Extraordinary moments

Computer problems are persisting (mine broke again and it’s taken a ridiculously long time to get ahold of Dell) and our phone service was discontinued almost two weeks ago due to... something.  We’re not really sure.  The internet at school is down occasionally as well so that is always fun.  Even my headphones have rebelled and I’m guessing that I will need to get new ones soon.  The only things that haven’t malfunctioned are my camera and my trusty old ipod, which is the oldest piece of technology that I own... good old ipod.  I love that thing.

Anyway, all of that is merely to say that this will be a short and photo-less entry as I am using the office computer, so enough complaining.  As frustrating as it has been to operate without a computer, I know now that I don’t actually rely on them as much as I thought I did.  I’m learning to do more stuff without one and to be more flexible and just go with the flow of events as they come.  I am also coming to appreciate internet cafes and flash drives way more than I ever have before.  I mean, I would still love my computer to work, but I’m able to function without it.

Two weekends ago was the last day of the Ganpati (Ganesh) Festival.  Ganesh is one of the main Hindu gods and there is a ten-day festival in his honour right around now every year.  The Ganesh festival marks the beginning of the festival season here, and has historically been at its most spectacular in Maharashtra, but it is gaining popularity all across India.  There were idols of him all over the city and the last day (Sunday) all the idols were taken to be immersed in the Ganges.  It was a giant party all night long.  I really can’t think of anything to compare it to in the United States.  Perhaps like the Macy’s Day Parade scale-wise, Independence Day-type spirit with the decorations and fireworks, and the feel of a concert with tons of loud music and a mosh-pit feeling.  But then with a religious bent... at least on the surface.  That’s the best I can do.  It was intense.  We spent the night at one of the student’s host homes that was close to the main road where the procession took place.  We went out on the road a couple times.  The first time we just stood in one place and that was fine, although I couldn’t see anything (but how is that new?).  The second time was not fun.  There are a ton of people and it was dark at that point.  Being girls trying to push through streets mostly full of college-age guys was just... not a fun experience. We had some of our guys with us but they couldn’t really do anything.  Anyway, I didn’t go out after that, watching from the terrace of our building for the rest of the evening.  The party went all night long with tons of music and dancing and screaming and everything.  Needless to say, our sleep schedule was not super great that night.

This past weekend we went to another fort, which was as amazing as the first.  Again, there is no way to describe the experience of feeling like you are at the top of the world, gazing at the most beautiful sight you have ever seen.  These forts are all built with the intention to see as much of the surrounding countryside as possible, so the view is completely spectacular.  We loved it.  Moments like that have proved to make us highly reflective and this time I realized that it’s the moments that are so extraordinary that they steal your breath away, the views that a photograph cannot capture because even one thousand words could never begin to do them justice, the experiences that you need to have yourself to fully appreciate, and the people that make you see the good in life through the pain; these are what make life worth living.  So I hope that each of you can find those moments, those views, those experiences, and especially those people.  Be sure to take the time to cherish everyone and everything that you have been blessed with.

*L*