When you think things can't get better...

Somehow, they do.
For those of you who haven't seen my pics on facebook, I'm having an awesome time.  I split the last week between Goa (Hawaii of India) and Mumbai (Bombay).  The first was great, beautiful, relaxing, a great opportunity to be American because there weren't any streets to walk on and keep my eyes down.  I wore a swimsuit most of the time--albeit with a tshirt over it 95% of the time--was the subject or background of many Indian family photos, the subject of many teenage/college boys' cameraphones while they pretended I was just near the background, and the girl who watches a lot of Big Bang Theory while it pours for 2 days straight when I couldn't take any more verb tenses.  Overall, I'd say Goa was a success, even if I didn't exactly sightsee or do any of the things it's known for.
Then: Mumbai.  Ahhh, Mumbai.  "Once Upon a time in Mumbai." (Okay I know only 2 of my friends who read this got that.)  STUNNING architecture.  Good job, British imperialists. Lots of slums, but maybe it didn't seem so bad because I'd seen some less than ideal housing in the villages too?  I paid a whopping $60 for a full day of tour.  I was DRAINED after 8.5 hours.  But still went out and retook pics at the Taj Mahal Palace and Fort (Hotel, not the Taj Mahal you know) and Gateway of India...because it was finally sunny.  During that 8.5 hours I saw many cool things, most of which are not in my camera.  Partly because it's inappropriate to film religious activities, and partly because it rained 23 cm (I think that was the number mentioned in the newspaper) that day.  Most of that was in the 3 hours I was stepping/wading through puddles getting from place to place...or from place to the car! 
Here are some spots I went, and I give you permission to google image search them so I don't have to explain a lot:  Gandhi's house. Hanging Gardens. Jain Temple. (I thought I'd stepped into another wedding then, because a girl in a beautiful pink sari was holding something special over her head and everyone was looking at her, and there was a parade, with a guy with his face covered.  YAY! wedding.....no. It was just the arrival of some guru.  I'm sure he's really famous, but I have no idea who he was. He wasn't a groom and that's where my disappointment lies :)) Mosques, other temples... 2 separate dhobi ghats.  beautiful churches and governmental buildings. Victoria Terminus (sorry if that is a butchering of the name). The homes/apartments of Bollywood stars.  It's possible I saw someone famous and didn't know it.  It's more likely that I just saw rich people who live next to the stars.  And lots of other places that I wrote down in my journal that my driver took me to because the tour was on my own time...and the monsoon's time.
I saved my bag from a pickpocketer who tried to sneak her hand in it while I was in a tourist spot. Now, I'm slightly anxious that the third time will be the charm and that they'll succeed next time :) Thankfully I could store about 398439 rupees in my bra, and no one would know. :P
Then the next day I was crazy tired, so I laid in bed or the hotel pool all day--save for a 2 hour walk around Colaba.  Do I always get this lazy when school is about to start, because I was feeling pretty whiny because I know my brain is going to ache once these language classes start up!
And, now, as of today, I'm in New Delhi--where I will be for the rest of the time I'm in India, unless I do day trips. (Check that--WHEN I do day trips, as I'm definitely going to the Taj Mahal...I feel like that name should be said with an angel's chorus). 
It's WONDERFUL.  I'm living with a woman and her 13 year old son who are Bengali.  Currently there's a Japanese guy here too, but tomorrow he's leaving and a French student is moving in.  (They are here to learn English, which is what my school is mainly known for).  My room and the apartment are so beautifully and TASTEFULLY decorated that it's really nice not to be surrounded by chaotic nor empty walls.
Downside is that I'm going to get lost anytime I go anywhere.
What else is cool? I'm starting private hindi classes on Monday. That's still terrifying because I'm still embarrassed and completely not confident in my speaking.  Rightfully so, I must say.  However, my vocabulary is still improving because I can read more and more of Harry Potter without stopping and saying "HUH?"  Every time people learn that I am learning hindi, they want me to say something and then the words just can't come out.  They come out better in my head, I guess :)
On people:
And I have a superbly awesome friend and soon, I'm guessing, I'll know 10 or more of his friends :)  We ended up sitting next to each other on my flight from London way back in May, and now I'm going to be torturing him with my hindi and trying to catch one word in every paragraph that flies out of his mouth.  (Think the "adverse side effects commercial guy, but in a foreign language you're trying to learn).
I'm really excited about meeting the other foreigners in my classes, as well as my teachers, as well as the French guy who will be staying here across the hall.  I like meeting other people.  I like meeting people I know I can trust and try new things with in this new place. 
I like meeting airline crews, as I'm now friends with two of them.  I like eating curry at home with people instead of being alone at restaurants.  That said, I also like reading hindi books in restaurants while waiting for food as the staff gets friendlier and less "I'm the server, you're the guest."  I like being that weird American on the flights that entertains the kids who are sitting in front of me by tickling them through the gaps in the seats.
Basically, I'm really happy here. If you didn't get that already.

My location is better than yours.... :)

Today I’m going to paint a picture.  It may be a little long, but this is probably the only post for the week.

