Namaste from India!

I hope that you are all doing well! I have been LOVING my time here in India! Things started off with a group of us getting ripped off by our auto rickshaw driver (which is like a cross between a golf cart and a motorcycle, painted yellow and driven by a madman)- but things looked up from there. I ended up meeting this really friendly and sweet Indian college student named Priyanka who invited me and two other girls to visit her house and meet her family. We ended up spending two days with her and she showed us around, took us shopping and to a coffee shop and we just hung out and had a blast. Her mom fed us soooo much wicked delicious South Indian food- they were all so welcoming and friendly! After we left their house I got a chance to visit a farming village where we got to see the rice fields and coconut harvesting, so that was pretty cool to see. I tried to climb a coconut tree and failed, it was pretty hysterical *grin* Later, a group of us went to see a movie (it was like Bollywood only in Tamil, not Hindi) which was so much fun even though there were no subtitles…they would throw in English words here and there and it was surprisingly easy to follow. Every once in a while the characters would break out dancing and singing which was pretty great :)The theater was huge and the music was SO loud- it was amazing.

sooo that’s a bit of what I’ve been up to here in India! There is so much to see everywhere that I could never write down even half of it here- it is hot and sticky out and there are always a million things to look at no matter where you are. There are rickshaws, motorcycles, bikes, buses and cows going chaotically in every direction and people everywhere. I think one of my favorite things to see is the women in their traditional saris riding on motorcycles sidesaddle- I have no idea how they do it…

I will try to get pictures up for you as soon as I can! I am now back to classes and a lot of work for the next three days before we get to Malaysia on the 22^nd. It is crazy to think about, but time is really moving fast…someone just told me the semester was half over (or half begun, depending *grin*) which is hard to believe! I will be home to see you all soon! :)

I hope things are going well wherever you all are and with whatever you may be up to! Many thanks to all of you who are praying for me- it is definitely appreciated! I have been praying for you all as well, feel free to send any specific requests my way. Love you all!

-Bethany