Medley of things

This week has been incredibly stressful, and you'll never be able to guess why- it's Holi tomorrow. I realize this means nothing to you all, but to me it's a big deal. Holi is a celebration of spring that involves throwing colored powder and water at everyone. Enter Katie's anxiety lol. This whole week people essentially pre-game Holi by throwing water balloons and squirting people with water guns. Yay. Children and adults alike stake out corners and roofs to attack innocent passersby such as myself. An unseen attacking enemy!! I'm constantly on high alert and I am sure my blood pressure has gone up exponentially. But this is nothing compared to the craziness that will ensue tomorrow. We have been warned to not even venture outside because shiz. goes. down. Foreigners are especially targeted apparently. Look up this festival online- it really is crazy. I have no plans for it at the moment, but I do want to experience it...maybe toned down a bit... I'll report back after the festivities for sure!!

In sad news, I'm pretty homesick actually. I don't really know why- nothing in particular triggered it. I've just been feeling kinda down lately. It's not even anything about India that's bothering me. I think it is because I realized that I can't just do whatever I want here. A silly example: If I want a pizza at night, I can't walk to get one because it's unsafe. I have to call and negotiate the language barrier to order and to give directions to my house. I then have to go downstairs, meet the pizza guy at the gate, sign him in, and run back upstairs before anyone realized I'm gone and shuts the door. There are no keys, so if you're locked out at night, the only option is to ring the doorbell and wake up the entire house, including auntie who will then wonder why you are ordering a pizza when she clearly feeds you well, etc, etc. And even getting places requires effort. Walking around to find a tuktuk while under constant surveillance because I'm a white girl, possibly enduring harassment, bargaining for the right price, and then arguing when he takes you to the wrong place. It's just hitting me that nothing is simple and easy here and I'm a little frustrated and cranky.Ah well. I'm sure it won't last long :)

Even though I just said I'm homesick, I cannot BELIEVE I am leaving so soon. I feel like I will never be able to see all I want to see of Delhi and I don't really see myself coming back here. When travelling I prefer to go to places I haven't been before, instead of back to places I like.
We are going to Amritsar on Friday to see the India/Pakistan border, the Golden Temple and other things so I'm pretty excited about that. I'll keep you posted!!

In other, and even more random news, I was just lamenting going back to my school's meal plan next year. I would much rather have a stipend and cook for myself because they don't have very many healthy options. And what pops up in my email today? A survey about how satisfied I am with the dining locations on campus!! I let them have it, which felt really good. Normally I'm really nice in those, but I really feel like there should be a change in our dining options. Hopefully they listen to something I said!

ttfn