Finally getting off campus!

I feel like there is so much to write about but i have a really difficult time collecting all of my thoughts and memories, so here is my real first try. Good news... we finally got cell phones! We also got our "wonderful" bikes which required at $75 refundable deposit, though they are clearly not worth that. We started our class shopping period which is both intimidating and enlightening at the same time. I attended a cognitive psychology course and I really enjoyed it, so I will for sure be taking that course. I am also planning on taking an advanced buddhist philosophy course, a yoga course (yes for credit!), and conversational hindi. Tomorrow (monday here) will be a busy class shopping day, as I have arranged my schedule so the bulk of my classes fall at the beginning of the week. This leaves friday, saturday, and sunday for travel!
We have done several orientation activities, some fun and some not so much. Yesterday we had a mini navigation tour of the city, where we were split into groups of four and were given a route we had to take to a specified destination in the city. Of course we had a guide of some sort, who showed us what to do on the way, and we had to remember how to get back. My group and I biked to the main gate of campus, got on a 6 seater rickshaw, got off and walked to a "bus station" (the shoulder of a busy street), got on a bus, got off the bus and then turned around and went back. Instead of taking the 6 seater rickshaw back, we took a 3 seater, but still fit 6 people in it! I was hanging on for dear life as 3/4 of my body was hanging out of the vehicle. It was a very overwhelming 2 hours, but of course it was informative, and fun to be off campus.
On new year's eve we went to Fab India, an upscale clothing store with traditional Indian attire and we were given 3,000 rupees to get whatever we wanted. After nearly 3 hours of shopping, we went to our first restaurant in India where it was all decked out for new years. We ended the night early, and just barely made it to midnight. It was weird not watching the ball drop in time square.
Now the cost of things here is so low! I bought a lamp and a bed spread for $15 total. I am so happy about my new lamp because the bright overhead florescent lights were not doing it for me.

Tomorrow I am beginning the 3 month yoga certification course, where students are able to get certified to teach yoga. I am very excited about this, as the course will get me up bright and early because it goes from 6-7am! I am feeling more and more adjusted to this new place, but I still have moments of loneliness each day. Oh, a big let down...I did not pack my usb cord for my camera, so I am unable to upload my pictures until I purchase a new one.

Happy new year everyone, stay warm!