What can I say about today. It was a long day indeed, but one full of surprises and twists. It is basically like any day in India! I do have to say that I miss my hometown (well City really) of Baroda. Ahemdabad is too large of a city for my taste. It just does not feel as homely outside here as it does in Baroda, but this does not apply to Gandhi Ashram. Our house full of volunteers feels like a home. Everyone here feels like we are part of a big family. I have so many bhais (brothers) and bens (sisters). One of the things I love the most-the all religion prayer we do in the AM. There is no greater God than love and humanity. I pray to Allah, Jesus, Krishna, Guru Nanak, etc. All are one. Hum sab ek hai. I have yet to learn the words for every prayer as some are new pronunciations for me, but I pray from my heart. That is what matters. We are having a Christmas celebration here for the community. The kids are doing skits and dances on life of Jesus, meaning of Christmas, etc. It is good to celebrate all holidays-or at least share the joy and unity. I am looking forward to Christmas day. This is probably the most I have ever celebrated Christmas, and that too, I am in India. Truly wonderful!
Today was interesting though- so in India, rarely do you get proper directions or instructions. So I was supposed to get on a specific bus back to the stop I would be catching a rikshaw from. Instead the bus left without me. The guy that was supposed to come get me when the bus was about to leave ignored the instructions given to him from his head. I was told to then get on another and stop at a railway track to get on the original bus I should have been on. I finally got on that bus, but no room to sit. I stood by the door-the open door-on a bus through Indian traffic! No one scooted over on their seats-which is unusual because the other days, the people scooted over to make room for me. Anyway today the lady behind me just shoved her way through pushing my hand aside that was trying to hold onto handle bars on the moving bus while standing! There was not any courtesy felt on this bus for quite some time. I was glad to be off. Then, came the other half. None of the rikshaw walas were willing to take me to Gandhi Ashram. One finally agreed to take me to a nearby intersection 1 km away from ashram. He drove the rikshaw like it was a toy car-probably one of the roughest-and I have been in plenty of rough rikshaw rides here. Anyway, I just walked from there. I was trying to get around town from one city to another in 20 Rs, but luckily I made it! In India, walking 1-5 km is a wiser choice than taking rikshaw at times. ....but never walk alone at night or in shady areas. Know your surroundings.
Now, moving onto the good experiences: I had fun doing a presentation on dental health at one of the street schools. On my way back out of the slum some of the little kids from class recognized me and started saying how they would brush their teeth twice a day. It was sweet. Lovely kids!
Another cute incident- a little preschooler was trying to climb onto the swing at the community center. It was too high for him to reach! When I walked up to him and asked if he wanted to get on the swing, he just gave this cutest innocent sky smile nodding yes. It was simply adorable. Then after he sat on it, he just did not want to get off, but by this time the other kids got out of class. They came to swing, and the preschooler finally got off. He was the sweetest little kid!
I really like this insert from a book:
"It is a truth that in our darkest times we are willing to go the deepest. When life is good, we live superficially; we are not very reflective but when the seas get rough, we step out of ourselves and ponder why things have unfolded as they have. This leads to remarkable learning and growth...and life is all about growth and stepping into who we are meant to be."
That really applies to many of my days here-especially all the events that unfolded this week.
Stay positive and smile a lot :)
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