Writing from the clouds

September 20, 2008
Mussoorie, India

First things first: I was on a train from Varanasi to Dehradun when we heard about the blasts in Delhi. We didn't go through Delhi, and have no plans to do so anytime soon. I hope you will all keep the victims of those attacks in your mind, and send them good thoughts. Stupid terrorists.

Now,
While waiting for the train in Benaras, we attracted an enormous crowd of people who watched us study our Hindi. Once we got through all the flashcards, Shashankji got up and told everyone to disperse, the show was over, and we would have another in half an hour.
I am sitting in a second floor internet cafe watching the rain fall from clouds that are not even really above me. I am in the clouds, in Mussoorie, a hill station at the base of the Himalayas which was originally built by the British so they could escape the oppressive heat of Indian plains in the summer. I haven't sweat for a week. In fact, I wore long underwear yesterday, and I've been sleeping under a blanket and a down sleeping bag. It is magnificent.
It has been pretty rainy and cold for three days, which is putting me into my fall nesting mindset. I taught the two kids, Sibam and Yogish, who cook at our hotel, how to make pancakes this morning, and was on top of the world (more than I already am here in the Himalayas) in that kitchen. It was the first time I've been able to cook since arriving in India, and it was exactly what I needed. We topped the pancakes with American pancake syrup which Shashank and I bought at Prakash Brothers store. We have been hearing about it all week. They make cheese there. So, we went on a cheese and syrup pilgrimage, hiking up the breathtakingly beautiful mountain for 2 hours all the way to the very top, where we found all sorts of western amenities. I also bought balsamic vinegar, which I can't wait to use. I think I'll make french toast tomorrow so we can use the rest of the syrup.
We are in Mussoorie for a two week Hindi retreat, which means 4 hours of class and about that much if not more work to do outside of class every day. It has been wonderful, if a little bit overwhelming. I can feel my Hindi improving every day, so the inspiration trumps my tired mind and I keeps studying. We'll be here for one more week now, enjoying the cool temperature and amazing scenery, then it is back to Benaras where we will all dive into our research projects and tutorials once more.
I think it is time for lunch now, and I can practically taste the pakoras that are waiting for me, so I'm going to get going. I'll put some new pictures up once I get back to Benaras. I hope everything is well wherever you are reading this from!