Hey Everyone!
I feel 200% better now - I am getting the hang of our daily schedule and starting teaching English lessons today.
I will blog at home and then bring it here to cut and paste - Blogging from the internet place doesn't make sense - takes too long
The kids are amazing!
I'm having a great time!!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Upon Arrival/ Blog form June 9
Well, I arrived in India on Saturday, June 5th. I was met at the airport by Lama Tenzin and Swami G - “double good karma” as Lama T said - two holy men to drive me to CED.
The orphanage is about a 6 hour drive from Delhi but it took us forever - my plane arrived at 10:45 and it took a little while to go through customs and then a little longer to get my bag. I didn’t really sleep very well on either of my plane rides and I was looking forward to staying the night in Delhi just to sleep but the plans had changed and we drove back that night. We stopped a couple of times for the drivers to sleep for an hour or two at a time - I have decided the people in India have the superpower of sleeping anywhere if they are tired. We pulled over at a couple of food stands - where the big truck drivers stop.
So Sunday I met the children and rested a little in the afternoon - I napped basically until dinner time. Monday I went with Lama Tenzin, his sister and her two boys to Rishikesh which is located on the Ganges. We walked across the two suspension bridges and walked around the markets. The riverside areas had many beautiful Hindu temples. We were there at night and it was very nice to hear the prayers and see the people putting their offerings of banana leaf boats filled with colorful flowers and incense into the Ganges. Later we drove to a different place where the river was very strong and there were all sorts of bathers. The boys took a dip but I wasn’t quite up for it. Being a red-headed foreigner attracts some attention so I thought the last thing I need to do was jump in the Ganges.(most of the attention is in the form of people wanting to take a picture but not asking to take a picture - pretending to take a picture of a friend and waiting until I am right in front and then snapping....I was very proud of my “oh, excuse me” manners as I dipped below each time saying - “sorry, don’t want to be in the way...HA! ”) The belief is that if you submerge yourself 3 times in the Ganges then all of your sins are cleansed. I settled for dipping my feet :)
The whole time we were in Rishikesh I had a horrible headache which I figured was really just the jet lag which is a whole new experience for me. We had dinner in Rishikesh and after we had been down to the bathing place on the Ganges we headed home. I almost made it back to the orphanage before I had to throw up - almost....
and so began the “Delhi belly” ( I will spare you the details but if you are truly curious I bet you could google it). I was up for most of the night and slept all day yesterday and I am only beginning to think that any food other than dry corn flakes might be okay. ( and all I can say is thank God for cornflakes). I did eat a piece of bread for breakfast which is major progress in my opinion. So, as far as not trying to take ALL that medicine I packed - well, we shall see how that goes. I’m on the Cipro now and hopefully that will help.
So, that’s where I am and what’s happening. Lama T is sharing a lot of information with me about the organization and the children. I will share that soon but I want to get it all straight in my head before I start sharing.
Please comment on my posts so I can have some contact with you all - I feel very disconnected right now and that would be very helpful!
The orphanage is about a 6 hour drive from Delhi but it took us forever - my plane arrived at 10:45 and it took a little while to go through customs and then a little longer to get my bag. I didn’t really sleep very well on either of my plane rides and I was looking forward to staying the night in Delhi just to sleep but the plans had changed and we drove back that night. We stopped a couple of times for the drivers to sleep for an hour or two at a time - I have decided the people in India have the superpower of sleeping anywhere if they are tired. We pulled over at a couple of food stands - where the big truck drivers stop.
