thehungrydolphin

48 hours ago, kids were knocking on my door at a Swiss boarding school begging for help with their suitcases while my own suitcase (3 actually, light pink and Juicy Couture, thank you freshman year me) lay on the floor with items thrown everywhere. Immigration forms were still not filled out, malaria pills taken a few days too late, and the dust on my old life had not even begun to settle as I started my new one. A few hours of airport duty i.e. sending students to their respective bodyguards, catching my own flight to Cairo, some hummus and tabbouleh while I enveloped myself in the smell of cigarette smoke and men talking in Arabic during a long layover, a flight to Delhi, and finally a 6 hour drive to my final destination: the Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India. You will find below an excerpt of what I wrote in my diary about the experience.

When I first got to India I experienced sensory overload: vibrant colors, cows in the road, mud splattering my shoes, and the incessant sound of honking. Everything was interesting and there was something to catch my eye at every turn. 5 hours in, we arrived in the mountains. It was like driving in a misty cloud surrounded by jungle and spotted with the occasional red tin roof, on the most narrow road I have ever seen. It should have only fit one car but somehow contained two cars going opposite directions, a few pedestrians, a cow on the loose, and a scooter managing to inch forward despite all the obstacles listed above. A few times the driver had to back up all the way down the hill to let other cars through, shouting in what I assumed to be colorful language in Hindi. He told me not to worry. So I did not.

After the 30 hour journey I was welcomed with lentil dal, basmati rice, and roti. This meal was like coming home. A nice man then showed me the various quirks of my new apartment, which I will explain shortly. I live in a cozy one-bedroom next to a nice couple who have already offered to make me paratha from scratch (finger to the pulse on this). I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful wood detailing and furniture, stained glass lamps that emit warm yellow light, and a balcony that looks out onto the misty jungle and rolling hills.

Lentil dal, rice, aloo gobi, and roti from the cafeteria.

Some things I’ve learned (24 hour time period in Mussoorie):

1. Monsoon rain sounds incredible on a tin roof. In combination with crickets chirping and birds singing it is heavenly.
2. Turn on hot water geyser 20 minutes before shower so that you can enjoy hot water for a maximum of 6 minutes. Good thing I take 5 minute showers.
3. Required minimum of 4 hot drinks a day during the rainy season, otherwise you perish.
4. A book, two postcards, hot masala chai, toilet paper, paper towels, and a candle that smells like sandalwood can all be purchased in the bazaar for a mere 11 USD.
5. A group of 8 monkeys gathered outside my apartment and stared at me menacingly as I was leaving. When I tried to open the gate, they growled and one of them pounced on me and grabbed my pant leg. I screamed and ran into oncoming traffic. Next time, better to retreat into apartment and then call 200 on the landline so that the guards can come and slingshot the monkeys. (Noted, thank you HR).
6. Always carry purchases in a non-plastic bag so monkeys do not attack. Please underline so that we never experience what happened above again.
7. Americans talk loudly in quiet places.
8. Paratha with mint chutney and fried eggs with a side of yogurt and honey is the best breakfast ever and should be consumed every day if possible.

That’s all for now. I figured I would document the first 24 hours moving to a country I’ve never been to before and it would be interesting to look back on when my contract is up in 2 years. Tomorrow I’m going on a shopping trip to Dehradun (nearest city)- hoping for a good conversation with a new colleague on the bus ride and some purchases of matcha powder and oat milk at the supermarket for future cozy drinks.

Monkey spotted on campus.

Venturing into town.