Goodbye

I never thought that I could do it. I never thought that I would be able to fly to the other side of the world, my first time ever leaving America, all by myself, and be able to teach these kids. I never thought that I could actually enjoy my work this much, and I never thought that I would be able to love as much as I love the kids of Rising Star. You know, service really is the key. There is only one way to fully love something or someone, and that one way is to serve them.

Leaving Rising Star is so much harder than I ever expected. For the past week or so, I have had the nervous excitement that a vacation usually brings. BUT, I'm not going on a vacation, I'm going HOME. It is sort of like I can't accept the fact that I don't know when or if I'm coming back. I love my family and I am so excited to see them and embrace the Christmas season, but Rising Star has sort of become my home. The love and the spirit that I feel here, has pulled me in and has taken a large part of my heart. When the wise Rebecca left, she said that there was "a hole the shape of India in my heart", and you know what? I can already feel that hole forming.
The truth is that I'm scared. I'm scared of the material world America is. I'm scared of the spoiled life I've had. And I'm scared of all the changes that occurred there while I was here. I've grown a lot, I've learned that I have a lot more to grow, and I've begun a new chapter in my life. Excitement just hasn't set in yet, I still have those pre-performance jitters. Being here, time has been put on hold, because I've completely engaged myself in the lives of the people. I've given all of my heart to helping them and giving my sympathy to them. So many of your thoughts go to how you can better their lives or how you can make the program better- you want the very best for every kid. And, now time is about to slam me back down and put me back in reality and I'm scared.

All of this hit me the other night as I was sitting, listening to Children's Prayer. They closed the meeting with 'God Be With You 'til We Meet Again' and tears poured out my smiling face. I sat, surrounded by beautiful girls who will all turn out to be such amazing woman, and all I could feel was their love. The girls all turned around and just stared at me, some grabbed my hands tighter and others laid their heads on my shoulders, but all just stared at me crying. Here, they say, "Don't cry. Don't feel." I guess they don't really know what other words to describe it. But, I wanted to cry. I needed to cry. I was... HAPPY. I understood at least a little glimpse of what love is, and now I never want to let that go.

I've learned so much here at Rising Star.
I've learned that it is okay that I'm not the brightest. I come from a family of smart people, and I don't really fit in that category. I always felt pretty inferior to my older siblings and wanted to be able to compete with them. I didn't like to accept the fact that I could learn from the people around me. But, coming here, I now know that you can learn from everyone. Whether it is learning strength from little Amirtham who is in 2nd standard or learning patience from Vadevu.
I've learned how to accept that things are always changing. If there is one thing that is super important to know before a trip to India, it is the fact that everything is relevant. Nothing is official and everything is bound to change. Everyone goes with their own pace, no one rushes and everyone enjoys the journey. For example, when it rains, everything shuts down. It is as if everyone says, "Oh well, rain. Let's just wait for it to pass." I've learned that I need to be flexible and be okay with other's decisions. I can only decide for myself, I can't let others' decisions and opinions affect me emotionally. My mom always talks about how no one makes you angry, you decide to be angry. Well, that thought is SO India.

I've learned that I'm not only good at one thing, that I can be more than I ever thought. I learned that I would love to be elementary school teacher and that I love to teach kids. And, maybe, just maybe, I might actually be good at it. Forever, I thought that I had to be a dancer. If I wasn't, it would be a waste of so many years, and beside that, what else was I good at? But, now I know that I can do anything I want to. I learned that one from the kids. I tell them all everyday that they can be anything they want to be. They can be as big as the sky or as small as an ant. They can be anything if they set their mind to it. But I guess I hadn't been taking my own advice. I, too, can be anything I want to be. I just need to figure out what that is...
I could go on and on, but I guess the over all message of this blog post, is that I am so grateful for the experiences I've had while being here at Rising Star. I'm one lucky girl. I'm so grateful for all of the people, for all of the culture, and for all of the support. Like I said earlier, these kids have become a home for me. I will truly miss Rising Star.