 I am sitting on a tiny little armchair, watching a Bollywood film without subtitles—the sound being about 2 seconds behind the picture--and consequently my comprehension is severely limited.  The room is quite large, and about five feet away is my bed, surrounded by its rich orange and gold canopy mosquito net.  I, being the cheap person that I am, opted for the non air conditioned room, and it’s good, because otherwise I may not have the opportunity to sleep under a canopy, even if it is for the purpose of keeping out mosquitoes.

Windows fill the wall behind me, and their view is of four small villas (the guesthouses), the large villa style building that houses the restaurant and hotel lobby, a very VERY turquoise swimming pool, and coconut trees.  Lots and lots of coconut trees.  So much so that I am thankful every time one falls near me and doesn’t result in a situation like Goliath’s…

The “resort” (although the only thing resort-y about it is that it’s by the beach) is called Coconut Creek, and for a good reason.  The foliage is quite dense, and where there are not trees with the potential falling coconut are mounds of rocks that are designed to keep the creek flowing in only one direction.  To go to the beach, which is about a three minute walk, I have to cross the creek three times on small, slippery, but cute, bridges, and then I must wade through what appears to be the beginnings of another creek, as it is monsoon season.

The beach is almost empty, save for a few locals and rare tourists.  But even they are far down the beach.  The waves are waves. J None of that wimpy stuff we had in Fort Meyers last summer.  The waves don’t begin until fairly close to the shore, but then they form beautiful rolling waves that crash far into the sand.  It’s truly beautiful to see.  It’s fun to wade in.  It would be more fun to ride on a boogie board or intertube.  However, it’s monsoon season.

What have I learned about monsoons since coming to Goa twenty-four hours ago?  Well, all of a sudden, the sky will produce a few, wet drops.  Sometimes it will sprinkle for a few moments and then the sun peeks back out.  Other times, the few drops instantly become a downpour, and there’s no time to avoid getting soaked. Also, I guess the monsoons sort of make the ocean unsafe.  Drat.  The waves, which are gorgeous, also are known to have a pretty strong undertow.  Therefore, the experiences of feeling those waves knocking me over while actually IN the ocean won’t be happening. Unfortunately, the huge boulders approximately 20 feet off the beach won’t be climbed and become my new study spot.

So, instead, I attract EVERYONE, as few as they may be, on the beach because I practice the verb tenses I just learned in the sand.  At first, one person will stop to look and engage in conversation, and then everyone else heads over to see what’s going on. Nothing to make me feel better than having an audience when you know my grammar isn’t correct anyways J I’m quite glad I had the village to prepare me for so much attention, as it now doesn’t seem like such a big deal when only 20 people are surrounding me and talking about me in whatever language they are using.

Those who I did not attract via writing in the sand, I attracted by making an almost-life-size alligator.  I did the first 5/8 on my own, but I guess sand sculptures are just another one of those things to which privacy doesn’t apply in India! My originally awesome head had coconut eyes peeking through sand eyelids, and it’s nostrils were real holes from the bottlecaps I found.  I don’t know what the result was, but it wasn’t that! I got to practice my hindi with the 2 teens that helped me finish the tail and hind legs so that was fun.  And now I’m in about 30 more family photo albums.  Given, even when I was just sitting reading on the beach, I was the subject for many camera phones, but now, there’s more people who will see me in my American modest/Indian immodest tank top and mid-thigh running shorts. Yay. . .

Either way, my verbs are getting a LOT better, my initiation speed may be improving, and I may be getting a little tanner.

Yesterday I went to the ISKCON temple, which is an enormous Hindu temple. I have yet to decide if I will write about that or not for the world to read. I’m guessing not, since this is a public blog, and, well, not everyone is going to like most of what I have to say.

I’ll be here in Goa, and pretty inaccessible (taking the laptop out in the monsoon weather to get wifi doesn’t seem very smart) until Wednesday.  And then I’m off to Mumbai, and will be in Delhi by the end of the week.

I am slightly anxious about starting Hindi classes next week.  3-5 hours of going at my own pace in reading and writing hindi had me drained at the end of each day last week.  So when I’m in classes where I’m going at the pace of my teacher and classmates, I have no idea if I’ll be up for experiencing the city and hanging out with people, too, after class & homework are finished! Hopefully!

Nothing else is really going on, as I’m kind of in the middle of nowhere in the “Hawaii of India.” I did run on the beach today—the first time in months.  Haha, let’s just say it was a lot easier to run on the beach last year when I was in training. This year, running less than ten minutes after squatting for hours while writing hindi in the sand, my quads are just screaming “WHY?! We were so happy when you were the proper Indian girl who only walked places!!!!” J  Oh the joys I’ll get to face when I get back to America and have to return to ‘normal’ life.
OH!!! The guy sitting next to me at a restaurant is sending me the pics of the croc that he took on his phone. Yay!!! Haha, I told you I was famousJ

When Liesel is first kissed by Rolph and says "WHEEEEEEEEEEEE"

Well, that's how my day went.   No kisses, thankfully, but some pretty awesome stuff happened.  (This may get wordy because I'm really excited and it's 5am back in Missouri, so I can't talk to anyone at 90mph and get my energy out!)

