Ithaca to India

This time last week, I was enjoying my first Indian Gujarati meal, after sleeping in until 4 pm following two days of travel and recovery rest. Now, even though it feels like so much time has passed, I have only been on exchange for about 7 days. Here's what I've been up to this week: 1. Eating food! I have adjusted to the meals here pretty quickly, because they are just so good. Most people here are vegetarian for religious reasons, and my first host family is Jain. This means that not only do they not eat meat, but also eggs, gelatin, and root vegetables. Jainism is a separate religion from Hinduism, and is "concerned with the welfare of every being in the universe, and with the health of the universe itself" (according to Jainism at a Glance ). In the USA, following this diet would be difficult, but here, Jain people have been practicing for thousands of years. A typical meal consists of dal,  a soup-like dish with a lot of protein; a cooked vegetable (usually ...

I am writing this from my new home in Vapi, India! After a long journey and a day of rest, I am starting to feel settled in and ready to begin my life here. I figured I should write about my journey :) On Thursday night before leaving, my parents and I decided to go on one last adventure through the waterfront trail. We biked around and I said goodbye to some of my favorite Ithaca things: the Farmer's Market; the lake; the people out barbecuing and walking their dogs. It felt strange to realize that I wouldn't see my home for a long time. On Friday morning, my family drove to Syracuse at 9 am. The airport there is completely under construction, so finding our way around was a little stressful. We said goodbye while I was waiting in the security line... and I was way more emotionally affected than I thought I would be. While people in front and behind us tried not to pay attention, the three of us were a teary mess (mostly me). I felt simultaneously guilty for leaving my par...