God be with you till we meet again,

By his counsels guide, uphold you,

with his sheep securely fold you;

God be with you till we meet again. 

Party 'til the End

Last night, I got 'henna'ed out by Vinodhini and Venilla put a little more in my hair. Kenady and I were so covered in the mud that we had to walk like we had 10 layers of pants on. We didn't want to sleep in it, so instead we decided to stay up as late as we could, and then wash it out. This probably wasn't the best move, because we were going to visit the bird sanctuary with all of the beautiful housemothers early in the morning and then go to Fathima's marriage. And that means a sari. But, sometimes tired loopy is the funnest way to be, and that made our day pretty darn fantastic. The bird sanctuary was beyond beautiful, and the group we had was a whole bunch of fun. It was great to dress up and take pictures, joke and make fun of each other, skip rocks, and eat good food. 

And then we dropped off some of the housemothers, said some goodbyes and headed to the marriage. Fathima used to be the third standard teacher, but had to leave for marital reasons. I only met her once or twice before she left, which I'm bummed about, because talking to her today, I could tell she had such an amazing spirit. Fathima is Muslim, and therefore had a Muslim marriage. Dr. Susan warned us ahead of time that going to Muslim wedding was a treat, not even Venilla had ever been to one before. It was completely different than Anbu's Hindu wedding or the wedding celebration we saw in Delhi. Anyway, before today, Fathima has never seen her husband. 

Men and women are separated in this long hall by cloths strung together. Being a woman, I only know what happened on the women side, but I'm sure it is about the same. The bride came into the room and sat on the floor, head covered, and was immediately surrounded by sisters. Her sisters were sitting behind her and the bridegroom's sisters were sitting in a circle around her. Her mother was not allowed to help or to touch her or to be very close to her at all. 

After today, she has changed families altogether. The whole ceremony was giving her to a new family. It was all really random and hectic, and no one really knew what was going on. Then, a few men dressed in white, probably Maulanas, randomly came in, had her sign a piece of paper and then walked out. This was the marriage. Then, from the men's side of the room, we listened to them recite from the Quaran, and being so tired, I was kind of falling asleep. 

Then, the men came back in and presented the new sisters with the black chain- which symbolizes the finalization of the marriage. Each of the woman took turns putting it around their neck before they put it on hers. From what Vadivu was explaining to me, they do that as if to send all of their good blessings to her. After putting the chain on her, they poured Fanta into a cup and then water into another cup. They practically forced this down and she had to drink 3 glasses of each. Then, the sister who was in charge of it all, took a tray that had large chunks of sugar and eclairs (these Indian candies that I love) and started dumping handfuls of it on her hand. THEN, she started to chuck it at all the woman in the hall. Venilla definitely got pelted. It was so random. 

Even though we were like 2 feet from the bride, we could hardly see anything. I am happy that her mother pulled me up so I could see some more of the ceremony. We walked out of the hall and stopped to see her for a bit, tears poured down her face. This is the scary thing, marrying someone out of duty rather than love. After everything ended, the bride and groom got to see each other for the first time. I hope the best for Fathima, a woman like her deserves happiness. It was a great day with people I love- and an amazing way to end my trip here. In India, the fun never stops. 

Grand Finale

Well, I did it. It's done and over. Man, am I proud. Today, all of the parents came to Rising Star to pick up their children for holiday break. We held a program for them, in which, Padma came and talked, the choir sang, and ALL of the standards performed a class dance. It was quite the event. I've had some experience putting assemblies together, not a lot, but some. And comparing today to past experiences, I am so grateful for the support that is given by Rising Star. It ran so smoothly and turned out better than I expected. Every teacher was here and asking what they could do for me, the tech guy, Anbu, did everything he could to make the music sound good, and I could not have done it with out Johnson. Johnson is the P.T. sir and he has more respect than anyone else in this school. He could gain control of a space a mile long. Today, just proved again how amazing the staff of Rising Star is.
I have a handfull of videos to share. These kids are just incredibly precious.
Of course, you have UKG performing Good Morning. Bless their hearts. All of the parents, who are usually not paying attention, were standing on chairs to see them. 

