tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74075617812333122232024-03-13T01:42:42.320-07:00Laura's Indian AdventuresLaura Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16827780034249309415noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7407561781233312223.post-79343453345104782152011-09-03T08:45:00.000-07:002011-09-03T08:45:09.730-07:00Day 7 -- Mammalapurm and Ideal Beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQ5WcSIlPowc8J5M58JSzD3gprx9Y1vZgxTJ09JVal_lpMID8clU2UHwKPqZcLwixDmeyiMQn-qpJV4vfZRg3Dy_k1UsmiFzKyg26RM9OArehT7mIIWiTKyLvPq18g1C-ivxi7XGtT6s/s1600/321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQ5WcSIlPowc8J5M58JSzD3gprx9Y1vZgxTJ09JVal_lpMID8clU2UHwKPqZcLwixDmeyiMQn-qpJV4vfZRg3Dy_k1UsmiFzKyg26RM9OArehT7mIIWiTKyLvPq18g1C-ivxi7XGtT6s/s400/321.JPG" /></a></div>Today was shopping central. Where was my sister when I needed her??? I think I still made out pretty well and have zero buyer’s remorse. In fact, I am so stoked about my purchases and can’t wait to show them off back at home. When I was looking at souvenirs for my family it made me realize how souvenirs mean soooo much more to the person who was actually there and had the experiences. All of the stuff I bought is full of memories and feelings. <br />
The ride over was pretty comical. We were so exhausted and we cram everyone on the buses even when there is no more seating. I usually take the ground because it’s no big deal. Today it was sweet to have the ground though because we just laid out and all fell asleep. It’s crazy but I have actually gotten to the point where I enjoy the traveling. It’s nice to have time together and the bus ride is smoothing and gives down-time for reflection. It also allows you to see the sites of India. I am known for crashing hard on the bus. I feel like a little kid again when I would zonk out hard as soon as I went horizontal. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ADDnS8z-ZEH9W1chUDDcEkoW0c4Vg9tZ9prTxVRqo0WyQcglBs33Sn3Qi1x1oA5cUZyWMsoX5lh5259aFdhaC3nQR6wuMu6FrfVKVm-1f0Z5UjjSz9q1mhpynVtV3KrOR7puY-rM_so/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ADDnS8z-ZEH9W1chUDDcEkoW0c4Vg9tZ9prTxVRqo0WyQcglBs33Sn3Qi1x1oA5cUZyWMsoX5lh5259aFdhaC3nQR6wuMu6FrfVKVm-1f0Z5UjjSz9q1mhpynVtV3KrOR7puY-rM_so/s400/065.JPG" /></a></div>We went to Mammallapuram today. It has some Indian ruins and a motherload of shopping. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYolsl2KJdNC73tc_iuNxuoZQCbpz-gIVAto8k-lPGOlcv8VgrnivcAWAmQ5MjyBfjv7l1nEBBmtGa1HU8mjghw7urdeMHgcEmNMpXlR55pCpoa_jXdjB2FX9p2O8wW5ZyOsgHm6V2lcM/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYolsl2KJdNC73tc_iuNxuoZQCbpz-gIVAto8k-lPGOlcv8VgrnivcAWAmQ5MjyBfjv7l1nEBBmtGa1HU8mjghw7urdeMHgcEmNMpXlR55pCpoa_jXdjB2FX9p2O8wW5ZyOsgHm6V2lcM/s400/068.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWDxvPJ_wl1s8-bROzXYZNzL1GtdbQznWVS83npeRJCbvEfiisAIur537DqeMo1So4Tdzlx5qb8Ay1Pqe3WE2Cq0xMXRbOrtLWnMs0p10Tp4wpNhob4RPR6jVeLs3rpr6MEX9JFPzpdI/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWDxvPJ_wl1s8-bROzXYZNzL1GtdbQznWVS83npeRJCbvEfiisAIur537DqeMo1So4Tdzlx5qb8Ay1Pqe3WE2Cq0xMXRbOrtLWnMs0p10Tp4wpNhob4RPR6jVeLs3rpr6MEX9JFPzpdI/s400/066.JPG" /></a></div>But this place is a lot more quiet and quant than T-Nagar. We spent the first half of the day shopping our little hearts out. I was awarded an A+ for my effort and newly acquired shopping skills, but I still asked more than my fair share of people’s opinions. Thank goodness Kim was with me. She is super cute and trendy and I don’t know if I have ever come across a more confident shopper that knows exactly what she wants. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAIi7CjYFMrsv5B2oZzwLu8xuNzpduTyzcaXLkGsQt4c-Ymx7hYBhDNPCkDTOWAWTanp83Wo1hkZ_bL6-jPfW8dBZE_6ytd0OAasonJewGnx5Z3uLgpMPm0DzGKNKp-maPY1xGApn-Mc/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAIi7CjYFMrsv5B2oZzwLu8xuNzpduTyzcaXLkGsQt4c-Ymx7hYBhDNPCkDTOWAWTanp83Wo1hkZ_bL6-jPfW8dBZE_6ytd0OAasonJewGnx5Z3uLgpMPm0DzGKNKp-maPY1xGApn-Mc/s400/002.JPG" /></a></div>I am a little skeptical though because she beyond LOVED things that she bought in Chennai and I was so excited for her. And then when we got home, she disliked more than half her stuff. I was in absolute shock. I guess she loves to shop and then returns like half of her clothes because she has buyer’s remorse. It was quite comical. The girl still has skills and I try to mooch accordingly.<br />
I was worried about getting dehydrated because we are out in the heat shopping and we sweat like beasts. So I downed a huge water bottle and then when we were about there, I had to go to the bathroom EXTREMELY bad. I asked where there was a bathroom and there wasn’t one anywhere. They have yet to have them on any of our trips. It’s not like America where there are public restrooms or anything. This was one time I was grateful that shopping is more of a stressful rather than fun/relaxing thing for me. When you are relaxed, your body is in it’s parasympathetic mode which is used for “rest or digest”. That’s when your body relaxes and can sleep or go to the bathroom. But when your body is in a stress mode it goes into sympathetic mode. This is your “fight or flight” mode and your body won’t allow your body to go to the bathroom in it. Thankfully, I didn’t think about how badly I had to use the bathroom once. Greatest blessing.<br />
I got some great stuff and some of the things were stone carvings. There was this man who was so nice and we all went to him for our carvings. He was amazing and carved all of the stuff from hand himself. I was in absolute shock of him. Kim asked him if he had any eyes that she could buy. He replied that he didn’t but that he could make her one. She gave him some vague instructions and it turned out awesome! I was blown away and we absolutely loved him. This is a picture of Kim and the man and his son. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg3CIu8JTZneJzDyrhl9asakzAVoz_V6x6OsBClsiT6MXjwCwYotnJ-I6xoaRysPSVq2uF2gZZvWekvhl-7Y5Vt5CF66oBR04xbQ96QgViLP-k78R3AFAY-mAAJ0uB_Jy_ZZCtdfmX6s/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg3CIu8JTZneJzDyrhl9asakzAVoz_V6x6OsBClsiT6MXjwCwYotnJ-I6xoaRysPSVq2uF2gZZvWekvhl-7Y5Vt5CF66oBR04xbQ96QgViLP-k78R3AFAY-mAAJ0uB_Jy_ZZCtdfmX6s/s400/074.JPG" /></a></div>After shopping, we all went to Ideal beach. You pay 300 rupies (about $7) and get to use their private beach area and pool and everything. It was sooo nice!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRCI0qrGBvHEHjUmAlRp50qqT5lafpRZA69S5ipu6d87QT1i1FLdV6bqebsjy1wkZu4pOWDToW5ybPSHdYGG10VKaxG9oBzb5LfOMSnmK4_n5mI22TUGpPmK_DEcxTXmWvXqZTZ2nB7Y/s1600/India+2011+091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRCI0qrGBvHEHjUmAlRp50qqT5lafpRZA69S5ipu6d87QT1i1FLdV6bqebsjy1wkZu4pOWDToW5ybPSHdYGG10VKaxG9oBzb5LfOMSnmK4_n5mI22TUGpPmK_DEcxTXmWvXqZTZ2nB7Y/s400/India+2011+091.jpg" /></a></div>The water was literally like warm bathwater in the ocean. It made Hawaii seem like the arctic ocean. It was our own piece of heaven.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQxsNDR5mTRQen65YqoPNvIW1FeBfdbSsG730xNRLbeuRppCHquhUOefRusvvtKyMcDZlmLOZ_V5GygIjAtGGimWh1tZo2gviEqw1RpB5NmhL4dquFMT1NAtqXYRc-YE5oAlbsm8XyUY/s1600/320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQxsNDR5mTRQen65YqoPNvIW1FeBfdbSsG730xNRLbeuRppCHquhUOefRusvvtKyMcDZlmLOZ_V5GygIjAtGGimWh1tZo2gviEqw1RpB5NmhL4dquFMT1NAtqXYRc-YE5oAlbsm8XyUY/s400/320.JPG" /></a></div>We bought our lunch there and jumped at the chance to have American food. Don’t judge me people. My stomach can only handle so much. Come talk to me after you have a stomach ache and diarrhea from the food you eat EVERYDAY. Anyways, we had Hawaiian pizza and it was the best Hawaiian I have ever had. Usually I fight Katie on this because she loves Hawaiian and I generally think its not very good and would rather have pepperoni and sausage but everything here is pretty vegetarian. We all loved the food and enjoyed it very much. They called it Polynesian though. I guess that’s all the same general tropic thing right? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjlvfIW3KGPzTrcEBkyrmuzdYWEKHqqf2dFDkiflMur12y-c1Um-09EWf0oAUU9fhI6ZKJL3uYySIWPnL1A9ifWd2rjuqSYh5TzW1Crb_Vmi41zdeRjz-c8Ww9Y93glcICzX_WalQPWA/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjlvfIW3KGPzTrcEBkyrmuzdYWEKHqqf2dFDkiflMur12y-c1Um-09EWf0oAUU9fhI6ZKJL3uYySIWPnL1A9ifWd2rjuqSYh5TzW1Crb_Vmi41zdeRjz-c8Ww9Y93glcICzX_WalQPWA/s400/073.JPG" /></a></div>We saw these fisherman boats on steroids but in the old school form of rickety fisherman boats lining the beach. This indian boy came up and told us that he would give us a ride for 200 rupies each. We were kind of hesistant because we didn’t know how cool it would be and we were on a time limit. But Elise, Camille, and I ended up jumping at the opportunity.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEq-4VCy_mFeJraQfHiie4YE2lV_WoM0sqUR7FJ1jztt5XKKw8Aiueo0vqtMIvQXd3wIoJypaiwp_NJ-DfRy249rWcxDWnOAN1OYOcVjoUSVgZrso2REBrf03S-qUDSmu3ShyphenhyphenxQCt2eU/s1600/IMG_0641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEq-4VCy_mFeJraQfHiie4YE2lV_WoM0sqUR7FJ1jztt5XKKw8Aiueo0vqtMIvQXd3wIoJypaiwp_NJ-DfRy249rWcxDWnOAN1OYOcVjoUSVgZrso2REBrf03S-qUDSmu3ShyphenhyphenxQCt2eU/s400/IMG_0641.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9diUYz0Dkwq6KS9uRbTizsuL0Py1s0NvxUg3G1wHCb32szfyluVZLkMhD0kY606W8-2mNNWvaqE11ur2ZCA-BJtWr8nOoc_XRqEmyiHEjrdSdKsrcUx0ZUSPIdnNQ1bgguZS7uEpr0E/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9diUYz0Dkwq6KS9uRbTizsuL0Py1s0NvxUg3G1wHCb32szfyluVZLkMhD0kY606W8-2mNNWvaqE11ur2ZCA-BJtWr8nOoc_XRqEmyiHEjrdSdKsrcUx0ZUSPIdnNQ1bgguZS7uEpr0E/s400/IMG_0665.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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We ended up loving it. The boat was super wabbly and sketch and just screamed India. There were 3 boys to man it – one to stand with us, one to hardcore hold the motor, and one to sit in the front. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC3sdo_b81FgkG3hwX0RXRoRaXQMKBDUAiwicFYILaMJzRth0x88Py9cJ0NVrwhW8y3SgjNa612SAmIELmMuETeRUufAJykEcln57B0a_d1qqi6qQ8itjOLrEuijOFpTy3zXMzwyj1AY/s1600/IMG_0674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC3sdo_b81FgkG3hwX0RXRoRaXQMKBDUAiwicFYILaMJzRth0x88Py9cJ0NVrwhW8y3SgjNa612SAmIELmMuETeRUufAJykEcln57B0a_d1qqi6qQ8itjOLrEuijOFpTy3zXMzwyj1AY/s400/IMG_0674.JPG" /></a></div>When we went over a wave, the front of the boat would get really high and then slam back down. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziFWctr0ab1IvagOC3fmlPJwqzvMiyCM1Gw6HZVb7vvDqzfp5BRIOQdijxhLXzjY8YldJmwlhsVSXlYkDvV4nqoh_T4T2L_AhimWmP4cQNXHJxWpOj-TBvgRuBOL7GaDgvr2yQWm-jQE/s1600/IMG_0675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziFWctr0ab1IvagOC3fmlPJwqzvMiyCM1Gw6HZVb7vvDqzfp5BRIOQdijxhLXzjY8YldJmwlhsVSXlYkDvV4nqoh_T4T2L_AhimWmP4cQNXHJxWpOj-TBvgRuBOL7GaDgvr2yQWm-jQE/s400/IMG_0675.JPG" /></a></div>This is why there need to be a guy’s body weigh tint he front. They let us jump out and swim. I wanted to jump out immediately but the guy made me wait for a rope and gave me a life vest. I said I didn’t want it and he didn’t care if I wore it. Big difference between India and America because these people have no liability. If you die, you die. I waited for the rope though and I was sure glad I did. The boat gets away from you sooo fast in the ocean. Now I know why tom hanks had to let Wilson go in cast away. He never would have been able to swim back. It was a sweet experience and I felt super legit.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5Pj-lglgkHlFENMquch-SDr717nr9Rgv_BrjG65RCenyqghXN1Z06CtPuT3X47pnNI6TI2oK7npSTUOF3yZQA23Lw6R7ggVY8GbsHc8uY3ycLDAMVwz0VHHXDiSU0Opx9hYfK46TOFs/s1600/014+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5Pj-lglgkHlFENMquch-SDr717nr9Rgv_BrjG65RCenyqghXN1Z06CtPuT3X47pnNI6TI2oK7npSTUOF3yZQA23Lw6R7ggVY8GbsHc8uY3ycLDAMVwz0VHHXDiSU0Opx9hYfK46TOFs/s400/014+%25283%2529.JPG" /></a></div>We had to run back to Mammalapuram to get our stuff we had made and we had the most interesting experience. Kim had her wet swimsuit on and didn’t want to change, so she asked the supervisor if she could just throw her chuddiar top over her swim suit, which comes about mid thigh. The supervisor said that this was like a beach town, so she should be fine. WRONG!!!! Oh my gosh, it was a mortifying experience for her. We were walking together and it’s a darn good thing. Indian men were crazy staring and cat calling at her. One guy was like “you American women are so pretty”. She said she felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. She looked at me and said “we need to get back to the bus right now!” I told her she was crazy for dressing like that and quickly agreed. It was one of those situations where you just don’t know how you got yourself into it and didn’t realize what you were doing.<br />
On the way home, we stopped off at a little shop and ate paroti. The supervisors, Kim and Derek, were so excited because they love this stuff. Its almost like a mix between a tortilla and a croissant but doughier. They serve it with an egg full of onions and some dipping sauce. I didn’t love the dipping sauce but thought the paroit was pretyy delicious. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyG4rxGZKvUpr9O08O1VdLwS98RfAyykfShtQF6whUAYo4xEaOXBD_t9fR0m4PcPGV7No7WxkLWbeqhw3X-5yBwVkBoa4pkzz7WnCXOE0uD9BtKAvRz5r3j2qQtAODWoTkQap7HBfHdw/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyG4rxGZKvUpr9O08O1VdLwS98RfAyykfShtQF6whUAYo4xEaOXBD_t9fR0m4PcPGV7No7WxkLWbeqhw3X-5yBwVkBoa4pkzz7WnCXOE0uD9BtKAvRz5r3j2qQtAODWoTkQap7HBfHdw/s400/076.JPG" /></a></div>Man, everything is so relative. At home, I probably would have thought this stuff was kind of blah and yuck. But here I thought it was pretty delicious. Everything here is spicy and full of onions and they just don’t make sweet stuff. The paroti wasn’t sweet, it was just kinda plain without the sauce and I loved it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo7mzM5x0SMG16qfyt3RuO3Nf4-g3Na7stOSrkBvVcay0Yzx5p6jSshCcbQNNB_uXW80cEntke8HIsMKYFrg54QTQzN1nsw5K8YsQKMuUYqpsIDbAobiA1z6N9LRTSprbzmi3IyaHYpc/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo7mzM5x0SMG16qfyt3RuO3Nf4-g3Na7stOSrkBvVcay0Yzx5p6jSshCcbQNNB_uXW80cEntke8HIsMKYFrg54QTQzN1nsw5K8YsQKMuUYqpsIDbAobiA1z6N9LRTSprbzmi3IyaHYpc/s400/077.JPG" /></a></div>Every Saturday night at RSO is movie night with the kids. We watched Hercules and no one had ever seen it. They were in awe when we could all sing along with the songs. It’s just so foreign to them while everyone in American knows what Hercules is and has seen it a bunch. They project it up in the dining hall and then we all sit down on the hard floor and the kids lay all over you.<br />
We were all struggling with the hardness of the floor and the extra weight of the kdis. It was pretty difficult to get comfortable. I ended up going and sitting in the back so I could stretch my legs out and hang out with whoever was back there and needed some more attention. The kids kind of bounced around and I spent time with a lot of them. This cute little boy marimarion, who is about 6, cuddled up with me for a few minutes and it was very sweet. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskjyVuQnpF5zvwYSsaDlJ0WDm3YlkJLuLQhRgjD5GnRtStyOqYv4pmemnnig5X_MRtGRwrzBE2mNB4BzBVb-l1IqRCgH9YIzP21l160GelyEUFi8gQydLNrlPlBgcRo8s3O_prYEww2g/s1600/261387_10150292706715039_507630038_8907004_5507769_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskjyVuQnpF5zvwYSsaDlJ0WDm3YlkJLuLQhRgjD5GnRtStyOqYv4pmemnnig5X_MRtGRwrzBE2mNB4BzBVb-l1IqRCgH9YIzP21l160GelyEUFi8gQydLNrlPlBgcRo8s3O_prYEww2g/s400/261387_10150292706715039_507630038_8907004_5507769_n.jpg" /></a></div>Then I saw Reishma and she is one of my new favorites! I grabbed her and she sat with me for a few minutes and then “braided my hair”. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8MVktZJvf_61tNzWYO8EXkOokiY4NvrP3VvqauLLJ2v-PBgH0RIOMP88gDTsJY9tn3O4lR2HGtBlGICrEF8qRuCc7fU-HL6IrFN4rMYrHw8ET5hb_T70Bgop_bXYgcCX0aM947dvs8c/s1600/India+2011+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8MVktZJvf_61tNzWYO8EXkOokiY4NvrP3VvqauLLJ2v-PBgH0RIOMP88gDTsJY9tn3O4lR2HGtBlGICrEF8qRuCc7fU-HL6IrFN4rMYrHw8ET5hb_T70Bgop_bXYgcCX0aM947dvs8c/s400/India+2011+095.jpg" /></a></div>She is too young to really know how to braid, so she more just played with it. It felt good and was really sweet. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOw7mu9xK9Eu38GOaJCH_Kvdxx3whVxReNtpsKQhUNmMv6cw9J0rS92iRTOXlKWhl57gLmT1AGnNlnH2nD_SHwIWkprTiboSdMtBohqFT_IUFVhwYrOVvuQc6R94iJm3-6Y-ycMlk0kY/s1600/India+2011+096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOw7mu9xK9Eu38GOaJCH_Kvdxx3whVxReNtpsKQhUNmMv6cw9J0rS92iRTOXlKWhl57gLmT1AGnNlnH2nD_SHwIWkprTiboSdMtBohqFT_IUFVhwYrOVvuQc6R94iJm3-6Y-ycMlk0kY/s400/India+2011+096.jpg" /></a></div>Another person had brought an ipod and I can’t compete with that, so Reishma ran over there. These kids LOVE electronics like cameras, ipods, laptops, etc. They are just fascinated by them and just swarm them. Anyway, sweet girl, Angel, came and sat in my lap and ended up just laying down. I sat by on of the house mother’s, vanilla. It was a little weird for me because I wanted to bond and talk with her and could tell she wanted to do the same but I didn’t really know what to talk to her about. When you come from such different cultures and backgrounds, it's sometimes difficult to carry on a conversation. I still talked to her and it was fun and it’s getting easier. She offered me half of her pillow and I originally declined and then gladly accepted. I layed down and then Angel just cuddled with me. It was very cute. <br />
