Mullings

So in about a month and a half, we'll be off! I've never participated in bloggery before, so I'm looking forward to the experiment. After our collective introductions via email, I'm excited about the variety of interests represented by our group. I think I'm right in remembering more than a few Anthropology and/or Communication-esque majors, which makes perfect sense. But I'm glad to see that AIIS didn't limit their prospects to a certain major or two.

I've been to India before - last summer, for two weeks - but such a short trip hardly gave me a chance to form a first impression. While I won't be able to stay after the three-week workshop is over like some of us, I am excited about revisiting some of the places in Delhi I wanted to spend more time observing. And, typical girl, I want to shop. Oh, how I want to shop.

I think what I'm most excited about is being able to observe Islam's role in India society in addition to merely reading about its significance in a book. I hope I'll have the nerve to ask all of the questions that will pop up while I'm reading. Maybe I'll post some of the questions or topics that I find interesting here, so we can discuss a little before the trip. Sound good? Well, in summary, I'm pumped. What are the rest of you looking forward to most?

I am online with blogging capability

Thanks whoever established this communication venue, Jonathon I assume. I am very excited about going. I cannot believe that it is only like 6 weeks before we leave.

AA

Pre-India

I am not sure how this blogging thing works, I guess I just ramble on about my thoughts and feelings and the like. I am super excited about India, but as time goes on I keep getting more concerns from people and thinking about things that make me nervous, so I just want to go already before anyone else warns me about curry. This experience will change our lives and since change is a catalyst to growth, I hope to come out of this opportunity having grown to be a better person. For so long I have read about people living in extreme poverty, suffering from terrible disease, and have planned on crusading around the world righting these wrongs. This will be the first experience I have of seeing for myself how other people live and getting to know and appreciate their way of life. I hope that this galvanizes my excitement to aid the injustices I have seen, rather than discourage me. I can't help people that I do not understand and respect. So cheers to step one in the process of fighting injustice!

I'm IN!

As of 3:11pm yesterday, I have officially been offered the opportunity to travel to India this summer!

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Dear Jonathon:

Congratulations! You have been admitted to the American Institute of Indian Studies summer workshop in India! We will be sending more details soon, but in the meantime, please let us know if you accept our offer of admission. Thank you.

Best wishes,
Elise Auerbach

American Institute of Indian Studies
1130 E. 59th Street
Chicago,IL 60637
http://www.indiastudies.org

The deadline

The American Institute of Indian Studies will notify applicants on or before May 10th. If I am selected, I will be posting updates to this blog.