And the choir, run by the wonderful Nana Gates, sang amazing primary songs. Including none other than Popcorn Popping on the Mango Tree. But their singing Indians had to be the best.

My personal favorite was 4th standard, dancing to I Wanna Be Like You from Disney's Jungle Book. We watched the movie, this scene in particular, during their class party. They all performed with great enthusiasm, and it couldn't have been done with out Monica. The rest of the class just followed her lead.

Then... as for Life Dance, Diana and I put our brains together and choreographed two pieces. First, Get Ready, featuring Life Dance II.

And... Stand By Me, by Ben E. King. We tried to really focus on partner work, and working together as a team. They are a team and they have become a family. But, they haven't really understood how their love for each other can be shown in their movement. We are both really proud of how both of these dances turned out. Even in a rush. I can't wait to see them once they've been in their bodies a little longer.

Saying goodbye at the end was the hardest part. I didn't start crying until I saw Deepen's face and we just hugged. Then, it was like a whirlwind of goodbyes. Sanjay pulled me over to eat with his family. I passed out last minute goodbye gifts. I laughed and talked with all the amazing staff. I imagine that this was the hard way to say goodbye. I might just imagine that because I don't want to admit that I'm a sob, but... We stood by the gate as each new group of kids got in the van with their parents. Waved goodbye, and that was it. Yet, I'm so happy. I'm so proud. And I feel so much love. 

Dance

It's amazing how these kids inspire me. Tonight, we had the Goodbye Life Dance party. With just reading the title of this party, one knows how emotional this must have been. It actually turned out to be beyond incredible, and the kids walked away saying it was the best party they had ever had. Instead of the regular dinner and a movie that the kids all love, I decided that just like every other volunteer session, I want a going away performance. Nothing formal and I wasn't going to run music or anything. It was all on Life Dance to make this happen. I wasn't expecting much, but it turned into a creative competition. 

About a week ago, Deepen and Ashok came knocking on our door asking if I would download them a song and let them have the music to practice. Deepen had really thought this out. He wanted to cut songs and put two together, he already had moves in his head. They originally wanted me to help them choreograph a number for them to do together, but being really busy, I encouraged them to go for it themselves. I am so happy that I didn't help them. It gave them the chance to explode in creation- and let me tell you, explode they did. This one project turned into about 5 different dances with all different members of Life Dance. A boys dance, a girls dance, Thriller, a circus number, and Kick Buttowski. I have never seen these kids dance so hard in my life. Every single one of them was ON tonight.

We started off the night with a dinner of PB&Js, soda, and candy, music playing in the background. Then, things had to get a little more serious. After the holiday break, our President has to resign in order to fully focus herself on her studies. In India, 10th standard is the year that you take the exam that determines whether or not you go on in school. It is really important. Because of that, we held an election for a new presidency. I think this is the first time the kids got to nominate and elect their leaders. It was super interesting to see what choices they made, but in the end, both, Diana and I, are incredibly happy with the turn out. We gave thanks to the old, and welcomed the new.

Next, we had them perform the latest dances learned, Get Ready and Stand By Me. Both were choreographed by Diana and I. We basically threw these pieces together and the kids learned them SO quickly. I am so proud of how they have taken it on. This is the first chance that they have really taken on a style and partner working, and they look really good. At first, they were nervous with the "hard steps", but I think they surprised themselves with how good they have become. Then, the true party began...