It was a very great but exhausting day. The drive to Mamallapuram was the usual 2 hours each way. And then shopping in the sun and heat and being at the beach really took its toll. I crashed when I got home but had a great day. Movie night was awesome.Laura Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16827780034249309415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7407561781233312223.post-56721917065902303622011-08-26T22:03:00.000-07:002011-08-26T22:03:30.256-07:00Day 6- Stick em!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVV3BzO5zNp53JvUvy5pwI1_vAlEMPAJq6AGYS478Fjh-i1g_VYp_Eznaz0Vzj4v3fZY1PQ_Iz0CrmcklVkAs_QDA6gIk-ANbK67VBbHkSu9tRG4Fe-r4MJ12stApzW5iRKxak0h_17Y/s1600/IMG_0634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVV3BzO5zNp53JvUvy5pwI1_vAlEMPAJq6AGYS478Fjh-i1g_VYp_Eznaz0Vzj4v3fZY1PQ_Iz0CrmcklVkAs_QDA6gIk-ANbK67VBbHkSu9tRG4Fe-r4MJ12stApzW5iRKxak0h_17Y/s400/IMG_0634.JPG" /></a></div>It was our turn to give vaccines to the children. In the states, we call them shots when we are with non-medical personnel and then will call them injections with medical professionals if we are trying to look professional and smart ;) But here all the kids call them injections. It’s pretty funny, especially because a lot of them don’t speak that great or proper of English. I told some of the kids that we were going to give them a shot and they looked so confused and baffled. I’m pretty sure “shot” to them means getting shot by a gun. I’m not positive but that’s my gut. <br />
I thought vaccines would be a not so fun experience because I never like poking kids in the hospital. You know you are helping them in the long run, but in the moment you are just hurting them . They learn to hate you and are very scared of you. I had some young kids in the hospital in the US that would start screaming bloody murder the second the door handle even moved because they were so scared it was a nurse. But this was the exact opposite --it was so hilarious and fun! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFOHXWQjcos9_v3gpsBNyfFFN2JsRdg8ECUUDDoLpuqc2gVnaSQHXVR4obq4fXqYaf6hKi6gldt9kHjvOAed6UHMKyof_fwgAMWrkJECeY6oFrUZFZY9eayBlp8qIi9gyJVpS-r2g4l8/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFOHXWQjcos9_v3gpsBNyfFFN2JsRdg8ECUUDDoLpuqc2gVnaSQHXVR4obq4fXqYaf6hKi6gldt9kHjvOAed6UHMKyof_fwgAMWrkJECeY6oFrUZFZY9eayBlp8qIi9gyJVpS-r2g4l8/s400/008.JPG" /></a></div>First of all, I love how much autonomy we have. In the hospital, especially as a student nurse, I am beyond micromanaged. There is always someone breathing over my shoulder and telling me when, where, and what I have to do. I don’t get to put my input in on very much or figure out how things can work better. I love seeing something and then figuring out how it can be improved or run more efficiently. That is one of the reasons why I would never be satisfied just being a nurse. I want to be able to make more decisions on my own. Anyway, we are kind of in charge of everything we do here. For example, they will just tell us, “you’re job is to vaccinate 4 standards of kids today, have fun”. Then we figure out the best way to have them line up and put the vaccines together and all that jazz. This specific vaccine has to be premixed. We started off with an assembly line of vaccine making. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lVg2Z22mGktunrPU9C1VpT23KnjJqk5mnA2Ee6NUBzcCwMLXRqfE4qU7JngkoHpdKnurzKGZoa30cNK-1EnIShv69YOQHRgbsZD3gpl_l6Q_X1-JGONVHn0jJaHZqXkVmpt5QHsbJcA/s1600/IMG_0630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lVg2Z22mGktunrPU9C1VpT23KnjJqk5mnA2Ee6NUBzcCwMLXRqfE4qU7JngkoHpdKnurzKGZoa30cNK-1EnIShv69YOQHRgbsZD3gpl_l6Q_X1-JGONVHn0jJaHZqXkVmpt5QHsbJcA/s400/IMG_0630.JPG" /></a></div>Sadly, I poked myself with the needle pretty good. My gloves were too big and moist from the humidity. SO when I went to pull the needle cover off, my hand jerked back and forth twice and got a good poke. Its still a little sore, but no big deal. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jEzWvQvnk31Y76VUAxa-khrRsV1VNg4sKXLFvd_Oogp0H5aZWgCsr2SsrWehquhEF1cgLxsNvXrI3ZeHHOfhDnwP49zz3GOy0Cuzr1EBiSoPky4aRuncbfAlSRBMbrwU5JK6V1ChGpY/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jEzWvQvnk31Y76VUAxa-khrRsV1VNg4sKXLFvd_Oogp0H5aZWgCsr2SsrWehquhEF1cgLxsNvXrI3ZeHHOfhDnwP49zz3GOy0Cuzr1EBiSoPky4aRuncbfAlSRBMbrwU5JK6V1ChGpY/s400/001.JPG" /></a></div>We originally thought we should try and shelter them from seeing the needle but soon realized that didn’t’ work very well. The kids were running all over the place and it was beyond chaotic. Our kids were old enough (age 7-10) that they knew what was coming because they had had them a few times before. We ended up just herding them into a big room and locking them by gender in 2 small connected rooms. We had 3 stations of 2 people in the big room and just busted them out. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfJQz_Gd8lriBW0Z7MTAn0SVLXCWX6Q8BGxy_QIJbE81pT438qBEm4ESqyumui_rOSEPJWPClXEa5N2EN4IEzxnNxWTk-gg2jDM_scYBQuytylO6XPNL6FO1lnGHBSFi1SlXHc3phv-8/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfJQz_Gd8lriBW0Z7MTAn0SVLXCWX6Q8BGxy_QIJbE81pT438qBEm4ESqyumui_rOSEPJWPClXEa5N2EN4IEzxnNxWTk-gg2jDM_scYBQuytylO6XPNL6FO1lnGHBSFi1SlXHc3phv-8/s400/030.JPG" /></a></div>We would go in the room and pull them out but it ended up turning into a huge game for the kids. They would run and hide and fight us, mostly because they thought it was fun, and partially because they were a little scared. We were dragging them out by their hands, wrestling them, and everything else you can think of <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6I5ZmE5OpsVWNQsgY9v6RZaNw_wB8hQo6IiXI4hLeNiDO8wmf8f7AfrVrWv0-riGpw_YSghJ7ZG_myvCv-hSckfMJVh1uY2sZr7cqLYqw0uI38AuMa6gfRW4BpzXgGkDvZE6vBcMGfws/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6I5ZmE5OpsVWNQsgY9v6RZaNw_wB8hQo6IiXI4hLeNiDO8wmf8f7AfrVrWv0-riGpw_YSghJ7ZG_myvCv-hSckfMJVh1uY2sZr7cqLYqw0uI38AuMa6gfRW4BpzXgGkDvZE6vBcMGfws/s400/015.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VwstvDFn0Un_drjZzwgvASBznJb1sbBJ8vxnM0G4Voe3SXTzPbNl4tW6UkzjM7LgWlCMzz9BA8sp2z3OH7gbkL1d_FX3J894MQN_8xOa7mM1aylbxtqN2bOutjfLzzScTw_MM7FbkXs/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VwstvDFn0Un_drjZzwgvASBznJb1sbBJ8vxnM0G4Voe3SXTzPbNl4tW6UkzjM7LgWlCMzz9BA8sp2z3OH7gbkL1d_FX3J894MQN_8xOa7mM1aylbxtqN2bOutjfLzzScTw_MM7FbkXs/s400/009.JPG" /></a></div>There were a couple kids who were way into it and hid at the top of these shelves. Ashley tried to get them to come down, but thtye wouldn’t. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNFNaiue07NQJPeIztvnrYKGrKqRF0CGWmO-wYqC4DfVOIlu9_UpWNvK_AHjlhdZgK-2LUwVUspb5dCCSqmWl2STFJ0e5XYxUGXAsN2BB4vYZsWi_fP9LFMfSeRrk6GeXTq-xDi8qguc/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNFNaiue07NQJPeIztvnrYKGrKqRF0CGWmO-wYqC4DfVOIlu9_UpWNvK_AHjlhdZgK-2LUwVUspb5dCCSqmWl2STFJ0e5XYxUGXAsN2BB4vYZsWi_fP9LFMfSeRrk6GeXTq-xDi8qguc/s400/010.JPG" /></a></div>I ended up climbing up the shelves to get them. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLSlZPZoSK8Q1Ig3P10E_rHA5wtZ_lrXGU5bnFpMsmI23k-NFB84LpPOwdsSZ1f5zoNDqp76igVy3Geg1tu4aYHYzJbcK28Ze-cNFsQz30sC6CE4FA_MJbKAK-y7cc2P9NUhTn8NDIrE/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLSlZPZoSK8Q1Ig3P10E_rHA5wtZ_lrXGU5bnFpMsmI23k-NFB84LpPOwdsSZ1f5zoNDqp76igVy3Geg1tu4aYHYzJbcK28Ze-cNFsQz30sC6CE4FA_MJbKAK-y7cc2P9NUhTn8NDIrE/s400/011.JPG" /></a></div>We were dying laughing the whole time. I thought I was going to wet myself a few times when I was watching the girls wrestle the kids. <br />
Sadly, there were a few kids that were legitimately scared. We had to hold them down to keep them still. Some kids were so terrified that it took 3 of us to hold them down. That part is never fun.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwef834mfGUHXzdKhzDruvu_qX_orMHXuJ4ak1VJ5iS6ENvZ-PEKd9XmOGgBm6AmfsKRKCWl7OdqMvvzONPp51BdQFHG9aRQpCi7qwmOhesdbnorFQCRl5fOkTKe96HVezRU9xPni_1mc/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwef834mfGUHXzdKhzDruvu_qX_orMHXuJ4ak1VJ5iS6ENvZ-PEKd9XmOGgBm6AmfsKRKCWl7OdqMvvzONPp51BdQFHG9aRQpCi7qwmOhesdbnorFQCRl5fOkTKe96HVezRU9xPni_1mc/s400/013.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBddWlWBtvw9TPbzhdh1PxOEAalMW72RVpg_9uSJZprV7Hkozglt94pn_k9LtpQC7fla83xQClhKjIlH610RTN-ucLoHkVpb0dBNALOcJ1I5EfbRdEhpBB55qQm-AAGoGpP52ngxe3Tc/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBddWlWBtvw9TPbzhdh1PxOEAalMW72RVpg_9uSJZprV7Hkozglt94pn_k9LtpQC7fla83xQClhKjIlH610RTN-ucLoHkVpb0dBNALOcJ1I5EfbRdEhpBB55qQm-AAGoGpP52ngxe3Tc/s400/005.JPG" /></a></div>But the kids were funny because they would be so scared and grimacing even after we pulled the needle out. We would look at them and be like “you’re all done” and instantaneously, this huge smile swept across their face. So I questioned a little bit, how badly it really was painful vs. how much they just love attention. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj7ZRaXjT4Mf2TMBrQ0iKDm1dODIY7vRIudo4WCSBuilRH7btqCvGSfZWy-MzBgmuScr6fDdAYffRNX-m4r54cuHygSQa5vEN7FWyJI9Dzx3loDlu3AVq-P2rHMmNFLaeg_BeqKL-IH4/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj7ZRaXjT4Mf2TMBrQ0iKDm1dODIY7vRIudo4WCSBuilRH7btqCvGSfZWy-MzBgmuScr6fDdAYffRNX-m4r54cuHygSQa5vEN7FWyJI9Dzx3loDlu3AVq-P2rHMmNFLaeg_BeqKL-IH4/s400/007.JPG" /></a></div>There is a group of about 8-9 year olds here that are absolute drama queens. They remind me of the movie "mean girls". You can tell they are the cool kids their age and they call the shots around here. After we gave them their shots, they looked at us like we had just tried to murder them. They grabbed their arms where we had given them their shots and walked back to class with sullen looks on their faces in a little herd. Seriously, it was too funny. <br />
There is this one boy, Basha, that I have mentioned before. He just baffles me with how full of love he is. I gave him his shot and then I usually high five them after and say “we are all finished, super!”. (everyone says super and finish) Instead of giving me a high five, he jumped up and gave me the biggest hug. He is probably the sweetest boy I know here even though he is like 10. <br />
We did have 2 things happen that were a bummer. One of my favorite kids, Yebenezzar, was about to get a shot. I specifically picked him out to give him his shot because I love him so much. I let my emotional part come to the front instead of my technique because I was have so much fun with him. I had him roll up his sleeve, but I didn’t even realize that he had barely rolled it up. I ended up giving him his shot in the middle of his upper arm instead of at the top of it. And I gave it to him at a bad angle. I ended up poking him and then having the needle poke out of his skin at another spot and have a few drops of the vaccine fluid come out onto the floor. He grimaced and my heart sank. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdB0g0rsTPczIjGd_YmFsQmw2_t39_MD-Wv1BpEwuwFr1icbGBp7YJYM3TLdpRRQys7u7j_XBXFexVLAvxl7BQDlqszm049uASbhvvFowkMPcFyWVbcBV4rYTRYmnoHHeyUzs8LvS-wQ/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdB0g0rsTPczIjGd_YmFsQmw2_t39_MD-Wv1BpEwuwFr1icbGBp7YJYM3TLdpRRQys7u7j_XBXFexVLAvxl7BQDlqszm049uASbhvvFowkMPcFyWVbcBV4rYTRYmnoHHeyUzs8LvS-wQ/s400/022.JPG" /></a></div>I quickly pulled it back so the needle was in his arm again and gave him the shot. He bled and I so he was excited that he got a band-aid and he didn’t know any different. But I felt horrible! Seriously so sad and bad and disappointed in myself. I had hand-pciked this kid and then tortured him. It really did get my spirits down for a little while but his big smile at the end made me feel better.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZV_s3TUKZYU7S6BLCWp3m-IxyUjY23tuU6C8_XAu7ESee2WUA1E8zPTpKuqinoT1fNC9hBNYFAZXrwGNXKlf2pKontwsbFsHe2FOfX_4oO9dBxoVMWBmjkcK0az_cSXdszwSSF88vMw/s1600/DSCF1722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZV_s3TUKZYU7S6BLCWp3m-IxyUjY23tuU6C8_XAu7ESee2WUA1E8zPTpKuqinoT1fNC9hBNYFAZXrwGNXKlf2pKontwsbFsHe2FOfX_4oO9dBxoVMWBmjkcK0az_cSXdszwSSF88vMw/s400/DSCF1722.JPG" /></a></div>The other sad thing happened to my friend Kim. We were motoring through these kids and it’s not like we are in a doctor’s office with proper places to put things or anything. Anyway, in the groups of 2, one person would physically give the shot and then other person would hand them the needle. Well Ashley handed Kim a needle and Kim poked the kid. When she went to push the stuff in, she realized there was nothing in it, meaning that this was a used needle. That is a HUGE no no because you are mixing people’s blood and that is the main way that bad and fatal diseases like HIV, hepatitis and all that stuff are passed. And on top of that, this was a kid that was absolutely terrified and was having to be held down by 3 people. She ended up having to poke the child twice. It was actually more Ashley’s fault for handing Kim the used needle and none of us blamed or were mad at either of them because it easily could have happened in these circumstances, but Kim felt beyond horrible. She broke down and started bawling. We were able to calm her down a bit and soothe her but I felt bad for her. There is something about having the responsibility a nurse carries on her shoulder. When you mess up in a normal workplace, it stinks but it's not life or death. It is very traumatizing making a mistake. These people are vulnerable and are putting their full faith and trust in you. And breaking that, just kills. I don’t think it’s something you could understand until it physically happens to you. Even something as small as what I did to Yebennezzar made me feel pretty sad. Gratefully, Kim’s kid had been at RSO for a while and had already seen a doctor a bunch and had been immunized. And we gave the shots in their fat and that tissue doesn’t really have any blood in it. So the child has a 99.9999% chance of being totally fine and so we weren’t really worried. But still, it’s just emotionally difficult and Kim was very worried. <br />
One of the reasons the injections were so funny is because we threw everything that we have every been taught about pediatric nursing out the window. You always try and give the kids choices to make them feel like they’re in control, you don’t rush giving them shots if they are beyond terrified, and you avoid holding them down like the plague and try to coax them instead. Lastly, if a kid ever asks for a band-aid, even if they don’t need one, you ALWAYS give the child one. None of that happened here. In fact, it was beyond the exact opposite. Band-aids are a resource here and they are the equivalent of having candy. We only gave the kids who were bleeding a band-aid. This makes it sound really harsh but I promise it wasn’t -- the kids were happy and they still love us. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqizYPIJHubGAhiotpvBgSoj8A3z0Oxv9bp3bp4YpRrH2GKsG4OTWO3uJ15uq02ET0HwMrtOz_IXBYwaL5K6SroYAyHzoWWew7fnOebnaD5R_DzHbzG882gzpqK_uEYuXqwxpRXqj-H4/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqizYPIJHubGAhiotpvBgSoj8A3z0Oxv9bp3bp4YpRrH2GKsG4OTWO3uJ15uq02ET0HwMrtOz_IXBYwaL5K6SroYAyHzoWWew7fnOebnaD5R_DzHbzG882gzpqK_uEYuXqwxpRXqj-H4/s400/025.JPG" /></a></div>So in India, they say yes and no differently. In America, we either nod our head for yes, or shake it back and forth for no. In India, they let their head bobble for yes and then put their hand up (almost like they are waving) and then shake it back and forth. I immediately picked up on the no and it has become a complete habit but the bobble head is going to be the death of me. I try and I try and I just can’t pick it up. In fact, the little girls were laughing their heads off when I was trying. It hurt my self esteem a little, but I am recovering. A lot of the girls in our group have picked it up, but I don’t think I will ever get it. It’s too dance and rhythmic like and that has never been a strong point for me. <br />
I peed on my foot again this morning. I know it’s hard to believe but I thought it was kind of cool. When I first got there and I peed on my foot, I was disgusted and horrified. Now I was like “eh, nothing a little water can’t fix”. <br />
The Indian work ethic is insane. These people are probably the hardest working people I have ever known. And the woman do it so beautifully while they are wearing saris and lots of jewelry. Every time we ever offer to help, people always say no and laugh at us. I think they feel like “it’s my work, so it’s my duty and I’m capable.” Sometimes I wonder if they think it’s condescending that we offer. Like we are implying that they need help. I don’t think this is the case though because they always smile at us when we offer. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCo5euXT-6vsjkNXIFxy7DT2CJZ7xNpCNqKuaYqq5woCCWXUozmNR6CXkMR2m4e0wk5QdOpzOmmskY9mkIMtXur9Otv-Yuhr4DLh5ftuj_90v9q6xLpn5eZcCIYtWZDFbPjxDjqoZxV1k/s1600/DSCF1832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCo5euXT-6vsjkNXIFxy7DT2CJZ7xNpCNqKuaYqq5woCCWXUozmNR6CXkMR2m4e0wk5QdOpzOmmskY9mkIMtXur9Otv-Yuhr4DLh5ftuj_90v9q6xLpn5eZcCIYtWZDFbPjxDjqoZxV1k/s400/DSCF1832.JPG" /></a></div>Grandpa Lester always talks about how blessed he is and we are. I always agreed but have kind of brushed it off after a while. Like “yeah we’re blessed, but so is everyone on our street and all of our friends.” I have been thinking about this phrase a lot and it really rings true. We are so blessed. On top of my financial blessings, I have a family who loves me. I have religious freedom. I have a roof over my head. I live in country where women are equals. I live in country that has a government that fully takes care of me (probably even too much so).I just don’t even know where to start. How did I get so lucky and blessed? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bEi1XDUSxoH-AdRqzZbxCxxgYATgdaZrjAhL5a6Mxw03QQk2ZG7pSEidO-gwWF43dd84el-nDM6wXaSEnuvfwmbHDQYbgCYTm1aRdwybTXoFXCBjOUmrWnOdhFUCBPdcSyDsn2Ntd5I/s1600/279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bEi1XDUSxoH-AdRqzZbxCxxgYATgdaZrjAhL5a6Mxw03QQk2ZG7pSEidO-gwWF43dd84el-nDM6wXaSEnuvfwmbHDQYbgCYTm1aRdwybTXoFXCBjOUmrWnOdhFUCBPdcSyDsn2Ntd5I/s400/279.jpg" /></a></div>Because we stayed on the RSO campus today, we had the option to have lunch with the kids. Kim and I totally hit them up on it. I wanted to see how the kids act and just how this whole lunch thing goes down. I was super bummed because the “main course” was this sick nasty buttermilk dish. Seriously so gross and what a rip off. Anyway the food was all distributed to the house mothers and then they distribute it to their families. The families eat in a circle and all share one pitcher of water and drink straight out of it. