Day 21

So my dad left yesterday afternoon back for home, and I'll be leaving for Singapore tomorrow morning. It's different and a first staying with my grandparents alone. My grandmother sits out in the front in the sun for hours. People here treasure the sun.. whenever we went to someone's house, I would ask where the sun comes. I only started asking bc I realized just about eveyrone knows! They know the location of the sun at certain times in respect to their house. Well it's nice, I just finished eating a pomegranate. But I mean I get restless, and being overly carefree makes me uncomfortable sometimes lol.
My grandfather (my Baba) reads the newspapers and magazines outside. Hes always reading something. Or he's always talking. Last night he told me all these random stories and all the countries he has been to. He's actually been to North Korea! (if you don't know, rarely do people leave or get in.. its listed as one of the most isolated countries in the world) Him and another prof were invited to visit, more like given tours of fake hospitals fake markets fake universities to make a good impression. My grandfather said they weren't allowed to leave the house without an escort, weren't allowed contact with locals, and couldn't wander around. Letters were screened and didn't even reach my grandmother til after he had already returned. People are barely allowed any contact with the outisde world.. phones are limited. Professors are pretty much told what to teach and when my grandfather started praising a professor he had met, the professor said stop, I will get in trouble, only praise the Great Leader. How hardcore is that! way sketch.
My grandfather is well-known in lots of places, he's extremely accomplished. He ranked first in the entire state of Uttar Pradesh in International Commerce when he was 19. He became a professor of commerce & international business and then became Director of the Delhi School of Economics. He has been invited to many embassies in Delhi- I was looking at his business card holders and there are business cards of ambassadors of algeria, japan, suriname, netherlands, australia blah blah. He's retired now, and so when I asked why he won't move to the US, he says that his network is here. Old students and other retired profs come over all the time to talk.. i have had to meet many during this trip. (the teacher-student relationship here is way more revered here than in the US.) All the gate people stand up and address him every day. I can tell things like that make him happy haha he definitely likes being recognized. But he's extremely disorganized, doesn't listen, and is an even worse debater. He'll tell a story to anyone who listens. Well you don't even have to be listening, I was watching a movie and he was still talking! Haha slightly annoying but what are you gonna do.

Day 18

You dont realize how eventful a year has been until you really start to think about it. And while youre thinking through it all, you also realize how long a year is lord. Naturally I tried to trick myself into not thinking about the sucky stuff. I have enough lists to remind me. But I found lots of good and neat things of the 07.. like I flew 21 times and travelled in 11 countries! not including random stopovers lol. and Taj was his cutest this year, especially since he talks alot more now.. I guess there was only one other year to compare to but still. anyways I'm beyond excited for the beginning half of this year haha. Happy New Years!
I had to rewrite this bc as I was writing it yesterday, the power went out and the backup electricity or whatever doesnt think the computer is necessary. LAME.