When Ashok and Deepen walked out with paint on their face and a homemade mask and bat, turned out the lights, flicked on a flashlight, and I heard the subtle beginning of Michaels Jackson's Thriller, I just about died. India is definitely not known for their wild imaginations and I love that I got to take part in teaching these kids art. I mean, look at these boys!

They used a flashlight for lighting design and even threw in a little audience reaction by coming up to our faces and trying to scare us. It worked. By this time, the audience was full. Sharmila (best friend) and Vadevu had joined us at the beginning, and as the excitement escalated, all of the study hall kids came to cheer them on. It is unbelievable how supportive everyone at this school is. The kids were cheering each other on, encouraging others to dance, and overall happy for the accomplishments the others had made.


The volunteers even decided to do a dance number for the kids too. We surprised them when we all joined in unison and then pulled them in to join us at the end. I even got to waltz with both Deepen and Rajesh (who is not in Life Dance, but who had joined us and danced his heart out). 

And here is one more video. I love this because you rarely see Deepen just dancing it out. He is super lanky and shy, but here, you see his ideas flowing and he is actually dancing hard. These past few weeks, he has showed me so many more sides of him. I feel so lucky to have gotten to know him and all of these kids.

Kenady wrote an amazing post about this night with great details. Please read here. 
As the party came winding to an end, everyone got a little mushy and sad. I sat in long embracing hugs and whispered 'I love you's in ears. Little Savitha hugged me tight and tears soaked my shirt. They haven't had a dance master stay as long as I have in a while, other than Shaun Parry. I feel like I'm just barely starting with these kids. Like, if I stayed longer, I could really get somewhere with them. They have grown so much and I can see their potential getting bigger everyday. All of them will do great things, I hope someday I'll get to come back and see what they have become.

Lasts

A week full of lasts. Last few times to watch morning assembly. Last times to sit and chat with the chai ladies. Last times for each meal. Each Wednesday, the kids wear their sports uniform, which is white pants with a shirt of all different colors. I always feel so happy when I am surrounded by all these colors. For a long time now, I knew that I wanted a picture with the whole student body in their sports uniforms. So, I grabbed Diana and we asked Celina to make it possible.

My last time of going to medical was actually more emotional than I thought it would be. With new volunteers being here, I got the chance to just walk around talking to the people. I got to observe all the magic that was happening and I found myself welling up in tears a few times as I saw the pain and the accomplishments. The first woman I ever met in a colony was Mariraj, at Bethel Nagar. And the last person I talked to as we were saying goodbye happened to be Mariraj. I came full circle. I just can't believe the generosity and openness of these leprosy-afflicted patients. They are truly inspiring. I have to give thanks to the medical team as well. They have all taught me so much and been so patient with me as I experienced all the new. They have grown to be true friends and I know that I will keep them in my prayers and will miss them dearly. 

This week was my last week of teaching these beautiful kids. These past four months have been amazing. Each class is either rewarding or makes you want to pull your hair out. But these kids never stop touching your heart. I'll never forget Sugundaralakshmi's face as we be 'as big as we can be' and then 'as small as we can be'. I decided I wanted to leave them in a fun way, and to thank them for being so great and cooperative as we got ready for the performance coming up, I threw them all a class party. Complete with treats and a movie. We ran their dances, took a picture and then surrounded the computer.

Coming here, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy teaching kids, or if I was going to be good at it, at all. I've found out that I LOVE teaching kids. I LOVE playing with them and being a complete goofball. I love being so big that I make them laugh and I love tickling them into a hug. It has been so much fun to google creative classroom ideas and learn new games to teach them. Meeting Kenady put the idea into my head that I would actually really LOVE to be an elementary school teacher. I love teaching the kids how to count by clapping and turning our laps into drums. I love singing 'If You're Happy and You Know It' and acting like a 'choo-choo train' while disturbing the rest of the school as they come and look how cute these kids are. Singing the ABCs and nursery rhymes is actually fun! 

And now there isn't much time for slowing down, the program is on Saturday! They are all going to do amazing!

