Elephants are great blessers

I got blessed by an elephant.  Isn’t that cool?  They take their trunk and tap you on your head.  I got blessed twice.  I petted his trunk too.  Oh, and before, I fed a goat.  I picked leaves and threw them at him.  I threw them closer and closer and closer, until he was eating right out of my hand.  It was really remarkable.  I also saw a monkey open a bottle.  It was even a baby monkey.  It had the bottle.  Then it began to twist it.  Then the top just popped right off.  Then it began to lick the cap, just like I do.  Then it began to try to drink out of the bottle.  It was so awesome.

Trash in Style

So, I saw a “Trashion Show”, which is pretty much a fashion show except all clothes must be made out of trash.  Some did not look like trash at all.  Plenty of them wore rain gear.  There were also many dresses, lots of recycled CDs, and one set of jewelry.  Some of the models were kids.  I sat right at the end of the runway so I got to see everyone close up.Preview

 

Polar Bears – Really?

The one thing I did not think I would see while I am here.  Actually, it was the cutest puppy in the world.  It was white and fluffy – the cutest little thing.  And these kids were holding it.  They said the puppy’s name was “Puppy”.

I saw the puppy at Mamallapuram, where we went to pick up the college students.  Here's a video about our time there.

It's PONGAL!!

It's Pongal!  Aren't you excited?!  Aren't you?  Aren't you?  Oh, I forgot.  You don't know what Pongal is.  It's a harvest celebration that goes on for three to four days.  It's kind of like Thanksgiving.  And that's pretty much it.  Oh!  I forgot.  You get to eat sugarcane.  It's so...  so.... good!  It tastes like ... well, like ... SUGAR!  People also wear new outfits each day of Pongal, even jewelry.  Happy Pongal!!
 

I have never sweated more in my life

I ran 2k - more formally known as two kilometers - yesterday.  We actually kind of ran 3k because the people kept sending us in the wrong direction.  My dad ran with me.  He came in first among the grown-ups.  He also came in last, because he was the only grown-up to run.
 

Visiting Pondy

• P = People (lots)
  
• O = Odd
• N = Neat
• D = Damp (it was raining)
• Y = Yummy (food)
• C = Cookoo
• H = Hot
• E = Everything
• R = Rumbling
• R = Rupies
• Y = Yelling

That is what Pondycherry is - people and yummy food.  There's a really cool fish market.  It is so cool, with squid and shrimp and all these flowers.  A man gave me a rose.  So did another man.

I was Pema's servant and brought her clothes to try on.  It took forever for her to pick out an outfit.

We got lunch in Pondy and I got a "Rocket Dosai"and some spicey stuff.  Dad got all these spicey things and Pema got a regular dosai.  For dinner, I got this chicken thing that people said wasn't spicey, but it was.
 

Catching up on Videos

Hi.  This is Daniel, Simone's dad.  I've been taking some videos and would like to share them with folks reading this blog.  Enjoy!

Morning Prayers


Traveling to Auroville


Puja for New Kitchen


Tour of our Home Space


Afternoon in Pondycherry

First day at school

Today was my first day of school.  First, we went in a big circle and prayed.  After that, I went to the library for 20 minutes.  Their library was actually pretty nice.  You go up these windy stairs and they have a lot of great books.  Then we went to music.  We sang these really cool songs.  One of them was "Hey, ho, nobody's home.  No meat, no drink, no money have I none..."  Another was "Let it be" by the Beatles.  Then snack.  For snack, we had some sandwiches and something else I forgot.  Then we had spelling.  I worked in a spelling book.  It was pretty easy.  At math, I worked in a book.  It was easy too.  Then we had lunch.  For lunch I had spaghetti and chocolate cake.  Then Dad picked me up.  It was great day.  I think I made a good friend too.  Goodbye.
 

New things

A few days ago, some new things happened. 

1. I rode a motorcycle for the first time.
2. I went to the awesomest pool in the world.  Tt even had a diving board and I dove like a 100 times.
3. I went to a dog and puppies center and I may be able to work there.
   

First observations

Here are some first things that I notice are different in India.

1. The houses are different.  I walk out my bedroom door and I see a garden in the middle of the house. 
2.  People drive on the left side of the road.
3. There are no lines on the road.
4. Not many people listen to the speed limit.
5. Their money is different than ours.
6. Some Indians carry things on their heads.
7. Dogs, puppies and cows roam the streets.

I'll share more observations later.