But man these times are hard

(I'm going to try to pull an analogy that may or may not work.) Recently I've been listening a lot to a song by the Script called The First Time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPEBN2dVNUY&ob=av2e. The song is relatively melancholy but eventually redemptive about a relationship that is going through difficult financial and emotional struggles. The analogy: we're just going to pretend that I'm in some form of relationship with India, or maybe I should say Jaipur. The premise of the song is even amidst difficult the couple enjoys drinking cheap bottles of wine and staying up all night, and in these simple and joyous moments it's as if they are meeting for the first time.  The title of this post comes from they lyrics "we're trying to make it work but man these times are hard". I've struggled, lost, and gained in the fight to not only make India work but have it be a good experience. I wrote a blog earlier on about appreciating the small things here. This has continued. At least once very day there is something that makes me smile (even when I'm close to tears) weather Indian music blasting on loud speakers to celebrate the Lord Krishna holiday, making funny faces with Menna, the sweet smile of a young girl when she waves at us when we come to the neighborhood market or sun rays breaking through the monsoon clouds.

Last night was awesome. A friend of mine from Northwestern, Nicole, came to Jaipur to see me for the evening into the next morning on her way back to Delhi. We had an awesome time catching up about all sorts of things. It was wonderful to have a piece of home here in India, but not in a way that made me homesick, but just made me enjoy my time here all the more.

Market by our house

More pictures of beautiful sunsets

NICOLE!!!!!!!! <3