Monkeying Around

You know how I always said I wanted to tryout for the real world? Turns out I don't need to anymore because I am currently in Real World: Dhrangadra, but instead of having 7 strangers I have 13. Being stuck in a palace during siesta hours (the hottest part of the day) really causes peoples' true thoughts/feelings/actions to come out. It is actually kind of amusing.

Yesterday we found two monkeys on the top of our palace. For an hour at least we watched tried to get them to come down by throwing rocks at them. They eventually came swinging down and we scattered every time for fear that they would start chasing us. Not going to lie, it was pretty exhilarating. At the same time the sky got very dark, and it looked like rain clouds were coming in. But of course we are in the middle of a heat wave, so none of us expected the rain that appeared within the next half hour. Apparently it was the first time it had rained in 6 months. It was incredible - the sky was gorgeous because as the sun set it was still dark with the hint of rain clouds. People who were in town when the rains started said that the kids all ran into the middle of the street jumping up and down and screaming with joy. I kind of wish I had gotten to see that. I thought the rain was fantastic, and secretly I hope we have a small scale monsoon so that I can call Camp Hillard and say I can't come into work because I am stuck in India in a monsoon. That is an excuse if I have ever heard one!

Funny story: If any of you know me, a lot of people at school make fun of me for being able to walk anywhere and run into at least five people I know on the way, and actually stop and have a conversation with each of them. Well, last week (at least I think it was last week but who knows since sense of time is pretty much out the window right now) I was riding in a rickshaw with Diana and Kelly, and walking down the street I see the wife of Mehule (the music instructor). I waved to her and she waved back! I ran into someone I knew on a random street in Gujarat, India. Freaking great. Also, every time we go to Vadilal for ice cream (a place similar to a soda pop shop) we see Naresh (whose other name is Manu) - the coolest rickshaw driver. He just is able to find us nearly every time we go somewhere. Its pretty awesome.

Last week I got henna on my left arm and both my ankles/feet, but it is starting to fade. I may decide to get my hand done again before I go back home but I am not sure. I think we are all pretty henna-ed out right now. I believe I have also hit around the 1000 picture mark, or at least that is what my Iphoto tells me. Get ready for some epic facebook picture albums when I get back. It is hard to believe we only have a week and a half left here. I feel like we just got here! I already know that it will be terribly difficult to leave this place and the people I have met here behind. I mean where else will I get to fall asleep outside on the balcony of a palace on a cot under the stars listening to the lone chords of a guitar?