So Sunday I met the children and rested a little in the afternoon - I napped basically until dinner time. Monday I went with Lama Tenzin, his sister and her two boys to Rishikesh which is located on the Ganges. We walked across the two suspension bridges and walked around the markets. The riverside areas had many beautiful Hindu temples. We were there at night and it was very nice to hear the prayers and see the people putting their offerings of banana leaf boats filled with colorful flowers and incense into the Ganges. Later we drove to a different place where the river was very strong and there were all sorts of bathers. The boys took a dip but I wasn’t quite up for it. Being a red-headed foreigner attracts some attention so I thought the last thing I need to do was jump in the Ganges.(most of the attention is in the form of people wanting to take a picture but not asking to take a picture - pretending to take a picture of a friend and waiting until I am right in front and then snapping....I was very proud of my “oh, excuse me” manners as I dipped below each time saying - “sorry, don’t want to be in the way...HA! ”) The belief is that if you submerge yourself 3 times in the Ganges then all of your sins are cleansed. I settled for dipping my feet :)
The whole time we were in Rishikesh I had a horrible headache which I figured was really just the jet lag which is a whole new experience for me. We had dinner in Rishikesh and after we had been down to the bathing place on the Ganges we headed home. I almost made it back to the orphanage before I had to throw up - almost....
and so began the “Delhi belly” ( I will spare you the details but if you are truly curious I bet you could google it). I was up for most of the night and slept all day yesterday and I am only beginning to think that any food other than dry corn flakes might be okay. ( and all I can say is thank God for cornflakes). I did eat a piece of bread for breakfast which is major progress in my opinion. So, as far as not trying to take ALL that medicine I packed - well, we shall see how that goes. I’m on the Cipro now and hopefully that will help.
So, that’s where I am and what’s happening. Lama T is sharing a lot of information with me about the organization and the children. I will share that soon but I want to get it all straight in my head before I start sharing.
Please comment on my posts so I can have some contact with you all - I feel very disconnected right now and that would be very helpful!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Getting Closer!
Eeesh.
Well, my bag is packed and I have an enormous amount of guilt about the weight of the bag... I pride myself on my ability to travel somewhat lightly. I have the top of my bag packed with stuff for the kids - markers, crayons, tootsie roll pops, calendars for Lama T and his family - it all just adds up.
Then of course my mom helped last night and I think it helps her to know that I have some things like a protein bar (or 12) in case the food upsets my stomach, and an extra t-shirt "just in case"...
I am hesitant about taking my laptop but it is coming along - so is the new camera both of those items are heavy.
So, I spoke to Lama T a couple of days ago and he is the one picking me up from the airport and we will stay the first night in Delhi and then we are going to pick up a graduation gift for three of the girls - they passed all of their exams and he wants to find watches for them. He really is funny -he said his favorite colors are yellow and red (the colors of his robes) and that he doesn't know what the girls would like. He also warned me about choosing the right Lama at the airport..."Don't go with wrong lama - we want the right girl with the right Lama".
Of course when I show up and there are 87 Lamas it might just be confusing....
Well, my bag is packed and I have an enormous amount of guilt about the weight of the bag... I pride myself on my ability to travel somewhat lightly. I have the top of my bag packed with stuff for the kids - markers, crayons, tootsie roll pops, calendars for Lama T and his family - it all just adds up.
Then of course my mom helped last night and I think it helps her to know that I have some things like a protein bar (or 12) in case the food upsets my stomach, and an extra t-shirt "just in case"...
I am hesitant about taking my laptop but it is coming along - so is the new camera both of those items are heavy.
So, I spoke to Lama T a couple of days ago and he is the one picking me up from the airport and we will stay the first night in Delhi and then we are going to pick up a graduation gift for three of the girls - they passed all of their exams and he wants to find watches for them. He really is funny -he said his favorite colors are yellow and red (the colors of his robes) and that he doesn't know what the girls would like. He also warned me about choosing the right Lama at the airport..."Don't go with wrong lama - we want the right girl with the right Lama".
Of course when I show up and there are 87 Lamas it might just be confusing....
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
I'm packed!
Well, I am packed!
I think the majority of my duffle bag is filled with fun stuff for the kids and medicine of the "just in case" kind.
I am taking just the basics - a couple of pairs of capris, a couple of skirts, a few t-shirts, a couple of long sleeve cotton shirts, a rain jacket, a sun hat, flip flops, tennis shoes. I also have a sleep sheet and I am thinking of throwing in a sarong since they always come in handy and can be so versatile.
My list of meds is much longer than my list of clothes - cipro, a z-pack, stuff for nausea, malarone for malaria, immodium, ambien in case of jet lag, saline spray, pepto, eye drops, tylenol, BC powders, meclazine, zyrtec, daytime allergy stuff....the list does go on but gracious!
