random photos

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I have an ingrained aversion to telling people what's going on in my life.
Or I'm just lazy.
Whatever.

On the last day of Puja holidays, we went out to eat.

They played Single Ladies. I thought it was hilarious.

It looks gross, but it was actually pretty good.

I had a really bad allergy attack a week ago  (or two weeks ago? maybe? you are severely overestimating me if you think I pay attention to the date. Though it was on a Monday night, I remember that) (we think it was that green soup. turns out you shouldn't disgusting-looking mystery meals)so I was admitted to the hospital for a couple days. Not the most fun I've ever had - I hate hospitals to begin with, and then add on top the fact that I can only understand about 10% of what anyone was saying... yeah. I wasn't happy.

But I did take pictures!

the most uncomfortable IV I have ever worn.



My host mom brought me To Kill A Mockingbird to
help kill the boredom. not a bad book, and Atticus Finch
 is kinda my hero now.

I was admitted under a fake name. *gasp*

they kept taking pictures, so I decided to return the favor.

me and my bff, the oxygen mask

the remnants of THAT IV.

 It took a couple days for me to recover fully, and all the Rotarians are still hovering (it WAS a week ago. or a week ago tomorrow. I'm hopeless with time.) So I spent a couple of days just hanging out at home, since I was still on holiday. Of the 4 weeks I've been here, school has been out for 2 1/2 weeks. Lucky me.

My host family had to go to Calcutta to visit the passport office the day after I got back from the hospital, so a family friend took me to see a family Puja (prayer thing. I never got a full explanation) an shopping.

we're not supposed to take pictures.

(but don't worry, I'm an American.)

In the hall of the mall of.... Durgapur.

Karwa Chauth was a couple of days ago, so my host sister and I watched my host mom and the women in the "Ladies Club" perform their puja.

 

When school finally started up again, a cooking class was getting ready to present their dishes for marks, so I got to watch them for a while. I couldn't stay until they were done, but it was fun to watch some budding professional Indian cooks.

 

 

Temple tour

 

Puja holiday preparations are in full swing now, so Sanjna and I walked round the neighborhood to see all lights. It reminds me very much of Christmas. The next day, a couple Rotarians gave us a tour of all the biggest durgas in Durgapur. Durgas are makeshift temples erected for the four days of the Puja, each with its own theme. Some of them had fairs surrounding them - it was all festive and awesome.

 

Now to blow your mind: all these temples were made out of Styrofoam and cardboard.