So I posted some pictures below and will try to post some on a picture website..somehow. I haven't been able to update at all yet because I haven't had internet. I've been here for eleven days and really do not know where to start. Bangalore is an intense city. Driving in auto-rickshaws is a harrowing experience. Theres lots of dust and smog in the air. The drivers are all horn-happy....beeping away just to make their presence known. Crossing the street was terrifying at first....but you get used to it pretty fast. India is also incredible beautiful and exciting. Right now though...I'm exhausted. I just spend 17 hours in bed, feeling as though I was going to die. I'm pretty sick (but haven't gotten sick from the food yet, thank goodness). 

So far we've been all over the city. A bunch of us have just hopped into autos with a map and gone out exploring. So far the temples have been beautiful. And Bangalore really is "the garden city." Lal Bagh is an especially beautiful park full of botanical gardens. 

Some things I learned pretty fast:

Indians don't believe in exact change 

The Indian head bobble means "ok" 

Punctuality is not an Indian value

Theres more I'm sure. I'll  update this more later! 

Namaskara!

-Emma

नमस्ते

So I'm leaving for India January 4th! I'm flying from NY JFK into Mumbai (14 hours) and will connect there to fly onwards to Bangalore. Obviously this is exciting and nerve racking. I'm meeting up with another program participant in NY and we ' ll be traveling together. I'm really glad I found a travel buddy, because honestly, landing in India alone and having to flag a taxi for the 2+ hour journey from the airport to the university by myself sounded a bit daunting. I'll try and update this thing as often as possible and will hopefully be able to upload some pretty sweet pics and videos. Thats all for now :-)