Airlines continue to surprise me. First, I got to experience business class going from Addis Ababa to Germany. Lavish. Then, yesterday in Delhi, one of the Air India guys escorted me from the ticket counter to the crew-only security line, then took me through staff-only hallways to get to my gate, while managing my luggage. I'm not really sure how that works with national and international security. . . . but it was great to arrive at my gate 45 seconds after going through security rather than walking through the entire airport to get to my gate!
I enjoyed a small orientation with the volunteer coordinator in Hyderabad, and then relaxed until taking the 11pm bus to Ongole with an aunty as my escort. Most of my first thoughts went something like "What was I thinking????" as I had forgotten exactly how much I do NOT know Telugu. My Hindi skills may be poor, but being able to understand 25-75% of conversations around you makes life a thousand times more comfortable. I gotta get to work on learning Telugu!
(Please note the mundane details below are so I don't have to repeat the story to every one of my family members. Feel free to skip parts!)
Following a morning of thrills to no longer be living out of suitcases, I hung out with some of the other volunteers and went to see one of the new apartment buildings SCH recently acquired. Some of my babies were there, but "Baby C" (SCH blog name Chelsea) from last year has grown SOOOO much. She was sleeping, so I let her be, but I can't wait to play with her and see where her motor skills are this year. "Aloe" also had grown up a bit more, and we played for awhile.
I also saw the neighbor aunty and uncle whom I became friends with last year, and they say I have changed so much, and that they are very glad to have me back here. I have a feeling we'll be having many dinners and nights on the roof together!
Then came grocery shopping and eating peanut butter for lunch because I was just too lazy to think about cooking. And then.....
...I went to the schoolgirls' home. Only the younger kids were there, as the older ones have longer school days. I saw Priyanka first and her face lit into an enormous smile. I asked her if she remembered me, and she nodded "YES!" (She is the daughter of one of the ayahs, and has some disabilities of her own, but is PRECIOUS!) We hugged and smiled, she babbled away, and it was perfect.
Angel was avoiding naptime, which is what all the other girls were supposed to be doing, and I gave her the okay to get up and come hug me. After a thousand hugs, kisses, tickle wars, and rounds of being tossed into the air, we came out of our own little world and I met all the other nurses and ayahs. I didn't really care though, and so don't remember any of their names--I just wanted to play with my baby girl! I didn't cry, but came close to it, and I'm quite sure I had the largest smile I have ever had. Ever. Bigger than when-seeing-the-Taj-Mahal-for-the-first-time big.
Priyanka's mom and I got to talk some, and I'm so glad they are still here! The 2 girls and I played hide-and-seek, played with my camera, counted my rupee coins, and made silly faces at each other. It was perfect.
Priyanka is still a total sweetheart and Angel is still her ornery self. But she's lost her baby looks and is running instead of just taking her first steps. She tried to help out with mopping the laundry bucket water and gave me little slaps when I didn't pay enough attention to her. Not that I'm okay with the slapping--but I was so happy, I honestly didn't care.
After a couple hours of playing with those two, I was exhausted and came home and took a 3 hour nap. So much for seeing all the other kids, but I guess I have plenty of time to catch up!
I've scouted out a couple of the kids who will be first on my OT list, so that will begin tomorrow! Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait! :)
I enjoyed a small orientation with the volunteer coordinator in Hyderabad, and then relaxed until taking the 11pm bus to Ongole with an aunty as my escort. Most of my first thoughts went something like "What was I thinking????" as I had forgotten exactly how much I do NOT know Telugu. My Hindi skills may be poor, but being able to understand 25-75% of conversations around you makes life a thousand times more comfortable. I gotta get to work on learning Telugu!
(Please note the mundane details below are so I don't have to repeat the story to every one of my family members. Feel free to skip parts!)
Following a morning of thrills to no longer be living out of suitcases, I hung out with some of the other volunteers and went to see one of the new apartment buildings SCH recently acquired. Some of my babies were there, but "Baby C" (SCH blog name Chelsea) from last year has grown SOOOO much. She was sleeping, so I let her be, but I can't wait to play with her and see where her motor skills are this year. "Aloe" also had grown up a bit more, and we played for awhile.
I also saw the neighbor aunty and uncle whom I became friends with last year, and they say I have changed so much, and that they are very glad to have me back here. I have a feeling we'll be having many dinners and nights on the roof together!
Then came grocery shopping and eating peanut butter for lunch because I was just too lazy to think about cooking. And then.....
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| "Angel" (formerly "R") is a stinker, a precious, adorable, stinker. |
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| And, I know she didn't remember me since she was 2 last year, BUT it took her a whole 5 seconds to realize I was really fun :) I'm now "Sister!" instead of "Maaaa" though. |
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| This is Priyanka, my little Bollywood dancing queen :) |
Angel was avoiding naptime, which is what all the other girls were supposed to be doing, and I gave her the okay to get up and come hug me. After a thousand hugs, kisses, tickle wars, and rounds of being tossed into the air, we came out of our own little world and I met all the other nurses and ayahs. I didn't really care though, and so don't remember any of their names--I just wanted to play with my baby girl! I didn't cry, but came close to it, and I'm quite sure I had the largest smile I have ever had. Ever. Bigger than when-seeing-the-Taj-Mahal-for-the-first-time big.
Priyanka's mom and I got to talk some, and I'm so glad they are still here! The 2 girls and I played hide-and-seek, played with my camera, counted my rupee coins, and made silly faces at each other. It was perfect.
Priyanka is still a total sweetheart and Angel is still her ornery self. But she's lost her baby looks and is running instead of just taking her first steps. She tried to help out with mopping the laundry bucket water and gave me little slaps when I didn't pay enough attention to her. Not that I'm okay with the slapping--but I was so happy, I honestly didn't care.
After a couple hours of playing with those two, I was exhausted and came home and took a 3 hour nap. So much for seeing all the other kids, but I guess I have plenty of time to catch up!
I've scouted out a couple of the kids who will be first on my OT list, so that will begin tomorrow! Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait! :)
I love these updates. And you. And your nose ring. And your girl. :)
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