ek nayee bhaasha seekho

It has been two weeks since I landed back in India. Its my 3rd time back in this beautifully chaotic and often times smelly city of New Delhi. I began this time differently than my other journeys as I am returning this time not as an independent spirit but a scholar of a Fulbright Research grant. Not having to worry about airport transportation or where I was going to stay was a lovely experience. All the grantees were put up at a hotel here in Delhi for our 4 day orientation. I met a number of smart and talented grantees all with very specific and elaborate research interests to be conducted around India. Soon after orientation I headed down to the home I would be hosted in during my year long grant period which is conveniently located near to my Hindi School and affiliate research site. 

Part of my grant pays for 180 hours of intensive language training! So my first full week back I began Hindi Classes. I have a private tutor who immediately threw me into the deep end of Hindi language. I spend 4 hours a day/5 days a week in school and have been focusing much of my free time studying. It is absolutely critical that I am able to converse in Hindi before I begin my research towards the end of November. Hindi is a completely different language that uses devanagari script instead of the roman alphabet. Having to learn a whole new alphabet and writing style has brought me down to an elementary foundation of learning. I know that time alone will be my greatest friend during this time. After my 4 hours of class I spend 2 hours doing homework. That is about 30 hours a week! 

एक नई भाषा सीखो
(Learn a new Language)