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqPxfYvAaqd9GCYvuNx9ybLYu37AqU6wjaShATpjboQK1o_G1i8sjnyyLOSjI5_4K3cv4t_rH4quLUziBHl3uajPpxt85Njx34jvgwhUpZo1-MFq1O4tzMC0xS_Gg-ytq1TjJe9BHY8w/s1600/011+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqPxfYvAaqd9GCYvuNx9ybLYu37AqU6wjaShATpjboQK1o_G1i8sjnyyLOSjI5_4K3cv4t_rH4quLUziBHl3uajPpxt85Njx34jvgwhUpZo1-MFq1O4tzMC0xS_Gg-ytq1TjJe9BHY8w/s400/011+%25282%2529.JPG" /></a></div>I think I would fit in well ;) They eat on the ground and only use their right hands. I was impressed with their techniques. I think I would weigh less if I had to work that hard to eat. The thing is that I always thought it was gross, but seeing it live was so the opposite. It wasn’t barbaric by any means. It was almost an art form and they made it look so effortless. All the kids wanted us to sit by them, especially the kids in our family. We decided we get enough time with them, and I wanted to get to know the boys. I sat by Basha and talked to him and his little friends/house brothers.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0QEctg3KAMUUwuowqVj2laXTK6S5JuMXu9EjZ8RGSLCcBhqjp5BNdrbFtD3k3sjnHrZPf01Pl3seK1RBcWqacWesESIGqXL9d5LNB9KM74qLySb6TOVJylIcsFgjLiGYWfeE3EyBAW4/s1600/013+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0QEctg3KAMUUwuowqVj2laXTK6S5JuMXu9EjZ8RGSLCcBhqjp5BNdrbFtD3k3sjnHrZPf01Pl3seK1RBcWqacWesESIGqXL9d5LNB9KM74qLySb6TOVJylIcsFgjLiGYWfeE3EyBAW4/s400/013+%25282%2529.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tZa9r9Eh_te9Ez9GHfYsIChGH1ybR9MRLak8VigxFZ792rQZCc5r4ML0hArxCF7fNb2BqqPQqq0CrhXtbBFRDzCeO5dEqn-09N1WBF7E4hNFNMFkvlJl5UQ7cEQBgPGNZxaVX9qJ8RI/s1600/006+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tZa9r9Eh_te9Ez9GHfYsIChGH1ybR9MRLak8VigxFZ792rQZCc5r4ML0hArxCF7fNb2BqqPQqq0CrhXtbBFRDzCeO5dEqn-09N1WBF7E4hNFNMFkvlJl5UQ7cEQBgPGNZxaVX9qJ8RI/s400/006+%25283%2529.JPG" /></a></div>It was pretty fun and the laughed at me for using a fork and crumbling up my hardboiled egg and adding it to my rice ( I need protein desperately!). I would have used my hands but I didn’t have any of that nasty sauce stuff to hold it all together so it would have been a an epic fail. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-NUfTuBVgFsobQ8HGO6nGubK4197jOLf3rnKtJhpbpTchbYHq_-diCOh1HhQp_TvPJc5YkuWTi4Kn_DV_NmhN-ZuWnjZugoV67VnvVO44hlrZc6a-pWTvJHIdmHFojae1BzDqW3QuJI/s1600/010+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-NUfTuBVgFsobQ8HGO6nGubK4197jOLf3rnKtJhpbpTchbYHq_-diCOh1HhQp_TvPJc5YkuWTi4Kn_DV_NmhN-ZuWnjZugoV67VnvVO44hlrZc6a-pWTvJHIdmHFojae1BzDqW3QuJI/s400/010+%25283%2529.JPG" /></a></div>I really want to get to know the house moms and their stories. I ended up talking to basha’s house mom and her name was Vannilamary.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxgPCon-Yyo0UnSAan8sZGaZOxDS3nNNyxQt6TE4rMHSKg1XTlv9caEbjnJHsPh-UiBujyIdwwKGWMXkCqozrkAv9_unoogiNRv8QYdkGulE7ThOhB1CzVJqtiDdord9RpoCPgqd1TxE/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxgPCon-Yyo0UnSAan8sZGaZOxDS3nNNyxQt6TE4rMHSKg1XTlv9caEbjnJHsPh-UiBujyIdwwKGWMXkCqozrkAv9_unoogiNRv8QYdkGulE7ThOhB1CzVJqtiDdord9RpoCPgqd1TxE/s400/026.JPG" /></a></div>She said we could call her vanilla for short. That was the best news I had heard all day! She was so unbelievably fantastic. SO sweet and full of kindness and genuine. She told me that she used to be a nanny for an American family and that made sense why she seemed so easy to talk to and just American a little. I found out her sons are Stephen and Michal. Stephen is that boy who spells out the PESOPI thing with me. He is just great and so fun. I found out that David Archuletta is his sponsor and is paying for him to go visit America when he turns 18. Stephen is so pumped about it. Vanilla came to RSO 8 months ago and her husband died 5 months ago. He was trying to get off a bus and hit is head and it killed him. I felt really sad for her and asked her how she was handling it. I try and be real with these people without crossing the line which is hard when you don’t know where the line is in another culture. She said she was sad but couldn’t show it because she needed to be strong for the kids. She then said that he was a drinking man and he was drunk when it happened. And that she came to RSO for her children’s sake and their education. OH my goodness, what an amazing woman! She left her alcoholic husband and moved to help run this orphanage. And she is so happy and sweet. I was in absolute awe of her. She likes me and said she was impressed how well I was doing with the kids' names. That made me feel really good and I loved being able to connect with this wonderful women.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielkYJObSy5bdtKJjNFOu7A_Toaya4RDBxcBvWUza2anQgtb37u5vqE6zWnXU3Cb34h7mePbeBU79P92jDScYz-cIMBaWpGMNxlgaUjMvVlQ68gA6DXfndaHVs2nThG3r3k9WNWrQsyy0/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielkYJObSy5bdtKJjNFOu7A_Toaya4RDBxcBvWUza2anQgtb37u5vqE6zWnXU3Cb34h7mePbeBU79P92jDScYz-cIMBaWpGMNxlgaUjMvVlQ68gA6DXfndaHVs2nThG3r3k9WNWrQsyy0/s400/027.JPG" /></a></div>The food is really starting to take its toll. I usually wake up with diarrhea in the morning now from the night before’s indian food. I feel kinda sick to my stomach every now and again. And the lack of protein kind of pulls your strength, but not that bad. The food doesn’t even sound appetizing right now. I am trying to just push through, but I think the food and I will go on a break for a couple days. Camille said the same thing happened to her and within a couple of days, the food sounded good again. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lMc4mTKGSeorMT7-Dw7oxRGdWQUTEmD8MlAPcyc3hZMmeiZBCGAHqydeLhpDAbEo0PWRB5b_4M3LfYvS_JMpTcQjC6r4D_5lXAlQe0YQpZfmEJiyWHBdPHvMiryVh6tp7IJKtw7q5aM/s1600/India+098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lMc4mTKGSeorMT7-Dw7oxRGdWQUTEmD8MlAPcyc3hZMmeiZBCGAHqydeLhpDAbEo0PWRB5b_4M3LfYvS_JMpTcQjC6r4D_5lXAlQe0YQpZfmEJiyWHBdPHvMiryVh6tp7IJKtw7q5aM/s400/India+098.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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At family time tonight, the girls were enjoying playing with my hair. I took it out of its bun and asked “does anyone want to brade my hair” Immediately, like 5 girls jumped up. Always so many volunteers for anything—its actually quite cute. Anyway, I let Theresa braid my hair. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm9JEfxb-o6bLp-ZFijq9LAfcnhyzpXzSQSIRhSwH5wUyIa8d-J1l_FGpOCUCn0h88wN74qU70UrII1iMK8zivj8KXJkKn8RjVBd7C5CdMAw_ebn0sLHHwgcH8hLTkeRwVZOXlyYXwW8/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm9JEfxb-o6bLp-ZFijq9LAfcnhyzpXzSQSIRhSwH5wUyIa8d-J1l_FGpOCUCn0h88wN74qU70UrII1iMK8zivj8KXJkKn8RjVBd7C5CdMAw_ebn0sLHHwgcH8hLTkeRwVZOXlyYXwW8/s400/043.JPG" /></a></div>She combed it and everything and I was impressed because it had gotten pretty snarly. I was also impressed because it didn’t hurt when she was combing it or doing it. One of the the other little girls did Kim’s hair and was practically pulling her scalp off. Kim said “softer please”, and the girl responded “no, tight good”. I about died with laughter; it was so funny. Theresa asked me why I have short hair. I explained that girls in America cut their hair all the time and can have it at whatever length they wanted. She was pretty receptive but still thought it was a little weird. Here, they sometimes shave the girls’ heads when they are about 5 years old, but then after that they almost never cut it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGmG_aSYiA6t_iCf6_IgD7t6V-WSmqWENQu2-T_VMsOUfPbhTv2rCGOk8Ew0B-8DIJViTvFZM00jZ6riad2Nhyt4G0htPX3Aj45-s9_6RhdsFQbTvKjSw3A3MQRolplIAOYRGvQhp3q8/s1600/085+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGmG_aSYiA6t_iCf6_IgD7t6V-WSmqWENQu2-T_VMsOUfPbhTv2rCGOk8Ew0B-8DIJViTvFZM00jZ6riad2Nhyt4G0htPX3Aj45-s9_6RhdsFQbTvKjSw3A3MQRolplIAOYRGvQhp3q8/s400/085+%25282%2529.JPG" /></a></div>(The girl on the right is Tamilarasi that I love and have many pictures with on this blog. They just chopped all her hair off.)<br />
They only do a trim on the ends every once in a while. I asked if it was religious or beauty and she said “to be pretty”. Different strokes for different folks I guess. <br />
The most tender thing about family time was when I walked in on them about to pray. Some of them are Christian and others are Hindu. V-Davy led a prayer of like 6 girls. They filled up this little cup with water and then all put their hands on it. They invited me to join in and then say the prayer. It was very special.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOz1ib5y5REKQMcxrd7sMaQBYXLRjMkUNWtLp_46RPoO6ZBxF6b4qvK3ZSWJSPXBx7LNpNZ4m_o6JjPyvwG3Q2R7irWAO8sIgIjwAr_-8mzyROeRSzR00-sZP4ENtOUueqVxp6aOu8CzM/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOz1ib5y5REKQMcxrd7sMaQBYXLRjMkUNWtLp_46RPoO6ZBxF6b4qvK3ZSWJSPXBx7LNpNZ4m_o6JjPyvwG3Q2R7irWAO8sIgIjwAr_-8mzyROeRSzR00-sZP4ENtOUueqVxp6aOu8CzM/s400/037.JPG" /></a></div>Then afterwards, one of the girls handed me a book of Mormon and asked me my favorite part. I was surprised by this because the kids are not Mormon here. I flipped to 2 Nephi 22:2 and read it to them-- "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation." They intently listened and it touched my heart. They are so pure. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-twegtadq3OpudRQl8e6BvRrfsol0LtUbHny4kj3FzKuk1QE4Wz08YiGyf7lpYpZp1fxBPjUQlVNqp6HW4tUuSTsoL35cJPamugaPpC3AdMmbyagIV-7yMOG5cZhQffMRx-E46PtSQs/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-twegtadq3OpudRQl8e6BvRrfsol0LtUbHny4kj3FzKuk1QE4Wz08YiGyf7lpYpZp1fxBPjUQlVNqp6HW4tUuSTsoL35cJPamugaPpC3AdMmbyagIV-7yMOG5cZhQffMRx-E46PtSQs/s400/038.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Laura Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16827780034249309415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7407561781233312223.post-59797258195453438542011-08-22T17:53:00.000-07:002011-08-22T17:53:44.696-07:00Day 5 - Let's get Physical (title courtesy of Whitney)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre0ganYBixn0P2rY4ah7ujWX3mP9-HugDFEyLvHYD7crsOqzaMm-0gH8GGvwRNbKF0CLlvbJbI6e-o-NpQjoHVWivUFVFnh7UNDNU0rUky28oDwNqyTW0iwXdQQly44gXH8K-WyvB4TQ/s1600/277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre0ganYBixn0P2rY4ah7ujWX3mP9-HugDFEyLvHYD7crsOqzaMm-0gH8GGvwRNbKF0CLlvbJbI6e-o-NpQjoHVWivUFVFnh7UNDNU0rUky28oDwNqyTW0iwXdQQly44gXH8K-WyvB4TQ/s400/277.JPG" /></a></div>The other group of girls in the nursing program were going to a hospital in Chennai today and all had to wake up at 5:30. Consequently, it woke us all up and I was out of bed and going by 6 am. I was bummed that I couldn’t sleep longer but it was a blessing in disguise. I felt like I had a whole morning to myself to just get things done before I had to go for the day. It was sooo nice and helped me not feel so behind on everything and allowed me to catch up on my journaling. It takes all of my extra time. I have kind of started worrying that I am too busy recording all of my experinces instead of having them. I have lolled it over and I think I am good. I am not missing out on anything except for maybe just sitting under the night sky, which would be beautiful, and reflecting. But I think this is more important and I am making it a priority. IN fact, it is such a priority, I do it when I am exhausted and sooo hot. My friends were kind enough to take this picture of my dilligence. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OgEt3SdBTm5Rc2TnCsRqDhz0a2mVUdCY9Os49JVa0xZ8kZWwZqezR70kWzFX8nbTvswspE67K5WFGN96J5qbuNZXEYP-8qAyI2KVf23cUJHROlc_qbf6Pikebcz_isYhxWmN4ETiZ0g/s1600/DSCF1706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OgEt3SdBTm5Rc2TnCsRqDhz0a2mVUdCY9Os49JVa0xZ8kZWwZqezR70kWzFX8nbTvswspE67K5WFGN96J5qbuNZXEYP-8qAyI2KVf23cUJHROlc_qbf6Pikebcz_isYhxWmN4ETiZ0g/s400/DSCF1706.JPG" /></a></div>When I first arrived, girls were all on facebook and would skype home everyday. In all honesty, I kind of looked down at them. I thought, we are India, so be in India! I was determined to not go on facebook and mostly just email home and skype on occasion. I got to skype my family yesterday and see all of their wonderful faces. It was great and just beyond lifted my spirits. I went on facebook just to put the link to my new blog and ended up looking around for a few mins. I was surprised, but that also felt so good. I think just having a touch of home makes you feel more comfortable in a good way. When I was skyping my family, I told them how a lot of the girls have diarrhea and I have been so grateful not too. They asked me what I had done differently and I told them nothing, that I was just a lucky one. As I was saying goodbye to them, I got this really intense urge to go to the bathroom. Like really intense! I quickly said goodbye and sprinted to the bathroom. Good news—I am now an official member of the diarrhea club. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzKD3BtZtKyySOUQae0c-CPPvE9Pqol9UIzn4kyXwQP9IlF0-gvVy-Y1BqYJtcid5tbGpNOP7GYFgn83qI8YE8i56V0WiyUCnW5oJYn7YBaa88ksdsehZdnxcbKLyrfOv64STUkooiYo/s1600/India+629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzKD3BtZtKyySOUQae0c-CPPvE9Pqol9UIzn4kyXwQP9IlF0-gvVy-Y1BqYJtcid5tbGpNOP7GYFgn83qI8YE8i56V0WiyUCnW5oJYn7YBaa88ksdsehZdnxcbKLyrfOv64STUkooiYo/s400/India+629.JPG" /></a></div>I was in my room skyping and so the other girls heard me talking to my parents about not having diarrhea. When I ran back in and told them that I had just joined the club, the irony of it killed us. We were rolling in laughter. <br />
Every morning we go to the laundry room and pick out our chudidars (top and bottom). You find ones that are more comfy, breathe easier than others, and just fit well. I found an outfit that I love and have worn it twice. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24AH42v7fFYWyW4p_WNs6MpegLTZ_IWjYTQ_LmaZ9O-2clT688F4eXiz3lUp8kJpaZPX9jrsbJa6AzXW_i_2kb8mE-3tl2HcLPuUUHrgwVjh7A7btQLvWpGpKiMpI70TLG5L6fXzzT04/s1600/DSCF1790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24AH42v7fFYWyW4p_WNs6MpegLTZ_IWjYTQ_LmaZ9O-2clT688F4eXiz3lUp8kJpaZPX9jrsbJa6AzXW_i_2kb8mE-3tl2HcLPuUUHrgwVjh7A7btQLvWpGpKiMpI70TLG5L6fXzzT04/s400/DSCF1790.JPG" /></a></div>I was going to grab it again but then I realized that I can’t have the same outfit in all of my pictures. So for pure vanity sake, I am fighting my obsessive tendencies and varying my outfits. . Just another chance to grow in India. I was actually quite happy with my outfit and its comfy status. It was nice to have a change. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf_oRW58_AVr7EDrL0JHdCC4Q03X13XrRgTvVGXfaTHyd3zeXzK_k72spGUD_ajbRKZ9WrobUglkxnOuKpFm27y_x0EDTMhwWCLOYeMAUDH3qcHHe9xIkT4Vd91casC-xuMGDiJyggvE/s1600/287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf_oRW58_AVr7EDrL0JHdCC4Q03X13XrRgTvVGXfaTHyd3zeXzK_k72spGUD_ajbRKZ9WrobUglkxnOuKpFm27y_x0EDTMhwWCLOYeMAUDH3qcHHe9xIkT4Vd91casC-xuMGDiJyggvE/s400/287.JPG" /></a></div>Our assignment for the day was to give the children 2nd- 5th standard (grade) physicals. I absolutely loved doing the physicals. It was fun to be able to use the knowledge that I have learned and hardcore apply it. We had different stations like height and weight, vital signs, and then the overall physical part. I got to do the overall physical part with the stethoscope, looking in the kids ear, and all that fun jazz. It was so fun to interact with them and let them listen to their own heart or my heart. They ate it up and it was fun to see it light up their entire face. They would look up into my eyes and say “auntie, I hear it. Thump thump.” <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp_VGeKhp1g-NGHMM4E9gpnhyOPWtyRmqFwyHK4Mt_tSUSkEZxbZCf6Y-N2d5hZ21YVN8zd6xJqV4fSnRRNJ6scYeYrIyzS4sa0R-Y7f5LDlupdEOhOHefKYUyc6juo2h2E_5Lk2YC8M/s1600/281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp_VGeKhp1g-NGHMM4E9gpnhyOPWtyRmqFwyHK4Mt_tSUSkEZxbZCf6Y-N2d5hZ21YVN8zd6xJqV4fSnRRNJ6scYeYrIyzS4sa0R-Y7f5LDlupdEOhOHefKYUyc6juo2h2E_5Lk2YC8M/s400/281.JPG" /></a></div> When the bell rang for recess and all the kids in the school came running by, it was the equivalent of putting a fresh dead carcass in front of a gazillion lions. I was borderline scared for my life. The kids saw all the equipment and were grabbing it and just going insane. I had my stethoscope pulled off my shoulder 7 times while a million kids were yelling “auntie, auntie, me next”. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOvf8pZtsaLiRZ9ITvlMQ1GLe5rOAhV9QLgYChnpH2drSTY8eM5ZTcxdQE_cFRj4hWuRh3VA1UPWLkXMm13saOyeUA4jEMPCPt3LIn4yaBnF4ku1WyhQfNqso3M3q6M_OJ0GNkKrww6g/s1600/269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOvf8pZtsaLiRZ9ITvlMQ1GLe5rOAhV9QLgYChnpH2drSTY8eM5ZTcxdQE_cFRj4hWuRh3VA1UPWLkXMm13saOyeUA4jEMPCPt3LIn4yaBnF4ku1WyhQfNqso3M3q6M_OJ0GNkKrww6g/s400/269.JPG" /></a></div>It was fun but it got to the point where it was passed trying my patience. When recess ended, life was good again. We did physicals from 9:30 am to 4 pm. It was great for my nursing skills and I FINALLY feel confident with feeling lymph nodes and much improved at listening to lung sounds. I felt like a nurse practitioner and it was rad!!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXN_OxlBvmK0WUxrtAfu1WfkuO7njxDOT5NcMy3J2OYeRJvKGE3mcHVOdS8c083LRvscthuFKcxIvJpOnS4BFcyeH93VdDzhm1zCjrO5Mqdl7QqgohEdNEpCgmIhNZ7KzQZdo62i39Ei8/s1600/272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXN_OxlBvmK0WUxrtAfu1WfkuO7njxDOT5NcMy3J2OYeRJvKGE3mcHVOdS8c083LRvscthuFKcxIvJpOnS4BFcyeH93VdDzhm1zCjrO5Mqdl7QqgohEdNEpCgmIhNZ7KzQZdo62i39Ei8/s400/272.JPG" /></a></div>I can’t wait until I have my masters and get more education. The people that we thought were sick, we referred to the doctor at 4 at the clinic. When he showed up, he needed help. I stayed on and helped him until like 5.30. I totally felt like a nurse practitioner that had to stay late to chart.<br />
When we were working in the clinic, there were some quotes pretty neat quotes on the whiteboard. They said “We treat, God heals”, “success= tons of discipline, hard work and prayer”, and “Humility and service are accurate measures of true greatness”. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjh3OicLfFxJMBpS1YfmJxgsEsoGkkhS1wJg_RFv-BSl0jkJwZ6qRbbTmCZ7hVswVCpxVLRoCVQDXRWQ8-JHgnaKfH7c3eS9Dbv-rGOY-aiZwa53JnRapa5CJokfWOo06twHccK4PQgTI/s1600/263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjh3OicLfFxJMBpS1YfmJxgsEsoGkkhS1wJg_RFv-BSl0jkJwZ6qRbbTmCZ7hVswVCpxVLRoCVQDXRWQ8-JHgnaKfH7c3eS9Dbv-rGOY-aiZwa53JnRapa5CJokfWOo06twHccK4PQgTI/s400/263.JPG" /></a></div>RSO is non-denominational but this whole place is so focused on God’s hand in everything. It rally strikes home and I see the truth in these simple words. I feel like Dr. Susan is the ultimate example of this. Here she is, this Indian doctor, who lives in a boarding school for orphans in very meager conditions and spends her life serving India’s “Least of these”. She never takes credit for it, is beyond humble, and we have to force her into any sort of a picture. I am in awe of her and hope I can be like that someday.<br />
