I Want To Ride My Bicycle

Okay so, everyone thought I would get skinnier here in India. It’s the opposite. I feel like I can feel myself packing on the pounds. Those of you at home who were worried about me in India or who thought I was skinny enough already may be happy. But let me tell you, I am not. I would have at least liked to maintain my weight. So finally, after much search and contemplation I found my solution to the expanding body problem. Exercise.
Yes, I know quite obvious. But here in India as a foreign woman it is much harder than you would think. For one thing, SYA has yet to sync itself with Vishaka Valley School's sports programs, so there are not organized sports for us to join. I then looked into gyms. They are either way too expensive, really sketchy, or too far away for the price to be worth it.
I voiced this problem to my host family, and the problem was solved. A bicycle. I now have two bicycles. A stationary one at home that my host father no longer uses and was in the basement of the apartment building. This is good because that is the only thing I would do at the gym anyway because of my knee, and this one if free. My second bike is a real cycle bike, equipped with its own little basket and everything. It was half the price of a new bike too, since my host father called a few friends to see if they had any extras lying around. I love it! It’s wonderful! Now I can actually get out and exercise.
So that is what I did today. I went out for a ride on beach road for half an hour. It was an experience. For one thing, everyone stares at you. But I'm used to that by now. Second, I was actually a part of the traffic, not just a bystander. I kept my ears perked for the tell-tale beep behind me, the voice of a driver trying to get by. I stayed to the side of the road the best I could. It was quite easy actually. The only trouble I had was crossing the street to begin my ride. Otherwise it was a straight road, nothing to worry about. But it was interesting being in the traffic and learning the way of these drivers. I can't imagine what I'll be like when I come back home just in time for drivers ed. Haha.
Much Love,
~ Jenna