Weekend in Delhi

This weekend we didn't go on any grand adventure. Instead, we opted to remain in Delhi, go to the US Embassy 4th of July party for some Americana, and just poke around the city that we've called home for a month-and-a-half. We didn't end up doing so much outdoor sight-seeing since the monsoons have ceased for at least a while and therefore the temperature is again over 110, but it was still nice to just stay here.
Friday night all of the interns, united under the absence of Jacob, took out Iram for her last night here in Delhi. We went to a sports bar so that little Iram could watch the Andy Murray/Andy Roddick Wimbledon match. The All Sports Bar is severely confused. It's a sports bar in appearance, walls dotted with flat screens...men drinking pints....but it is a dance club in music selection and volume. I'm a loud person and if I'm screaming and cannot be heard by the person sitting next to me, the music is way too freakin loud! Maybe I am old...sitting on the cusp of "mid twenties"...but I'm pretty sure my early-twenties self would have been appalled at the offensive volume level as well. Iram didn't get to watch the end of the match because she too was upset at the music volume. When she heard that Roddick had defeated her lovely Scotsman, I thought she was going to cry! Of course that didn't stop me from doing a minor happy dance in front of her. :) Mostly she was sad because she didn't think Roddick would put up a fight agaisnt Federer and the final match would suck. Turns out she was wrong though and I bet she's happier with the Roddick/Murray outcome now. Tennis aside....

Saturday I slept in and then went to the gym with Sarah. Let me tell you...running in the mid-day heat = sweaty. That night was the 4th of July party. It was so refreshing to hear the American accent! To not be the drastic minority! The DJ was Indian. It always fascinates me to hear what people from other countries think represents "America" musically. Village People, Michael Jackson (obvi), Akon (....WTF), Abba, Britney Spears, Snoop Dogg, and Ode to Lisa: Sweet Home Alabama (Boston? what?). The party was on the Embassy's baseball field...of course. What I would do for 9 innings of beer and hot dogs in Safeco...

Sunday I woke up before everyone else and walked to Green park to use the internet and catch up on Shantaram. I needed some alone time. I can't constantly be around people. It drains me of energy and patience. I find that I'm not as functional if I can't get some time to spend with me, doing whatever I feel like at the moment. It is possible to be alone and not lonely, just as it's possible to be amongst hundreds of people and feel all alone. Actually, I think the latter is more frequent. But I digress...
Katie, Lisa, and I met up later in the day and went to Gandhi's home...which is also where he was assassinated. The museum was one of the most modern museums I've been in. With all of the technology depicting Gandhi's life and philosophy, I was left feeling angry at the Indian government. I highly doubt that Gandhi would be happy to know that his home stores thousands of dollars worth of technology when there are people living on the street corner outside of the posh home. Starving. Such is India though.
Katie and I got the most original pedicures at the mall. Leave it to the Japanese to come up with this one....tiny fish that eat the dead skin off of your feet! It was the weirdest sensation I've experienced. You could feel them nibbling away at your toes!
Life in India has flown by! I still have 17 more days or so, but I feel like the days are slipping past me. I'm really happy here! Don't get me wrong, I miss home, but this place has become uniquely special to me. Not knowning when I'll ever return has made me anxious... I need to enjoy every minute! But when you're focused on enjoying every little part, is it possible to truely take it all in? I'm over-thinking this. The next week and a half will be an indulgence of taking what is coming with open arms and drinking in this experience for all it's worth.