Concerning the Children

As I've said, the kids are absolutely adorable here! They will just come up to you even if they've never seen you before and start talking with you and playing. I am struggling with learning/remembering names though, which is kind of bad. I have heard of some kids with especially interesting names. For example, there is Joseph Stalin and little Karl Marx (yes that's his real name!). But wait, the story gets even better. Karl Marx has a brother named John Kennedy and guess what--John Kennedy got kicked out of the Rising Star school for bad behavior! I thought that was hilarious!

The kids love getting their pictures taken and if they see you with a camera out all of a sudden you will be bombarded with "Aunty! Photo! Aunty! Another photo!"

I love to hear them singing at prayers, but some of them have troubles sitting still for the 15 or 20 minutes that they are required to while the teacher gives them a spiritual lesson. (I have some problems too! haha). Yesterday I was sitting next to two of my little girls when I looked over at a boy who was probably 12 or so. I winked at him--he stared for a minute and then smiled. I winked again and made another face and then turned back to the teacher to listen (even though I can't understand anything she is saying because she speaks Tamil to them). When I looked back at him, he was whispering to another little boy next to him and they both looked at me. Then the other boy winked back at me and started raising his eyebrows up and down. They are so cute!

Well I only have a few minutes, but I've finally made it here to the Rising Star Outreach campus. I have seen so many amazing things and experienced so many new sounds (still LOTS of cars beeping their horns) and smells and tastes! I can't even begin to describe it.

It is almost 3 PM and I am already exhausted! This morning my group went out to work construction in one of the closest leprosy colonies. It is also one of the most advanced ones out of all of them because there was already a wonderful woman working with the people there before Rising Star was started. Our task this morning was to move big concrete bricks by hand from one location to another one, a small hut, with each trip taking about 3 and a half minutes. These bricks will be put together in order to build a small bathroom (squat style, like all the bathrooms here!). Just in case you are wondering, I have pretty much mastered the art of the squat toilet, which is not as bad as I originally thought it would be. Thank goodness, we use toilet paper still, a vast improvement to the "left hand and water" technique that is common in India. I have to say, it is a lot better than peeing in the backyard, which the individuals in the colonies have been resigned to do because they have lost a lot of land to building and expansion.

It was hard work, with two sizes of bricks, the smaller one weighing probably 40 pounds and the larger one closer to 60 pounds. I could not believe the amount of sweat that was pouring off my face! The man promised a vehicle would come so we could load it up with the bricks instead of carrying them one by one. It FINALLY did, probably after an hour or so, which made the work a little easier but still very difficult.

Many of the villagers watched us as we trudged with our bricks, which I kind of expected (of COURSE they would want to watch a bunch of dumb Americans carry concrete bricks in such a slow way when they could probably do it a lot faster), but my favorite was these two little boys. They were probably two or three years old and SUPER CUTE! They each picked up a little rock and put it up to their eye, pretending the stone was a camera and they were taking pictures. I would have taken their picture, but my battery died!

I am learning to appreciate the small things here--there was a teeny shop on the side of the road that sold cold sodas, among other little items. I'm not much of a soda drinker, but that ice-cold 7-Up never tasted so good as when I got it during a small break we were taking! Also, I have learned to love the bucket showers here at the hostel. It was so refreshing to be able to rinse off all the grit and grime that had accumulated on my sweaty body and put on a clean outfit!

I also am gaining a deep love for the people here already. I love their little mannerisms, like the way they bob their head with a funny confused-looking face that means yes. Before construction, we got to visit a little art school in the colony. The artists themselves have been infected by leprosy, but their paintings are absolutely beautiful, and the people are beautiful as well. Last night I got to play with the kids here at Rising Star and help some with their homework and in getting ready for bed. They are absolutely adorable! They call all the volunteers "aunty" or "uncle", and from the moment I stepped on the playground they had completely accepted me, saying "Aunty! Look how high I am!" or "Aunty! Play this rock game with me!" I got to experience a beautiful moment yesterday, as the children gathered for prayers and scripture study after play time. They sang a few songs in their native language, but also sang the hymn "I Stand All Amazed." It was absolutely wonderful to hear all those little voices sing about the love of our Savior. It is hard to see people here in such poverty, but I know that Jesus Christ loves them and is mindful of them, just as He is of everybody else.

One thing that is freaking me out a little bit is the probability that I will get lice (which virtually all the children have), especially since I have been paired with a "family" of about 15 little girls. It is a 50/50 chance! I would definitely love it if I could somehow return home without getting lice, but I guess we'll see how it goes. Now, I can feel myself getting a little paranoid at every little itch on my head!

Here are just a few of the photos I've taken so far..

6:54 AM (Brussels), 11:24 AM (Chennai), 9:55 PM (Monterey), 11:55 PM (Chicago)

Well I've always heard of the concept of jet lag, but never imagined what a strange effect it has on the body. Now I'm experiencing it firsthand! I was already messed up from traveling to Chicago from Monterey and from being sick, but now I feel utterly confused! When we departed from Chicago it was early evening, but early morning in Inida. Now we are half an hour away from arriving in Brussels and I just had a lovely breakfast of croissants while watching the sunrise, where my body feels like I should be going to bed! It is absolutely amazing that people on one side of the world are awake and just greeting the day while on the other side people are crawling into their beds, exhausted from a hard day's work.

