India Fun

India colors

       During my time in India I decided to travel with an SAS program. We went to Delhi, Japer, and Agra. Our bus would be riding next to camels, and large elephants. They would use the road just like the cars. I think the highlight of that trip was the Taj Mahal. Even though I had seen many pictures, it was still an unreal site to see, and its one hell of a love story. It was a fun atmosphere to be around, all the women had bright colorful sari´s on and anytime we stopped to take a picture the people wanted to take pictures with us. I felt like I was posing forever!

        Another highlight was being able to bathe and paint elephants. There was a large hose and the elephants would walk up and fill their entire trunk with water then fling it over their head and shoulders. If you were standing next to them you would be receiving a bath also. There were three or four elephants and they all loved playing in the water. I was then given a brush and we washed them just like we wash cars. We scrubbed their long rough trunks and their massive wrinkled legs. When they were clean we painted them. Sounds counter productive I know, but it was a lot of fun. The paint was more like a chalk. When it dried on your hands it felt chalky. Over all I did not get to see the rural parts of India because our trip sheltered us from that which was unfortunate. There were some funky smells and some interesting sights and I really got to see that the last two days I was in India. 

       The last two days I traveled with a few friends. We ventured out to the beach one of the days and it was an experience of its own since we had to be covered. We went swimming in our clothes anyways and it was a blast. We Talked with a local fisherman and admired his net full of sea life, and we drove around in Tuk-tuks (three wheeled vehicle that are very small!) The back seat fit two people comfortably, but we always but four in the back and one up front with the driver. If you sat up front you had to hold on tight because there wasn´t enough room for two people and the driver usually did not know how to share a seat. The time I sat up front I was actually able to drive! No worries, it was at night when there were no other cars around. It was a lot of fun. At night we decided to go to a club and it ended up being the best idea ever. Women do not usually go out at night, they stay at home, so in the club there were mostly men, but the few women that were there were a blast. There were people of all ages dancing like crazy. It was nothing like American dances where not everyone dances. Here everyone was on the dance floor and were not embarrassed to dance like crazy people.

If I were to go back to India I would do it completely different. I would want to see the side that was hidden from me. I would want to see more of their unique way of life. 

India Visa Difficulties

When preparing for a major event, in my case a trip, difficulties are bound to happen. One just never knows when and about what. Well, I have had quite a few throw backs, nothing major but still obnoxious. My biggest difficulty was the India visa application.

The first time I sent it in I never wrote down my middle name, I know your thinking "wow how does she forget that", well there was no line for it, when filling out the application "surname" means last name and where it says name you have to put for first AND middle name. oopps didn't know that. I found out about this little problem by an e-mail from Travisa saying I left out an important detail.

So again I filled out the application which is trouble in the first place because it LOVES to randomly close you out and never save anything you have written on the FOUR page application, O joy. When I finally manage to print out the application I was frustrated about something that came up with my medical history form and sent in the application without signing it... again I receive an e-mail from my visa advisor saying that I have made another error.

Shaking my head I printed out another copy of the application signed it with my best writing and sent it in with my last good pre-paid mailing order, the other one I have printed out blue for some reason. Feeling good about the visa I had just sent I thought the India nightmare was over. Then it happened, I got another e-mail! Thinking to myself "what in the world did you do wrong this time," I opened the letter and I found out that I did not sign within the box, the Y in my last name came down too low and did not make in in the lines.

Saying my prayers, I looked over the application about five times and was extra careful about where I signed. My one problem now was my mailing order sticker. I had no idea if they would accept faded blue ink. I went online and tried to print out another one but the website did not let me because too much time had elapsed. So I crossed my fingers, closed my eyes and dropped my visa application in the mail box for the FOURTH time.

The next day there was no e-mail. I waited another day and checked the website for a status update... nothing. I decided to e-mail the person who had been helping me and he got it!!!! He never mentioned any errors so I hope this means the fight with India Visas and I is over!

Moral of the story: Never give up, because the next time you try could be the time you succeed (this does NOT apply to gambling, you WILL lose). The study abroad process is definitely one to remember!
 :)

INDIA HERE I COME!