a visual update, compliments of krish (no not the movie)

Here's a photo of Milla, myself and Violet from one of our first trips in the rickshaw!

Here is Katie, Sarah and I on Fancy Friday last week. I wonder what we'll do this week!

Here we are on our way to Crystal Palms Shopping center last Saturday to eat dinner and see Raajneeti with Caleb and Vincent. (Sarah, Milla, Nikki in the back, and myself)

So, this week I was promoted to Intermediate Hindi. Let me tell you, there's a HUGE gap between Elementary and Intermediate. I'm good in the literature class, the vocabulary class, the conversational class and the interview class. Now Grammar on the other hand. Grammar is my current enemy. Since the book we are using for Elementary is to be completed before starting Intermediate, I have about 30 chapters to catch up before I can be on the same level as everyone in Intermediate who have had a year of Hindi. I'm definitely not the shining star in class. The white kid from Nebraska is. Funny, huh?

Today was a true reality slap on my Hindi speaking skills, a negative reality slap if anything. We had an Autorickshaw walla come in to talk to us and we had to ask him questions. Since I just joined intermediate, I did not know that I had to prepare questions before hand. So, I just winged it. I realized that my sentence construction is very poor and that the ricksaw walla said that if I can master my Hindi, I can get the best price for an autorickshaw ride. I really have to up things and stop speaking English as much as I can.

As a part of the Community Project, you have to go do something in the community and write a report on who you interviewed, etc. I am currently in the process of finding a health clinic to volunteer in so I can use that as my community project. I believe this is something I will have to do on my own.

I bought a really interesting book today; I never thought I'd come to India and buy a book, but aarey, I did. The book is AIDS सूत्रा: Untold Stores From India.
I also bought a lot of postcards (30) and Vogue India! I love the magazine selection here. Cosmopolitan, Vogue and other popular magazines are available here but specifically for...BROWN GIRLS. (Don't worry Mel, I will bring them back with me)

This weekend is my birthday and I'm wanting to go to here: http://www.chokhidhani.com/
During the day and then there's a party at night for the fourth of july. A lot of people want to go see Mandir's during the day on Saturday; We'll see if I succumb and go with them to the Mandirs than to go to the Resort above. It's a big tourist trap, but you can ride elephants and camels there, which yes, I have both done, but I wanted to go here in Rajasthan. We'll see what happens.

Anyways, I am not sure if anyone reads this blog other than my Mom, but leave comments if you are reading it. It's always nice to get some feedback.

fancy fridays.

So, I started this thing called Fancy Fridays, where we dress up on Fridays. I may just wear a saree all the time.
Photo is for mom! This is what I'm wearing today. Love you. This is my friend Sarah from Alabama. She's learning Hindi with me too and was my first fellow CLS stalker! She's been awesome to get to know and she is really learning so much.

photos from sarah from today.

Here are some photos from Sarah's camera. Enjoy!

Here's elementary hindi, minus dorian as she is taking the photo in front of albert hall after the bazaar!

Sarah trying pani puri for the first time and me, first time in 2 years!

Here is the post pani puri photo. Sarah is not a fan of the pani puri. The puri was really stale. Fail.

first friday yaha hai.

At the hotel, out for a few drinks and sightseeing. Katie, Me, Meskah and Violet, aka pooja.

Today we went to the bazaar to see some shops. This is the pre bazaar photo with me rocking sunscreen and my lacoste hat, courtesy of Mel.

First stalkers of CLS Jaipur 2010 and my current and awesome roomate.

Albert Hall is really far in the photo. But main yahaan hoon!

First Pani Puri in two years. I can tell you its not worth it because I have a horrible stomach ache. This was at the fancy mall that we went to after the bazaar.

Today is someone's birthday in the school and we are going to the Ramada (which is a big deal here). I bought a skirt at fabindia that i will wear tonight and take lots of photos of.

Everything is going well. There is a wedding at the hotel tonight so it's pretty popping. Going to learn some Hindi now, at least through the book and we'll see what happens.