Even though this jet lag stuff is crazy I am totally falling in love with traveling. It was the most beautiful sight to see the sun slowly penetrate the darkness and fill the horizon with light. Now I'm looking over Europe and it is so beautiful to see the tiny towns and rivers running through the landscape. I will definitely have to return sometime soon!

First adventure of the day: We arrived in Brussels and I forgot my camera on the plane! The lesson learned: Never leave your seat until you've checked everywhere for your stuff. We had already gone through security in Brussels and made the lllllooooooonnnnnnnggggg walk all the way to gate B40 (which is the farthest possible). I realized my camera was gone and was sent all the way back to gate B1 to see if they could find it. The effort was not in vain, however--they found it right where I left it and I got it back, safe and sound. Thank goodness!

(later)
After the longest flights of my entire life I'm finally here in India and settled into the hotel. It is 3:08 AM here, so I'm about to go to bed. Let me just say I can't get the smile off my face--I LOVE it here! Even at 2 in the morning, it was 80 degrees and the streets were a bit crazy. My favorite part: we were just coming out of the airport and passed a COW on the street. Oh, and I almost got in what I thought was the passenger's side of the car--the poor guy who was driving us was kind of confused!

Anyways, I'll write more later. Good night!

Out of the Fog and into the Sauna

Well it's already been quite an adventure and I'm not even in India yet! I left early Thursday morning (really really early!) with my mom and siblings for San Jose. It was a tearful goodbye because my dad had work in a few hours and couldn't come. He gave me a Father's Blessing before I left, which I was grateful for. I know I'm a crybaby, but it is always so hard to say goodbye. On top of that, I was going on practically no sleep and my throat was a bit sore.

We made it to the airport and eventually I was on my way through security (after another tearful goodbye to the rest of my family). I think I'm in trouble--that was the longest flight I've been on and it was only about five hours total! If I survive the 15 hours and 20 minutes of travel time to India it will be a miracle! I was beginning to feel really sick (I think I had a fever and my throat was getting worse), which made the flight seem even longer. Anyways, I finally made it to Chicago, though, and in a little while my cousin and aunt had picked me up and we were on our way to meet my grandparents in a little town called Rockford. They were sweet and took me out to dinner, then we finally reached their house. I love my Oma and Opa's house! It is so peaceful and full of love. Unfortunately I've come down with strep throat, so I haven't been able to do much, but I got to the doctor yesterday and took my medicine as soon as possible. I am pretty sure I will be able to leave on Monday for India still. I guess it's a blessing I got it here and not in India or something!

Even though I've been sick, I have enjoyed being with my Oma and Opa. They are so cute and Oma has spoiled me terribly with lots of big bowls of brownies and strawberries topped with ice cream. We have had some great chats and I got to see some pictures of when Oma and Opa first came to the United States from Germany in 1950. I will be sad to leave them! Oma is already making cookies and talking about what goodies she will send with me on the plane, haha. I love them so much!

I've noticed a huge change in the weather conditions I'm used to. Gone are the foggy, 50 degree days. Now I'm in Illinois where it is super humid and hot! The highs are in the 90s and there are mosquitoes everywhere. I guess it's just a taste of what I'm going to experience in India. I'd better get used to it!

I can't believe I will depart for India in TWO DAYS!! I've finally realized the magnitude of what I am going to do, and I admit I'm getting a little nervous. But I'm so excited to go help over there and to expand my horizons. I know everything will be worth it!

My trip to India is coming up so fast! Now that I've been on a trip to Utah and am finishing up my time working at my summer job, it is starting to occupy my mind a lot as I try to take care of all the last details. Last night I had a dream that I missed my flight to India--I completely forgot what time it was going to depart! Although I'm almost positive that is not going to happen, I guess it is motivation for me to double check that everything will go as smoothly as possible. I'm getting so excited! I am so grateful for all those who are supporting me in this amazing adventure!

I can't believe it but I am really REALLY going to India! I've got my plane ticket and my passport... Now I need the visa and tons of shots! I am getting a little nervous. What have I gotten myself into? I talked to a man from my stake who was born in India. He told me to be extremely careful with the food I eat and NEVER DRINK THE WATER!!! And I need to take antibiotics every day from the time I step foot in India until the time I leave. I agree it will be probably the most adventurous (and dangerous) thing I've ever done.. But it will be worth it! I still feel like what I'm doing is the right thing to do. And I'm still excited! :)

Seeing how time is going so fast, I am really trying to appreciate every second I have with my family. Man I love them! We are having a blast! One night the girls and I slept outside in the backyard. It was so much fun! We bundled up and slept under tons of blankets... and I saw TWO shooting stars! Does that mean I get double the wishes? Well I don't really have too much more to wish for.. I have the best family in the world, an amazing boyfriend, fabulous friends, a job, and the Gospel that lights up my life! And I get to see the beautiful ocean every day! I love life! :)

One Step Closer!

Today I made a significant step towards going to India--I finally got my passport photo taken and the papers turned in! That's one thing I don't understand about the whole passport thing: Why do the pictures have to look like mug shots? The "don't smile" rule only worked part-way, so I have a really weird look on my face and my hair is kinda messy too. And the funny thing is that that picture will grace my passport for the next ten years! Lucky me... Oh well. If it gets me to India I guess I'm alright with it.