I broke out of my shoe-wearing shell and just wore flip flops today. It was like heaven on earth! I swear I was at least 8 degrees cooler and it just made me feel more chillax. Now that I have started sandals, I am most definitely staying with them. It’s like that saying “once you go black, you never go back.” Kiss the shoes goodbye baby.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_Zlzp-84JK1cy7NZNJ0v6TauFiCc-7SjV7KecONufbX1IJNQ8ugEeeRjvAFVopWpPzMeEaYRlbvdUeCXwc32kRLbh-l6iOyVn9xEtjkhIObqmliFxbCIenEA-YKPLgyxL-F-hiBH6K0/s1600/DSCF1787+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_Zlzp-84JK1cy7NZNJ0v6TauFiCc-7SjV7KecONufbX1IJNQ8ugEeeRjvAFVopWpPzMeEaYRlbvdUeCXwc32kRLbh-l6iOyVn9xEtjkhIObqmliFxbCIenEA-YKPLgyxL-F-hiBH6K0/s400/DSCF1787+-+Copy.JPG" /></a></div>As I am sitting here writing this, the power has gone out twice. Our power is the sketchiest thing ever. It easily goes out 20 times a day, not exaggerating. It usually comes back on within a few minutes, so its not too bad. Sometimes it really stinks though because it takes the air conditioning with it and it only takes 5 minutes for a room to get blazing hot. One time I decided to have one of my coveted easy macs that I brought from home. I followed the directions, filled it up with water and stuck it in the microwave. The exact second that I pushed the “start” button, the power went out. Who knew that could be the saddest part of my day?<br />
Family time was pretty fun tonight. I have started talking to the girls individually and getting to know them. My professor, Cheryl, made a really good point the other day. She said that we can walk around and do all of our service and everything, but the way you really get to know India and make a difference, is by talking to the people. That hit me really hard. I am here giving it 100% but until I take the time to really know the people, I am just observing India, rather than taking part. I talked to a few of the girls and really bonded with them while getting to know them. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0m05z490wRTah4MOjGpIJJ5Tc6pNNTOEUWR2QTuZxB24Jt6XY4f-T2miTForRaXJWriccD0LWSxvGzLwIcEWYyO2H9ZjWwsCffDX4LqGAx7y3FTGXCpOacGR_wugBd8Jb2g-y017BPQ/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0m05z490wRTah4MOjGpIJJ5Tc6pNNTOEUWR2QTuZxB24Jt6XY4f-T2miTForRaXJWriccD0LWSxvGzLwIcEWYyO2H9ZjWwsCffDX4LqGAx7y3FTGXCpOacGR_wugBd8Jb2g-y017BPQ/s400/052.JPG" /></a></div>I talked to one of my girls, Bujji, who is 12, about her family. She is probably one of the smartest kids here and she is always helping/ doing the other girls’ homework for them. I have really gotten to know her and words cannot describe how much I love her. She is just so pure and sweet. We were talking and she told me that her grandma has leprosy and lives in a colony but her parents live in Chennai. Her dad is a truck driver and her mom cleans clothes. She has a brother but he goes to a different school. I asked her why he doesn’t go to RSO with her. She looked up at me, smiled, and sheepishly said “we have no money”. It had a profound effect on me. In fact, I’m tearing up writing about it. Here is this sweeter than sweet girl who has absolutely nothing but is happy. How blessed am I and I find times and beyond stupid things to be sad about. She is raw and pure and she only sees the goodness of life. At that moment, my soul was overwhelmed with love for this sweet daughter of god. I threw my arms around her and started to savor the moments I have with these precious children. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wqDTG8sMwMPvvEXJig4B4GZWi8Yf5ayH9EFQMWikBPUtxgoq5UGB6m5BD5Em1eeCWODE5IBcGK-QavCVHB0xR4k8p4N8NGFMGTDZscZSuKmVjDajtSLyhhJ7aspKV5zx0SuqIwqx8n0/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wqDTG8sMwMPvvEXJig4B4GZWi8Yf5ayH9EFQMWikBPUtxgoq5UGB6m5BD5Em1eeCWODE5IBcGK-QavCVHB0xR4k8p4N8NGFMGTDZscZSuKmVjDajtSLyhhJ7aspKV5zx0SuqIwqx8n0/s400/049.JPG" /></a></div>I was grateful that I could be here to give her my love. I am supposed to be the one helping these children, but they are the ones helping and teaching me. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgv42FRjCrOZPZ16mg9t3xMQwzu_Eswxc0DUe2w7eU77MDFoOpVOkKsuq3mSJnwPcPZA5VDjJXhbFhI9_1IFTIBe5AWNv-GHiJyYGN4ZDY5Nxa_TB9cSMBOGgDjJ02XIdJ8rKTJLKeIRA/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgv42FRjCrOZPZ16mg9t3xMQwzu_Eswxc0DUe2w7eU77MDFoOpVOkKsuq3mSJnwPcPZA5VDjJXhbFhI9_1IFTIBe5AWNv-GHiJyYGN4ZDY5Nxa_TB9cSMBOGgDjJ02XIdJ8rKTJLKeIRA/s400/048.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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Laura Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16827780034249309415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7407561781233312223.post-43948107050112977442011-06-09T09:36:00.000-07:002011-06-09T09:36:09.701-07:00Super Busy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6n_LUGzjUNqqKgET-NoPl9y3cLxvhLKggH8hsRahySCSLbAieJO-n_vdN_BrmI8I_nh7nKrsXEXr4Mosh1SA7jUJ6U2wqwdCsm_hu9Ffm6V_vaiOsUuj-LPxd_9FHLemgYvJiWtG8gI/s1600/211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6n_LUGzjUNqqKgET-NoPl9y3cLxvhLKggH8hsRahySCSLbAieJO-n_vdN_BrmI8I_nh7nKrsXEXr4Mosh1SA7jUJ6U2wqwdCsm_hu9Ffm6V_vaiOsUuj-LPxd_9FHLemgYvJiWtG8gI/s400/211.JPG" /></a></div>I am so sorry. I have been so busy with these wonderful kids and the leprosy colonies that I have just not had time to and blog. I have been dutifully journaling and you will get my whole India experience... eventually. I just have not had time to add the pictures and spend time on the computer. We are going to the Taj Mahal this weekend, and then a 2 day trip to a leprosy colony. I will put up my next post when I get back in 5 days. Love and miss you all!Laura Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16827780034249309415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7407561781233312223.post-57450104845596520032011-06-06T10:01:00.000-07:002011-06-06T10:56:29.935-07:00Day 4- Morning Village Walk, Karyunalaya Catholic Mission hospital<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxdWG0ncfr9cbWiE9WSjXQdy23PXiz1ioUOI28VWDPxmc5RTdL2vu7_kcNglgHLx9jJhpVh2ijI6DjiCxCfyyanSqJZgdsvgPLvC33VWwO5nd9XS58ptRkTk8dnK3cACI3hEeYZh_Fic/s1600/DSCF1844.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxdWG0ncfr9cbWiE9WSjXQdy23PXiz1ioUOI28VWDPxmc5RTdL2vu7_kcNglgHLx9jJhpVh2ijI6DjiCxCfyyanSqJZgdsvgPLvC33VWwO5nd9XS58ptRkTk8dnK3cACI3hEeYZh_Fic/s400/DSCF1844.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615162513243843154" /></a><br />We had the opportunity to walk through a local village this morning. It was pretty amazing and just fascinating/ super sad to see these beautiful indian people and their harsh conditions. They work so hard and I am continually impressed. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYctEgGzrngkOJdWR1U0DwoRTfP15H_PWH4meraWwuxZkSgHocUPl9eWTa9du0hTPvl-4ayTmCP3HeS79JKLrh-Noxhg5DowsPnTHazun5js340c8n6LwUOM59ywaZaZaY8DcAktc-Ds8/s1600/DSCF1832.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYctEgGzrngkOJdWR1U0DwoRTfP15H_PWH4meraWwuxZkSgHocUPl9eWTa9du0hTPvl-4ayTmCP3HeS79JKLrh-Noxhg5DowsPnTHazun5js340c8n6LwUOM59ywaZaZaY8DcAktc-Ds8/s400/DSCF1832.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615161087338214514" /></a><br />The people didn’t speak English but we stayed and somewhat visited with them. More than anything, we just tried to show them we cared and were interested. The kids had some gold in their jet black hair and I thought it was pretty and sunbleached. Turns out, golden hair like that is a sign of severe protein deficiency and malnutrition. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qjQKvYB1J3vcrfjQgoa6Z92uN0I6q-kMetoo1Igg9VUOD3rfN2ilyG4oBHlppmOQmrLyJ30maFnMVdfX9x7-PzopcVgZKA23MjDsLgQCR9PQpeZPoY_U5U-ayWPCdHvjJgsih8srjRo/s1600/DSCF1840.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qjQKvYB1J3vcrfjQgoa6Z92uN0I6q-kMetoo1Igg9VUOD3rfN2ilyG4oBHlppmOQmrLyJ30maFnMVdfX9x7-PzopcVgZKA23MjDsLgQCR9PQpeZPoY_U5U-ayWPCdHvjJgsih8srjRo/s400/DSCF1840.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615161616684455170" /></a><br />The kids we visited with were the poorest of the poor village. The village had a big celebration and feast and let the people eat in order of their rank. Men rank higher than woman and it depends on where they fall in the caste system. Supposedly these little kids ate the very last and just ravaged the left overs. Its heart breaking to see but its weird because your mind doesn’t not quite grasp it. They run up to you and are so happy and want to hold your hand and just have this smile on their face. Its hard to associate that these kids who are so happy are beyond starving because they’re not sad like I feel they should be. The people here have this sweet simpleness to them. They find joy in the little things and do not seem to be bothered by their conditions. I think its probably because it’s all they know.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYUi0IdHfCz5AcIOWgcbHE_wUQDOEWvjoKQFX-db_hyh78T2JHw-OeOSmUm9PP1VV7vEDZnyl8jQmkqgxN1fr824uD85J378KQbqJfEhscysCDkH2__7yJc4DD3JnQjj0E1JNUndCPp0/s1600/India+Elise+539.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYUi0IdHfCz5AcIOWgcbHE_wUQDOEWvjoKQFX-db_hyh78T2JHw-OeOSmUm9PP1VV7vEDZnyl8jQmkqgxN1fr824uD85J378KQbqJfEhscysCDkH2__7yJc4DD3JnQjj0E1JNUndCPp0/s400/India+Elise+539.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615162866881140114" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxeTBt8rRJaH8yHXtQapxlBgBBMWhNSKa59gPdycjdPAdZLfhwiI-DFNCV3_w43tCqoGfkEbZpH7bXY6og8Gs4NKsite1LyARVxiPGHIMWr1PLX4j__Yf3ae_7YefgbsTsOXnZiAcKlM/s1600/India+Elise+494.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxeTBt8rRJaH8yHXtQapxlBgBBMWhNSKa59gPdycjdPAdZLfhwiI-DFNCV3_w43tCqoGfkEbZpH7bXY6og8Gs4NKsite1LyARVxiPGHIMWr1PLX4j__Yf3ae_7YefgbsTsOXnZiAcKlM/s400/India+Elise+494.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615166155889424946" /></a><br />We hung out with a group of kids and a mother bathing her child. The baby was probably just under a year but wasn’t named. I guess they name the child at around a year or so. She was doing a morning routine of putting oil and powder on the baby’s body. I wish I had a translater there to tell me why she does this. All the children wear ropes around their stomachs to make sure they are growing. I think it also shows if there is swelling in the abdomen. I think it is just an ancient tradition because the kids at rising star have a medical clinic and don’t really need this, but wear it anyway. She also had this little girl that was the sweetist thing ever. SHe was scared of us, but how I loved her. Just absolutely precious. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtIzRamn4FSyCCDblt3Vr9virf9f4LCwPUIUhvUG3lFMG7MVowQKlVyx-OMq_0r5CAJo7IcqKHq4cRXQgXNkL2f2yeltqyrEtz4jep5AAZL9rxKGzXaYndkDQqVfH8NJeGrZP6Shes00/s1600/DSCF1849.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtIzRamn4FSyCCDblt3Vr9virf9f4LCwPUIUhvUG3lFMG7MVowQKlVyx-OMq_0r5CAJo7IcqKHq4cRXQgXNkL2f2yeltqyrEtz4jep5AAZL9rxKGzXaYndkDQqVfH8NJeGrZP6Shes00/s400/DSCF1849.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615163233620130610" /></a><br />My professor, Cherly Corbett, hung back with me to talk to these people while everyone kep walking through. She is the whole reason why I got to come to India and am so grateful to her. I have grown to really love her a lot and value her friendship. I love how real she is and that she is a nurse practitioner. She was the one who told me to hang back and that you really get a true feel for the people by spending time with them even if you can’t fully communicate. She could not have been more right. I was bummed though because we were walking through the village early in the morning at 6:30 am, so I just wore my night shirt with my chudidar pants. I wish I would have been wearing my full indianoutfit that I wear everyday. I wouldn’t have felt so American and like a foreigner. It really wasn’t that bad, but I just like feeling like I’m trying to be one of them as much as possible out of respect. <br />The craziest thing about the whole experience was seeing these people that are beyond poor but have television. We saw telelvision satelites on shacks. It blew my mind. I guess if they are going to be around all day, the might as well have television. I just neve would have expected it out here in some rural area.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqxxK_Fj-P2pEn5jdG7yjrhprpey3TglRHIT033KVKIdKK718xJwFmZl2kWj4gAiRT4gmMRcClYzIDisMH9UU6YxO47aQr9r-htGH23yZVgfAE27ncRKV71oI6d37S_bTK4B444_8WHs/s1600/DSCF1834.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqxxK_Fj-P2pEn5jdG7yjrhprpey3TglRHIT033KVKIdKK718xJwFmZl2kWj4gAiRT4gmMRcClYzIDisMH9UU6YxO47aQr9r-htGH23yZVgfAE27ncRKV71oI6d37S_bTK4B444_8WHs/s400/DSCF1834.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615163627843020978" /></a><br />They have a saying here out Rising Star Outreach called “TII” meaning “this is india”. Things just get messed up and happen that are out of your control, so you just have to roll with the punches. For instance, the schools randomly decided this year that they were going to start 15 days later. So our teachers at the school don’t have the proper books or anything yet. They are just winging it but doing a fantastic job. Also, our vans break down all the time. We were going to go out for our day trip and our new air-conditioned van broke down and we had to wait about half an hour to leave. They finally were able to fix the old school yellow school bus (it used to be their only vehicle) and we took that. It had no air condiionting, a few windows are missing, and the door doesn’t close. And we had to all push the bus to get it started.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5785971290_f161e596f5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5785971290_f161e596f5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It was pretty cool, and I felt super like we were in India. My friend, crystal, and I sat in the doorway the whole time and just loved the freedom. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCekWqNGc5w_D8H-rJY4o92GK6I4aErIdBjb2KYOuFvdwCtmVvx9xmZg_FVLpP0j0rx2ZmUcQyWVTW-LlCtGAuQSW8uVckDhGgnzHpjpfO0hLG6-2NJ3VN8WEzU_WQBC8eeo0Z6kVQaQ/s1600/DSCF1912.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCekWqNGc5w_D8H-rJY4o92GK6I4aErIdBjb2KYOuFvdwCtmVvx9xmZg_FVLpP0j0rx2ZmUcQyWVTW-LlCtGAuQSW8uVckDhGgnzHpjpfO0hLG6-2NJ3VN8WEzU_WQBC8eeo0Z6kVQaQ/s400/DSCF1912.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615164437084161906" /></a><br />We were only going a short ways, about half an hour, on rural roads. But if we were going on our normal adventures to the city which are about 2 hours each way, I’m sure I would have felt differently. Part of that, has to do with safety and awkward, sad situations. Beggars see us white girls driving down the srett and come up with their little babies and beg relentlessly on our windows. Rising star is trying to teach these people to be self-sufficient so they ask us not to give them anything. It’s sad to see these people teaching their kids to beg at such a young age. Sometimes I feel so helpless but my friend made a really good point that rung home. Sometimes it feels like you are so small that you cant make a difference. But its just not true. We can make a difference, one person at a time. It’s like the story in the bible of the good Samaritan. It was just one man helping another one man. <br />We went on our day trip with Dr. Susan to a Karyunalaya Catholic Mission hospital that is run by nuns.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/5785970782_ce14fdcb21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/5785970782_ce14fdcb21.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /> We were expecting to see about 150 patients but we found out that the government was giving out free rice that day. Consequently, we only had about 10 patients. Classic example of “TII”. I have learned that you might have a different experience than what you originally planned on, but just go with it and take it for what it is. I have developed beyond chill attitude about our expected schedule. I just go where I am told and don’t know what the next day will entail until the morning of. Anyways, there was a little baby and mom who came in. Because of the language barrier, we thought the mom was the one who was sick. When we were in the middle of taking her vital signs, my friend laughed and said the chart said the patient was one years old. We laughed under our breath but played it cool and switched over to the baby. This baby was beyond adorable. I was the one in charge of listening to her but she didn’t want me to come near her. She would start screaming which makes it impossible to get an accurate assessment. I started playing games with her with my stethoscope and bouncing it off her arm and a huge smile lit up her face. Cuteness like that is so infectious that it made me smile. I was then able to continue my assessment and we were friends. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgVyyIthU6W8OGl4xF6tnRm4YzKwosI1-f5TJi5nYsg_tPc2HbULqVEfrWhUxj0mdAZqHCotc3fvFqINi4Tng54zc749vWhdRKyMj0ZQbVWrYHH-_T5dgGRdg9CNOKy5QCuAIPz98HbE/s1600/DSCF1875.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgVyyIthU6W8OGl4xF6tnRm4YzKwosI1-f5TJi5nYsg_tPc2HbULqVEfrWhUxj0mdAZqHCotc3fvFqINi4Tng54zc749vWhdRKyMj0ZQbVWrYHH-_T5dgGRdg9CNOKy5QCuAIPz98HbE/s400/DSCF1875.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615154593739078514" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGLvloqQ6QqCqAbgtkVvgAen2e2sPs1SnzeG6j8KakyvSh-TgXsGpODND_Tk8F8GYlDwIM8gxhaK_KRbuwGHJ90Js63D5BDHhixIF0SMwrymR-Zben_oVu55x9WFZA_hVp2Dj8UC29TA/s1600/DSCF1877.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGLvloqQ6QqCqAbgtkVvgAen2e2sPs1SnzeG6j8KakyvSh-TgXsGpODND_Tk8F8GYlDwIM8gxhaK_KRbuwGHJ90Js63D5BDHhixIF0SMwrymR-Zben_oVu55x9WFZA_hVp2Dj8UC29TA/s400/DSCF1877.