Hope everyone is doing well in the states and I'm missing NOLA so much lately.

Love.
नफीसा (nafeeza)

first day of school

So, we've had our first full day of school. It was pretty alright I suppose.

Yesterday I went shopping with two students from the Elementary Hindi and I was able to use more of my Hindi, on about the level I did when I first came to India. I suppose I need something to kick start the Hindi mode...like when nobody else knows Hindi and I have to direct them.

Today we went shopping and I bought 4 saris for 50bucks. Seems expensive I know, but that included the blouse and petticoat for underneath and the lining on the bottom. Not bad. I had to practice my Hindi there as well since nobody else I was with communicated as effectively other than for Violet. She deserves a blog entry on her own just because of her own amazingness.
It is absolutely empowering to speak a language and not depend on others to help you. I am trying to work as hard as I can to advance from Elementary to Intermediate. If I work really hard, I can maybe end up in advanced. But I'll take it week by week, and see what happens.

This weekend is a bazaar trip and I will probably buy most of my presents this weekend.
There is a trip to the Taj planned, but I need to start outlining what I am going to be doing each weekend and get started with volunteering in a health clinic.

We'll see about that. I suppose take things a step at a time. I have no complaints about my schoolmates or room situation which is always good.
Will update more soon with more pictures hopefully. Until then, enjoy.

Here's a photo of us piled into a autorickshaw after shopping. I mean 5 of us. cost us 50rupees. not even one dollar to transport 5 people 3km. Damn.

One week down. 9 to go.
Leave COMMENTS!

one word: homesick.

mujhe ghar jana chati hai.
(I want to go home)

I am sure that this feeling will pass.

bharat side. day 1ish.

Hotel room in the lovely Taj Hotel in DelhiThis is how they power their rooms. With the key.

We have finally arrived in India. Yes, what a feat. We stopped in Brussels, Belgium for a two hour lay over. I could not sleep at all those two past flights. It really made me miserable and was simply surprising because I can sleep really easily. In Toronto, Dave picked me up and I got to sleep, take a shower and eat Swiss Chalet before coming back and flying to Brussells.
We got in to Delhi really late and they fed us at the lovely Taj Palace Hotel. Went to bed, you see how glamourous that was compared to a airplane seat. Then we woke up in the morning, took some photos, came to Jaipur via a wonderful bus ride and then we took a walk to the market, which I just returned from.


So these next shots are taken with my awesome new camera. Thanks mom and dad! I took all of these sitting in a bus very far away. It was really amazing.

Pool at the hotel!
Hey, i know, i'm wearing the same shirt as i wore back when i came, and in nepal and in suriname and guyana, but that's a fun feeling to be able to take it everywhere. Photo is for mel and mom!

Some of the sites in Jaipur.

Hawa Mahal

I am going to talk about volunteering in a hospital here to practice Hindi. There is another girl here doing her MPH at George Washington University who also wanted to do the same. She is focusing on Nutrition but I'll see what I can get my hands on so far. I am in elementary Hindi which is what they put for those with no formal training but I do get tested tomorrow in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. So on a scale of 1-5 on each, My speaking is a 3, my listening is a 5, my reading is a 1 and my writing is a 1. So I will be going back to school! Seems like school is a lifelong habit as I have not yet taken time off to do nothing, but when I had nothing to do in New Orleans, I was really bored.

They do take us to AGRA! This means Taj Mahal!!!!

Still working on what on where to go during my break. We will see what unravels. I'm really excited and already planning what my birthday outfit will be.

Lots of love, and it's been great to see what support I have from everyone.

I also heard that I was on the latest episode of Treme! If you havent seen it yet, it aired on June 13th!

Post soon, probably tomorrow as the hotel we are staying has free wireless.

I really want to thank the people/person that told CLS to give me the chance to come and do this. They have really granted a wish for me. I really cannot believe that they gave me a chance to come, with no formal training, but with essays that I wrote from my heart in a small time frame. I really am so grateful to them and I am going to work as hard as I can. They give formal grades here, 93A, etc and I really want to do well here.

