one dog down

Finally, an actual post from Pune! I want to write so much, but I'm trying to go quickly since the power is unreliable and I'm in an internet cafe.

So far, so amazing. I figured I'd spend the first few days in a sort of culture-shock coma, but I haven't experienced anything of the sort. The city is so colorful and alive that I can't even imagine what an Indian traveler in America would think of our perfectly maintained, stagnant cities. Don't get me wrong; I love Uptown. It's just an entirely different vibe here. I don't even mind the pollution much, even though if I were to lick my finger and rub my cheek, there'd be a little light line of cleanliness running across my skin.

I woke up at 6 AM today, after the first longer-than-an-hour bout of sleep I've had over the last three days. It was just starting to get light outside, so I went into the bathroom to wash my face. The open window (with a screen, don't worry) let in all of the noise from the street, which consisted of absolutely nothing except for birds chirping. This huge, bustling, overpopulated city was silent except for birds. I could hear what sounded like a turtledove cooing, which I thought sounded eerily like a person. Another, different coo joined the first. The second coo then turned into a hacking cough. So much for the birds...

I walked down the street to a phone book (known as STD booths... I'll let that sink in for a second) to call home. There were a few people out on the street, but I was definitely the only blonde person for a several-mile radius. I had to jump out of the way of a few autorickshaws, but I found my way mostly unscathed. I had a brief moment of terror when one of the normally timid stray dogs ran at me growling. i should've gotten the rabies shot i should've gotten the rabies shot i should've gotten the rabies shot. I jumped over a fence of an unopened business, much to the amusement of the three men sitting across the street. Fortunately, I think the dog was just hungry and, like every other living thing in the city, could sense my newness.

On with my quest for a dial tone... I stepped over some spilled milk leaking from unloaded crates that littered the sidewalk near the booth. The liquid was stacked with easy efficency, and within minutes the milk was inside the store as the fruitwalla proudly displayed his wares. Even though I don't speak a single word of Marathi yet, it's been surprisingly easy to communicate with others around me. Even if they don't speak any of English, pointing and various exasperated noises on their part and frantic, desperate nodding on my point does the job. I even bargained twenty rupees off of a ridiculously overpriced item...

There's so much more that I want to write, but it's about time to run to dinner, which has been delicious so far. I feel like I'm going to have some serious food cravings soon (I've been wanting a burrito since we left Chicago), but there's a Dominos and Subway in case I get desperate. Oh, and there's a McDonalds too, but apparently the only meat sandwich they serve is chicken. I know... my kind of place!

I haven't decided entirely on my independent study project yet, but there are archives of all previous projects (Josh, if you're reading this, I took a look at your project from last year). I'm hoping to apprentice/observe a theatrical production nearby, either at the local college or elsewhere. I think it'd be amazing to chronicle the creative process and compare it to styles I've expeienced in America.

Anyway, I'll update as soon as I can. I'm so excited to see what the weeks will bring, both the positive and the negative. I hope you're well :)

Love,
Sarah!