oct 31st sat at the apt 6:45 am

EDDY, MARY, FRANCOIS, AND MARIE JUST LEFT FOR 7AM CLASS WHICH F IS FILMING. I SITTING BY THE BARRED WINDOWS ON THE 9TH FLOOR AND AM ENCHANTED BY THE HYNDREDS OF BIRDS WHICH HAVE JUST SWEPT BY OUR WINDOW SCREECHING LOUDLY. THERE IS ALSO A PARROT COUPLE WHO VISIT US IN THE MORNING. THEY ARE SMALL AND GREEN WITH RED TRIM (LIKE PEPE, THE PARROT WHO BIT PAPA WHEN WE LIVED IN MEXICO AND WAS BANUSHED TO A FRIEND'S GARDEN).

I'M ANXIOUS TO START CLASSES AT RIMYI MONDAY! STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE BEGINNING TO ARRIVE. IT'S VERY EXCITING.

COOK IS OFF FOR THE WK-END BUT THAT'S OK. INDIAN FOOD IS GOOD BUT GETS TIRESOME DAY AFTER DAY. I FIND MY FAVORITE FOOD IS FRUIT. I BUY MANGOS, PINAS, AND THE TINY SWEET BANANAS EVERY DAY. I ALSO EAT THE FRESH YOGURT DAILY AND STOP RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR BUILDING TO HAVE THE COCCONUT VENDOR SLICE OFF THE TOP OF A GREEN ONE SO I CAN DRINK THE JUICE. COST IS 15 RUPEES. WE HAVE OATMEAL, NUTS, OJ, DRY MUSELI, EGGS, INSTANT SOUPS. MY ROOMIES HAVE ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT A VERY NICE RESTAURANT JUST 5 MINUTES AWAY WHICH SERVES GOOD ITALIEN FOOD AND WHERE IT IS SAFE TO EAT SALAD. DINNER IS ABOUT 300 RUPEES OR A LITTLE OVER 5.00.

MY MISSION FOR TODAY IS TO FIND A COPIER AND GET 2 COPIES OF MY STAMPED VISA, PURCHASE ALCOHOL FOR MOSQUITO BITES AND TO WASH MY TOOTHBRUSH IN, NEEM TOOTHPASTE, AND LAVENDER INSECT REPELLENT (NON TOXIC) FOR EVENING PRANAYAMA WHEN TINY MOSQUITOES COME IN THE OPEN BARRED WINDOWS AND BITE THE STUDENTS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE SOME REGULAR BUG KILLER AS I SAW A COCKROACH IN MY ROOM LAST NIGHT. TELL ME HOW DOES A COCKROACH MAKE IT'S WAY UP 9 FLIOGHTS OF STAIRS?

OH I FORGOT, WE HAD A POWER FAILURE WHICH CONTINUED OFF AND ON ALL DAY AND I WAS JUST GETTING IN THE LIFT WHEN WE LOST POWER FOR SOME TIME. ALTHOUGH I HAD TO WALK UP 9 FLIGHTS I WAS HAPPY NOT TO BE STUCK IN THE LIFT WHICH IS TINY AND WOULD HAVE BEEN DARK!

I CONTINUE TO LOVE IT HERE AND NEVER FAR FROM MY MIND IS THE FACT THAT I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL AND LUCKY TO BE HERE! I BOUGHT A SWEATSHIRT FROM ABI LAST NIGHT AND SHE WAS AS FRIENDLY AND SWEET AS COULD BE AS WELL AS BEAUTIFUL. ABI IS THE HEIR APPARANT OF THE NEXT GENERATION. BYE FOR NOW. L