This morning I woke up pretty early to the birds chirping away. Then I decided to lay there instead of doing abs, although I know when I get back to the states, I'm really going to regret these 3 months of not exercising unless it involves carrying my shopping bags or luggage. Previously, I had the babies to lift around, so I know my biceps have gotten a little stronger, but, well, now what am I doing? Sitting around with a hindi book eating curry doesn't exactly do anyone much good after so long...  But, back to topic, it was a beautiful morning to lay in bed and be lazy.

I put on some harem pants/patiala (I think that's how you spell it).  These things are the most comfortable thing in the world. Maybe not the cutest, but I don't know why they don't wear these in Ongole, where it's so HOT! 

Then, I went to an Indian wedding. Well, more like crashed the wedding, as I was actually just touring the church grounds at St. Mark's Cathedral, heard music, and went inside.   I was able to see the groom put the "marriage necklace" on the bride, hear a song & the vows, and then I snuck out. I don't know if they "kiss the bride" here or not since kissing isn't really done in public in India, and I wanted to stay to find out.  BUT not if it meant having to greet the bride and groom at the end instead of sneaking out. :)

Afterwards I walked through 3 sections of Cubbon Park/Gardens. It's really beautiful, and I enjoyed the greenery and exotic trees.  I may have gone a little further in than I intended, in order to lose the man who was following my every path. But it was enjoyable, and there were lots of young couples there, which I think is cute since arranged marriage is prevalent.  (Again, couples here are a lot cuter because of the lack of PDA).  Then I headed over to St. Mary's Basilica which is GORGEOUS.  I know catholicism has the saints and images of Mary and whatnot, but it was a little confusing here in India.  To me (and my lack of knowledge is probably manifesting itself greatly here), the incense, in combination with strings of flowers "given" and decorating Mary's icons seemed to definitely have the origins of Hinduism.  But, I know those of us who come from the European area also have the pagan influences within our traditions, so maybe it's just the same here.  Either way, it was weird to see them in worship/prayer to Mary, much like the people on the next block were doing with their Krishna and Vishnu. There were a couple little girls who were really excited to see me, and wanted me to take their pictures with the church.  And their little sister looked like she was going to cry if she had to look at me again ;)

I wandered around (my favorite thing to do) and ended up in the Muslim section of town, which was really fun and crowded and beautiful in its own way. 

And THEN came the best part--well, two of them  :)  I wasn't sure what to expect of the Bangalore Palace, but it was super cool. Maybe its because I'm not from America, and the only castles I have been to are those at DisneyWorld or HaHa Tonka (which hardly counts).  I've seen the gates and pieces of the exteriors of the Moroccan palaces in Rabat, Fes, and Meknes, but this was WAY cooler. It was where the maharaja & his harem & family all lived, and it was incredible.  Worth the $20 for the audiotour and my camera :)  I must say that I don't think I listened to the audio tour because the art & decor  took most of my attention.  Stay tuned to facebook for pics, but here's a short synopsis:  The owners still live there, but only in one wing. I ignored the "No entry" sign and snuck a few pics there anyways.  Other than a few storage rooms and the concert area (which we could see through the windows but not go in), the whole place was open AND there were zero "no touching" signs :D   Gorgeous ceilings and floors, fancy ballroom and courtroom, LOTS of balconies (my favorite) and columns, and winding staircases.  Oh, there was also the elephant head on the wall, which the maharaja's father hunted himself.  And that elephant's feet were made into stools (cushions on top), and another elephant's trunk was so cleverly turned into a vase/stand.  The art was just gorgeous, too. I love Indian beauty anyways, but DANG the maharaja had some beautiful wives/concubines/girlfriends, depending on the era!

THEN (last part I promise) in the courtyard next to the harem's quarters, there was a PHOTOSHOOT! Upstairs, I had seen an Indian girl with heavy makeup being dressed by someone, and thought maybe there was a wedding and I could crash another one.  But it was just a model :) For the shoot, (in which I am standing behind a column to not be seen), she had to hold a dove and release it while keeping this delicate smile and look of serenity, because, naturally, it's her wedding day, and those are not stress-free at alllllll.  Really though, she was not happy to hold the bird, and was sort of scared of it because she had to hold it tight so it didn't get away before the camera was rolling.  I watched for about 20 minutes and have my own pictures and video of the shoot. I wished I could have gotten a picture of me and her, but she really wasn't happy after a couple incidents and 3 takes, so I figured it wasn't a good time to ask!

Anyways, that's my day, and now I will study hindi til my dinner of mangoes :) Good morning, America :)

Changes Within

Studying hindi is going well, and I'm in love with my French-Indian villa that I am now staying at :) If you want to see exactly how wonderful it is, or if you ever come to Bangalore and need a cute place to stay:  casapiccolo.com is the place :)  (Priceline has better prices!) 

I know that I would change a bit or a lot while on this trip.  But, many changes have happened that I wasn't exactly expecting.  Here are some examples.

1.  I feel like a princess because Casa Piccolo has:  hot water, overhead shower, provided toilet paper, windows without bars, and NOT idli for breakfast.  (I can eat spicy curry and rice in the morning, but I'm not so much a fan of dosa which is what I've eaten for breakfast for a long time.)   Given, it's really just a cute place in general, but these are the things that I fell in love with upon arrival. 

