Sorry for such a gap since my last post! This past week and a half has been filled with last minute trips/excursions, events around campus, and just plain exhaustion at the end of the day. So here goes!
I finally feel like I'm getting into a routine and stepping beyond the "I'm a vacationer" line. While the first two weeks were excitingly filled with trips, orientations, etc, it sure is nice to be a student creating her own daily schedule once classes are through.
That being said, it seems like I have way, way, way too much free time compared to school back in the states. The way classes are structured here much differently than I am accustomed to. Rather than having an exam every two to three weeks, there is generally one or two exams the entire semester. So right now, I find I actually have some time to breathe and do leisurely things.
Let me talk a little bit more about how classes are run. To give you an idea of where us "American Friends" (as one professor refers to us) are at, we have entered the Manipal University Masters in Public Health semester about three weeks in to their semester. Each year, the students take all of the same classes and move, more or less, as a herd. We, however, are only taking a small handful of their courses. This has resulted in much confusion on the professors' side. I think most of the kinks have been worked out after 2 weeks, maybe - slowly but surely, right?
Professors are much more highly respected here in India than the U.S. One component I seem to always forget is to stand when the professor enters the classroom. Whoops. I'm starting to remember, though! You must also refer to them as "sir" or "ma'am" whenever asking a question. It's a strange feeling to have the comforts of your home classroom be entirely turned upside-down. It seems the students have a secret way of knowing if classes are changed to a different building, or a certain assignment is due, while we are most of the time clueless, too. Wherever they are getting their information, I would really like to know. But for now, I'll just embrace what is beyond my power.
I've already learned many lessons in my short time here. I think the most important one is this:
If you have any sense at all, don't you dare forget to bring an umbrella with you at all times. Don't you EVER forget it.
Unfortunately, I have already forgotten and paid dearly. As it's still monsoon season, there are times when the sky will go from partly cloudy to torrential-downpour-I-just-gained-five-pounds-from-the-amount-of-water-soaked-into-my-clothes rain in a matter of 4 or 5 seconds. It quite impressive to see, actually...except when you left your umbrella hanging on the back of your door.
Aside from the monsoons, I'm loving the campus. I recently began using their state of the art fitness center and have been going every day! It's nice to have a routine to stick to, and I will certainly never run out of equipment to try! This two-year-old center has 5 stories, around 40 weight machines and lifting stations, and an entire floor of cardio machines! Talk about tough decisions to make.
I also start a yoga class on Monday night. It runs five days a week for a month and only cost 300 rupees (a little under $6) total. Anyone who has signed up for fitness classes before can join me in saying this is an incredible deal! I look forward to having a regular class since I have never done yoga before - and what better place to learn than India!
The last lesson I will talk about tonight is the art of crossing the street. In my mind, it's a lot like playing Frogger. Oftentimes trucks/buses/motorcycles/rickshaws/cars that should be on the left side of the road are on the right and vice versa (Also, they drive on opposite sides than the U.S. so I consistently look the wrong direction believing the coast is clear). This makes the game that much more difficult. But I've accepted the challenge and haven't been hit yet! Here's to hoping that is a trend which continues.
Alright, that's enough for now. I'm going to curl up with a good book and call it an early night. More to come soon!
Love,
Nikki
I finally feel like I'm getting into a routine and stepping beyond the "I'm a vacationer" line. While the first two weeks were excitingly filled with trips, orientations, etc, it sure is nice to be a student creating her own daily schedule once classes are through.
That being said, it seems like I have way, way, way too much free time compared to school back in the states. The way classes are structured here much differently than I am accustomed to. Rather than having an exam every two to three weeks, there is generally one or two exams the entire semester. So right now, I find I actually have some time to breathe and do leisurely things.
Let me talk a little bit more about how classes are run. To give you an idea of where us "American Friends" (as one professor refers to us) are at, we have entered the Manipal University Masters in Public Health semester about three weeks in to their semester. Each year, the students take all of the same classes and move, more or less, as a herd. We, however, are only taking a small handful of their courses. This has resulted in much confusion on the professors' side. I think most of the kinks have been worked out after 2 weeks, maybe - slowly but surely, right?
Professors are much more highly respected here in India than the U.S. One component I seem to always forget is to stand when the professor enters the classroom. Whoops. I'm starting to remember, though! You must also refer to them as "sir" or "ma'am" whenever asking a question. It's a strange feeling to have the comforts of your home classroom be entirely turned upside-down. It seems the students have a secret way of knowing if classes are changed to a different building, or a certain assignment is due, while we are most of the time clueless, too. Wherever they are getting their information, I would really like to know. But for now, I'll just embrace what is beyond my power.
I've already learned many lessons in my short time here. I think the most important one is this:
If you have any sense at all, don't you dare forget to bring an umbrella with you at all times. Don't you EVER forget it.
Unfortunately, I have already forgotten and paid dearly. As it's still monsoon season, there are times when the sky will go from partly cloudy to torrential-downpour-I-just-gained-five-pounds-from-the-amount-of-water-soaked-into-my-clothes rain in a matter of 4 or 5 seconds. It quite impressive to see, actually...except when you left your umbrella hanging on the back of your door.
Aside from the monsoons, I'm loving the campus. I recently began using their state of the art fitness center and have been going every day! It's nice to have a routine to stick to, and I will certainly never run out of equipment to try! This two-year-old center has 5 stories, around 40 weight machines and lifting stations, and an entire floor of cardio machines! Talk about tough decisions to make.
I also start a yoga class on Monday night. It runs five days a week for a month and only cost 300 rupees (a little under $6) total. Anyone who has signed up for fitness classes before can join me in saying this is an incredible deal! I look forward to having a regular class since I have never done yoga before - and what better place to learn than India!
The last lesson I will talk about tonight is the art of crossing the street. In my mind, it's a lot like playing Frogger. Oftentimes trucks/buses/motorcycles/rickshaws/cars that should be on the left side of the road are on the right and vice versa (Also, they drive on opposite sides than the U.S. so I consistently look the wrong direction believing the coast is clear). This makes the game that much more difficult. But I've accepted the challenge and haven't been hit yet! Here's to hoping that is a trend which continues.
Alright, that's enough for now. I'm going to curl up with a good book and call it an early night. More to come soon!
Love,
Nikki
