Anyway...
Before I left the country, I confirmed that the lumps that developed behind my ears recently were indeed NOT lymphoma, as my frantic and slightly obsessive internet research may have suggested. Simply a nasty reaction to the typhoid vaccine. Like the flu shot flu, I guess I had typhoid vaccine typhoid. So I packed up my life in a couple suitcases, and headed on my way. Only three pairs of shoes: two pairs of sandals and my running shoes. Kelly Houlehan would be so proud of me.
The 25-hour flight was an adventure in itself.
Just as we were finishing up packing Saturday morning, Dec. 26, my mother got news that my 2:00 flight out of Des Moines had changed. She came downstairs to tell me, and when she went back upstairs, the flight had cancelled. There was a half hour when my mom, dad, and I were all on different phones with different airlines trying to get me to Chicago before 6:00!
We scrambled to Cedar Rapids, which connected me to Chicago, and in turn D.C. and Dubai, eventually ending up in Hyderabad. The flight from D.C. to Dubai was delayed due to “Customer Service,” which translates as a nasty lady in first class seating who decided after she was seated and her luggage loaded that she needed to be on a different flight. As I’m sure fate would have it, her luggage was probably in the furthest corner. To make matters more exciting, as the workers reloaded the luggage, a healthy handful of passengers suddenly realized that their airsickness would certainly worsen if they couldn’t have that empty window seat, causing a mass shuffle of seating. My next layover was less than an hour long to begin with. Needless to say, I missed my connecting flight.
I knew it was a good day when my international flights asked if I wanted the turkey sandwich or the curried rice for dinner.On the drive to UoH, which I learned is actually in Gachibowli, just outside of Hyderabad, we passed a fair share of rock quarries and cows. Anywhere there’s work, there is a small slum nearby. The soil is so red here, I can’t believe anything can grow in it.
Two things surprised me: distance and pigs. The university is incredibly spread out, so everyone rides bikes everywhere. I heard UoH is providing us with some, but if they don’t, I think it’s only about 90 rupees (about $20) to rent. Two families of wild pigs live behind the Tagore International dorm. They feed off of the leftovers that the cafeteria staff tosses out for them. Some of the girls were gushing about the piglets; I wasn’t terribly enchanted by them. They’re small, and don’t have tusks, so I’m guessing they’re not dangerous. Not that I’m going to take my chances.
I’m off to set up a Skype account and catch up on my 11 ½ hour jet lag. My body doesn’t know what day it is anymore!
