vipassana buddies?

Last night, I was standing at the edge of the ashram, which overlooks the rapidly flowing Ganges. This, after eating dinner in silence next to an old Indian woman who either doesn't speak English or isn't very friendly. I was standing there watching the river flow, lamenting (however irrationally) my loneliness and isolation. I came seeking "authentic yoga," but perhaps this was too authentic for me? As I was strolling back to my room to read Anna Karenina and go to sleep, I crossed paths with three men. One of them engaged me in conversation. He's very Lali-like. (Lali is my nutty Indian/Vedic palm reader friend that I met three years ago in California.) What can I say? I guess I have a knack for attracting middle aged South Indians.

Anyway, his two friends are closer to my age, but neither of them speaks much English and I speak zero Hindi, so there was a lot of smiling and bowing. The talkative one, Jeevan, is a part-time astrologer and a full-time meditator. When he inquired about the style of meditation I practice, I said vipassana. He then invited me to come along to a 10-day silent course they are going to on the 4th in a nearby town. I am considering it, obviously not for the company (men and women are segregated and you can't talk anyway), but because I think I would benefit greatly from another vipassana course. The first one I took was a year ago exactly. So, I've emailed to inquire about attending and am hoping to hear back tomorrow. I'm also hoping my bag will arrive at the ashram this evening.

Sometimes the power here goes out suddenly, and it just did. Somehow, the computer did not shut off. But just in case, I'll sign off now. Namaste, USA!