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615154787558692642" /></a><br />There was a little boy and girl there whose parents work at the mission. They hung out with us thoe whole time and the little boy was a definite highlight. He was so.. full of personality and very fun. We played hand/ clapping games with them and they loved it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ7fbwny6MOY9D2bXMOHjCZaPI2-UMMES0JHQly3sla11uHBBoh0UDxSH_I-umlBrSFFb4l6FQFCrwdTzrCE6tGRrRbvaS7q1CcQyEnUUjbbd_dce_R5LeBnzjcf2U61gLbj5WWFaf8A/s1600/DSCF1888.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ7fbwny6MOY9D2bXMOHjCZaPI2-UMMES0JHQly3sla11uHBBoh0UDxSH_I-umlBrSFFb4l6FQFCrwdTzrCE6tGRrRbvaS7q1CcQyEnUUjbbd_dce_R5LeBnzjcf2U61gLbj5WWFaf8A/s400/DSCF1888.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615155219385348466" /></a> <br />Two things all the kids love here no matter what age are clapping games and cameras! Its funny because kids in American don’t play those games after like second grade, and even then, only the grils play them. But here, everyone plays them and they love them. Also, if any of the kids every see a camera, you are immediately swarmed by them. In fact, I don’t even know if swarmed covers it. They all want pictures of themselves or they say “I take, I take” , or “one more picture, auntie”. <br />I am continually taken aback by all the htings that we have in america that we take completely for granted. Since we finished earlier, the nun came in and asked us if we could help make cotton balls. She then rolled out fresh cotton. We had to separate the layers of it and then roll part of it into a ball and then put another layer around it, roll it kind of, and tie it into a knot. Talk about laborious for a stinkin cotton ball that you could buy 200 of for $1 in the US. When we finally finished the huge roll of cotton, she brought in more cotton and sticks. She then showed us how to make cutips and we helped with that. It was just mind-blowing that they have to make all these things individually by hand. It just puts everything into perspective and we were more than happy to help. These nuns are incredible and are so devoted to these people. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRm_ppV32gIBRV3KsXmfJ0UqUA22qaKlABmie-GUyWK2UZLglbE4aKSWEfJ_AXjJvYwTATu_cWjDbDzflvFz5Hi3QHmNlzX5L1M0tbxU01GyGpXl06_CDgfYsrUXuyc8gAAgx9jvok_o/s1600/DSCF1896.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRm_ppV32gIBRV3KsXmfJ0UqUA22qaKlABmie-GUyWK2UZLglbE4aKSWEfJ_AXjJvYwTATu_cWjDbDzflvFz5Hi3QHmNlzX5L1M0tbxU01GyGpXl06_CDgfYsrUXuyc8gAAgx9jvok_o/s400/DSCF1896.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615155587518903250" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4QiFy-by3M4QE-vkZqxy2a093kWkYobxKHGdiz2CaFownaMNeM9BIS7Wus7cV6PsTwa4w3Z08T3aQZa6KOXLx3OQGAs0tWDiccg8C3_y_hPSMOwsVXTBm0eA7x2iCsTxHsviNOUqC7U/s1600/DSCF1901.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4QiFy-by3M4QE-vkZqxy2a093kWkYobxKHGdiz2CaFownaMNeM9BIS7Wus7cV6PsTwa4w3Z08T3aQZa6KOXLx3OQGAs0tWDiccg8C3_y_hPSMOwsVXTBm0eA7x2iCsTxHsviNOUqC7U/s400/DSCF1901.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615155795382044882" /></a><br />The nuns kept offering us food but we were pretty full so we politely declined. Everywhere you go in India, the people usually always offer you something. It is a cool culutural tidbit but I wish I knew if it was impolite to decline. When I went back to the room our stuff was in, they had put all these snacks and a pitcher of CHILLED water (which is the best thing ever) in our room. The nun walked in right as I saw it and was so happy that I wanted to partake of some of the stuff. I said thank you again and quickly grabbed a glass and poured the water into it. I was so beyond excited until the water came out a yellow milk color. Turns out it wasn’t water but was instead, buttermilk. I was disgusted but the nun was staring right at me. I had no choice. I drank it. Imagine liquid form of sour cream with a hint of nastiness. Gross. All in a day’s work in India.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpyywtM_RFHbzmLEQBObXi1l-vG0JcwZ_UwGtMnacBkHfQzYGUnGbCd_IT0583hd-iS9h6oJ6YgHMfm1yimt4_UzTbEF5dMbYPr0GNHZu0pFXGgRQIST7K1jSh1AJs3KNlXhlrwEVrrc/s1600/DSCF1893.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpyywtM_RFHbzmLEQBObXi1l-vG0JcwZ_UwGtMnacBkHfQzYGUnGbCd_IT0583hd-iS9h6oJ6YgHMfm1yimt4_UzTbEF5dMbYPr0GNHZu0pFXGgRQIST7K1jSh1AJs3KNlXhlrwEVrrc/s400/DSCF1893.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615166617553250402" /></a><br />We left the mission a lot earlier than we had planned on and the bus driver started mumbling something about a farm. I swear I am always getting taken to a random place because our drivers (in a bus, riksha, or otto) all have a cousin or something. Talk about family relations. Anyway, we ended up at this farm. I have never run across someone so happy to see me. Im not kidding. This farmer was like a boy on Christmas morning that had just converted to christianyit and had to endure watching his friends open all of their presents every year, but now it was his turn. Seriously that happy. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5785421143_9e57f9b282.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5785421143_9e57f9b282.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />He kept showing us everything about his garden and pulling off random leaves for us to eat, plants for us to smell, and so on. It was pretty sweet. We saw his banana trees, eggplant, sugarcane, water well, and all this other stuff. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPL-ErA3sQcpwT20NGpOfA-bWjb1aEj6zyEi4r0mole_8KSkdKcFFxpQxOTA90jvr_r57x-UQwO658h0nIS8-A8BzplUREyaxcu_v0AIsg733m9U_GS6-xdAp6m42NGUfnffzF65PSyX8/s1600/DSCF1906.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPL-ErA3sQcpwT20NGpOfA-bWjb1aEj6zyEi4r0mole_8KSkdKcFFxpQxOTA90jvr_r57x-UQwO658h0nIS8-A8BzplUREyaxcu_v0AIsg733m9U_GS6-xdAp6m42NGUfnffzF65PSyX8/s400/DSCF1906.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615157670628837074" /></a><br />One of the leaves he handed us to try was probably about 1 cm by 1 cm. We started eating it and Dr. Susan quickly jumped in and said to only eat 1 or 2 because they were packed with iron. They were surprisingly delicious and I was sad to only have 3 ;) He also showed us this lemon grass that smelled EXACTLY like lemon and some plants that make lipstick. We ended up being there for about 45 minutes and we were gdragging towards the mniddle because the heat was indescribable. We were out there in the middle of the day and it was by far the hottest I have been in India. But the rad thing was he gave us sugar cane to eat. IT was so stinkin cool! HE hacked some off, then we peeled it with our teeth, bit it and sucked the sweetness out. It was delicious and like nature’s Gatorade. It gave me such an energy boost which equals a mood boost in such intense heat. Overall, we all loved the farm and the farmer. And as a sidenote, the farmer was an old man but proabaly the best looking man I have seen in india. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPR6umRLhJEcnQJOWTIurMy6NmzQW6SSOKYefe9qnxEIa2LWRS3eGL02Ae3Od2f6QH5wh1TanHBCxRsuokHjaHMZMz-ddCrwYDTRgkhlf6u580YZu1XjgalB9lBjHgk-3i_5pUlMprN5s/s1600/DSCF1908.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPR6umRLhJEcnQJOWTIurMy6NmzQW6SSOKYefe9qnxEIa2LWRS3eGL02Ae3Od2f6QH5wh1TanHBCxRsuokHjaHMZMz-ddCrwYDTRgkhlf6u580YZu1XjgalB9lBjHgk-3i_5pUlMprN5s/s400/DSCF1908.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615158129449252002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGKoW2_8kEqGuLl4Ld43CRlMjwdXiNFE64Y_goQbtIc2BBQ6HIHW21hO1Is50wYPSSuXggJLpnjNO57s7R5QR_zxph-YD66tsjYruyu8grX79A-vqAZaKoxU7NI9iQWIzmL5b8xwcdRM/s1600/DSCF1909.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGKoW2_8kEqGuLl4Ld43CRlMjwdXiNFE64Y_goQbtIc2BBQ6HIHW21hO1Is50wYPSSuXggJLpnjNO57s7R5QR_zxph-YD66tsjYruyu8grX79A-vqAZaKoxU7NI9iQWIzmL5b8xwcdRM/s400/DSCF1909.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615157906568787458" /></a><br />We also stopped at an emu farm. By this time, I was just so dang hot that I was ready to be done traveling around but I just went with the flow. It’s sometimes hard to want to take advantage of these cool opportunities when you are so tired. We didn’t get to get super close to the emus becaseu there was no one there to ask permission. We just saw them from about 30 yards. Interesting fac though—Emus cost about 4,000 rupies each (45 rupies= 1 dollar) which is a TON of money in india. And they sell their eggs for 1,000 rupies each. A kilo (2.2 pounds) of emu meat sells for 450 rupies. Sounds like a good investment to me. I bet its beyond DIFFICULT to save that much money in India. Actually, impossible is more like it. The majority of the people in India make less than $1.25 a day.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8UpGn1oyTqTR2BipVc9Vg4j04qIBz6fFrQ41RRwiGfgWX2tcRZpeDArsz7JmuCcYRk_-6MjGTEchWV9dAA7SqpBQ-n_hnIw-day0OArCQzmrhEBjokxsGkCKK8iEPbGDdUfIBza0pAg/s1600/DSCF1913.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8UpGn1oyTqTR2BipVc9Vg4j04qIBz6fFrQ41RRwiGfgWX2tcRZpeDArsz7JmuCcYRk_-6MjGTEchWV9dAA7SqpBQ-n_hnIw-day0OArCQzmrhEBjokxsGkCKK8iEPbGDdUfIBza0pAg/s400/DSCF1913.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615159126527469954" /></a><br />Today was the first day that exhaustion really took its toll. When I got home, I just passed out. I slept for a solid hour-in-a-half. I am trying hard to really take advantage of every minute and opportunity that I possibly can. <br />I felt a little off at play time. Looking back, I think it was that my body was having a hard time recovering from the extreme heat. And I had woken up from nap earlier than I would have liked to be to play time on time. I kept bouncing around from activity to activity but just didn’t feel connected. I finally sat down and was just sitting there for about a minute. When, all of a sudden, Mahalockshme looked straight into my eyes from way across the playground. This huge smile ran across her face and she sprinted over to me and jumped in my arms. It made the world of difference and helped me to realize and remember why I am here. We played the game where you try and slap each others hands before the other one can pull away. She would ask me my name and try to distract me and then slap my hand.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUh4Se3rLZan8gGD4A_mGDvaB9guO1IzYYc9nl6K0xAIDQSA9B2Uzwrcb-UHatRjdvQ1iXgvupyZ4mpCtLvnuMfCmDsipZpv7LJO0XivqBfOZJ2L0tv11apxQQK5ZiAmtcC4YImUhJxo/s1600/Ashley-India+pictures+119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUh4Se3rLZan8gGD4A_mGDvaB9guO1IzYYc9nl6K0xAIDQSA9B2Uzwrcb-UHatRjdvQ1iXgvupyZ4mpCtLvnuMfCmDsipZpv7LJO0XivqBfOZJ2L0tv11apxQQK5ZiAmtcC4YImUhJxo/s400/Ashley-India+pictures+119.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615159407273345810" /></a><br />She is a tricky little one full of attitude. She is probably 8 years old and I couldn’t get her name right for a few days. I must have asked her 20 times. It got to the point that whenever I would ask her, she would yell it at me. So it’s extra fun to be so close with her. WHIle she was sitting on my lap, I saw a boy, Basha, who was just hanging out by himself and asked him to come sit by me. He seemed kind of down and reluctant. I asked him if he liked being at Rising Star and he said no. The kids pretty much all love it here but they sometimes have off days where they really miss their family. He didn’t really want to talk or interact much after that. I coaxed him a little and finally got him to play the hand slapping game too. I wasn’t sure if I was coordinated enough to play one hand with each kid, but my superior athleticism continues to impress me. :p He was laughing the whole time and just loving it. It was so tender; every time he got out on the game, he would laugh and bury his head into my lap while I patted his back. He didn’t leave my side for the rest of the time. We played other games and I had a blast. It’s humblying to realize that while you are here serving these kids, you are tho ene really benefitting. That changed my mood for the whole day and filled my soul with joy.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ5lSefSRfVDHoYrwTrsdOvfh35As4sj8-Z_9Y4AyFvNyoTh79FpoV7Kf_ADV4bIt6S2HtgNpvh1rQetjb2pScALY94wKFJL3gSpU_iSj-9hWF-W4CnBasphqUZ0L5zwZqsnrnhyI26I/s1600/DSCF1925.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ5lSefSRfVDHoYrwTrsdOvfh35As4sj8-Z_9Y4AyFvNyoTh79FpoV7Kf_ADV4bIt6S2HtgNpvh1rQetjb2pScALY94wKFJL3gSpU_iSj-9hWF-W4CnBasphqUZ0L5zwZqsnrnhyI26I/s400/DSCF1925.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615166353656003122" /></a><br />Family time was really sweet tonight. I wanted to really interact with these girls and after my walk through the village, I decided I wanted to start really learning about these sweet girls and getting to know them. Instead of reading stories, I just decided to talk to them. Well, acutally, we always read a few stories no matter what, but just not the whole time. They started asking mea bout my life and if the 3 of us girl volunteers were married. We said no and had them guess our age. The giggled up a storm and guess ranged from 18-25. I finally told them that I was almost 22. This lead into a conversation about American marriage vs. indian marriage. Depending on your religion (hindu or Christian), marriages are still arranged. The boy, his parents, and their relations come to the girls house. They bring gifts consisting of a Sari, fruit platter, bengals, and some other stuff. The man’s parents look at the girl to see if she is beautiful enough. If they like her, they ask the girl’s parents if she will marry their son. The girls parents ask their daughter if she likes the boy. If she says yes, then they are engaged and trade silver plates. The groom’s parents give the brides parent’s their son’s silver (dinner I think) plate and the bride’s parents give them their daughter’s silver plate. Then the bride’s parents give the groom’s parents a sum of money called adowry. Dowries are illegal in India but everyone still does them. Dpending on the situation, they get married in anywhere between a few days and a few months. Once they are married, the man gives the wife a thick piece of rope to wear around her neck and 2 toe rings for each foot to put on her second and third toe. The man doesn’t wear anything to show he is married. After 3 months, the woman changes to a thin rope and her husband gives her this pendent of his choice to put on it. We were talking to one of the cleaning ladies here about it and aked her to see it because it was covered by her sari. She got this weird smile on her face and showed it to us and then when we bent our heads in to see it, she pulled her sair over it really fast. We were really confused. She told us that the pendent is purposefully covered by the sari because it is a secret for you and your husband. One of our instructors was wearing a pretty anklet. The cleaning lady laughed at her and told her you never wear only one.They come in a set of two and you wear one on each anklet. I thought that was weird but I guess it’s the same as earrings. You always wear two and they are a set. It was fun to learn about indian culture from the kids. <br />We come to RSO and just give these kids so much affection and love. But this affection is really just superficial to us or infatuation with how cute some of the little ones are. Tonight was so different. It was the first time that I felt like I was really getting to know them and was their friend. Spending that time really bonding with them was great. It makes me really love them and l now look forward so much to family time because I feel like its real. And because you can only read so many stories. I have read that Winnie the pooh story 4 times. Also, I have told just about every Disney princess story, but the deifniet favorites that are always requiested are (in order of amount of requests) 1)cinderalla, 2)rupunzel, 3) sleeping beauty. This has been a problem because I don’t really know the story of rupunzel or sleeping beauty because I have never seen either. All I have to say is thank goodness for Tangled!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgguwhdafEtV27Hpb5Dx838j7UL3HcB9T1UqlFhOqZl-jHRslaqrJuN3rrZdi9LlPzz0g4sP5m3zru_3QJlRtiHOAKK-e45dRJ52mEtdTiE16hyphenhyphenigW2k_UUvH7piZeo7__NFeaHFJ69k/s1600/DSCF1785.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgguwhdafEtV27Hpb5Dx838j7UL3HcB9T1UqlFhOqZl-jHRslaqrJuN3rrZdi9LlPzz0g4sP5m3zru_3QJlRtiHOAKK-e45dRJ52mEtdTiE16hyphenhyphenigW2k_UUvH7piZeo7__NFeaHFJ69k/s400/DSCF1785.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615160389623647154" /></a><br />For our little devotional as nursing students tonight, we sang “Have you done any good in the world today?”. We all laughed a little bit because ALL we are doing here is good. That’s the whole reason we are here and we serve day in and day out. All of a sudden it hit me. Sometimes I will sing that song in church and really have to think if I have done any good. It made me kind of sad and realize that I can be so selfish at home. I live in this little bubble that is all about me. I really hope that I can take away the serving mentality from here and make ait a prioirity in my life. At home, I am so focused on all the stuff that doesn’t matter. So much of our lives is just fluff that doesn’t matter. Our supervisor Kim 1, pointed out that we are our aw selves here. We don’t TV, or books, or school, cute clothes, or stuff to hide behind. You are what you are. And I love it. I want to let this place mold my raw self into the person I want to be.Laura Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16827780034249309415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7407561781233312223.post-47362575128109561282011-06-03T18:07:00.000-07:002011-06-06T12:03:19.199-07:00Day 3 - Vandulor Leprosy Colony<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioQe7AHbHzNQCnV0tppzUOVkWdh_TRsTVFkt9a_0occHdIYnOxQ6t-pqm_9SYqoHlP9kSkDhsOXg-rbYVmCE_GWZB0CElfwhRMkvVpTYzAPOudIHBtuUn8-CoylApxin-6kG5cHmWIZw/s1600/P5300145.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioQe7AHbHzNQCnV0tppzUOVkWdh_TRsTVFkt9a_0occHdIYnOxQ6t-pqm_9SYqoHlP9kSkDhsOXg-rbYVmCE_GWZB0CElfwhRMkvVpTYzAPOudIHBtuUn8-CoylApxin-6kG5cHmWIZw/s400/P5300145.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614781763795266002" /></a>
<br />This is Turio. A cute boy who lives at the colony today.
