Safe in India

I'm here. The last two or three days before I left, I couldn't imagine why I wanted to do this, but now I remember. In spite of the heat and humidity I am happy. I had my haircut today by my favorite barber in the whole world and he remembered me. I had my shoes shined by my favorite shoeshiner in the whole world (my shoes hadn't been shined since he last did it in January 2007) and I'm not sure if he remembered me. He was training his son at the same time he was shining my shoes and he was a little distracted, but he still did a great job.
I flew from Los Angeles to Newark. At Newark, the plane was 15 hours late in departing due to a storm in the Atlantic. They put us up in a hotel but by the time that was arranged I only managed four hours of sleep. Fortunately, the plane was not that full and I had three seats to myself so I could stretch out. I slept intermittently, read Vanity Fair, and studied Hindi.
Why Vanity Fair? Because Jos Sedley, Amelia's brother, and Dobbin, Amelia's second husband, both spend time in India and the Empire spreads its shadow over the book. I first read Vanity Fair in college when I was about 20 and wasn't much interested in India or Empire. Now I am amazed how the Empire colors 19th century English fiction. I've also recently read Wilkie Collins, The Moonstone and Dickens, Edwin Drood.
I've been working on a blog for months about "going native," and this reading is part of that project. Perhaps something I might have something interesting to say about it, but right now I am struggling with sleep deprivation, heat and humidity. I am now going up to my air-conditioned room and perhaps by the next time you hear from me I will be cooler and better rested.
All I really want to say tonight is I'm here, I'm happy, and already it has been worth the trip.