I swear I am not a med junkie but from all of the stuff I have read and all of the folks I have talked to it seems that it's easier to just have it with you. My hope is that all of this was completely unnecessary and I don't need any of it. I'm not heading to India so I can try out all of my prescriptions.
So this morning (later this morning) we are heading to Georgia. Unfortunately I keep thinking of things I need to do here. Right now Sadie's woobie is in the drier and she is about to get in the shower - unbeknownst to her.
I think that a departure time of 11 seems realistic - if I can get out of here earlier that's great but if not, no big deal.
I think the majority of my duffle bag is filled with fun stuff for the kids and medicine of the "just in case" kind.
I am taking just the basics - a couple of pairs of capris, a couple of skirts, a few t-shirts, a couple of long sleeve cotton shirts, a rain jacket, a sun hat, flip flops, tennis shoes. I also have a sleep sheet and I am thinking of throwing in a sarong since they always come in handy and can be so versatile.
My list of meds is much longer than my list of clothes - cipro, a z-pack, stuff for nausea, malarone for malaria, immodium, ambien in case of jet lag, saline spray, pepto, eye drops, tylenol, BC powders, meclazine, zyrtec, daytime allergy stuff....the list does go on but gracious!
I swear I am not a med junkie but from all of the stuff I have read and all of the folks I have talked to it seems that it's easier to just have it with you. My hope is that all of this was completely unnecessary and I don't need any of it. I'm not heading to India so I can try out all of my prescriptions.
So this morning (later this morning) we are heading to Georgia. Unfortunately I keep thinking of things I need to do here. Right now Sadie's woobie is in the drier and she is about to get in the shower - unbeknownst to her.
I think that a departure time of 11 seems realistic - if I can get out of here earlier that's great but if not, no big deal.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Today's Agenda
I am at the place in getting ready for my trip that I am only functioning off of a list - if I don't put it on the list the idea I have or the item I *think* I need is quickly forgotten.
Last night I was invited for an amazing Indian dinner with the Fernandes family and a great number of their friends who came to share dinner and conversation about my upcoming travels. The food was, of course, amazing. The hospitality was indescribable - everyone wanted to know why I am going, where I am going, where I'm staying, and what I might need for my trip. If my visit to India is anywhere close to as nice as this group of people from last night I will have an amazing time.
Okay - so, here's my list for the day:
Last night I was invited for an amazing Indian dinner with the Fernandes family and a great number of their friends who came to share dinner and conversation about my upcoming travels. The food was, of course, amazing. The hospitality was indescribable - everyone wanted to know why I am going, where I am going, where I'm staying, and what I might need for my trip. If my visit to India is anywhere close to as nice as this group of people from last night I will have an amazing time.
Okay - so, here's my list for the day:
- back up laptop
- find my elusive tea tree oil
- call a couple of my "contacts"
- buy sunglasses
- locate converters or buy new ones
- buy filters for my camera( might wait until I arrive in ATL for that one)
- buy book Wanderlust and Lipstick
- call AT&T (ugh - dreading that one...)
- print real photos to carry with me - family, friends, and dog dog
- grab some post cards of Charleston to share
- stop by pharmacy - that has it's own little list....
- purchase pistachios, almonds, calendars, and stationery items to carry as gifts
- Ask mom for pecans :)
Oh, and pack to go to Georgia -AND complete my packing for India...
Wish me luck!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The countdown
It is beginning to feel more and more real.
I finally chose a camera yesterday (that has been a process for me...good grief) and today I deposited the rest of my travel money from the school - should be fun for our accountant to have the receipts all in rupees....
I am overwhelmed with the support and kindness I am receiving from my friends and the families whose children I have taught. I am meeting friends today for drinks at 4:00 and I am looking forward to seeing everyone before I go. Tomorrow, I go for dinner with one of my families from school and they are going to answer all of my 2 million looming questions.
I am planning on heading down to Georgia around Tuesday so I can hang out with my mom for a few days and pick up any last minute items I might need in Atlanta.
What could I possibly be forgetting??
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