Namasgar India, I didn't think I'd see you again so soon...

Hello all!


(That's me in DC a few days ago for the CLS orientation.)


I'm back from Costa Rica, post short US visit, and I'm now a certified Reiki practitioner, Yoga Asana teacher, Colon Hydrotherapist and Whole Plant-Based Nutritional Consultant (in the order of certification)! I think I did pretty well for my 'alternative education semester.'
I write now from the 7th floor of a high-rise in south Kolkata, West Bengal, India, where I'll be spending the next 2.5 months. For another summer I have accepted the US State Department's Critical Language Scholarship to study Bengali, the language of Bangladesh (where I was last summer) and the state of West Bengal, India (where I am now). It's the fourth most-spoken native language per capita in the world.
The past three days have been quite tumultuous, filled with dragging our heels through the streets of Kolkata, jet-lag-ridden but hopeful. I woke up this morning at 5:30, and I'll now post some 6 am photos of the view from our flat.
The entrance:

View from my bedroom window:

View from my bathroom window:

Notice the beautiful roof garden/jungle in the top left corner:

Our landlady is very fond of Ganesh, the elephant-looking god:

We have little figurines all over the house!

My key ring: a Ganesh made of leaves!


I'll post more photos soon of my teachers and fellow students (all three of us!) I cannot express my sheer thrill as to the prospects of this summer. I am absolutely delighted to hear about the teaching style at AIIS (American Institute for Indian Studies), and I am already quite fond of my teachers.

My Bangla is moving along already!