jan 15, 2010

Thursday
Yesterday-day off.
We went into the city to do some shopping. We really had to take care of a few things, all of which we did! It was exhausting but we got delicious coffee and tibetan food.

I woke up this morning around 7:30-normal- got up and dressed.
Breakfast was hopeful and disappointing. A chipati and curd... the chipati is delicious, but the curd?
I gave in and went home for bread and peanut butter. I feel like it's a cop out, but i can't eat curd every morning.

Today was great- starting after breakfast. I got to class, we split into groups and get sent away to do a newspaper spread about the annular eclipse that was happening today. I went into town with Anis to photograph and report. TOok an hour to get into the city, and the planetarium was PACKED. Hundreds of people, tons of press, and everyone was in the really silly looking glasses, which soon became part of my look as well. People were friendly and let me take their photos, but I got stopped multiple times to be on the news and to let people take pictures of me looking at the sky with the ridiculous glasses on my face...

There were these pin hole boxes that projected the eclipse against a piece of tracing paper. We later found out that the shade from the trees were producing the same effect all over the ground. It was incredible.

This was the line to look through one of the many telescopes.

So, I got to be reporter photographer and interview/photograph people. In doing so, however, I was also a highly sought after subject to be photographed and interviewed. Someone would get my attention from across the park and motion for me to put the glasses on and look at the sky... haha

We got corn from a street vendor and a popsicle- 10 rps

We talked to a man whose profession is a sky meditator... He had a lot to say. APPARENTLY if you are watching the eclipse and you are aware that the sun rays on the eclipse are effecting you, than you will gain wisdom because instead of only using the normal 3-5% of our brain cells, alllllll of them open up and absorb wisdom during the eclipse.

I apparently got a lot smarter. Good thing he told me, or else I would have just been there for the spectacle.

Also, apparently when the mood blocks out the sun melatonin is released in the brains of birds which tells them its dusk and they should fly home.

this length of an eclipse (11 min. 8 sec)  wont occur until year 3043! Saros 141

We stayed at the school finishing the spread until 8:30, went home for dinner. I got to hear a lot more terror stories about yelahanka which is always ensuring, but i some work done which was needed.

Jan 12, 2010

the cockroaches

my new walk to school... i walk through a pretty neighborhood, a rundown apartment complex, down market road, down the road next to a trash dump- with wild buffalo if im lucky, past some smaller factories, more apartments (this picture), a school... more houses and tents... school!

the old campus-outdoor place for the elementary school kids to play.

I really want to play

I am pretty sure this is the faculty lounge, but we just go there for the free coffee and cookies... we assume they will tell us eventually

they washed our underwear and hung them all the way up our stairs

our front door- i really like our peep hole, although the first time the cleaning lady came, I went to the door and looked out, and her face was RIGHT in the little hole- which never happens- it was super startling.

emma gets stiches

the hospital. They made me and Mahima sit outside. YOu cant see it, but theres a cow hanging outside

the pharmacy

cow! in front of the hospital

some significant leaking going on

public transportation

lots of women

the ride into the city

public transport 2

commercial street

reebok- coming to yelahanka

my new way to school

roof of srishti

lots of solar panels going on over here

this was my old classroom for visual communication year three, now I am upstairs but it is more or less the same.

this is on my right, on my left is the burning trash piles

We may have a connection to go stay on a house boat for our three day weekend- which would be incredible, and we have finally met the girl who has moved into our house. Emma and I shaved our legs in a bucket last night, and I have been working lots on this website business, as well as reading Mcluhan- the media IS the message...

currently I am working on personas... for my website... making up people and aspirations and behaviors and feelings, coupled with their goals, what they want, who they want to be, how they want to feel... and how using my product will bridge that gap.

then we wireframe

jan 11, 2010

I have been sick the last few days and have not slept nearly as much as would be good. I think it is just the change in climate that has given me a cold and I know I should be drinking a lot more water. The last few days were fun and exhausting. It is hard to think about class and homework on the only day of the week without school. That’s not true. I am always thinking about class and schoolwork even on my day off, it is just much harder to make myself do the work. It is also hard to find a space at the neighbors house (internet) that is conducive to work.

