I apologize for the delay in posting. I've either been busy, or not had access to internet these past couple days. Right now I'm sitting in the Montreal, Canada airport waiting for my final flight back home. These past couple days have been a blur. As the realization set in that this experience was nearly over, and that I really would be leaving soon, I've tried to cherish every moment that I've had with the kids. Friday night, instead of our "Highs and Lows" at dinner, we had "What you learned." It was a great time to reflect on these past weeks and to really see how my life has changed. I've seen a culture that doesn't care so much about looking good, but being happy. I've experienced a complete outpouring of love and trust from both the kids at Rising Star, and the patients in the leper colonies to people like me, who they hardly know. The kids know full well at the beginning of our time there, that we have to go after 3 weeks, but there is no holding back love. I hope that that's something I can take into my life; the ability to love everyone, no matter what. I've re-learned how wonderful it feels to serve others, and what a blessing it is to both sides. I've been able to see through the perhaps scary and dirty exterior of India, and see the beautiful people and culture. India has most definitely changed me.
After dinner, we had our last family time with the kids. I'd promised to bring over paper with the idea that they were going to make paper airplanes, but they immediately started making notes for me. They made me promise I'd say goodbye in the morning before I left as well. When I came in the morning, they had even more notes with gifts that may seem small, but were very personal for them. I was given a couple pencils, a pen, a pencil pouch, an old, slow watch, and one of the boys even gave me 5 rupees (about 10 cents). You have to understand... these boys' belongings fit in a backpack, but still they didn't care. It reminds me of the widows' mite. They are willing to give all for the sake of showing their love. Again, I feel that I can learn so much from them.
Some of my boys. They are the cutest. I have the hardest time saying no to them.
Off to ride bikes. I forgot to mention that's what my family did for Friday's playtime.
Watching them ride bikes is great. Some of their bikes they have don't even have pedals, but that doesn't stop them. People in India are so good at improvising. Also, they bike the same way that they drive. It makes me smile.
Friday night, they also had a dance show for us. At Rising Star, they have a dancing group called Life Dance, that not only teaches dancing, but also life skills. It was started by a group called Promethean Spark, which sets up this dance group in all sorts of places. They told us that they'd just recently started it at a drug rehab center. Some of the kids are amazing dancers. This is Vignesh, from my family.
My last day in Chennai was spent with 7 of the other volunteers, shopping and just spending time together. I got to experience trying to order pizza over the phone in India, and a taxi to get to the airport. It took forever, and could have been annoying, but mostly I thought it was hilarious. I got to experience rickshaw rides again (and I apologize I didn't take a video of it, but I think everyone should experience it once in their life). India is a wonderful place. If I could do this all over again, I would. The only things I would change would be to stay longer, and to give of myself even more. This chapter of India is closed, but I hope that someday I can return.
After dinner, we had our last family time with the kids. I'd promised to bring over paper with the idea that they were going to make paper airplanes, but they immediately started making notes for me. They made me promise I'd say goodbye in the morning before I left as well. When I came in the morning, they had even more notes with gifts that may seem small, but were very personal for them. I was given a couple pencils, a pen, a pencil pouch, an old, slow watch, and one of the boys even gave me 5 rupees (about 10 cents). You have to understand... these boys' belongings fit in a backpack, but still they didn't care. It reminds me of the widows' mite. They are willing to give all for the sake of showing their love. Again, I feel that I can learn so much from them.
My last day in Chennai was spent with 7 of the other volunteers, shopping and just spending time together. I got to experience trying to order pizza over the phone in India, and a taxi to get to the airport. It took forever, and could have been annoying, but mostly I thought it was hilarious. I got to experience rickshaw rides again (and I apologize I didn't take a video of it, but I think everyone should experience it once in their life). India is a wonderful place. If I could do this all over again, I would. The only things I would change would be to stay longer, and to give of myself even more. This chapter of India is closed, but I hope that someday I can return.
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