Hindi class and JNU

This past week has involved a lot of activity. Since we got back from our Mussoorie trip, we've started our Intensive Hindi class in the afternoons. We have a great teacher who is very proficient in both languages, and is able to explain some of the cultural intonations that go into learning a language so different from many western languages. As of now, we've almost gotten through the entire 48-character alphabet, including vowels, and can read and write in Devangari script. We've also learned several useful phrases and this week we're tackling grammar.

Aside from Hindi class, we've been doing some touring at other Universities in Delhi where we have the opportunity to take classes outside of the classes offered through the IES program. So far, I've been most impressed with the sociology classes offered at JNU. JNU is a graduate school named after Jawaharlal Nehru - the first prime minister of India (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawaharlal_Nehru). The class I'm looking to take is called "Social Stratification in India" and focuses a lot on class discussion to help us understand the reading. Because it's a graduate school, the students seem a bit older, but the campus is beautiful and I'm definitely looking forward to studying in that atmosphere.

Next week, some of us have a big break in our schedule. They left us some free time because some students are moving into homestays, and some have already started classes at JNU. A handful of us have decided to hop on a train to Northern India, where we're planning on taking a tour from Amritsar in Punjab to see the Golden Temple, to Dalhousie, to the beautiful mountains of Dharamsala, to Manali, and finally landing in Kullu where we'll take a train back to Delhi. The whole trip will last 9 days and 8 nights. The few of us who are going are so excited, and will be taking tons of pictures all around.

Gotta go get some lunch before Hindi class, I'll write more later!

written by  Indiestani on July 30, 2008 from New Delhi, India
from the travel blog: New Delhi
tagged Hindi and Jnu
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