Last days

Cows regulating traffic, cops begging for money, 4-headed families squeezed on a motorcycle, strangers asking permission to take your photo, street vendors arguing about prices, rickshaw drivers changing prices, being constantly surrounded by insects, eating spicy for breakfast, tripping over potholes at least once a day, the smell of incense and the taste of masala, rickshaws replacing school buses, shaking head sideways to indicate "yes," elephants crossing the street, getting soaked by sudden monsoon rain, waiting for others, waiting in a van for two hours in the middle of the city, getting locked in the house, lacking privacy and personal space, women in beautiful saris riding motorcycles, praying to survive in traffic, waking up from the yells of the tomato man....

...These are just some memories I have made during the last weeks. This has been a lifetime opportunity and I'm thankful to have finally experienced the Indian culture myself.
Some of the IHDUA members took me out to lunch yesterday and gave me a present afterwards- a nicely-decorated wooden box. In the evening, we had our farewell dinner and welcomed a new intern. This morning, we went out for breakfast and the other girls left for school.
Most of the girls are leaving tomorrow and I will leave Monday morning. Unfortunately, my plane won't leave until Tuesday morning, so I have to wait at the Bangalore airport for about 10 hours. From there, I have a nine hour flight to Paris, a six hour break, and another nine hour flight back to the States. I should probably buy some books.

Goodbye India.