2.  Being completely comfortable with things living on/in me.  I almost cried the first day I found a louse in my hair.  I think I mentioned before that I bought chocolate and had a pity party that day.  Since then, I just ignore the little itches on my head (I'm pretty sure it's just paranoia because I know things are there) and use my comb and suck it up.   I noticed a little spot on my back a few days ago.  Now, I realize it's ringworm. Yay fungus!  Had this been at the beginning of my trip, only a month ago, I'd have been appalled and gone straight to the drugstore. Now, it's like "eh" so I have ringworm.  Sometime today I'll go to the pharmacy and pick something up for my little friends and fungi, but I'm not really in a rush, as I'm basically expecting for even more things to pop up before I get back home.  (i.e. whatever bacterial infection I'm fighting with my American antibiotics)

3.  Being cold at 80 degrees.  Haha, I knew I was a wimp when it came to cold weather, and I knew I loved it when it was over 90 degrees. BUT after sweating in Andhra Pradesh for 3.5 weeks (95-115 degrees) and then coming to Bangalore, where it's 83 degrees right now at 11 am, I am quite comfortable in my jeans and 3/4 sleeve tunics.  At night or in the evenings, my toes feel so cold, that I have no idea what will happen and I get to Europe.  Frostbite at 60 degrees?? :)

4.  I've  moved from liking shopping to ADORING shopping.  My motto is that if I can get through so many chapters/hours of my hindi studies, then I get to go to the market for 2-3 hours, as long as I come back home and study in the evening when it's not really safe for someone to be out alone.

5.  That said about shopping, I never knew I would  be so cheap :)  They just asked me to pay $7 for this entire outfit? No way! (Says the girl who wouldn't think twice about buying a shirt in America, as long as it was under $15-20.)  I know, some of you are thinking that I was still pretty cheap then, but hey, I'm more so now, and then things are 1) cooler, 2) prettier, and 3) modest, therefore not requiring more money to be spent on undershirts and things.

6.  Being thankful for Americans.  I saw my first Americans at McDonald's (I'd promised a friend I'd go, but really, I'm sticking with the curry the rest of the trip!)  It's like we have this special connection, and we all give each other knowing smiles of "I am from the same continent as you, and we are both having an awesome time in this foreign place where we don't fit in, and I am really REALLY glad to see your American face and clothes."

7.  One's thought of cleanliness changes.  (As seen in #2 also).  GermX isn't as seemingly necessary as it was previously.  And three showers/rinses per day aren't really necessary since I'm not producing 1L of sweat on a daily basis :)

8.  I started out pretty adventurous in ordering at restaurants. Chicken hyderabadi is the best so far, and every single pore in my body opens up and cries when I eat it. But it's GOOD.  Yesterday though, I ordered fish.  Now, fish curry just doesn't sound good, but I thought it has to be good since it's common.  The waiter made sure it was okay that it came with bones, me being foreign and all.  Yes, that's fine.  I didn't realize it was also going to come with its face.  That was the most interesting meal by far that I've had:  one where I really wished someone was with me (in case I choked on a bone and to laugh fearfully with as I removed the head of the fish)

Okay, well, I'm off to bargain for everyone's saris at Chickpet after buying my drugs which are probably not going to be FDA approved.  Phir shopping ke baad, mai hindi sikhungi....for many many many hours.

Gandhi Nagar

This is my "vacation" time on my trip, but really it means I study hindi a LOT, to prepare for my class.  I spent a good 3 hours this morning trying to go through the first 12 pages of Harry Potter. As I'm not a huge fan, have only seen 1.5 of the movies, and haven't read the books since I was in fourth grade, it's hard.  I don't know if hte words are the names of characters or hindi words I don't know ;)  Then, I went did another 2 hours this afternoon, and I'm planning to make a night of it again today.
That said, I'm still excited about being in Bangalore and getting to experience the city.  I'll be going to a spa sometime soon. (Not that I've ever thought paying for a spa was worth it, but I figure I can pamper myself for $100 for half a day!)
I'm staying at a pretty adequate hotel in Gandhi Nagar, Bangalore.   It still has a bucket shower, the bed would kill my mother's back, and there's only a small pathway around the bed, but I really like it.  (I've been told that being young and able to travel this way won't last long, so I'm hoping to make the most of it!) The hotel's about a block away from the park, so that's where I've studied, as I can sit on the concrete steps and be around the 30 boys/teens/men who are playing cricket.  I haven't actually seen any other women there to watch cricket or do anything else, so I don't really know if being there is socially acceptable, but it means I'm in a safe, public place AND enjoying the outdoors, so it's okay with me :)
The weather is SO NICE here.  I have no idea what temperature 30*Celsius is, but it's that.  I'm quite comfortable in my jeans and 3/4 sleeve tunics here, whereas in Ongole, I couldn't wait to get home to strip down to my tank top and shorts.  I'm glad I didn't pay for the airconditioned rooms as I freeze in these with only the fan on, haha. 
I've seen a lot of Gandhi Nagar since I got lost trying to come back from lunch.  Haha, thankfully I have an artist's eye and pay attention to noteworthy pieces of architecture, so I was able to wander around until I found something that I knew I'd seen before, and I got back okay!  Given, I could have asked someone if I hadn't been able to find it, but I prefer that everyone think I know where I am!  I still have yet to see any other Caucasians, and so I think I'll move to another, more foreign-oriented part of town when these reservations end on Tuesday.  That way, it's not so obvious where the white girl is staying. alone. 
That's also sort of funny because anytime I get in a conversation with someone, I have to lie, which I dislike doing, but no one needs to know that I'm staying here alone or that I'm single.  Thankfully, the Indian head bobble, which became natural within 24 hours of being in India, has kept me from speaking untruths often.  The rest of the time, I flash my blue and white sapphire ring I bought for the trip and claim a fiance and friends here with me.  :) We're ALL having a great time.

