School's Cancelled For Dancing

Traditional Garb All Day

So any time class is cancelled it is obviously going to be a good day. Today, though, was quite an experience. Bhasha Utsav is a day where classes at Christ University are cancelled and everyone comes to school in their traditional garb. There are students from over 40 countries, so you can only imagine the amount of colors that were there. So this morning we had to get up way way way  too early to head to school because we have no idea how to wrap a sari. So of course the rickshaw driver didn't know how to get to our school, even though it's right up the street, so he dropped us off at the mall and we had to like it the rest of the way (like 15 minutes). Even though we were going to be late apparently Jacob (our resident director) decided

Manoo and Hannah

that we were going to all get breakfast. We headed out to eat really quick then back to school with Hiral (a student here that helps us out, she's fabulous and sooo helpful and patient with us). We spent too much time attempting to wrap ourselves in our saris and Hiral just ended up wrapping each of us in ours so it was right and wouldn't fall off (although some did!). She was late and we all felt terrible, but we saw her later and she looked gorgeous and she wasn't mad at all (which was amazing because she was really really late). We headed into the streets to join in the parade that was happening through campus. It was packed and we represented the US, Canada, Denmark, Australia, and the Philippines. After that we headed to the auditorium to watch the cultural presentations, which was basically like the International Dance Festival we have at UMaine. It was amazing to say the least, but the fun was still to come!

Family Photo

Heading back out to campus it was a mob scene. Literally. There were people everywhere. I mean, there's 14 thousand students that attend the university and, if I had to guess, most of them were there today to celebrate. We pushed our way down the steps and down to the Junior College Building (where the USAC students, us, have all of our classes), and stood at the bottom of the steps to wait for the music to start. The music was a drum and arabian horn band and they were badass. It was so loud and everyone was feeling the music and dancing so much it was crazy. THe photo to the left is only a glimpse of the people dancing in ONE part of campus. There were bands like the drum core at three different locations, and each spot was just as crowded. Actually, all of campus was this crowded, and dancing. So of course I pushed my way to the front with my friend/roomie Melissa and we stood right next to the band and jammed. The others caught up to us eventually and we were invited to join so many dances with the other students. They were really eager to teach us how to

move like an Indian, or a Nepali, or whatever other cultures they were from. Also, EVERYONE wanted to take pictures with us. Everyone. No joke, probably close to thirty people asked to take a picture with us, it was hilarious! You all know how I hate getting my picture taken... NOT! Hahaha so of course I was loving it, and people were laughing about it. One person would come up and ask if they could get a picture with us and of course we said yes, then five more would join in. Gonna be in so many people's profile pictures! BOOM! All of our friends were dressed up and it was so cool. THe Middle Eastern outfits were legit, and of course the Indian ones were beautiful and colorful. Although, I have to say, Saris are not comfortable at all and are so hot and hard to walk in. You are basically wrapped up in six meters of fabric. It has to be wrapped and tucked and folded perfectly or it will fall off. So complicated. They look really neath, though, so we suffered through. Throughout the day, though, they would fall off a bit, or start to slip. In India, appearances are really important, so whenever

The Lady Helping Hannah in the Bathroom

that would happen someone who was around would step up to help us out. We had people we had never met before just come up to us and start fixing out outfits. It was hilarious and a great way to meet new people. After moshing around a bit, grabbing a bite to eat, heading to the cellphone kiosk, then back to campus we headed to the mall for some coffee. I changed out of my sari because I was too hot and the chub rub was getting a little out of hand, but Hannah, Melissa and Katie stayed in theirs. While we were sitting and drinking our coffee a woman came up to us and wanted to just sa that she was really impressed that we were wearing the garb and wanted to thank us for trying and respecting the Indian tradition. It was really neat. Hannah and I made a trip to the restroom and while we were in there the lady who cleans there

Hiral Helping Us With Our Saris

saw Hannah's sari and just started to work on it. She basically redid the entire thing, which was so hilarious (see photo). At the end she asked my opinion, and of course it was flawless. It was so funny, she was like pulling safety pins out of her pockets and everything to make this look nice. After we decided to just head home to hang out with the apartment next door, Sandy, and Captain America (aka Abhishek) (where we are now) and on our way back a lady stopped us to fix Melissa's sari. It was so funny, she was laughing and we were laughing, it was priceless. Pretty sure they are just embarrassed for us and that's why they help, but regardless it is funny and helpful, and a really great icebreaker. Today, all in all, was really exciting, even though we only did a few things. The dancing though was so much fun. The vibrant colors, and the different outfits and traditions, the different languages and attitudes, but everyone coming together to share their culture, was absolutely amazing. Tomorrow we have a full day too. Even though it's Saturday we have class from 9:30 until 12:30, then a meeting at 12:30 (oh yeah, I am the organizer of a business conference with Melissa. Come on now, I can't give

Performers for the Festival

up leadership opportunities just cause I'm in India, you know me; if it's not Team Maine it's gotta be something else! So after that the roomies and I, and probably Sandy (who is the tall guy in all my photos if you haven't gathered that so far) and maybe Raskin and Captain America, are all heading to Commercial Street to get the rest of our shopping done, then we are heading to an African party with my new friends Ibrahim, Yann, and Flavin (from the Ivory Coast) invited us to. We are going with the boys, so no worries on the sketch factor, and it should be really interesting; I am excited! Sunday should be nice and relaxing which will be ver welcome after the hectic weekdays I have! Anyways, going to head to bed now because of class in the morning, but keep in touch, I miss you all!!

Today, my life is just Shelby.