Friday of Week 1

Here it is, already Friday of my first week. I can hardly believe it! Research-wise, things seem to be coming right along. We've chosen the first four projects for me to look at, and I've done a pilot interview and my first real dissertation interview. It felt very momentus, but I also felt a little nervous and awkward, which showed. Fortunately, the interviewee was gracious and was clearly trying to think of examples and be specific and really talk. It was nice. One down, 49 to 74 to go!

So the first 2 nights after work, I was so pooped that I went to bed almost immediately after getting home-- no dinner, no nothing. But last night I finally felt like myself. I worked until a little after 6 p.m. and then one of my flatmates and I walked home together. That was really nice b/c I've seen very little of them. There are two other people in the apartment: one a recent undergrad graduate; the other a professor from a university in New Delhi here on sabbatical. Both seem like really nice people, but the apartment is large, and my room is near the front, while both of their rooms are near the back. We each have our own baths and seem to be on different schedules, so I just don't see much of them.

Anyway, last night I still didn't want dinner b/c I pig out so much at lunch, but I did one of the Tae Bo videos that Tony downloaded onto my laptop for me and took a shower and wanted to call him, but something's happening with the Internet connection, and I couldn't get online. So I read a book until 10 p.m., a respectable bedtime, and went off to sleep. Slept all through the night-- hooray!

Tonight I'm going to a party at one of the intern's apartments. Her mom is visiting from Pittsburg, so Julie, the intern, is throwing a party so everyone can meet her mom. I'm looking forward to it! The intern I sit next to said that she'd give me a call when she wants to head over there, and we can go together. I'm so grateful; that sounds like a much easier way than my trying on my own.

I'm still thinking of what to do with my weekend. Tentatively, I'm considering taking a taxi to the botanical gardens here in Bangalore on Saturday. They are supposed to be just amazing; Bangalore was known as a garden city before it became the silicon valley of India. I'm thinking that may be my Saturday plan. There is a church that is right next to work!!! So I'm going to go to the 9 a.m. service on Sunday and check it out. The church is called CIS Holy Ascension Church, and I'm not sure what kind of church that would be, but they have a scripture from the New Testament on their sign (which is promising), and the sign is in English (also promising), and I actually know how to get there (further promising). So I'm going to check it out. After church, I plan to walk around a whole lot and get a better feel for the area. Also want to check out another gym.

Speaking of gyms gets me on another kick: what's expensive and what's cheap. Some things here are just crazy cheap. For example, I got a snack that was big enough to be a light lunch last Sunday for 10 rupees; that's about 20 cents. But I went to three gyms last Sunday, and the cost for a three-month package varied from $74 to $83 US dollars per month!!! So. I'd really like to find a gym that's affordable if possible, but I may possibly spring for a membership, since I'm spending so little on food. This week I've been eating breakfast and lunch at work and then skipping dinner b/c I'm so full. I'll have to feed myself on weekends, but that should be plenty affordable. :-) Well, work is about to start, so I'd better wrap up. Will take lots of pics at the botanical garden and post something cool this weekend!