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<br />I realized today that I just had a normal size breakfast consisting of a bowl of cereal. I can’t decide if my body is kind of adapting or if I was just in a hurry because we skyped longer than I thought. I was pretty hungry within a little while so I’m sticking to the “just being in a hurry”.
<br />Yesterday I tried to wear the sandals with moleskin over my feet but ti didn’t work so I wore shoes and left the moleskin on. But when I took the moleskin off it had kind of moisten my scabs and pulled them off. It set me back a day in the healing process so I wore shoes again. I think because shoes is all I know here that I will just keep wearing them even after my feet heal. I like knowing my feet are proetected and they allow me to do anything and I don’t feel like Im buring up because its all I know. I am digging wearing these chudidars. I seriously wear a rather ugly one but it is the most comfortable thing ever and we are all about comfort here. I feel like I was made for india—no makeup, hideous and comfy clothes, hair in a ponytail, outdoors, and heat. I love it and in fact, I think Im really starting to get used to it. The trash in the street, the unbearable heat, the crazy traffic, and everything Indian just seems completely normal. The thought of leaving is unbearable.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicj0MdiUn-tuEaAxDyuOjNrTqBbZsttjXxoGGro2Mlv5wsH1mTfxlEHQKE8ha58ad1vj0xQaQm-f2lUYLgosbOz_ckvsigfjrjEtR6FMIDPTMO6UkGfc_eDafDL-eP3TCfPK_P-suC_YM/s1600/DSCF1702.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicj0MdiUn-tuEaAxDyuOjNrTqBbZsttjXxoGGro2Mlv5wsH1mTfxlEHQKE8ha58ad1vj0xQaQm-f2lUYLgosbOz_ckvsigfjrjEtR6FMIDPTMO6UkGfc_eDafDL-eP3TCfPK_P-suC_YM/s400/DSCF1702.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614766683546637234" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuh6ecZ0kfQUUvKVM1NJlVKx9qH5NwYe-r1JozUqjW7FKVIa1PdvfOTMxpw5CT2ZPbN_-wkvF4sGuZGZ-TKomCdl0JUVI-oq5JnwZGi1nrvMPWHsUQ06O2r6d5Y30y6Mn_Rkh9PkbuBhs/s1600/DSCF1776.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuh6ecZ0kfQUUvKVM1NJlVKx9qH5NwYe-r1JozUqjW7FKVIa1PdvfOTMxpw5CT2ZPbN_-wkvF4sGuZGZ-TKomCdl0JUVI-oq5JnwZGi1nrvMPWHsUQ06O2r6d5Y30y6Mn_Rkh9PkbuBhs/s400/DSCF1776.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614766876658149522" /></a>
<br />I met Dr. Susan who is the head honcho Doctor here. She is so dedicated to the cause of leprosy and goes to the colonies everyday to change banadages and help with wound care. She is an Indian doctor that just blows my mind. I introduced myself as Laura and she replied “nice to meet you, Laura Barker”. It totally took me aback. I found out that she has memorized all of our full names. Wow, I can barely get people’s first names around here.
<br />We are here with a group of medical students from UC Davis and they are driving us absolutely insane, especially this one boy. I prayed extra hard today that I would be able to learn to love him. The problem is that they are very condescending. Like extremely so. But the irony of it all is what kills me. Here is the deal: I have been in the hospital and had condescending doctors before and you just deal with it. But these medical student are only in their second year! For those of you not familiar with the medical eduation system, here is how it works. Nurses jump into clinicals their first semester in school. Therefore, we have been working in a real setting for about 2 years now. I’m talking dealing with doctors and patients, starting IVs, giving meds, doing assignements on patients, being in the hospital for 12 hour shifts, and doidng everything a nurse would do. On the other hand, medical students only do bookwork for their first 2 years and then spend the next 2 years in the hospital. Therefore these kids don’t know jack!!! Example: Their group did skin assessments on the boys yestererday while we did them on the girls. If a kid had a problem, you were supposed to write a referral to the clinic and have the kid come back at 4. Our group did thorough assessments and then if we found something would write on the referral “ inner right elbow, small, circular lesion, probably rash”, then sign our name and tell the child to come back at 4.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_99hEOp5ALL8sBES19FO_qKOUZhV_Bsmqvd_KKbSfireLuA9YeU2yxG47hV9AWkfvEty-sVgPS_p-Ky4keJuFMEsSOs22LEhomUKFU53JGqfTnnqxO3VyTYEqwPXlYjE6rZP1kt75NE/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_99hEOp5ALL8sBES19FO_qKOUZhV_Bsmqvd_KKbSfireLuA9YeU2yxG47hV9AWkfvEty-sVgPS_p-Ky4keJuFMEsSOs22LEhomUKFU53JGqfTnnqxO3VyTYEqwPXlYjE6rZP1kt75NE/s400/IMG_0527.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615184113786149826" /></a>
<br />The other group wrote things like “spot on leg” and DID NOT tell the kids to come back! All of our kids showed up on time and the doctor knew exactly what and where to look for and could call the individual nurse if he had questions because we signed our name. It took 30 minutes to do our kids and was super efficient. It took 2 hours to do the boys because they didn’t know what they were looking for an dhtye had to try and go hunt all the kids down at recess on a 10 acre lot. And its much harder when you dodn’t know the kids names and who is who. Case and point is we are so much smarter than them and so much more experienced but yet they are condescending. That is the part that just drives me up a wall. We don’t’ have to have a ton of interaction with them so its not a huge deal. Its just annoying. And they were condescending to our professor, Cheryl, who is a nurse practitioner with a bunch of experience. She can prescribe and is pretty much the equivalent as a doctor. That just crossed the line for me.
<br />I wanted to write a few randoms of indian culture. All the girls wear jasmine in their hair to make them smell good. Its their equivalent of perfume. Indian culture is a very physical one. The mothers will say that their kids are misbehaving so they have to slap them around – this child was 9 months old. Consequently, the kids are pretty physical towards each other and that’s just the norm. A man and a woman cannot hold hands in public or show any kind of PDA. But it is perfectly acceptable for 2 men to hold hands, and I witnessed that first hand today. Clipping toenails is often considered a medical procedure. People who have shoes often still walk around barefoot. They drive like wild maniacs and on the wrong side of the road. The horn is a constant sound and a necessity for survival. Because of this. All fo the volunteers and RSO are not allowed to operate any motor vehicles. I saw cows with blue horns today on the side of the road pulling a cart. The cows whose horns are painted are higher up in the caste system. There is other cool stuff, I will just have to write it when it comes to me. Also, we are not allowed to eat the fruit from the fruit stands unless it has an outer covering that we can peel off.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7901Bm7gAdBcAKWi-HAW-ZlD7ne9vf-E2HqTP_JUWg5S6-J0r9X-sexk1JHJnEpsVWfcX8z2o0LWYiXh4ul4KBVcSiwnPeX9jlCc4JiwzafCxX5Fr7ss69xZN3l-VnoGVqHF0uxnqBo/s1600/riksha.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7901Bm7gAdBcAKWi-HAW-ZlD7ne9vf-E2HqTP_JUWg5S6-J0r9X-sexk1JHJnEpsVWfcX8z2o0LWYiXh4ul4KBVcSiwnPeX9jlCc4JiwzafCxX5Fr7ss69xZN3l-VnoGVqHF0uxnqBo/s400/riksha.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614791170016034610" /></a>
<br />Today was my first day in a leprosy colony. In all honesty, I have loved being with the kids at RSO so much that I wasn’t that excited about leaving them to go to the colonies. When I got there, it all changed. I realized that everything here is so awesome and I enjoy everything I am getting to expereicne and do. I absolutely love serving more than I could have ever imagined. There is something so rewarding about humbling yourself and serving someone who is mamed and has nothing. Knowing that you can make a difference in that person’s life means more than words can describe.
<br />We showed up in our medical vans and I was a little apprehensive. This was my first time really working and interacting with people who were missing limbs and had open, gaping ulcers. We set up shop in an open building with fans. It was pretty hot but totally doable. The other groups room was supposedly scorching hot, so I was grateful for that. We had 5 stations—blood pressure, blood glucose, taking off bandages and soaking the feet, rubbing oil on the feet, then debridement and wrapping. I started off doing the oil station. You rub oil on the bottom of the feet and on the dry, rough skin to hopefully keep it from cracking and causing another ulcer.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGSrUt7V3Db1CvJAaofKXwNBrlX5czzbhg-yhJ_JKb9eGZvhBiN83fvh4BxlKqp-mbW6xIEatZ5BmboLFLw4pBCT-mv6gqADelhU1yz2TvHh0jNZgrHMLOryIv9CI76uIhu5UkcxWTV0/s1600/P5300130.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGSrUt7V3Db1CvJAaofKXwNBrlX5czzbhg-yhJ_JKb9eGZvhBiN83fvh4BxlKqp-mbW6xIEatZ5BmboLFLw4pBCT-mv6gqADelhU1yz2TvHh0jNZgrHMLOryIv9CI76uIhu5UkcxWTV0/s400/P5300130.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614770205724672034" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lRlbcU1HNfFjbovkpVfqhnXuoyR2KRvv3T7WKQGWReYT2aNbwiDuUdHIxqxHzNh6p05F4TPQRmjwSEL5-pz7TMaEBzHCcPUT9wW9UHDki3C_wGW3PgIps3NbxRxrfwNJZC_hE6j7naI/s1600/P5300133.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lRlbcU1HNfFjbovkpVfqhnXuoyR2KRvv3T7WKQGWReYT2aNbwiDuUdHIxqxHzNh6p05F4TPQRmjwSEL5-pz7TMaEBzHCcPUT9wW9UHDki3C_wGW3PgIps3NbxRxrfwNJZC_hE6j7naI/s400/P5300133.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614770600908567282" /></a>
<br />I then moved onto the debridement and wrapping station and that was alittle out of my comfort zone. You are supposed to cut the dead skin off around the ulcer and all this junk. I would have normally been fine but I watched the alter do it to a guy before I started and he had one on his should. She started hacking off his skin and it was bleeding pretty bad while he was wincing in paoin. I soon found out that most are just on the feet and they cant feel anything, so it was okay after that. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dze46YL6n6C9mT9Zxh0fQfr1DAAipn0ns7NNjYa6CKhGr5-Z1Fsv2zV8KErwaSpj55raRDJLxIxJeWbhdWfRu6jdcljygQKumpOxHQmRatMqnPseT-wa01q1YRCRa8ELRvAxsW1e02k/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dze46YL6n6C9mT9Zxh0fQfr1DAAipn0ns7NNjYa6CKhGr5-Z1Fsv2zV8KErwaSpj55raRDJLxIxJeWbhdWfRu6jdcljygQKumpOxHQmRatMqnPseT-wa01q1YRCRa8ELRvAxsW1e02k/s400/023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614784954531590322" /></a>
<br />It’s hard knowing you are helping someone but yet hurting them in the moement. I have never liked that part of being a nurse and it has always been a challenge for me. I tried extra hard to look them in the eyes and let them know that I cared instead of just looking at their feet. I said vannukum (hello) to all of them and “unga payerenna?” (whats your name). I tried to make small talk here and there but its kind of hard when we speak 2 different languages. Mostly I just smiled and let them know that I cared for them.
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<br />While I was waiting for the patients to come to my station, I started playing with the kids. I would clap one and then pat on my legs, and then on my face. Then I did that again only I did it twice, then 3 times, and so on until 10.The kids were trying so hard to copy me and they ate every second of it. This culture loves to dance and sing and play games like that.
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<br />The kids continue to win over my heart. They were my absolute favorite part of the colonies and I made an effort to know their names. I’m telling you, that goes a long way. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt_X3D_sV9YiS-xGt6lrqQDTwtyFLY_1wktmHpgyRfSzxBFjQ_tPCiQHvj0KHUD_ni2UeHFeqj9vifMJSsJLvL14YTn0qBhXd_GIqO784_YYYeWCpNdqTSVnojWwT-nIs9mdAyzwiFOU/s1600/P5300119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt_X3D_sV9YiS-xGt6lrqQDTwtyFLY_1wktmHpgyRfSzxBFjQ_tPCiQHvj0KHUD_ni2UeHFeqj9vifMJSsJLvL14YTn0qBhXd_GIqO784_YYYeWCpNdqTSVnojWwT-nIs9mdAyzwiFOU/s400/P5300119.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614774322297758898" /></a
<br />I also got to pump water out a well/ huge spicket for the first time. That was pretty cool and it made me very grateful for running water. We are so dang lucky in America. All you have to do is turna nozzle and you have hot and cold water at your disposable and however gig of quantities. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcpIXzHEXclZDWRs5vzlaABEPl05barh41yDB01GURjWZhWN5OSL6h9KGbSrxPbMzeJ_wzCyqQMop3ReyE020bRzma0VszPu_envU-CYGQLXhDHOeb3sZg3rL_fztXWb2LgxAgxJiwUs/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcpIXzHEXclZDWRs5vzlaABEPl05barh41yDB01GURjWZhWN5OSL6h9KGbSrxPbMzeJ_wzCyqQMop3ReyE020bRzma0VszPu_envU-CYGQLXhDHOeb3sZg3rL_fztXWb2LgxAgxJiwUs/s400/012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614784510308271266" /></a>
<br />After we were done, we went and walked in the village. My group left before me because I wasn’t quite done. When I finished, I asked micheal, miguish, and rabida if they wanted to walk around with me and I offered my hand. They immediately fought over who got to hold my hand, so I eneded up holding 2 kids hands in one of mine. It just blows my mind how open these kids hearts are, especially beacsue they are so shunned from society and have nothing. It’s just insane to try and wrap your mind around.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUGxxOrEPwPw_MibQaKvmKurefHpExEPxtU4uFoev4bOzhimBwZ7Sn_qOnnbeb8BPpK0W6zML3nZRfPZLjTHUpTv-r_LFLPW4k9CrmfH_qfTK-Z-lFA_JOE4n__rrJM4Lgvj1SsgeVyQ/s1600/P5300142.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUGxxOrEPwPw_MibQaKvmKurefHpExEPxtU4uFoev4bOzhimBwZ7Sn_qOnnbeb8BPpK0W6zML3nZRfPZLjTHUpTv-r_LFLPW4k9CrmfH_qfTK-Z-lFA_JOE4n__rrJM4Lgvj1SsgeVyQ/s400/P5300142.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614774827464173682" /></a>
<br />We got to talk to the people and hear some of their stories and tour one of their houses. It had 2 small rooms, one with a tv and they all slept on the ground. Also, one woman was making her lunch on a campfire and that was totally the norm. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFVE8ltLci2diVY6bgPwrL-n3sQ2DLVgWm-YWSs051DkAm48nV2XbeYkeBveP6e1qw5kf0MyDWErjKkUDMH6GJJgo53sUSGUod5sLpDvAZ6lTK3Ao4GRoEuliZi1CFKn-IgPJr-iXUxc/s400/033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFVE8ltLci2diVY6bgPwrL-n3sQ2DLVgWm-YWSs051DkAm48nV2XbeYkeBveP6e1qw5kf0MyDWErjKkUDMH6GJJgo53sUSGUod5sLpDvAZ6lTK3Ao4GRoEuliZi1CFKn-IgPJr-iXUxc/s400/033.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br />This is their kitchen...
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGj6y2LLhXWZAYMIuowRRqLvHIgyDCy2lrrnlMLsRX9WkHqnzd4AZczBujGcTQb0hYvzVZlvLUOr9qCWCIMf84tHvnxdZLQKSew6Mj1cVq3M161PEE4gabo7eySoBT0Q6hWMhBogem2U/s400/034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGj6y2LLhXWZAYMIuowRRqLvHIgyDCy2lrrnlMLsRX9WkHqnzd4AZczBujGcTQb0hYvzVZlvLUOr9qCWCIMf84tHvnxdZLQKSew6Mj1cVq3M161PEE4gabo7eySoBT0Q6hWMhBogem2U/s400/034.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br />and bathroom
<br />
<br />Another woman had leprosy and must have been no more thatn 4.5 ft tall. Both of her paretns had died and her husband was the man with the shoulder ulcer. They ahd married but they couldn’t have kids and he had taken on a second wife and she had 2 kids. I don’t know if that’s culturally acceptable or if they just have to do that to survive in the colonies. We had our driver translate for us what she was saying. Anyway, she was the first woman that seemed really sad. You think they all would be but they are so not. Everyone was so kind and so happy, and especially happy that we were there.
<br />When we got home, Ashely was still way sick. She ahd spiked a 102.7 degree fever so I hung out with her for a while and helped her get some food adn different things and scratched her back for about half an hour. She was borderline tears when I was scratching her back because she said that was what her mom ddi when she was sick. I feel so bad for her because being so sick here is just so physically and emotionally exhausting because the conditions are not ideal adn you don't want to be missing out on everything. After that, I spent about an hour journaling. I am trying so hard to really document this experience and it takes minimium of 2 hours of my time everyday. That is pretty much all the free time that we have to just chill adn relax. So I have made it a goal to not go on facebook or look at blgos oor do anyhting else that wastes time that most tof the other girls are doing. I don't miss out on any of the actiivites that we do though. I am just trying to really be in india while I am here.
