Here :)

Hi guys,
Ok, so I finally got the opportunity to get on here to write about my first couple of days here in India, and it's been really incredible.
I arrived at 11am on Saturday after a (very surprisingly for me) un-delayed flight into Delhi. The plane ride from Heathrow to Delhi is apparently basically the same length from Newark to Heathrow, which I found surprising because I had assumed that the second would have been much longer. The plane ride was uneventful, although happily not very full so I could (sort of) stretch out on two seats.
After getting off of the plane, we were made to go through a brief medical exam to ensure that none of us possibly had swine flu, and then it was on to customs which had no line, and was a breeze. I had a brief panic attack at the baggage carousel when it took my bag about 45 minutes to find its way to me, however it eventually did and that was a relief.
My first impressions of Delhi? Hot. Loud. Dry. Landing, I looked out the window thinking to see green suburbs like I always do and instead all I saw was sand. Everywhere. Completely orange ground... and it completely shocked me. Driving here is... well... different, to say the least. The horn is really used as a way to tell someone that you're near them, and not necessarily to tell them they're an idiot, and the blinker is used to tell oncoming traffic which way to go in order to not hit them. I haven't seen a single speed-limit sign since getting here, and the noise of the traffic is... intimidating, I would say.
The colors, however, are incredible. Everything is so bright; gold, blue, purple, pink. Delhi is a strange combination of traditional Indian values juxtaposed against a more modern, western society. Most of the people adopt traditional wear (either the Saree or the Salwar Kameez for women), however others also wear more western clothing. Revealing clothing (other than in the form of midriff in a Saree) isn't done here. It's a very conservative society on the outside, but there are so many more layers than just that underneath.
We arrived at the flats where we're staying for the few days that we're here and had lunch wherein I realized more than ever, that being vegan in India is going to be near impossible. Then we took a trip to go sightseeing and started at the Lotus Temple which is a Bahá'í house of worship, which is a religion which really emphasizes the unity of all religions, and recognizes the validity of all religious doctrines. The best thing I can compare it to is our western Unitarianism. We were forced to take off our shoes in order to go into the temple, but about 1000 feet in advance, causing massive amounts of burning for the soles of our poor feet, but it was worth it. Such an amazing structure, and so much fun to see all of the people.t
Next we went to the India Gate which is a war memorial for those who died in the British Indian Army in World War I. That was an interesting experience, if for no other reason than it will be one of the most tourist-y atractions we visit while here and therefore we got to see that side of the culture. It's heartbreaking; not being allowed to give money to the children that come up to you because otherwise all of them will swarm you and try to get more. Some of the poverty is just astounding really, and almost difficult to absorb.
After this we went for some driving sightseeing and saw parliament, and the Indira Ghandi memorial, and a couple of temples. Then we came back to rest up and have dinner, and get ready for the next leg of our adventure.
After dinner we went to a nighttime bazaar, the name of which slips my mind right now, however it was really incredible, and lucky we have some Hindi and Punjabi speakers in our group, which makes bartering much easier for us. However, we were all fairly exhausted after such a long time travelling and sightseeing and took auto-rickshaws back home in order to pass out in exhaustion.
This morning we had a lecture about the culture of India, and the placements that we're going to, and the N.G.O.s that we're going to be working with. Then we had a quick lunch and bought our airplane tickets up to Dharamsala for tomorrow at around lunchtime, and took some of our free time to watch some Bollywood movies and do a puzzle of the Taj Mahal. Then all of us girls went out to shop for traditional clothes as the community we're going to is a conservative one. Shopping was intimidating and overwhelming, but still an interesting experience as none of us really know what to look for in clothing in this culture.
Tomorrow holds another talk about culture and history, and then a flight up to Dharamsala followed by orientation of the new home base, and free time. Our curfew here is 11pm, but up there it is 9:30pm for safety purposes so it looks like we'll be spending a lot of our free time in the house with each other. I look forward to seeing the scenery which should be absolutely incredible, as well as feeling a break from the sweltering heat of Delhi.
I'll try to upload pictures later, but right now I'm exhausted and the internet refuses to agree with my uploading attempts so I'll try again either tomorrow or the next day.
More later,
K