What an interesting few days I've had!! Full of fun, excitement, and new experiences- as it should be here in India.
On Thursday there was a talk on Justice in Diverse Societies at the India International Centre. The two speakers were Soli Sorabjee (former attorney general of India) and Frederick Lawrence (President of Brandeis University). Guess who got to go? Me!! My housemate, Will, is a student of Brandeis so he was going and took all of housemates as guests.
It was an incredible night. The talk was very interesting, basically covering the two country's experience and legislature dealing with justice. Both men are very knowledgeable and I learned quite a lot. Afterwards there were circulating waiters with delicious finger foods and drinks. I had my first experience with an actual drinkable wine since being in India, so that was a lovely surprise. I also had the chance to do some casual networking and got a few business cards of NGOs in India that I will be looking into more carefully. Not only that, but I had the opportunity to meet and speak with both Mr Lawrence and Mr Sorabjee which is a treat. Mr Sorabjee is an adorable older man with an aura of dignity and intelligence but is also very relate-able and quick with a joke. I made a bit of a social gaffe with Mr Lawrence however. He asked where I was from in MA and after assuring him he would not know, he insisted and I told him. Mr Lawrence is well aware of Wilbraham, as he apparently once dated someone from there!! Without thinking of the social repercussions I asked who it was, seeing as I might know her. Severe awkwardness ensued when he refused to reveal her name. So yeah, I embarrassed the president of a prestigous university AND I am wayyy curious as to the mystery lady. If anyone reading this has any information let me know!
In slightly less cosmopolitan news, I have finally figured out the perfect way to take a bucket bath. I knew you all were worrying about my lack of abilities to stay clean (lolz) so I figured I would clear that up. It was a very exciting day for me.
More news about Will- we all went out and celebrated his 21st last night! Almost everyone on the program came and we had such a good time. We all ordered tons of drinks and appetizers and just hung out. It was really wonderful. This restaurant we went to in M block (5 minutes walk from the house) has 3 floors!!! 1 is a formal dining area, 2 is a bar and dance floor and 3 is a terrace with a few tables. We basically took over the terrace for 3 hours and after paying the bill headed down to 2 for dancing. We were the only people there which was really fun. We were all just jumping around to really old American music and some popular music from India having a blast. My new prof pic is from that night :)
In not so fun news, I can feel the homesickness creeping up on me occasionally now. India is just so...much all the time. Occasionally I am missing the quietness of Wilbraham or Bloomington and I miss Mom's cooking/baking like crazy. I went through a bout of just not eating much because the food here lost it's appeal to me. It is all fried or uses the same spices. I miss pasta and buffalo chicken anything A LOT and basically everything Mom and Dad make me :) I've also been dreaming about this baked brie that a family friend makes. Mmmmm. But so far these bouts of homesickness are few and far between.
Missing you all
ttfn
On Thursday there was a talk on Justice in Diverse Societies at the India International Centre. The two speakers were Soli Sorabjee (former attorney general of India) and Frederick Lawrence (President of Brandeis University). Guess who got to go? Me!! My housemate, Will, is a student of Brandeis so he was going and took all of housemates as guests.
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| Me and Will in our fabulous business casual |
It was an incredible night. The talk was very interesting, basically covering the two country's experience and legislature dealing with justice. Both men are very knowledgeable and I learned quite a lot. Afterwards there were circulating waiters with delicious finger foods and drinks. I had my first experience with an actual drinkable wine since being in India, so that was a lovely surprise. I also had the chance to do some casual networking and got a few business cards of NGOs in India that I will be looking into more carefully. Not only that, but I had the opportunity to meet and speak with both Mr Lawrence and Mr Sorabjee which is a treat. Mr Sorabjee is an adorable older man with an aura of dignity and intelligence but is also very relate-able and quick with a joke. I made a bit of a social gaffe with Mr Lawrence however. He asked where I was from in MA and after assuring him he would not know, he insisted and I told him. Mr Lawrence is well aware of Wilbraham, as he apparently once dated someone from there!! Without thinking of the social repercussions I asked who it was, seeing as I might know her. Severe awkwardness ensued when he refused to reveal her name. So yeah, I embarrassed the president of a prestigous university AND I am wayyy curious as to the mystery lady. If anyone reading this has any information let me know!
In slightly less cosmopolitan news, I have finally figured out the perfect way to take a bucket bath. I knew you all were worrying about my lack of abilities to stay clean (lolz) so I figured I would clear that up. It was a very exciting day for me.
More news about Will- we all went out and celebrated his 21st last night! Almost everyone on the program came and we had such a good time. We all ordered tons of drinks and appetizers and just hung out. It was really wonderful. This restaurant we went to in M block (5 minutes walk from the house) has 3 floors!!! 1 is a formal dining area, 2 is a bar and dance floor and 3 is a terrace with a few tables. We basically took over the terrace for 3 hours and after paying the bill headed down to 2 for dancing. We were the only people there which was really fun. We were all just jumping around to really old American music and some popular music from India having a blast. My new prof pic is from that night :)
In not so fun news, I can feel the homesickness creeping up on me occasionally now. India is just so...much all the time. Occasionally I am missing the quietness of Wilbraham or Bloomington and I miss Mom's cooking/baking like crazy. I went through a bout of just not eating much because the food here lost it's appeal to me. It is all fried or uses the same spices. I miss pasta and buffalo chicken anything A LOT and basically everything Mom and Dad make me :) I've also been dreaming about this baked brie that a family friend makes. Mmmmm. But so far these bouts of homesickness are few and far between.
Missing you all
ttfn
Glad you're getting to do extra things!
ReplyDeleteXO Daddy
Sounds like you might be over the illness, for which we are all grateful. Are all your classes on "campus", is that near your Auntie's place, and where do you commonly eat when not at home? Curious questions from me who is interested. Glad to hear you are experiencing other fun diversions, and glad the only mishap is a gaffe rather than another kind of accident. We had deviled eggs for brunch, with Wheat Thins, different from what you had but still food of the finger variety! :) Hugs from here!
ReplyDeleteThanks Daddy :)
ReplyDeleteS Deaver, you just created a craving for my dad's deviled eggs here in India!! Imagining you all enjoying them is almost as good :)
What a fabulous evening you had! I'm enjoying picturing you dancing the night away:) I'm flattered you miss my cooking, which will be here when you get home to sleepy Wilbraville (no idea who the mystery lady is...) I'm jealous of all your new experiences, culinary and otherwise:) Love hearing every detail!
ReplyDeleteI love you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!