Part-Time Job, Hilter and Coconuts

Today starts the second week at the Ashtanga Institute. Here is a quick update of the past week:

Getting the bind in Marichyasana D fairly reguarly now (wahoo!), thanks to being called out in front of the whole class by Saraswati ("YOU... did you catch?") I didn't catch... but have been catching ever since.

Took a cooking class with the woman I am staying with. I now know how to make awesome Indian Thali (sidenote: pressure cookers are the bomb. Literally. How had I never heard of this phenomenal time-saving contraption before?). Below is an eggplant and potato vegetable dish, dal (from mung bean), rice roti, lemon-peanut rice, a beetroot dish and plain rice:

Finally got a coconut from the coconut stand outside the shala.

I have way too much free time on my hands. I am done class by 7am and then have the whole day free. I'm on a mission to find some interesting courses so I can take advantage of everything this place has to offer.

Took a part time job at a local cafe here (see point above). I thought it would be fun and a good way to meet people. The jury is still out on both.

Paid a few dollars to hang out at hotel pool all day (and took my first Rickshaw ride).

Have read a ton of books. Sarah Colonna is hilarious.

Learned that the swastika is actually a hindu symbol. It is a symbol of luck and it said to bring good fortune. Hilter twisted it's meaning (the word aryan is actually from the sanskrit word arya, meaning supreme/pure). It is everywhere. I keep meaning to tell you.

I'm still adjusting to this town. It is really spread out and is the complete opposite of Rishikesh. Everytime I need to go get something from the store, it's a long adventure. I am working on making friends but so far, not going so well. I asked a couple that I sat with at a cafe if this was their first time in Mysore and they said it was their 11th year. It definitely seems like most people have been here before and have their little groups already made. It's OK though, I have learned on this trip that I am a bit of a loner and kind of prefer it that way. However, the yoga school has told us several times now that yoga students should walk together in groups for safety. So I'm on a mission to make some friends that will go to the Mysore Palace with me. Will keep you updated!

Update: It has now been over 14 hour since I made the above post and am happy to report that I made some friends. After I posted early this morning, I went to get a manicure, pedicure and facial (since it is cheap, I had lots of time to kill and why not?). After the pampering I saw a facebook message from a French girl I sat beside at registration inviting me to her place to do massages and an osho meditation. I went, along with a few others and we had a great time. We learned how to do standing massages (i.e. one person lays down and the other massages with their feet), which I would highly recommend. Afterwards we had tea and then did an hour long active dynamic meditation (called "No Dimension"). It started with a 30 minute repetitive dance (and chant) and then we twirled for 15 minutes followed by 15 minutes of silence laying on our stomaches. I know it sounds crazy but it was good times and I liked the music. It was kind of like this (at least for the first part):