Here are some updates of our third week in India<----wow!
*Monday 20 June 2011*
Today was, by far, the most amazing day of being in India. I went out with Maggie. We were supposed to spend time with one girl, but she canceled on us. No fear! India has taught us to make no plans because nothing ever goes as expected. Turns out it was perfect because Maggie's friend Vanaja called to hang out about 5 minutes later.
Vanaja is pretty darn awesome. Her and Maggie have hung out 5 times, and she has met almost all of the girls on our team. She really excited for our friendship and loving all the great things we share with her.
So we spent the day in an area called Koti...we had no idea where we were but we were definitely far from home.
Maggie and I got out of the auto and the first reaction was "uhhh... I don't know if we should be here." Koti made the area we live in look like America. It was "true India." I wished I had a dupita on (modest scarf worn over the chest), as well as churidars (weird long tights that bunch around the legs), and if I oculd have, I would have died my skin tan and my hair black because we definitely did not fit in here. It was the first time I have ever been nervous to be here. But, it was all worth it. Vanaja helped us bargain for scarves and earrings to bring back to the states (hey hey there ADPi's).
We had a 15 km ride home in the auto which was spent in the best conversation. I wish I could express in writing how great this day has been.
*Wednesday 22 June 2011*
Yesterday, I woke up and felt fine and then all of a sudden I was nauseous as I was eating breakfast. I was so short with Kyle, it was almost funny. He heard me walk up stairs and say "I am going to throw up." Sure enough, two minutes later Tracy went down and said to him, "Emma just threw up." Kasey has been sick too, though totally unrelated. He has been achy with fever and pain.
He and I stayed back and slept all day while the rest of the team went out. I felt physically terrible and mentally terrible. I hate having to cancel on girls I had plans with and not be able to go out and meet people. Time moves so fast here and every moment is so important. We are almost half way through the summer, and I don't want to miss out on anything.
*Thursday 23 June 2011*
Had date night with the guys! Ah! Home hooked Speghetti. It was great to eat something without a second though. I do like Indian food but you always have to question how it was made, if you'll be spending hours in the bathroom later, etc. And it was such fun company with our team. Everyone got really dressed up and went to the Pete's. We had candlelit dinner, "mood music," and great conversation like we always do. Even as the night ended, I felt so filled up and was pleased to know that this wasn't just one 3 hours day of the summer. They walked us home and then we all watched Tangled together...not part of the date. They guys do an amazing job of caring for us and protecting us. I get to be carefree and enjoy myself here simply because they are always looking out of us girls.
*Friday 24 June 2011*
What a day today was! Started with an early Bible study led by Ray of the humility section of Philippians. SO GOOD!
But when we went to a wedding, a must on our bucket list. Maggie, Sara, and Kasey did not come. Kasey is still sick and now Maggie has a lung infection?!?! And Sara has an eye infection. This week really took a lot of us out. The rest of us went and got to dress up in salwars (traditional clothing between kurtas and sarees as far as formal goes). It was in Upal and was a run ride getting there. The car of "kids" played the name game the entire time. I love competition!
The wedding was just crazy. Talk about 2 hours of sensory overload. Being stared as has become part of life now, we are all almost numb to it. But I just got a kick out of little ones staring at us. You give them a smile when they've been caught and automatically, a bashful but so pleasing smile crosses their faces. It is such a joy to talk to them. We don't get far beyond names and ages, but they seem to really delight in it and I do too. Trent's friend Neetoo and Ritik were amazing hosts. Neetoo took us everywhere and helped us so much. I don't know what we would have done without her. We even got to meet the bride in her dressing room, talk about VIP treatment.
And that is not even the end of the day. We just got back from the neighborhood general store with all the neighborhood children.
We went "shopping" which is just to get Thumbs Up (a soda pop here, they say Tums Up though haha). We skipped and ran and held hands and gave piggy back rides on the walk. We taught the kids how to "pound" it. It was just so much fun. After they got their treats (which most of them hoarded and did not share, as rare as these are for them), they were in pure delight. These kids are so wonderful!
And to top it off, finished the night with WP... what a day!
So that's all I've got. Kyle made a sweet video about auto rides and traffic you can check out!
Thanks for reading!