 Otherwise, I have been doing a lot of sketches, I talked over my ideas with a few people, which is always helpful. This website class is great. I love the conversation and the teacher. Everyone is engaged. No one is on their laptop while we critique. People care about other projects and care enough to help, not just listen. It is a very supportive environment, and the class is only 20 people ish. Casual, conversation, the professor does not act above us in any sense. He sits with us and listens to us. I have a lot to do with my website business. I have tons of ideas, and need to work out the details and have it all make sense. I really want to start learning the coding- although im expecting it to be quite painful.

            There were things buzzing in both my ears last night and nothing I could do would make them go away. If I covered my ears, it was just louder, if I uncovered my ears it was still very distracting. It was hot. Benny hates the fan, but I am going to have to just turn it on if I want to sleep at all. The three of us are going to move our beds into the big room so it will be more cozy- hopefully… we will see.

            Food yesterday was great! We had bananas and toast (and fried eggs if you wanted). That was very exciting. Fresh fruit.

            

jan 10, 2010

woke up early and sat up on the roof with emma for many hours
eventually we went home and as soon as I had FINALLY gotten into the long awaited- slightly heated shower... I hear emma go "alyssa!?.... i need your help"...
 I poked my head out of the shower and asked what she was talking about, she opened her hand and it was covered in blood! gross
so I jumped out and played nurse, wrapped it up and applied lots of pressure and laughed for awhile. We went to her room- she had broken her window and now there was glass all over her bed. Lucky for us, a few minutes later Kris stopped by to say goodbye on her moped, Mahima and Benny were walking down the street.

Mahima, emma, and I went to the hospital and got her finger stitched up. That was an adventure, but they were all very nice. There were a ton of people in her room but they kicked us out. Cows wandered the street right outside, and a gecko played on the floor. Lots of children, but it was cool, and calm.

We were out within an hour and at a juice stand.

We then decided to go to the city- since we have no clothes. We took a bus and a rickshaw. The rickshaw was difficult, and when we finally got to commercial street more than an hour later, we all realized how exhausted and hot and hungry we were. We walked around a bit, stopped for some food, and went home- which was a really long way home. rickshaw and bus and waiting and walking and it makes you miss the luxury of a car-big time!

Jan 9, 2009

Woke up SICK
gross
and put peanut butter on a piece of bread
failed to make our instant coffee-haha
and got tea at Umesh's
walked to class
to class to class
emma and I skped with mike for a bit, which was entertaining
and went to my studio class
which is a loooong discussion about business and how to get paid to do design
which is exactly what I need to know.
we missed lunch today- because class was just so engaging- so im going to stop at the market, and hope that the man with the coconuts and straws is still there!

fingers crossed.

the class went out to eat with our professors. We talked a lot, and they answered a lot of questions. It was a small place on the side of the road, but the food was good. We ordered pepsi which came in a bottle that looks like it had been lost in the 70's in some warehouse and has magically now resurfaced... lots of character

I ended up going to Mahima's for a very long time after class. Highlight: she made me BLACK starbucks coffee, both of which don't exist here.

eventually we picked up everyone and went to the city- pebbles- which was great, super expensive for what we were expecting, but definitely worth it. Open air, huge party with crazy lights and dancing. Some of our professors were there... and a lot of the girls I had met before. We watched benny trance dance which was entertaining.

Eventually we left and road home via moped and car, we were locked out of our house and so we slept at Mahimas. Their house is incredible, so we hung out on the roof for a really long time and then an array of events and dancing took place before  eventual sleep.

Pictures!

auto rickshaw to school- a bit crowded

my walk to school- although its usually insanely busy and loud

to school to school- once I say bye to emma and benny

james gets a tile floor and a bucket to shower... we didnt realize how nice the floor and walls are until we went back to our house

this thing is responsible for heating some  water for showers... when we have water

from james' roof

roof roof

everywhere

this is our house

when we leave our house...