Main hindi sikhna chaati hoon.
( I want to learn hindi)

Love,
Feezer.

ps. I've been calling people on and off lately, hope you look out for my call. it's a iran number so answer it.

departure dilemna!

A few students going to learn Hindi: Violet (my roomate here in DC and a blast so far), moi, Caleb and Mila.

Reagan National Airport. Arrived at 2:30pm for a flight to Chicago at 5pm then to a flight from there to delhi at 8pm.
We are back at the hotel at this very moment.

Why?

No idea.

We have been shuffled back and forth through security and back to arrive back where we started from, at the hotel.

We are flying to Toronto tomorrow morning at 6am with the meeting time at 4am.
So we will arrive around 730am.

Here's the funny part... we have a 10hour layover on top of a 12 hour flight.
So I will be in Toronto from 730am-6pm.
Great.

We miss a night in the fabulous hotel and a full day of orientation. We arrive in India at night on Sunday with many of us embarking on the next leg of the destination being different for everyone. Jaipur is a 5hour bus ride from Delhi; Lucknow is a plane ride, etc. It will definitely be a feat.

This has been an interesting turn of events in the trip; it did allow some of us to get closer and see some of the people that we are going to spend considerable amount of time with in the next few months.

I'm exhausted but maybe will meet up with Danielle tonight. I can never get enough of that girl. I remember now why I have kept in touch with her for so many years; she and i always pick up where we left off whenever we meet.

Lots of love.
Will not post tomorrow, most likely or be able to make calls as I will be in canada. will let ya'll know when I make it over. thanks for the comments everyone. its always nice to have a comment esp when i am over there with limited access to internet and seeing some love.

Nafeeza

more pre-departure thoughts...

Here is the crew at dinner last night at a really fancy restaurant near the white house. old ebbitt grill i believe. it was pretty decent. some people at the table are studying urdu, punjabi and some are hindi. from the left is violet, ajeet, gobind, michael, caleb and feezer!

Here i am with mr jefferson. first time i've ever visited the jefferson memorial. it was nice to do some touristy things after dinner.

Cheesing! this one is for you mel!

There was some serious steve withdrawals as I met up with austin after my dinner who took me around dc. it was so sweet of him to make the long trip out despite how tired he was! what a trooper!

This is a photo from today. The last mcdonalds. the no. 10. except no melbel.

We leave for the airport around 2 and we fly out at about 5pm i believe. it will be an interesting flight. we go to chicago and then from there is a straight flight to delhi. we will arrive at 830pm and go to our hotel. it is really swanky and very not me, so here's the link. yes you can drool and be a little jealous. i think it's a tease before we embark on a long summer in some discomfort. starting it early wont be too bad since we DO live in america anyways.

will post more once i reach the south asian subcontinent and gain some internet access. am looking forward to some amazing pictures and some awesome stories to share.

love!

Washington DC! Pre-India thoughts

So yesterday was the first day of the pre-departure orientation for the CLS program! It has been an interesting one so far. The people here are truly amazing and It's going to be exciting to get the chance to work with them. People have done some really amazing things with their life and it will be fun to learn more about what they have done.
Anyways, today will be a full day of orientation activities and we will conclude the night with dinner at a place near the White House I believe. Maybe we'll stop by and see the Obamas while we're at it.
Here are some pictures from the day yesterday.

My hotel room. Baller, I know.


The hotel bathroom deserved a picture too.


Tomoko and I reunited after 2 years, and eating my favorite chinese before I embark on a difficult cuisine adventure.


NOLA cannot seem to leave me no matter where I go. And it doesn't leave my talks either!

Representing Guyana bai!!

Friends since 9th grade, reunited after 1.5years. Bittersweet nonetheless.

Will update tonight or tomorrow morning with more pictures from today.
Lots of love.

First Entry

So, I'm in the midst of packing now for India. It's a terrible feat to fit about three months of materialistic things into a backpack but we'll see how I can do it.