Emma
*Monday 20 June 2011*
Today was, by far, the most amazing day of being in India. I went out with Maggie. We were supposed to spend time with one girl, but she canceled on us. No fear! India has taught us to make no plans because nothing ever goes as expected. Turns out it was perfect because Maggie's friend Vanaja called to hang out about 5 minutes later.
Vanaja is pretty darn awesome. Her and Maggie have hung out 5 times, and she has met almost all of the girls on our team. She really excited for our friendship and loving all the great things we share with her.
So we spent the day in an area called Koti...we had no idea where we were but we were definitely far from home.
 |
| Streets of Koti |
Maggie and I got out of the auto and the first reaction was "uhhh... I don't know if we should be here." Koti made the area we live in look like America. It was "true India." I wished I had a dupita on (modest scarf worn over the chest), as well as churidars (weird long tights that bunch around the legs), and if I oculd have, I would have died my skin tan and my hair black because we definitely did not fit in here. It was the first time I have ever been nervous to be here. But, it was all worth it. Vanaja helped us bargain for scarves and earrings to bring back to the states (hey hey there ADPi's).
We had a 15 km ride home in the auto which was spent in the best conversation. I wish I could express in writing how great this day has been.
*Wednesday 22 June 2011*
Yesterday, I woke up and felt fine and then all of a sudden I was nauseous as I was eating breakfast. I was so short with Kyle, it was almost funny. He heard me walk up stairs and say "I am going to throw up." Sure enough, two minutes later Tracy went down and said to him, "Emma just threw up." Kasey has been sick too, though totally unrelated. He has been achy with fever and pain.
He and I stayed back and slept all day while the rest of the team went out. I felt physically terrible and mentally terrible. I hate having to cancel on girls I had plans with and not be able to go out and meet people. Time moves so fast here and every moment is so important. We are almost half way through the summer, and I don't want to miss out on anything.
*Thursday 23 June 2011*
Had date night with the guys! Ah! Home hooked Speghetti. It was great to eat something without a second though. I do like Indian food but you always have to question how it was made, if you'll be spending hours in the bathroom later, etc. And it was such fun company with our team. Everyone got really dressed up and went to the Pete's. We had candlelit dinner, "mood music," and great conversation like we always do. Even as the night ended, I felt so filled up and was pleased to know that this wasn't just one 3 hours day of the summer. They walked us home and then we all watched Tangled together...not part of the date. They guys do an amazing job of caring for us and protecting us. I get to be carefree and enjoy myself here simply because they are always looking out of us girls.
*Friday 24 June 2011*
What a day today was! Started with an early Bible study led by Ray of the humility section of Philippians. SO GOOD!
But when we went to a wedding, a must on our bucket list. Maggie, Sara, and Kasey did not come. Kasey is still sick and now Maggie has a lung infection?!?! And Sara has an eye infection. This week really took a lot of us out. The rest of us went and got to dress up in salwars (traditional clothing between kurtas and sarees as far as formal goes). It was in Upal and was a run ride getting there. The car of "kids" played the name game the entire time. I love competition!
The wedding was just crazy. Talk about 2 hours of sensory overload. Being stared as has become part of life now, we are all almost numb to it. But I just got a kick out of little ones staring at us. You give them a smile when they've been caught and automatically, a bashful but so pleasing smile crosses their faces. It is such a joy to talk to them. We don't get far beyond names and ages, but they seem to really delight in it and I do too. Trent's friend Neetoo and Ritik were amazing hosts. Neetoo took us everywhere and helped us so much. I don't know what we would have done without her. We even got to meet the bride in her dressing room, talk about VIP treatment.
 |
| talking with people at the wedding, the little girl in the middle is Akshitha |
 |
| Neethu, Sarah, and I with some kids. |
And that is not even the end of the day. We just got back from the neighborhood general store with all the neighborhood children.
 | |
| Vishnu, Mounika, Rainika and Ramana, Sravya Vacenta, Jyothi, Nani, Trent, and Savaji |
We went "shopping" which is just to get Thumbs Up (a soda pop here, they say Tums Up though haha). We skipped and ran and held hands and gave piggy back rides on the walk. We taught the kids how to "pound" it. It was just so much fun. After they got their treats (which most of them hoarded and did not share, as rare as these are for them), they were in pure delight. These kids are so wonderful!
And to top it off, finished the night with WP... what a day!
So that's all I've got. Kyle made a sweet video about auto rides and traffic you can check out!
Thanks for reading!
Emma
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