White girl, white girl, white girl.

I'm really white.  This is really obvious one month into this trip. Even in Bangalore, shopkeepers blatantly look past their other customers to try to help me, when I'm just walking through the crowded stalls.  I've actually considered dying my hair black while I'm here to see if that helped things a little, but I know I'd die a little inside if I did!  I guess I could wear a burka, but, well, it's summer.

On the bus last night, I sat next to a woman, but the passenger behind me decided he was going to see if he could rub my arm and shoulder and feel my french braids while I was asleep.  He got slapped discretely, but about an hour later got a "GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF ME" said in the most murderous tone I've probably ever used with anyone.  So, then I slept maybe 2 hours after that, which was fine, except that the Hyderabad airport (had to wait there for 5+ hours after the bus dropped me off) played classical music that tried to lull me to sleep many, many times. 

This white girl likes her independence too, which surprises everyone except me.  Yes, I can carry my very heavy backpack which I stuffed to the brim so as to not to have to pay extra for my checked bag.  No, I will not need the hotel taxi tomorrow and will venture out on my own.  Yes, I will find my own restaurant and bottled water and hopefully find my way back. :)

This white girl also likes her English and her cities.  Honestly, the apartments were a lot nicer than I expected in Ongole, and there were some pretty nice restaurants, and it was good.  Yet, there was this overwhelming feeling of relief when I could read the signs and names of roads and stores, recognize the Indian actors (Bollywood, not Tollywood), and see things like really tall buildings and stunning, STUNNING architecture.

Anyways, I'm really excited for this part of the trip.  I purchased a novel in Hindi that I've read before in English, and hopefully, that will help keep me entertained and productive at nights when I'm stuck inside for safety's sake.

Also, I'm really serious on if you want saris or shoes or tunics/salwar kameez/punjabis or whatever to tell me NOW because I'm really tired of carrying so much stuff in my carryon to keep my checked bag's weight down :) and if I can get them for good deals while I have extra time here, I'll be doing that and sending them home in not too long.   So, email or facebook or whatever, but I make no promises if i ship something home early on instead of later.

Truths Be Told

I leave tomorrow night. I'm ready:  having this week of oh-it's-too-late-to-start-a-new-treatment-with-those-kids and where the kids aren't here to snuggle on all night long has been a good transition.  It would've been tough to spend every night cuddling and blowing kisses and then go immediately to a hotel room with just, well, me. I still love the children, but I know I've sort of drawn apart from them this week by making sure I more frequently doted on the kids who hadn't really caught my heart.  So, I think I'll be okay when I leave, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to try to help sponsor either R. or J.  Probably R. because J. seems to steal everyone else's heart too, even though mine is wrapped around him :)
I'm still in love with India.  It's a beautiful love affair, not unlike the stylized over-acting on the Telugu soap operas we watched during lunch today.  India loves me, and I love India.  And, simultaneously, India exasperates me, and I kind of want to give her a shove back sometimes.  Like the soap operas, there is always the cliffhanger, making me wonder what could possibly be next.  Hopefully there's a happy ending, and also hopefully, it's not for awhile. 
Perhaps I can better depict this with some events of today: 
love. I can play with any child on the streets and just be this crazy, awesome white girl who has a camera.  Like I love to practice my Hindi with anyone, the children are so excited to say "What is your name?" even if the older brother or sister has already had that question answered. 
worthy of the stinkeye.  While trying to catch an autorickshaw today, I noticed 3 young men on a motorcycle, all obviously looking at me while they drove by.  I kept walking, they slowed down until I passed them, and then they drove passed me again, more discreetly checking me out this time.  Then I kept walking and they drove past again.  My sister is fond of a quote from Beverly Clearly's Ramona Quimby books:  First time it's hillarious, second time it's funny, third time it's a spanking, RAMONA!"  My feelings precisely, but they didn't get to see my evil "ha, I won" laugh as an auto that wasn't overflowing finally stopped. 
love.  saris. punjabis/salwar kameez.  chunnis.  beautiful waves of fabric blowing in the wind. elegant and detailed "everyday" wear that is the equivalent of my wedding-guest attire.
frustration.  mastering stairs in said sari.  American calves don't work so well with punjabi pants.  the inability to keep the chunni from 1) blowing in the face of everyone you walk past or 2) choking me or 3) being forgotten (because there's no way I'd wear it inside) until I'm halfway to my destination.
love.  The sun. the heat.
longing.  a swimming pool.
love.  the spicy food. the fresh fruit. the women's gorgeous long black hair, and the children's black curls. the dark, young, un-mustached men ;P  the openness to friendship and generosity.
alternatively, my stomach occasionally regrets the spicy food.  the fruit leads to ants galore.  I found my first louse in my hair today  (treated myself to chocolate and had a pity party).  the mustaches. the lack of privacy.

