Apparently the Internet connection is too slow to upload my photos so I will try again later. But for now, a post from India.

I arrived in India last night, and made it through customs in record time. I actually turned around and walked in a circle before exiting customs feeling like I must have done something wrong. This is India, why wasn't there a huge delay? But everything was fine. No hassle. I found my contact, Frieda, right away. I am sure my impression of the traffic will change, but for some reason I really like the chaos, horns, and driving inches from other vehicles. Riding in a rickshaw feels like a ride at disneyland.

The first part of my journey consisted of meeting a fabulous Brazilian woman at the airport who informed me that she was very photogenic and loved being in front of the camera. I made my first mistake by not taking her photograph. What was I thinking? Be bold, girl.

The train ride to Dehradun took 6 hours and was a nice way to see some of the country side. It had a built in soundtrack so I felt like I was in a Bollywood film. Hindi songs were playing over the speakers, but when they weren't playing there was a lovely group of teenage girls who provided the lyrics along with clapping. Here is a list of things you might see on the side of the tracks in you own personal bollywood film while riding a train in India

• Trash
• Various animals - lots of cows, a horse, mules, an ox, some sort of pigs/hogs, etc. These animals walk around randomly and in the streets. Oh yes, kids playing with goats.
• People bathing
• People relieving themselves (a ritual that might deserve its own post at some point.)
  
• Beautiful fields. I recognized sugar cane, that's about all I knew.
• Lots of colors
• Dilapidated homes
• More color
• Women shaping cow patties
• Men in business clothes
• Men in business clothes peeing
• Women in Saris
• Women with veiled faces
• Children navigating insane traffic on foot
  
• Tons of bicycles
• Motorcycles with 5 people on them
• Rickshaws
• Women carrying bundles of sticks on their heads
• Men carrying bundles of I don't know what on their heads
  

So far I have learned that the coolies know everything, including where to stand on the train platform so you are standing at the exact spot where your door will land when the train stops. I knew that most everyone in India was vegetarian, but I didn't know that most people avoid even the use of the word meat, so I have eliminated meat and beef from my vocabulary. I have learned that I eat pretty efficiently with my hands (right hand, no silverware) I have learned where the tailor works in Dehradun and I will be visiting him once I have a chance to buy some clothing.