I got to the apartment today and no one was there. I sat, for a while on the stairs with my luggage, until someone came to let me in. The apartment has no air conditioning, no screens, no ventilation, and not a lot of light. There is a small patio in back, it is old and in disrepair, but it has a patio swing and that’s where I have spent some of my time.

Some people I have met are incredibly nice while others are far from it. Most speak some English, but a lot of them don’t speak it well enough for me to understand them and vice versa.

The internet café at Pune Central, just down the street, does not have internet access. It will not be working for an undefined amount of time. I miss my family and don’t like being disconnected from them.

I haven’t yet found a restaurant that is walking distance, or at least none that I have been able to find. I have no food in the apartment, except for my remaining granola bars. Stray dogs roam the streets, loud birds (I think they are myna birds) have been calling to each other all day. They are now just settling in for the night. Someone started playing the drums, the car horns have quieted. Goats from someone’s yard have begun calling. I am alone, disconnected on this first day in my apartment, struggling to adapt.

3:55 a.m.
It’s 3:55 am on June 1st. Although it is still dark, someone’s roosters have started calling, the myna birds are screeching at each other again, and a pack of stray dogs are howling. I am hungry….tired…. I miss my family. I have sent numerous texts but no one has responded. I don’t know if any of the texts are getting through.

I watched a portion of the street collapse yesterday. A car was driving on the road and then it was IN the road. The entire front of the car was in a hole. It seems one of the very large sewer grates just gave way and took the car with it.

At the end of the street there is a large ‘pond’ of open sewer water. Depending on the wind direction its odor drifts into my apartment. (I should be thankful there is any wind at all!) There is construction going on everywhere on this street, (even in front of the Institute) making it very difficult to get around.

Today will be my first day at the Institute. My body feels stiff and resistant; my mind apprehensive.

Going back to bed…