So, all in all, the things I dislike aren't HUGE, but they are there, and I'm not ignoring their presence.  However, I definitely am taking notes on architectural desires and even looked up apartment costs last night (in the city, not here in Ongole).  Almost one month in, and this relationship between me and India is still going, and I'm pretty sure it's for the long run.
So, for those of you who have invested in this trip, thank you.  I could've done a short-term trip to anywhere, even just staying in Missouri, this summer.  But because of you and everything that God had aligned, I'm proud (and a little relieved) to tell you that your investment was worth it, and that I am very much looking forward to a future in this nation.  I don't know if I'll be back within the year or in five years, but I can't wait to start life here.  Inshallah :) 
In the meantime, here I go to the rest of this beautiful culture, to experience more that He has in store.  And to work on that hindi.

Silly Songs with. . .

I have a big problem.  There's a song stuck in my head.  Thankfully, it goes away when I'm inside for a couple of hours--as long as I don't look out the window. 

Anyways, here it is, as well as with my little additions from life in India:

Everybody has a waterbuffalo (well, it does seem that way:  The neighbors have some with calves.  The decrepit old lady I walk past swats hers when she's having a bad day.  The coconut guy uses his to pull his cart.)
Yours is fast, but mine is slow (true, most seem to barely move, but then there was that one galloping towards my auto the other day.)
Oh, where'd we get them? I don't know (I don't know either, Larry the cucumber)
BUT Everybody has a waterbuffalo..ooooooooooooo

In the VeggieTales version, the waterbuffalo goes to the store with Larry.  I do have yet to see one enter the supermarket (like half the size of aldi's in Lebanon), but they do hang out at the other shops on the street, rummaging through the trash. 

Other things about songs:
There's a little boy at the baby house that loves to sing.  Sometimes he'll come to me asking for a particular song (by doing "nanana" and the actions from "Every Move I Make").  Other times he'll just sing to himself and help the other kids clap their hands and wave their arms and stuff, which is also fun :)

Jenny, the girl from Texas, and I had a singalong with the schoolgirls the other day, which was quite fun.  I think we went through every Sunday School action-oriented song we've ever known.  Father Abraham was a little tough though in the heat!

In other news:  M. wrote her entire alphabet for the first time yesterday.  I've written my final OT unofficial report, with suggestions for the foster parents or volunteers to possibly carry through some of the things I've done.   I've had pizza, cake, and scones with the volunteer director's family, which were very delicious. 

The first rain has happened, and MAN, does it make a difference in people's attitudes as well as the ability to be outside.  Today the sun popped out all the way through the clouds, which made a very excited me.  I'm probably the only one who is excited though. 

The neighbors and I keep hanging out (not the ones who offered a proposal to me for their son, mind you).  The girls keep pinching my cheeks and telling me I'm so white.  Hah, if they only saw what my covered stomach and legs look like...  I also learned that the reason the ayahs kept pinning my sari up when I thought it was fine is because of status.  I guess the higher in society you are, the more you cover up.  I had just thought my completely white stomach was atrocious to look at and so they didn't want people to laugh, or didn't want me to burn.

And, I've realized I'm going to have so many saris by the end of this trip for everyone who wants one back home that I'll be shipping a box back to the States rather than carrying them all through Europe and paying extra costs on every single flight. That said, just let me know what color you want, and I'll add yours to the bunch!  

Slow down, calendar

Has it really been three weeks?!? 
I leave Friday night for Hyderabad to catch a flight to Bangalore, where I am on "vacation" (aka 2 weeks of hindi cramming before I start classes).  Found two lovely little hotels for $21 and $14 per night, so I'll be dividing my time among them and the streets where I shall practice not only my listening skills (which are pretty good, thank you, Bollywood) but also my speaking skills. 
And then, when I'm in the hotel at night, to guarantee my safety, mother-dear, I will have tv channels with bollywood films and hindi shows, and a list of vocabulary & $15-worth-of-my-Mizzou-printing-quota of hindi worksheets to suffer through.  Oh, and I have a couple of friends and their families to see.  I'm hoping the boys will teach me cricket and that their wives will let me analyze their works in the kitchen.  Maybe I can figure out how to make one's arms tingle due to the spice level. . . maybe.
So, that's in five days.
That means only five days left with my babies.  Five days isn't a lot.
Then again, it's only been 3 weeks, and that's not that long either.  But in that time, J. has learned to move himself all over the room--backwards, forwards, and in rotation.  And M. has learnt all her letters on the keyboard, as well as how to write her numbers and half the alphabet.  R. started  walking yesterday (I saw her first two steps, but she didn't do anymore while I was around. Then today, we went to visit, and she was walking all over the place, and I was the ridiculous, over-excited "MAAA" recording it all on video.)
And lots of other kids have just received some stretching, muscle strengthening, and encouragement in the mobility and feeding areas of life. But mostly the past three weeks have just been hugs and kisses and smiles and attention and lovey-dovey goodness.  And I'm okay with that.
It's been good.  Maybe by Friday I'll be ready to move on. But right now: sleep, and then to hold some babies as they begin their days.  I miss our crazy nights and dancing on the roof

