'Indian' Home Stay Family

   We changed to a new home stay family.  I am staying with the only boy in our group, Andres, in an Indian family that is Hindu.  They are adorable.  There is a mom, a dad (who just returned from having surgery again on an injured leg) and a grown sister and brother.  The sister is married with two children and does not live with us, but her children are looked after by our mom and are at our house most of the time.  Our grown brother is funny and works during the days but we see him on the evenings.  

    Tomorrow they celebrate the Hindu holiday of Diwali where they make many offerings to their deities - who are in our homes, in a prayer room.  I chilled with the other cousins, sisters and aunts who were cooking all the food to be offered and the remainder will be eaten (by us and our family). It felt much like the bustle of my house before a chag, the moms and daughters cooking and calling each other etc, to hear the best way to prepare things.  I really enjoyed it. 

   Another large change is the language difference.  There isn't one in this family, which is a nice change and also a relief to not have to try so hard to understand everyone (although they still have a different accent)

  Today, I was connected to the World Conference of Religions for Peace which was a wonderful connection in terms of my Independent Study Project(ISP) that is quickly approaching.  I also met with a wodnerful professor who helped me a lot with ideas on readings and advisors.  

SO MUCH LOVE

Adina