 Geneva – Switzerland
India (1/28-3/5):
Mariam Alam
IHP c/o Environmental Support Group
105 East End ‘B’ Main Road
9th Block, Jayanagar
Bangalore 560069 INDIA
China (3/6-4/3)
Mariam Alam c/o Li Xinhua
International Exchange and Cooperation Office
Central South University
Changsha, Hunan 410083
People’s Republic of China
South Africa (4/3-5/7)
IHP c/o Chris Colvin and Natalie Leon
For: Mariam Alam
7 Alfred St.
Observatory 7925
Cape Town, South Africa
Remember, it takes a while for mail to get to all of these places (at least 10 days). Okay, write me!
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