I'm In!

Update: 
Perhaps the most exciting thing that I have learned in school this week/year is that as of December 2012 I will be considered homeless according to the government, as I will be staying in either a hospital's housing or an extended stay hotel (or the likes) for 6+ months.  I might, just for fun, hang out and get free food at the homeless shelters.  (Kidding). Well...maybe not, depending on how expensive rent is in Chicago! 

To the more important news:
I will officially be taking classes at the International Language Schools of Canada (ILSC) in New Delhi for the entire month of July.  I'll start out doing 2 weeks of private individual training, to further improve my skills. 

I got an 80% on the entrance exam, which is awesome and it means I get to start the intermediate classes when they begin on July 16th. I'm glad I have 2 weeks of private tutoring before the group classes start because I may have had some assistance on my exam from a kind sir (who has helped me very generously over the past few months).

So, in other news, I have 400 things to do before I leave. I am appreciating that I have more than 4 days after finals before my flight across the world. Initially (not looking at Mizzou's calendar) I thought 4 days would be plenty of time. HA! Thankfully, I have some time to move out, pack, see my nephews and niece, etc. 

Maybe I will see you soon. More likely, I will wave to you as I pass/drive by in a rush to the next thing.

Expect no further posts until I'm in India and writing in a highly emotional state because, well, brown children with BIG brown eyes will lead to a melted heart and irrational thoughts contriving how I can be a poor grad student and adoptive single mother :P

New Plans?

So, the organization in which I was planning to spend July has now cancelled on me, and my backup is no longer available.  Soo.....new plans! 

The first month and a half of my trip will continue as planned, as I spend time at an orphanage and visiting friends/other organizations around India.  Then, for July:

I have found an "academy" of sorts, which primarily teaches English.  However, they have a few Hindi programs, too.  I've actually already taken a written test so that they can see what "level" my language skills are currently. Except for time and directions (unfortunately, two very important concepts), I think I did pretty well.
Assuming everything else works out, I'll arrive in New Delhi two weeks before Hindi classes start, so I will be kicking my butt as I study a few hours each day with a private tutor.  (And study alone, torturing shopkeepers and waiters many more hours afterwards).  Then, I should be able to enter the intermediate Hindi class when it starts, and spend my remaining two weeks in Delhi with a constant look of confusion on my face!  Yay....
They also have a homestay program, which means home-cooked Indian meals (!) and plenty of time to adjust to living with an "aunty" and becoming part of an Indian family.  I view this as "future-cultural-taboo-prevention 101."
Also, very independent me needs to learn how to live with a motherly smothering again before I do it full time. (Some background: From what I've read, it's difficult for any white woman to get an apartment unless she has a husband, as the landlords assume that she is a. a prostitute, b. will be a bad influence on whatever other girls live there, or c. some other stereotype of Americans. Consequently, I'm assuming I'll be renting a room from some family when I move there later on, and this will be good preparation for it!) 
Another cool thing about this new plan is that many students will be at the academy to improve their English, and, well, I speak (and tutor) English!  I'm guessing I'll make many friends--be they roommates, my host family, or other students--and I'm excited to see where those friendships go!

All in all, it's exciting... and simultaneously disappointing. 

Disappointing because I wanted to work in the leper colony or with more orphans and be of help to someone.  And exciting because it means I am on my way to being able to actually use the language, so that I can then learn the regional dialects and languages, so that I can be a good OT in whatever area of India that He puts me.  Thankfully, even though it's disappointing not to be able to help NOW, I know that the latter is probably better in the long run. 

It's April.

Things are changing.
It's April. My departure date is nearing closer. Terrifyingly close.

I spent last week in Denver with my best friend, and it was truly wonderful.  I was there for a week of clinicals at a mental health facility, and I got off work early every afternoon.  Besides my free schedule enabling me to enjoy the beautiful weather, I was finally able to catch up on some Perspectives homework, bridal shower shopping for my roommates, and pure relaxation and enjoyment. 

It's kind of funny when I think about how last year I was training for a marathon and spending every free moment outside sweating my guts out to Bollywood on my iPod.  This year, I'm just working and being a not-too-far-behind grad. student.  Everything else has kind of been placed on hold and my time to just sit and enjoy life hasn't happened this semester.  Even spending a weekend at my sisters' just became a source of stress as I could get an adequate amount of time in for neither my paper nor my niece and nephews.  So, having last week where I was just able to sit outside at a park and read a book or stare at the mountains or hang out and chat without turning on the laptop to submit an assignment dangerously close to the deadline--I am so thankful for it. 

I know that when I begin my assignments (which are due tomorrow), I will begin to feel the tight schedule again and will forget about the beautiful moments of this past week.  So, right now, I just want to remember the peacefulness. Remember the laughs, the clients, the friends.  Remember what it's like to live with almost no calendar and only my stomach and the sky telling me the time. 

I thank God for last week, because I know He didn't have to give it to me.  As I returned to work and school today, my heart has been thankful for that break, for the blessings that He didn't have to give to me. 

If you have read this far, I suppose I ought to give you the update on my trip:  I am going, after all, and that's why this blog even exists.  I've raised an extraordinary amount over my fundraising goal, and I am thankful to all of you who have supported me.  I am blessed to be able to bless the children with funds for schooling and therapeutic/medical equipment/treatments. 

One of the organizations still hasn't told me exactly what I'll be doing there, but I'm on "Indian time" now, so I will do my best not to panic until two days before I'm supposed to go to that site.  Whatever it is, be it a leper colony or therapy in the slums, or even language training, I know that it will be God's will.  In the meantime, here's an updated list of prayers, if you are willing:

1.  The children, the workers, the directors at the sites. Let God move in them and through them.
2.  That God will continue to work in India and through India.  It's hard not to feel alone at times in my love for this nation, which I have yet to visit.  These people are so dear to my heart, but I know they are nearer to God's.  He has been moving in them and He will continue to, with or without me.
3.  Hope.  See previous item.  I need hope, and I struggle desperately with trusting God.  My heart has been torn to shreds lately, and I just need some hope to replace the numbness.  Otherwise, my presence in India and these people's lives--even my time in Columbia--will be worthless.   I have many, but especially one, friend who also needs hope.  They need the hope that comes through Him.  Pray that they may seek that hope.  Pray passionately for them, even though I am not mentioning their name. 

Thank you all for your encouragement, but especially your prayers. 
Dil se, Marla