Layover in London

So yesterday I finally posted on Facebook that I was going to India (mostly to see if anyone knew anyone in Delhi. The answer is no). But that post reaped a nice surprise: my friend Helena asked if I’d be stopping in London. I am.

I met Helena more than 10 years ago when we taught English in China, and I haven’t seen her since. She’s lived mostly in Asia, but recently moved back to England with her husband and newborn, which I’d completely forgotten.

Things I've learned from Groupon, BuyWithMe, Living Social and the like

I've spent the last year experimenting with discount sites, with a particular affinity for those that focus on silly activities. In fact, on the eve of my trip I'm making myself go to Zumba to use up my 10-workout class package (also, it's good for me). Anyway, here's what I've learned.

I am really bad at:

• Belly dancing
• Pole dancing
• Paintball
• Zumba
• Yoga
• Water yoga
• Skeet shooting
• Capoeira
• Aerial circus tricks (specifically, hoop and tissu)

I am OK at:

• Tai chi
• Jewelry making

I am surprisingly decent at:

• Kayaking
• Stand-up paddle boarding
• Writing long, legalistic letters to Travelzoo about why they need to refund me for my purchase because it's certainly not my fault the skydive company has gone out of business.

Going to India

As I usually say facetiously, but I mean it this time! Except I really do.

Late Monday night I bought a $720 one-way ticket to New Delhi. My flight takes off next Thursday at 9:15 pm and lands at 11:30 am on New Year’s Eve. I know what you’re thinking—one-way tickets are still that cheap this close to takeoff? ($720 is a good price; at best I’d get $1,200 round trip) And more importantly, will I make friends in time to have someone to hang out with for midnight? I know, it worries me too. I have this image of me alone, curled in a little ball, crying as the clock ticks down. “Happy New Year’s, Pauline,” I sniff to myself. Well, it’d have to be uphill from there.

I’m excited that I’ve finally locked myself into it. No more buying $100 visas just to not use them when I get a job. I still haven’t got much of a plan yet about India (though a charity I emailed a month ago just got back to me yesterday about possibly volunteering with them). I’ll figure it out.

In the meantime, I’m still moving out of my place (have to be out by today), taking typhoid pills, going to dance and workout classes for my final Groupon (I don’t know why this is such a priority, but it is), and just taking care of things. I’m not entirely sure where I’m leaving my car. I’m not sure what happens if I get rejected for health insurance. I haven’t fully thought through how to pay my taxes. But hey, I might hate India and only be gone one month. So I’ll take care of everything when I get back.

Running away to India for a bit

Yes, running away is probably the accurate term. Things all fell to hell recently, and I thought, I need to go away.

And isn’t India where people go when they run away, when they need to find themselves, Eat, Pray, Love-style? I'm kidding. India’s been in my head for years now, ever since I asked a backpacker on a round-the-world trip, “What’s your favorite place so far?” and he said, “India, by far. It’s amazing.”

That was good enough for me. I don’t even know much about the place, but I know I want to go somewhere vibrant, changing and challenging.