Peacefulness

Today was a little cooler than its been, so the children who are normally downstairs didn't join us, creating an overcrowded apartment.  The children are really so much happier (as are the ayahs) when there's more space and less bodies, and it feels like each child is finally getting enough attention, and they're not yelling out of jealousy when I dote upon someone else for a few moments. 
Tonight, all but 2 fell asleep before actually being put to bed--just played while resting their heads on a pillow, and then. . . sleeping angels.  I love them so much.  I like kids really easily, but I've never been one to make best friends or form really close relationships on a short term trip because I realize that it's that--short term.  But I really love these kids.  It's good to have someone to pour love out on, and let my heart overflow into them.

I'm really glad to be forming friendships outside the organization, also.  I love being able to watch the young neighbor boys play cricket, "skip" rope with the girls, and play some "computer" game (sort of like red light, green light, but--let's be honest--Indian drivers would neither note nor obey traffic signals, so the kids have no idea what that even means).  The neighbor lady and I have gone out to lunch, and she is always giving me fruit or "biscuits" (cookies), and last night, after the kids were in bed, we had ice cream under the stars.  I am really grateful that God has given me this opportunity, so that my heart is more at peace with being here later on.  I know, based off what I've read and discussed with American women living overseas, that forming friendships is tough.  But this is my start--getting out there and breaking down some of the walls now, even if it's only the walls of my own comfort zone and fears of being culturally unacceptable/another-synonym-I-can't-think-of.

There's a girl from Texas staying at the schoolgirls' house as of today, so that will be good for friendship as well as to have someone to eat with, since the cook is moving with the babies across town tomorrow!  And I saw my first monkey yesterday, and today, he was about 2 feet from our apartment door (open with children peeking around it) on the 7th floor.  He was enjoying some chapati, and I must say, I don't blame him.   

An Amma's Heart

I sit here, unmoving, in my sari, lest it shall become unpinned one more time.  I have greatly underestimated the ability to keep it on properly.  It was all fine and dandy back home, wearing it while walking around my apartment or watching a movie.  In the wind, or with the children tugging on it/playing hide and seek in it/fighting over who gets the shiny part, or when climbing stairs though--I'm sure I look like a wreck in it.  I know this because the ayahs and schoolgirls keep fixing it for me :)  The schoolgirls also think it's funny that Indian clothes turn my skin colors with the dye, until they've been washed like 4 times. 

The past few days have been a little crazy in this house.  As of Saturday, all the babies will be moved to a temporary apartment while the new apartment's renovations are finishing.   This means that my last week here, I'll have to GO to the babies rather than have them just outside my bedroom door.  It's been nice having them so close, especially as I get acclimated to the area and culture, but it will be nice to walk around without having rice stuck to my feet and formula on my seat :)

Currently and over the past week, we have 12-13 children in the apartment.  Add to that me, the nurse, any guests, the PT in the evenings, and 2-4 ayahs--it's crowded.  Not to mention that yesterday all but 3 kids had fevers, and one girl is in the hospital.  8 kids with fevers, not so fun, especially when the a/c and electricity go off. The ayahs and nurses here are so patient though.

Last night, after I got home from dinner with two other American girls, everything was peaceful with lots of sleeping babies. It was eerie for being 8 pm, when all the kids are normally fighting or laughing hysterically.  I guess sickness is something that I've never really been around before.  Some of the kids were just a little cranky and what I'm used to with babysitting "sick" kids, but when the child has CP (cerebral palsy), is nonverbal, and is struggling to cough, it kind of tears at your heartstrings.  When they're not crying out of misery, they're just lying there, with an empty yet clouded gaze. It makes me want to be able to DO something, but all I can do is pray and love on them. 
 J. wasn't doing so hot last night either, and although I'm not sure exactly how bad he was (the nurse didn't seem too concerned as he is sick fairly often, poor thing). When he woke up he pointed to the door, meaning that he wanted to go out on the roof.  I'd pretty much give the kid anything if I could, so of course, I took him outside.  He was so hot when I picked him up, my heart just melted further and prayed as earnestly as I could.

See, the week I came, a little girl, who appeared to be doing much better and was living in this apartment, died.  And not too long before that, another kid passed away.  I knew those things before, but didn't really think so much about it then.  But death isn't uncommon here.  Sickness with these kids isn't cured as easily as the sickness that I know, and the facilities and payment possibilities aren't what I know.  It's not a thought so easily dismissed when your heart's involved. 

All that said, the kids are doing better today, and it's a much happier place, with children with smiles, even if snot is still running everywhere.

Their smiles are precious, and I can see why God loves them so much.

Tomorrow's Memories

Of the thousands of good moments here over the past few days, the memories that will stick most with me thus far are the following:

9.  A young boy on a bicycle crashing into a parked bus this morning because he was staring at me.  I couldn't keep from laughing, the poor thing. 

8.  J. collecting my kisses as I blow them across the room at him.

7.  Baby C.'s smile as she thinks she's playing peek a boo (she covers her forehead instead of her eyes and then still gives the surprised look expected as she throws her arms up!)

