Let's see what's in Vapi! Shopping, food, hospitals, colleges, dramatic competitions, and weddings?

So, this morning I woke up for about 3 minutes at 5:15 when Anushka (yay for names- the 9-year old girl) was awaken by her mother (Aditi). Once she got out of bed and went to the bathroom, I fell straight back to sleep. Then, at 8:30 my mother woke me up again, except this time I actually got up.

Breakfast was almost more American than Indian- but still super good. Plus, it was almost a nice chnage. I love indian food, but sometimes- it's a bit much. And since I am really sensitive to spices, I always have to worry about the spicy indian food. "Not very spicy" to an indian is steam coming out my ears. My mother and I have learned to ask for bland food. Then, it's perfect.

We then went for a tour of the local hospital that the rotary club here helps out with and the college that the local rotary club also donates too. The hospital was really interesting to see. They have much more technology wise then I had expected and it's more like a clinic back home. The sanitation level is still very low, and of course, they still have issues with patients payment. (the US does as well).

But everything is extremely low cost compared to the US. They think very highly of their program, telling of the same quality and much better price. The quality is good, but probably not quite up to par with US. But, the prices- they are beating us there. Plus, everyone is happy at their job and they don't look like robots just repeating the same actions over and over.

At the college, they had available majors in Nursing, Business, Economics, Marketing, Production, and Computer Technology. It was all graduate study, except for the nursing study (in the basement). Again the comparison of the college in India to what we have in the US was astounding. 1st- it is much smaller. More like one ward of a college. 2nd- the computers are older (even older then the ones we have at school- haha) and they require laptops for students but don't have WIFI. But again, they beat us in price. To go to the college, it is (converted to dollars from rupees) about $2,000 for 2 years. So, $1,000 for a year of college. Too bad they don't have any majors I'm interested in.

After lunch ( a buffet of indian and other cuisines at a hotel- mmm-mm good) my family plus my host family (mom and dad) actually went shopping. I know. Shock! :O

But it was fun. My father got a traditional pajama (no, they don't wear it to bed) complete with a scarf. Looked a little... strange to me, but apparently it's the usual. I got some nice blouses that I can also wear once we return home. My mother bought fabric for a saree. Which looks amazing on her, by the way. :)

Then we went to hotel green view's auditorium to watch Avineil (13 year old son) preform in a drama competition. Traditional skits- kind of almost like our duo interp and such- but with a lot more people. Plus- all in hindi. So- we didn't really understand any of it. But our host family was very good at translating. Avineil's skit was mythology- about a guy (Nachiket) that chalenged the god of death. Nachiket asked him for knowledge, assuring the god of death the he could do anything he wanted to him afterwards. When he recieved it, Nachiket went around sharing the knowledge with everyone. I met Anushka there for the first time- when neither of us were asleep. She's so cute and nice. Very into Hannah Montana and Barbie and mourning the death of Michael Jackson. Haha.

So, then we went back to the Jain's house and Anushka and I listened to some hannah montana/Miley Cirus and Michael Jackson songs on my iPod. We also took pictures and I worked some on my computer- with an attentive shadow.

I took a nice hot shower then to get ready to go to the wedding later that day. When I came back out into the main room, I found that Avineil was home. The group did not win anything. We were all sad about that because everyone preformed well. :(

But Avineil is very shy, but cool. I wish we were here for longer so I could get to know him, and everyone else better. (He played Natiket in the play- the one in orange with his hand out in the picture)

The Jain's have 2 maids and then some other servants. This is very common in India. The maid that I see around here the most is named Kanta. Sweet and helpful- not much English, but a smile is the same in every language. They pay all their servants about $30 a month for every day service. Kanta is there from very early in the morning to about 8 at night.

Niki, a daughter of Steve and Elizabeth's hosts, brought a traditional indian dress of hers for me to borrow for the wedding. I looked like a mermaid. But... everyone said it looked good, so I guess...

The wedding was phenomenal. No one really seemed to know who was actually getting married, because so many people are invited. And you don't have to be on the invite list. Just be invited by someone who is invited. Haha. It was great though. So much food. And not really that describable. It was in a huge yard behind a school, and there were just booths of food everywhere. Plus a huge stage with a line going to China (just kidding) of guests wishing to pay their good wishes. Then there was the dress and jewelry and makeup of the bride. Henna tattoos as well. All over her hands. So very, very pretty.

We also learned how to make the bread- or saw people making it. I got a video. Ignore my father, he's saying random things that really don't even apply.


After the wedding, we returned home (our home away from home) and I went straight to bed.

ZZZZZ.

**Hindi word of the day: didi (older sister)