then and now

Well, by now most of you have heard of the wonders of my new apartment. "Apartment" is rather generous--it has the feel more of a hotel room with a kitchenette in its size, shape, and amenities than an actual apartment--but who needs space or windows? I am just grateful to have a/c, internet, and, yes, TV (a luxury to which I am unaccustomed in the US). The place I was previously living was much more basic, but quite charming in its own way. Here's a little before-and-after comparison for you:





quite a difference, eh?

The aformentioned kitchenette leaves some things to be desired, but it has allowed me to cultivate some splendid new cooking skills. It has a microwave, a malfunctioning hot plate, and an electric tea kettle. Last week when the hot plate blew one of the household's main breakers twice, it was sent out for repairs. In the interim, I learned how to cook eggs in the microwave and "steam" veggies by pouring boiling water over them. This evening I drained a pot of pasta with a tea strainer.

On an unrelated note, I successfully made my first batch of homemade yogurt overnight last night. This is a very simple skill, but one I've never had any luck mastering in India. All you have to do is boil the milk to kill whatever microbes are in there, cool it to a lukewarm temperature (but, as I've discovered through multiple failed attempts, it must be the RIGHT lukewarm temperature), stir in a spoonful of yogurt, and leave it somewhere warm overnight so the yogurt cultures can multiply. The climate here is ideal for it; in the US you have to use a special little machine that maintains a warm temperature.

The research has taken a turn away from what I was doing before. Having finished a round of interviews, I am now doing some analysis and compilation for the next phase while my research assistant is out of town visiting her family. In all, there will be about a week of downtime. As someone who thrives on staying busy, I am already getting a little antsy. Luckily for yours truly, there is a veritable parade of friends coming through Delhi this week. It's true what they say about India--once you've come here, you always end up returning...