Let the games begin!

In her book, "Snakes and Ladders: Glimpes of Modern India," Gita Mehta draws a comparison between the ancient board game Snakes and Ladders (also known as Chutes and Ladders) and India's first fifty years as an independent nation, both of which she characterized as having joyous highs followed by dismaying, or in some cases disastrous, lows. As I read her descriptions of the"roller-coaster ride" experienced in both areas, I couldn't help but contemplate the ride that waits for me in India. As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant living and working in Kolkata for nine months, I know I will experience the ups and downs, the ladders and snakes, that come with adjusting to life in another culture. And while I hope this blog will 1) keep my family and friends up-to-date with my adventures and 2) provide helpful information to prospective Fulbright ETAs, there is also a more personal reason for documenting my experiences; when sliding down the snakes, it will remind me of the ladders I've climbed and when perched atop a ladder, it will help me appreciate how far I've come while gazing at the snakes below. In five, short hours, it's time to roll the dice!