6.  The sweet, never-ending generosity of the director's two kids.

5.  My first Indian fair.  Wonderful, simplistic, beautifully unique in how the village attempts to recreate the Westernized things, but yet keeps them Indian and old-school.

4.  Watching kids play cricket in an empty lot.  Sometime, culturally appropriate or not, I might ask them to teach me to play :)

3.  Ice cream.  In this heat, it's goodness cannot be underestimated.

2.  Dancing with the kids on the rooftop at night, and seeing their smiles light up.

1.  Praying over some of the older women at church.  I don't really know what their requests were, but I know these women are the ones who have passed on their faith to the younger generations of India, and I'm so thankful for them.

An OT Progress Note (Unofficial and Unworthy of a Grade!)

Baby C:  We’re still working on the precrawling.  However, she’s not fighting being in the crawling position as much.  (On day 2 of it, she’d just give up and lay her head down instead of trying to prop it up!) About 3-4 times she has even reached for an object with one hand while staying balanced on her other hand (& knees).  She’s also working on pushing herself up onto her knees, as she hates being in the face-down position (Because of her Gtube, I think she associates that this causes pain and is terrified of it).  Even though it gets her out of her crawling position, I let her pull herself up as much as she can to work on balance and changing positions.   I quit working on trying to let her comfort herself and fall asleep without being rocked—culturally, it wasn’t working as the ayahs just panic if someone just lets a baby cry. 

J.:   If only I were 30 and wealthy, I’d be his mama soon.  Darn you governmental regulations on age, marital status, and finances for adoption!  He’s now able to turn himself in a complete circle, and propel himself backwards using his arms when on a smooth surface.  I’ve SEEN him use his elbows and hands to pull himself forwards 5 feet at a time, too, but it is a lot of work for the little guy, and his legs get in the way, so most of the time he’ll just give up and lay his head on the floor, whining until what he wants comes to him. 

M.:  M. is blind, and I’m not sure she can see any form of shape or shadow based off observation.  She’s learned some Braille, I’ve been told, but the director says she needs to be able to at least write the letters for Indian school purposes.  I’ve used wooden blocks that have sandpaper letter/numbers on them to teach her the alphabet and 0-9.  We are still currently in the process of learning the letters after “E” and I’m sort of stuck on being able to teach her how to write “pretty” and “readable” letters, when she has no idea if they are pretty or readable!  I wish there were stencils to use.  She can make first grade-equivalent letters and numbers—if I am there and she knows I am watching—with only a few reminders (like start “5” away from your finger, then touch the finger, then short down, half circle, touch finger).  Her spacing between letters is surprisingly pretty good, as she uses her left hand’s pointer finger to keep her place.  We’re also working on typing so that she might be able to take a donated laptop to school.  After only 3 days of it, she’s mastered where all the letters are, AND keeps her fingers in the proper place (save for “B” and “N”).  Now, we have to work on making sure she only touches the letter she wants once and doesn’t type all the other letters as she feels her way around the keyboard J

I ALSO (believe it or not) taught her all of the C notes and F notes on the keyboard.  I was surprised I still remembered it.  The language barrier thankfully prevented me from having to teach any more piano, because I really dislike even touching the thing J

R.:  I basically “discharged” R. from my services.  She needs a special fat pencil grip to improve her writing, which I’ll be able to send from the US.  But she doesn’t speak any English, and doesn’t look at the paper when I ask her to draw a horizontal line and show her how to do it 3039 times, even when I use cool stuff like paint or crayons to do it with.  I also discovered that, along with her inattention to me since I don’t speak Telugu, she doesn’t know the alphabet and can’t identify any of the letters (every single one is “B”.)  I bought a mango for one of the older girls in exchange for her to teach R. the letters, but R. just gets distracted by all her sisters who hang through the window wanting to join in on the therapy session. 

I don’t really remember the other “names” I used for the other kids, but these are the ones that are making the most progress. 

In other, less OT-oriented, not really exciting news, I have had quite the experiences here.  Two days ago, as I was walking back from the store, I noticed a man videotaping me on his phone.  I wanted to dance or break out in song or something, so that people will have a reason for their staring, but I held it in.  Instead, I got to do my dancing last night on the roof with the kids, when the electricity went out (for the 10^th time that day). 

Today, after being sick and in bed all morning, I went out to eat with a neighbor lady.  I told her to take me to her favorite restaurant, as there are only 4 here that cater to American spice level.  It was a REALLY good 7-course meal for only $9 apiece.  Given, that’s a TON in India, but I’m from America, where a 7 course meal of that caliber doesn’t exist for less than $40!  There was also a pudding or. . . some kind of gelatinous/jelly-like dessert made from DATES!!! J I finally found one Indian dessert that I like, and it’s probably the best in the worId next to ice cream in this heat.  I think it’s really gross to wear sandals here, even though everyone does, so I’ve stuck to my flats, which has given me a wonderful tanline in the 3 inches between my shoes and leggings.  My saris/Punjabis should be finished by Monday, so I’ll be sporting some new stomach/side/back sunburns and tanlines soon.  Guess I will finally have to break out the sunscreen.