<br />Play time with the kids was a little harder today. Since we went to the colonies, there are no bathrooms and so they told us to not to drink a ton. We were supposed to get up early adn drink a lot and then pee it out before we left. But I didn't drink a lot in the morning cuz I was doing other stuff and just. I think I was borderline dehydrated and got a headache and just felt a little weak and irritable. Its SHOCKING how fast your body can get dehydrated here because you sweat so much. I learned my lesson adn won't let it happen again. I guzzled a bottle of gatorade so that helped, but I still didn't have as much fun beacause I didn't have the patience that I normally do. I still managed to play with the kids and it was good. one kid asked me to swing him by his feet aroudn in a circle and that caught on like wildfire! I had like 8000 boys running aroudn yelling "auntie, auntie, me next, me next!" The only problem is that as the spinner person, you can only do that for so long before you get waaaaaay to dizzy. I finally like laid down in the middle of the grass hoping that would give me a break. Boy was I wrong! That just made me an easeir target. I was like a prey that they had just taken down adn the predators swarmed in, THey started jumping all over me and grabbing my hands to try adn pull me up. It was actaully pretty comical. They would get so close to pulling me up adn then I would pull them down. It turned into a game adn was a nice break for a while.
<br />Dinner continues to be declisious. I decided taht I am going to start taking pictures of our food every night. Dinner is really the only authentice indian meal we have for the day. We ware welcome to join the kids int he cafeteria adn have indian food for all 3 meals but no one does. I might when we are aroudn for lunch but a lot of the days we are out and about in the colonies or serving somewhere off campus. Dinner is so awesome becaseu we take it up on the roof and eat it. ITs right when the sun is going down and the weather is awesome. Its probably only about 85 degress instead of 100 and it is fantastic!
<br />
<br />PICTURE OF DINNER
<br />
<br />We went to our houses tonight and the kids flocked us when we came in. We read stories with them but they don’t have very many books, so I read Winnie the pooh “How to plant Rabbits” garden for like the 4th time. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1QuLIwvaCAtlygeawadB5Y_OZtETukhwYjc3aBHhPyVKrvdu4_-52po4ZwNZDmpguVLhoI6YSMJNhTbNiXMPPGuoxaL9ocDt_NfDVFrHnEqbxH94dBJwPbgj1tguYPvtT-__PB2imqI/s1600/DSCF1801.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1QuLIwvaCAtlygeawadB5Y_OZtETukhwYjc3aBHhPyVKrvdu4_-52po4ZwNZDmpguVLhoI6YSMJNhTbNiXMPPGuoxaL9ocDt_NfDVFrHnEqbxH94dBJwPbgj1tguYPvtT-__PB2imqI/s400/DSCF1801.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614778165852874802" /></a>
<br />And my tushy started to really hurt by like 8:10. Sitting on a super hard floor with kids sprawled all over you takes a tool after like a half an hour. We started singing and dancing and it turned into a fun party.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigxcphfeXwRV8i_WS4ZBdsilkzNxa4F4UxsrOttSLYqNJQpV5GJXKPbcyVgR7zhxX38Nq7oUxkMRUFJ06VP7Oi1wpdJowvToGVV0NFdkYDkCb_Yxx1yyf0f42809z1VnrL0CER7GBAL8/s1600/DSCF1829.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigxcphfeXwRV8i_WS4ZBdsilkzNxa4F4UxsrOttSLYqNJQpV5GJXKPbcyVgR7zhxX38Nq7oUxkMRUFJ06VP7Oi1wpdJowvToGVV0NFdkYDkCb_Yxx1yyf0f42809z1VnrL0CER7GBAL8/s400/DSCF1829.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614778422836299410" /></a>
<br />We snag songs like old macdonald had a farm, bingo, and twinkle twinkle little star. I was shocked because the kids knew all the words. We had riled them all up and we are supposed to kind of calm them down and get ready for bed. So I told them that since all the stars are bright and far away and only come out at night, we had to sing it very quietly to not scare them away. It was pretty funny because the kids sang it so quietly and then if someone sang it too loud they would hit and shush them. Overall it was a pretty dang good dayLaura Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16827780034249309415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7407561781233312223.post-53778691041585427252011-06-03T02:32:00.000-07:002011-06-06T12:12:36.305-07:00Day 2- Skin Assessments<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgZTktTxqvoVtO7tgdWbgiXN7dVoJAh-CPQ5nqaUzvdsyHCk7u0D0FTsM1npdX0m4H4Bv7CTejDv-pHz5yxuTPRBhdNf7Wv1Uh2air5GgI93aLrQLZC0mEwoCB7vhZVJFcBi5sjyRnbI/s1600/IMG_0529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgZTktTxqvoVtO7tgdWbgiXN7dVoJAh-CPQ5nqaUzvdsyHCk7u0D0FTsM1npdX0m4H4Bv7CTejDv-pHz5yxuTPRBhdNf7Wv1Uh2air5GgI93aLrQLZC0mEwoCB7vhZVJFcBi5sjyRnbI/s400/IMG_0529.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615185680602465586" /></a><br />I woke up this morning at 5 am and my bladder was about to explode. I don’t know what happened, but I have turned into an 80 year old woman and have to pee every night. I can’t stand it, especially when I have to go pee in a hole and could get eaten by a creature. Sadly after that, I could not fall asleep. We have a room with chudidars, so I went out and ravaged through them until I found one I liked. It’s hard to get one that isn’t too long. So lame that I am underdeveloped in the womb and have short appendages (diagnosed by my lovely father). I tried to go back to sleep but it was useless. My bed is right under the window (which is barred) and the sun kind of hits me. That put me at about 6 hours of sleep and I need more than that so I had a pretty bad headache. I took some Tylenol and that helped. I think I will get more because I will just be so exhausted. We all naturally go to bed pretty early and wake up early too. I think it’s just adjusting from the time change. And I feel like we have constantly been on the move and in airports and airplanes during all hours of the night.<br />They put us into 3 working groups and I love my group. It consists of Jessica, Kim, Whitney, Ashley, and our professor Karen. I pretty much like everyone but these are the girls that I really like!! I feel so lucky to be in this group. Our group was in charge of doing skin assessments on the girls. It started off so awesome and I was so stoked for it! I was loving every second of it. I really really love the little girls. There is this one girl named sagamary and I absolutely love her. She has so much spunk and is just so great. She jumped in my lap and we played and laughed immensely. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqJRleNu6QeROGiXl04RsDYlwtikWSWeXfRGOLfhSKsZjfebRk_J8Ed2yNVyScL1MQnL3KQKaL6Uzl-hSoZmOX13-0wS79T8vWhYOnl17hJx2a1DoOTLtgcnrOoF0_cVp3stXXiDfeYk/s1600/DSCF1766.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqJRleNu6QeROGiXl04RsDYlwtikWSWeXfRGOLfhSKsZjfebRk_J8Ed2yNVyScL1MQnL3KQKaL6Uzl-hSoZmOX13-0wS79T8vWhYOnl17hJx2a1DoOTLtgcnrOoF0_cVp3stXXiDfeYk/s400/DSCF1766.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613931689285381602" /></a><br />I feel so good and happy and like I belong here. A few people told me that I should be coordinater here next year and that my personality was made for this. That made me feel so good and I just feel so awesome here. I think at the very least, I want to sponsor a child and try to see if other people would like to also. It would be so rewarding especially if I personally knew the child. It only costs $30 a month. I think that is a sacrifice worth making for sure!<br />In spite of the crazy heat and nasty sweat, I love this place so much. The most accurate description I heard of the weather is as hot as a desert and as humid as a rainforest combined. I really think if I still like this place after these 3 weeks, I might come do it next summer. I think it would be an awesome experience and maybe I could bring Carly with me or something. I guess she would probably be too young. After 4 hours of this, it got pretty tiring and it tried my patience a couple times. Oh and the older girls reaked because they were in that puberty age. The majority of the kids had scars that were healed but very intense. I got the feeling when I was doing the skin assessments that many of these kids had been terribly abused and it was kind of hard to swallow. We asked one girl where she had gotten the intense burns and she replied, “my mom”. I am determined to just show them as much love as possible and leave everything I have to give here. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLaNCAlrnk2b97fPDq0Okw1zw5TDo9AyAydUaiHk-78CJoIgxxbsHdf4AiQueckAr1gwtiMZFcnKsskC8D6EIypX6dnXElbBssfVHpM4bQEs3qti-rnlAM7NKh8GAawEarOZjnB8F_Io/s1600/DSCF1691.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLaNCAlrnk2b97fPDq0Okw1zw5TDo9AyAydUaiHk-78CJoIgxxbsHdf4AiQueckAr1gwtiMZFcnKsskC8D6EIypX6dnXElbBssfVHpM4bQEs3qti-rnlAM7NKh8GAawEarOZjnB8F_Io/s400/DSCF1691.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613926394418327698" /></a><br />The kids are starting to remember me and build friendships and trust me. I love it. I saw V-Davy when I was walking back to my hostel and she came up and gave me a hug. <br />I also say Sagamary and she came up and jumped into my arms and asked “are you coming to me home tonight again?” I replied yes and throw here in the air. Her laugh was angelic and I can’t wait to see her tonight. The consistency of going to the same kids house every night is a great thing.<br />Sidenote—we eat so much food!! I am like an empty pot. I am so starving all the time and think I will eat all of my American food just to increase the qunaitity. I don’t know what it is but we are all just scarfing the food down. Whoever said I was going to lose weight in India obviously has never lived here. I think I am going to come back obese. I had 2 bowls of cereal and a piece of toast for breakfast. Then a pb and honey with another bowl of ceral and a granola bar. Fatty coming at you. <br />When we were doing the assessments on the girls, they started to get more shy and hesitant as the older girls came in because we were doing a very thorough skin assesment. I must have said "don't worry, we are all girls" or "I will do it really fast" a thousand times.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysx5e4HkW96A6PCVtUyV4J3AS2QTAufpJKghgMaEmY5KOXgbyXSNm3xHznXo4wYKLrDw9mx3i28Q3hq-Z6Iknq445adRSBHFt4YGOVhPkI5R5L2NF9Pbrq_vt0tDggw1FER4eQBKNrMk/s1600/DSCF1705.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysx5e4HkW96A6PCVtUyV4J3AS2QTAufpJKghgMaEmY5KOXgbyXSNm3xHznXo4wYKLrDw9mx3i28Q3hq-Z6Iknq445adRSBHFt4YGOVhPkI5R5L2NF9Pbrq_vt0tDggw1FER4eQBKNrMk/s400/DSCF1705.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613926382976117730" /></a><br />We finally realized why we are so stinking hungry all the time. They have almost no protein in their food so you can eat this huge meal and then you are hungry just a few hours later. I don't know why I didn't realize this before. Moral of the story-- there will most definitely not be any left over food that I brought. Tina is on the loose!<br />Play time was the absolute best part of my day. In fact, I would say it has been the best part of my life in the last 6 months! Words cannot describe the happiness I feel when I am with those kids. I really really really want to sponsor one. There is the sweetest little girl named tamalarsi and I am determined to win her over. She is just so cute and a little sweet, free-spirit. I think I want to sponsor Tamalarsi. She is 5 and one of the apples of my eye. She is so cute and was just wandering all over the place (in and out of the rooms) when we were doing the assessments. She is just so curious and climbing all over everything and so sweet. She is one of the kids that has truly stolen my heart. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLej2BuaSK1Sb1Mmd_ZtIwBHXjwTIc_AOOU6LBEKd5JI7nVrqlTwHu2aE1O7af2Jtt14E-1Wa-cr1WE5KHMctO7Du5MHHAqtq3aHMXQm4KHO9XsKbG-thc2bFueOvDkDrD351bKQjjLg/s1600/DSCF1679.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLej2BuaSK1Sb1Mmd_ZtIwBHXjwTIc_AOOU6LBEKd5JI7nVrqlTwHu2aE1O7af2Jtt14E-1Wa-cr1WE5KHMctO7Du5MHHAqtq3aHMXQm4KHO9XsKbG-thc2bFueOvDkDrD351bKQjjLg/s400/DSCF1679.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615186627699448194" /></a><br />There are a bunch of new kids that need to be sponsored and I want to bring pictures back with me and see if anyone in our stake would be interested. It is just such a great cause and it comes so to life when you are here with them. THey are real people that need our help. Giving $30 a month is nothing to us and it is life-changing for them.The kids are really starting to warm up to me. I spend every ounce of time with them that I can and I can honestly say that's the best part of being here. I don't really even have a desire to go and worke in the leprosy colonies tomorrow (we are to never refer to them as leper colonies or to the people as lepers. It is very derrogatory and it classifies them as lepers instead of people with leprosy). I just want to stay and be with the kids. I am working so so so hard to learn their names. It makes all the difference in the world. I got to see some of them during assessments and then at paly time which is everyday from 4:30-6 pm. I have not had any interaction with the boys so I tried to meet the boys at recess. I met a ton of kids and we had a blast. I played basketball with one boy, and pushed a bunch of kids on the swing. The biggest hit was that I could turn the merry go round really fast. I think that's one thing that really won over their hearts. I was drenched in sweat but thats not much different from normal so no big deal. One kid finally went flying off pretty hard, so we had to take a break. I went with him to help get cleaned up and is name is adavan. He is such a little cutie. (This is a picture of him eating lunch)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeA3cvIoYZorHPz7rRu7HD5XjPWdRcgzyFKWbrkNYU_kgjQEhPn2T8kwOVfJA8w-0xgPsMps2S3ZeSPVWZXM2Bc7KyUv7e1PMUfyAojV_WW25wzqlqE0VAcoe28YBWQsfWTGWbb894NE/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeA3cvIoYZorHPz7rRu7HD5XjPWdRcgzyFKWbrkNYU_kgjQEhPn2T8kwOVfJA8w-0xgPsMps2S3ZeSPVWZXM2Bc7KyUv7e1PMUfyAojV_WW25wzqlqE0VAcoe28YBWQsfWTGWbb894NE/s400/016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615182034232218098" /></a><br />I also played cricket with some boys and they weren't going to let me play beacuse they thought I was some unathletic girl. I finally said just let me hit one. I got a "home-run" and then was allowed to join :) <br />I bounced around a lot during playtime and asked so many kids their names. I met this boy named stephen who is 14 and is awesome. He is so fun and sweet and is super excited because his sponsors are paying fo rhim to go to america when her turns 18. He taught me this little hand game where you slap hands adn spell out P-I-S-O-P-I, and then cross arms and yell pepsi while you pretend to drink one. It was pretty funny. They eat taht stuff up around here. "Down by the banks" is very popular and other such games. After I met all the kids and interacted with them, they loved me. When I first met them last night, the younger girls hung out with me but a lot of them just ignored me. Now they flock to me. It is the coolest thign ever and I love being with them. I honestly didn't know my heart could be so full. I can't wait to play with them tomorrow. Sagamary saw me walking and ran up and gave me a hug and said "are you coming to me house again tonight?" It was the cutest thing and just absolutely melted my heart. V-davy was dying for me to stay for prayer time (thats what happens after play time) but i couldn't because its so distracting. I love that they want me around. <br />Tonight instead of spending time reading the kids stories and getting them ready for bed, we did louse busting. The kids have all been home for the month of may and usually come back with lice. SO we shampooed all of their hair and then wrapped them in towels to sleep with overnight. Supposedly this has worked in the past and they count on it solving the problem. I loved doing this! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66Fj-0cRVdX4qkulNPROeqs-Sluld_Q3DAM1BUwSasDP6MnYRMUOMKWEBnIdrO4qHJQOAMCCTI1JPSWsPBHCtHtHfI-5ZG0td0R8O1ZxEhyg-aAnxPTax9c3Arr2124cSPly8-WfXugg/s1600/DSCF1709.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66Fj-0cRVdX4qkulNPROeqs-Sluld_Q3DAM1BUwSasDP6MnYRMUOMKWEBnIdrO4qHJQOAMCCTI1JPSWsPBHCtHtHfI-5ZG0td0R8O1ZxEhyg-aAnxPTax9c3Arr2124cSPly8-WfXugg/s400/DSCF1709.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613929387427863170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTz-Qrt9k7-Jp68xvBd1FZ6w5nrTAobhHzLwFkYYN8TggkHnPy3ERlX-KZnP5-8TmdWawl4GH-_urFGFUD3lKuZ0QFwMiQB_YwyPBOJBZXBxSpavNm24WilWDjdVSdrrlCBQGTBotSy4/s1600/DSCF1723.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTz-Qrt9k7-Jp68xvBd1FZ6w5nrTAobhHzLwFkYYN8TggkHnPy3ERlX-KZnP5-8TmdWawl4GH-_urFGFUD3lKuZ0QFwMiQB_YwyPBOJBZXBxSpavNm24WilWDjdVSdrrlCBQGTBotSy4/s400/DSCF1723.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613929732364629730" /></a><br />It was cool to be so hands on and do everything to help these kids. When I showed up they swarmed me. It's such a difference from last night. They wanted me to sit by them adn kept asking me my name instead of just calling me auntie. And they LOVED it when I could tell them what their name was. They kept asking me "whats my name?" The nursing program is a peace of cake compared to remembering all of their names. I am actaully suprrised at how well I am doing with it. I really am working so hard to konw them it's jsut difficult beause they are so foreign. I swear I asked this one girl her name like 400 times. She started just screaming it back to me, but now shw has warmed up to me too and tries to help me. I can't even remember what it is right now-- this name is seriously going to be the death of me. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWSRuYXPDXBGO0gJYAdX-SvxRsxbLt2kU08Bih1Rd0eBIvjhAKgGUBVEbXR08MdqWM51bO1ZJ0Lx8d58E3oBeSvRsOtrrPwFIKo6RnA4Zh2jqGlQUz3crmDB8VxiPG6K8IS_o8eYn9GM/s1600/DSCF1686.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWSRuYXPDXBGO0gJYAdX-SvxRsxbLt2kU08Bih1Rd0eBIvjhAKgGUBVEbXR08MdqWM51bO1ZJ0Lx8d58E3oBeSvRsOtrrPwFIKo6RnA4Zh2jqGlQUz3crmDB8VxiPG6K8IS_o8eYn9GM/s400/DSCF1686.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613928019108979794" /></a><br />And it's so stinking hard becasue we don't get to read them on paper. We jsut have to hear them tell us adn then try to go off of that. Some fo the names are subustri, jamaire, gokuraj, reisha, shelleeni, and so many more. Anyway, the kids were hanging all over me and I loved it. A couple of them jumped in to help me with the shampoo for the lice just becasue they wanted to be with me. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhWjY6z0JnlhOIQTsXX4BWO4NQj1oBp2yB_OFP6ZK9MOPHH1h67iJcTttQd16_ZG1Vik8mOCsrocDl6WC_VEQ1R19KoB-BSnky57z7leO3CcL-iNQGafplobEP6T6rNaddIdn0O4RfL0/s1600/DSCF1736.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhWjY6z0JnlhOIQTsXX4BWO4NQj1oBp2yB_OFP6ZK9MOPHH1h67iJcTttQd16_ZG1Vik8mOCsrocDl6WC_VEQ1R19KoB-BSnky57z7leO3CcL-iNQGafplobEP6T6rNaddIdn0O4RfL0/s400/DSCF1736.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613930345734930786" /></a><br />They love taking pictures and being in them and then seeing them after. It's kind of funny but neat. Also, most of these kids have a begging background, so they just grab and take what they can get at that moment. So they kind of don't have manners but are really sweet at the same time. We are trying to teach them at rsigin star to ask for things and we never give them any kind of hand outs. They have to earn things at the "star store" to teach them to be self sufficcient and reliant. I took a bunch of pciturs athe lice thing but none at play time. I will have to figure out how to get pcitures while playing witht he kids because no body wants to stop adn snap photos. I guess I have 20 more days. I can't believe it has only been one day. I feel like I have lived here forever. I know that sounds cheesy but its really how I feel. Back to the pictures. So I was taking pictures with the kids dring the lice and I felt so good when v-davy ran up and put here arm arond my neck and asked this girl to take a picture of us. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqD0CClN9b9das9AQCoX6yo7FYqpojNel19-RA8-ZzBAIEt4MpOeCzy8NppO-FTfQ12taWSVg0Kef7GhIbVUEPj3LoI5igD-LO3Q1ssMUEg6hOcBpBIplZyZOzr5XwuCGG_6mQionquU/s1600/DSCF1759.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqD0CClN9b9das9AQCoX6yo7FYqpojNel19-RA8-ZzBAIEt4MpOeCzy8NppO-FTfQ12taWSVg0Kef7GhIbVUEPj3LoI5igD-LO3Q1ssMUEg6hOcBpBIplZyZOzr5XwuCGG_6mQionquU/s400/DSCF1759.