Arrived in India safely! A long flight made longer by the delay on the runway by two hours, but Air India was not as bad as everyone said. Lily says "the meals were good!" even though they were all spiced with interesting exotic flavors. My highlight was an old Clint Eastwood western and a glass of "whiskey". Choices were coke, sprite, oj and johnnie walker. Not a tough choice for me.

When we landed in Delhi we were greeted by our CCS host and taken via taxi to our flat. The HOT air hit us like a ton of bricks as we exited the airport..Lily and I guess at least 95 degrees. People everywhere were piled into buses, cars, rickshaws..whatever! 3 people on one bike!

Despite the fact that it seems "safe" here, the neighborhood compares to nothing I have ever seen in real life before. Dogs, kids, laundry, dirt, dust..very narrow passageways that feel like a labyrinth. We were the first of our flat to arrive at just about dinner time...which was at another building, so we dumped our bags in our room (two twin beds, two towels and an air conditioner! woohoo!) and proceeded down alleyways to dinner.

A VERY BASIC kitchen with a cook and our fellow volunteers sitting around a table met us with kind welcomes. Dinner consisted of spiced rice with vegetables, yogurt and sliced cucumber, tomato and onion. Lily was a trooper and ate it..two helpings! The volunteers that we have met so far are all in college..and I feel old! But it's very fun and feels like a true adventure now that we are here.

Lily and I tried logging into email earlier today and it did not work, but the aircard seems to be working now. It is 3:45 in the am here and of course we are awake..but did manage to get about 6 1/2 hours of sleep. We are expected at breakfast at 7:30 and our day from that moment on is scheduled and full. It begins with orientation, shopping for clothing and basic guidelines on what is expected of us. We will spend one more night here in Delhi and then fly to Dharamsala tomorrow morning. I am very much looking forward to getting to the mountains. Lily is presently writing in her journal with the help of a flashlight while eating gummy bears. We do have a healthy stash of candy but as Lily reminded me as I reached for my second piece of chocolate that "we have to make sure it lasts.." what self control! ..more to come.