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613931371070282466" /></a><br />IT was so special and she wasn't doing it just to be in a picture. These kids hearts are so open to us and its amazing how fast they can melt ours and make us open them to them. Its so amazing to think that these kids are so loving after all they ahve bben through. At the same time, I think they are also yearning to be loved and so they are this way. I love love this place and really feel like it is the best place on earth. I seriously think I am going to come back here next year aftera i graduate for the summer. The thought of leaving this kids is unbearable. I don't even want to to think about it. <br />Also, Ashley has gotten way sick. I spun her around on the merry go round and then she puked evreywhere. Needlesss to say, she has thrown up 6 times int he last 4 hours and feels terrible.We think she has heat stroke. I have tried to help her the best i could and arranged for her to have a blessing. I am so gratfeul that we have worthy preisthood holders here. There is just someting so comforting about knowing that you can always have a blessing if something goes badly. It is so incredible hot here adn i don't thikn we realize how easy it is to get dehydrated FAST because we sweat so much. I am being very careful about it, so don't worry.Laura Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16827780034249309415noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7407561781233312223.post-57784994916846351912011-06-01T06:48:00.001-07:002011-06-06T11:45:15.315-07:00India Day 1 -- Church and coming to Rising Star Outreach<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/5771613756_d696776688.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/5771613756_d696776688.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Background information-- Leprosy is still a problem here in India. When people acquire leprosy, they and their family are shunned from society and sent to leave in very run down "leprosy colonies". They are valued as less than dogs and seen as unclean. They are left to a life of begging in hopes of barley surviving. No one associates with them and thier kids have no school or any other opportunites. Rising Star takes these kids and feeds and loves them while giving them a top-notch education. Rising Star made a deal with Dell and Marriott that if they educated these kids, Dell and Marriott would hire them. Giving them this amazing opportunity to be somebody in the business world will help to decrease the stigma of leprosy families and help them survive. I can' think of a better cause or program. I feel beyond blessed to be a part of it!<br /><br />Heads up-- I will be adding a ton of pictures later. I have to put them on my computer and then add them and free time is a luxury here that I dont' have much of. Also, this is mostly just to record my experiences so its not in usually blog form...<br /><br />Rising Star picked us from the Marriott this morning in 3 air-conditioned vans. Air-conditioning in India is the equivalent to manna from heaven. We fell in love with rising star at that moment. They drove us 10 minutes to the church in Chennai. They have a guard that stands outside the building. I guess you need security even at a church. It wasn’t a church though, we just met in the basement of a building. We found out they started out just meeting in someone’s bedroom and now it has grown so much that they are having a church built. They are so very excited! <br /><br />PICTURE OF THE NEW CHURCH BEING BUILT FROM LINDSAY<br /><br />I was impressed that the men were mostly in shirts and ties especially because I was dying of heatstrokein my chadidar (the women’s outfits that have baggy pants and a short-sleeve shirt that is knee length and slit up to the top of the legs) which is an infinitely cooler outfit. We all wore our outfits that we bought in Chennai and our bengals. We felt pretty snazzy and rather local. <br /><br /><br /><br />The church is so young there but everyone was so kind and enthusiastic about us being there. It was the most friendly welcome I have ever had at any church hands down. I was surprised how great the talks were when the church is in such an infantile stage there. They spoke English but some people had very thick accents that I couldn’t make out. The branch presidency included a 21-yr old preparing for a mission. I also noticed that the branch presidency didn’t have mustaches which is beyond a rare sight here in India. I think they were just following the church instructions. The sacrament room was kind of divided into 2 and the speaker was clearly on one side of the room. They had a projector up and recorded the speaker and projected him on the other side of the room so the people could see.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSFcNtdi7D6TQ7OKkdUqkzzAbxfN9D4A74l4Ob7Z7Hdamf82QuH-Cu9seC1e8cxXIDvjBsyq5BBOIrij61L4Hv54RmjRanqfM_E6gLz_Fj2XYH910kFTCV6MOErm8FFDHtBNakErvcaw/s1600/083.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSFcNtdi7D6TQ7OKkdUqkzzAbxfN9D4A74l4Ob7Z7Hdamf82QuH-Cu9seC1e8cxXIDvjBsyq5BBOIrij61L4Hv54RmjRanqfM_E6gLz_Fj2XYH910kFTCV6MOErm8FFDHtBNakErvcaw/s400/083.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615175494704689842" /></a><br />The power went out a couple times and turned the place pitch black. Everyone just went right on singing and a boy ran up with a flashlight so the painist could continue playing. It was funny to have normal things in America happen in India too. I was shocked at how many cell phones kept going off. I didn’t even ralize that people had them, but I think they’re more common then I realized. <br />I have been excited to go to India but it wasn't originally planning on it. When I was in church it struck me so hard that this is where I was supposed to be. It was shocking that the spirit could be so strong and pure in such a simple place with people that were so young in the gospel. I felt so peaceful and happy and good. I absolutely loved being at church and can’t wait to go back.<br />There was a woman there who was the first to join the church 35 years ago and has been the main one who made this branch happen. They said that people used to listen to her because she was beautiful and no man wanted to turn away. It was funny but I bet it was partially true; she looked like she would have been striking as a young girl. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiFfkc66wi0XhfGeoT5kIpphE6goQB7gQs8X9IXWdYkl6q5ubHE-QSkG5iNU5vlCsiAGTauaLKU2zmrUIDfGb7Ww6PpsjiQBMxRNceH1tVs5X9P3G58r-KKS7jJTK3dWspALpSJB4UVw/s1600/086.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiFfkc66wi0XhfGeoT5kIpphE6goQB7gQs8X9IXWdYkl6q5ubHE-QSkG5iNU5vlCsiAGTauaLKU2zmrUIDfGb7Ww6PpsjiQBMxRNceH1tVs5X9P3G58r-KKS7jJTK3dWspALpSJB4UVw/s400/086.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615176008038741042" /></a><br />I sat by some Indian women during part of church and it was fun to talk to them. They were so excited to learn about me and have me ask them questions. Their names are different and hard for me to remember and initially understand. During third hour, a few of us decided to go to young womens. It was pretty fun and I loved watching the girls interact and learn from the lesson. There was a girl who was 12 and getting baptized today. We congratulated her and stayed after for the baptism. It was really neat and we took a picture with her.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2186/5771070629_c88b94259d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2186/5771070629_c88b94259d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />They are fortunate enough to have church manuals and pictures. I immediately recognized a few of Del’s pictures. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHJfi20yNHuaSBrGZ-9st9zAj48m37rGacUATGIIuncMS-wu0b0juYtHRu8cRBT6CS3PQ3erpfwwFIYMLONWlUOvX3oqs5kLQQIxDHdo6w9kvOBCzZw7I8Bfsa-ydxRRiqIw4ldQbEvE/s1600/DSCF1677.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHJfi20yNHuaSBrGZ-9st9zAj48m37rGacUATGIIuncMS-wu0b0juYtHRu8cRBT6CS3PQ3erpfwwFIYMLONWlUOvX3oqs5kLQQIxDHdo6w9kvOBCzZw7I8Bfsa-ydxRRiqIw4ldQbEvE/s400/DSCF1677.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613923462982019122" /></a><br />They also had a bulletin board up saying “what is family home evening?” It’s crazy how we take all that for granted growing up in the church and don’t realize how blessed we are to have the knowledge we do. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7sSij-Q0LnzUUihmKVnC7ZaN14D-sefo3E1cBYfLfi3xNUORAOSHWbQalsZq0fu9HchCFc_a1gYuphO_Plz17wn0aKWpHWr9CFiNRMS0JGpJZB6NH-FwCJ6vG0H9vja27qz_mIMjbBU/s1600/DSCF1675.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7sSij-Q0LnzUUihmKVnC7ZaN14D-sefo3E1cBYfLfi3xNUORAOSHWbQalsZq0fu9HchCFc_a1gYuphO_Plz17wn0aKWpHWr9CFiNRMS0JGpJZB6NH-FwCJ6vG0H9vja27qz_mIMjbBU/s400/DSCF1675.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613923665188978354" /></a><br />I’m starting to learn to really love the Indian people. The only thing I have evr seen about the Indian culture was Slum Dog MIllionare (edited ) and it put a rather bad taste in my mouth for indian men. I really would look at all of them and think they were rapists or evil men. IT was horribly stereotypical and racist, but that’s how I really felt. My mind set has done a complete 180. It’s amazing how the lord is working to really soften my heart. I love these Indian people and feel like I belong here. <br />I had to go to the restroom really badly at church and asked this girl to show me where it was. She was so kind and walked me right up to the door. I went in and saw the American toilet, Indian toiled (which is just a hole in the floor) and then a little wall with a row of urinals. The Indian culture is beyond proper so I thought it was kind of weird that it was a unisex bathroom but it’s all they have in a rented out building. I went in and did my business and started washing my hands while a man came in, smiled and waved, and then went and started using the urinal. I kept washing my hands and then walked out and heard my girlfriends voices a few yards away. I walked into that room and it was another bathroom! I looked back at the door I had just come out of and it had “Gents” written across it. I had totally been using the men’s restroom while they guy was using the urinal! Definitely mordifying in India and but so funny. Best laugh of the day for sure. <br />After church, we took the 2 hour bus ride home. Talk about a commute! I can barely make it on time for church when its 2 minutes away. I feel like you cherish church more when you have to put so much effort and time in to get there. It’s almost like it means more because it costs more from you. I zonked for about 40 mins of the bus ride until the super bumpy section of the road. Thanks grandma for the travel pillow—it works great and I am able to fall asleep anywhere. I think I’m starting to get more used to the traffic and its insanity. We showed up at rising star and they gave us a tour of the place. The volunteers stay in the volunteer hostel aka elephant house. We are 6 to a room with 2 bunk beds, and air conditioning and fans. It is fabulous. It makes sleeping doable.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj268STfoT4tspK-wn1EWweolpTU3vI5F0AmtzWmU666ZrJYKIFOcyCT8doFIrlpbwk2J9AEAgUIqOZqG0ElBGQxFSQQNXOuZvpIE6BBPfMzRJMBSdvhcsiKVyrw9qDaFAf-LDqlkeT3xE/s400/004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj268STfoT4tspK-wn1EWweolpTU3vI5F0AmtzWmU666ZrJYKIFOcyCT8doFIrlpbwk2J9AEAgUIqOZqG0ElBGQxFSQQNXOuZvpIE6BBPfMzRJMBSdvhcsiKVyrw9qDaFAf-LDqlkeT3xE/s400/004.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br /><br />The grounds are huge—probably like 50 acres. There are huge mango trees, vegetable gardens, a huge water well, the children’s school and house, the hospital, the kitchen, the playground with equipment and a basketball hoop, and just some big fields. It’s a pretty amazing place. They have ground tiles that are on a path that have inspirational quotes. I almost feel like this is hallowed ground and I can feel the lords hand in making this place come to fruition. Also, we have a communal kitchen, and then bathrooms with indian toilets and bucket showers.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8fnY5SG7TBLfN9E-RlmzQB3_vXL5hNHb5bFoeNXomtcevfRzPUusCVcqQpkYxt0-AigbHN2bgRQ96vyruS_EgsnE4Tnkfgw30aa7xuT2eIpQweBIcwz9Kh7_CnVEowUQl3us5cEUpAA/s400/006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8fnY5SG7TBLfN9E-RlmzQB3_vXL5hNHb5bFoeNXomtcevfRzPUusCVcqQpkYxt0-AigbHN2bgRQ96vyruS_EgsnE4Tnkfgw30aa7xuT2eIpQweBIcwz9Kh7_CnVEowUQl3us5cEUpAA/s400/006.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisH3dSMxZlXaHtSnQha6VgxvKRFIsMeDkk9c-pacj2na0lbO9knzFCV-eGoNFqfhToWC67d67E501O6fz4d9kcp6W5z2H_FzP-e2VTGvWAGll_s2dDHCwVr-O6eiH0o2awz5JAiThyphenhyphenThI/s400/005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisH3dSMxZlXaHtSnQha6VgxvKRFIsMeDkk9c-pacj2na0lbO9knzFCV-eGoNFqfhToWC67d67E501O6fz4d9kcp6W5z2H_FzP-e2VTGvWAGll_s2dDHCwVr-O6eiH0o2awz5JAiThyphenhyphenThI/s400/005.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />They have one American toilet but that’s for emergenices only because it uses so much water and that is a valuable thing around here in themiddle of nowhere. I can only imagine what emergenices entail ;). There is a laundry room full of chadidars that we wear everyday. Then there are 2 house mothers that clean and do all the laundry for us. It’s actually a pretty sweet set up and I am surprised at how clean the place is. <br />They gave us a little run through and this place has super strict rules. You can’t ever go in the room of someone of the opposite sex, you can’t be behind closed doors with a child, don’t touch any of the animals, ask if you can touch or a hug a child, etc. This last one about asking if you can touch a child is to teach them that they have free will and are in charge of their bodies. I guess a lot of them come from abusive situations or other things and we are teaching them that their bodies are their own. Some of these rules are crazy sad with the reasons behind them . They have stray dogs running all over the campus but we aren’t allowed to go near them and they only keep them here as guard dogs against the other animals. There is one sheep named lola that is the pet and we can touch her. She has a collar and everything and has been to the vet. Say no to rabies We’re also supposed to drink at least 4 liters of water daily because we sweat SO MUCH!!! It is so stinkin hot. They say its suually around 100 degrees with 100% humidity. We literally sweat all day, non stop. And I’m not talking like a little drip running down your face. I mean like just jumped out of the pool sweaty. I wouldn’t be surprised if Im chaffed up the wazoo here pretty soon. <br />We had our first Indian meal here. At night, the staff all eats on the roof because it is bearable. We eat on banana leaves (they say they’re the most hygienic thing) and go around and say our highs and lows. My high was going to church and my low was that my open sores and blisters still have not healed on my feet and I have to start wearing ym heavy duty sandals tomorrow. The food was absoulutely delicious. IT was spiced potatoes with a chiken in a spicy sauce with yellow and red rice. The yellow rice was very good but the red rice was rather grainy. I bit into my first piece of chicken and there was a huge bone! All fo the chicken was filled with them. Welcome to India—no more boneless, skinless chicken breasts from the grocery store. Also, we had fresh pnieaplle and pomegranates that were so yummy. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjdBA_zb-wFTvnZ4E6NoAuaBXxlJE45zEkZGLvE1SHFyMY-upthaIX8E0MSAhnvb2m3GGFONPY1ogyPCCSlk3ri4j_00eORaruRN8F2qMj8Uw3I_i_wMwKQBAR5aeS6Q6TOYVee24eiU/s1600/Ashley-India+pictures+103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjdBA_zb-wFTvnZ4E6NoAuaBXxlJE45zEkZGLvE1SHFyMY-upthaIX8E0MSAhnvb2m3GGFONPY1ogyPCCSlk3ri4j_00eORaruRN8F2qMj8Uw3I_i_wMwKQBAR5aeS6Q6TOYVee24eiU/s400/Ashley-India+pictures+103.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615178569056200738" /></a><br />Tonight was our first night with the kids. There is a group of same gender kids, probably about 15, that are assigned to each little house with a house mother. We go and work with them from 7:30-9 pm. Our main job is to help them with their homework, read stories, and play with them. There are 3 of us assigned to each house and I am really excited because my friend, Kim, is with me. Moral of the story: I LOVE THE KIDS! I am sure they are going to be my absolute favorite part of this whole thing. They are so cute and sweet, especially the little ones. They run up to you and say “auntie, auntie, what is your name?” I didn’t know what to do at first but then a little girl ran up to me with her book and we read it together. I can tell they are yearning for touch so we constantly touch and cuddle witht hem inspite of the heat. Those kids are like little furnaces! I was cuddling with one girl and I took my arm off of her to hold the book because it was falling. She immediately grabbed the book with her arm and then put my arm back around her.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jGYKUItdZ_FpbqlPcvLGic4_8riD2btFIYjBT8SQ0jcnVl9bRC46P-KToUA9gq1LYaPapH5ATLwZX9L5GpQwuwxqig3au7hv3hyB2FlUctYYTyXj4UUZIUIiwnHSEJT_Wvj68bzD94E/s1600/DSCF1798.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jGYKUItdZ_FpbqlPcvLGic4_8riD2btFIYjBT8SQ0jcnVl9bRC46P-KToUA9gq1LYaPapH5ATLwZX9L5GpQwuwxqig3au7hv3hyB2FlUctYYTyXj4UUZIUIiwnHSEJT_Wvj68bzD94E/s400/DSCF1798.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615179238281003778" /></a><br />But before I touch any of them, I always ask if I can touch them or give them a hug. Once they say yes, then your fine to touch from then on. It was hard learning and understanding their names. When I was reading stories to the kids, I would deliberately say their names and tell them to trun the page to help me remember them. I brought my flashlight and the kdis loved it! They wer fighting over it and wanted to have it on. Luckily, there is a solar setting so I could let them play with it without killing the battery. They wanted to put it on the the high LED setting but I told them no. <br />I initially read stories with j-mary and another girl, but then they weren’t as interested. They kind of did their own things for a few minutes and then I offered to tell them a story but they didn’t’ care. I asked this little girl to tell me a story and then that opened up a million doors. Her name is G-davy, and then another girl told me a story. Then a few of them sat by my feet and I told them the story of Mulan, Beauty and the beast, and Rapunzel. They LOVE the Disney stories and asked me to tell them Rapunzel but I didn’t know it and got confused and was about to tell them rumplestilkzetn. Kim quickly told me to just tell them the tangled version and that was a hit! They also wanted sleeping beauty and I didn’t know that one either! I need to catch up on my Disney stories for sure. W ealso played patty cake and I just messed around with them for a while. The woman in charge said that they can be a little tenetavie at first but within a few days, they will just love you, especially because we are assigned to the same house every night. I think the consistency helps to really build the friendships and love. We were told that 15 new kids had just arrived recently. I saw a little girl crying and asked her what her name was. She din’t respond and another girl translated it into indian for me. IT turns out that she had just gotten to the school today and missed her mom. I tried to comfort her but she didn’t really want me too. It was really sad. Also, when the kids first come here, they don’t usually speak English. They just pick it up when they get here. Hanging out with the kids was great and I can’t wait to go back tomorrow. Something tells me that I am going to be completely exhausted by the end of this trip. We work to the bone and that is how I want it to be. I want to give it my all and know that I made a difference. <br />I took my first bucket shower tonight. I don’t think I have evr been so excited to take a cold shower before. IT felt awesome and I even provided a little show for a frog in my stall. IT feels great to be clean but I don’t think that muggy feeling really ever goes away. I also peed in the hole for the first time and definitely nailed my pants. Don’t worry, it was before the shower Today was awesome and I can’t wait for tomorrow!Laura Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16827780034249309415noreply@blogger.com3