Wordless Wednesday

Secret Santa

About a week ago, Kenady and I went into a funk. I was stuck between getting ready to come home and trying to be 100% at Rising Star. We did not like this situation at all, so to bump ourselves out of the funk, we decided to bring Christmas spirit to Rising Star. We made glittered snowflakes out of popsicle sticks and gave them to all the teachers and staff. We told them they were "Christmas Stars, because you are a star!" This, then, rebounded into Christmas spirit everywhere. We were all dying our hair with henna one night in Venilla's room, when her boys decided they wanted to have a Secret Santa!

Stoked on this idea, we immediately drew names and made some rules. It would be the next night and it had to be handmade. Handmade gifts are the best kind of gifts anyway! It worked out perfectly, too, because all of us got one of the boys, and all of the boys got one of us. The volunteers strategically told each other whose name we got and cooked up some plans for what to make them. We knew that the boys were probably doing the same thing.

The next night, we all put the gifts on Venilla's bed and then found our own gift. They had each written us an incredibly cute card with great pictures. We gave them each bracelets and that idea then went through the whole house and now all her boys want them. This is me and Anbarasu, he drew my name. Don't you love his smile?

Star Store

Rising Star is not about giving hand outs. They believe that if you give money to someone who is begging, it just encourages more begging. We want to change lives, not just add a little to the cause. In Delhi, we had a little discussion about beggars and Kathy Mama said something that really stuck with me. She said that 'when you see a beggar, just add what you would have given to them to your tithing. The church will do a world of good more than you could.' Most of the children at Rising Star have come out of begging homes, with parents who are leprosy-afflicted or professional beggars. Somedays I witness how strong their begging skills are, and it is so heartbreaking. So, to teach the children worth and ownership, Rising Star set up the 'Star Store'! 

Throughout the week, the children get signatures for each class they have and their behavior at their hostels. They can receive up to 9 stars a week. Then, each tuesday, the Star Store is open and the kids get to spend their earnings or save up for something special. These kids have to earn everything they are given, including letters from sponsors and shoes. In November, we had a family of volunteers who came out, the Pope family. Their daughter was an artist and she was given the assignment to re-vamp the Star Store. She worked wonders, and now this magical place actually looks magical.

The volunteers can put their names in the Star Store, meaning they can have party nights with the kids. Kenady and I put our names in a few times together. We had a dinner and movie party for 30 stars, and the kids had so much fun. Inviting them into our home was such a huge deal to them. We technically aren't supposed to, because of the differences of living, but they know how blessed they are. 

This is Nagaraj, he was the life of the party. We served Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches with a whole bunch of treats... we definitely spoiled them. Then, we watched X2 and by the end, Nagaraj was the only one who wasn't asleep. My heart grew with love as I held Arun's hand and he fell asleep on my chest with M. Vishva sliding down my shoulder. 

Kenady and I also held an all girls "Make-up Night"! The girls all came over and we played Anastasia while doing their make-up and hair. The people back home know that I'm no make-up artist. In fact, I don't even do my own make-up, but I tried my best with these girls. The colors they were choosing were hilariously cute anyway. This is crazy Megala, obviously she was happy with her make-up choices.

It was so much fun to see these girls get all girly. They only get the chance to dress up if it is their birthday or if they are at home with their mothers (Indian mothers deck out their daughters just like us, Americans). Kenady and I had a blast. 

Zoo

In Vandalurra, a city right south of Chennai, there is Asai's second largest zoo. I'm not a huge zoo person. I think that once you've seen one zoo, you've probably seen them all. Unless it is Disney's Animal Kingdom, then, you have your sights set out for you. But, a sponsor paid for a zoo tour for all of the children to go see the animals, and I wouldn't have passed this up for anything. 

Although this may have been one of the largest zoos, I think they may have been missing a large part of what makes a zoo, the ANIMALS. There were some, but with so much ground to cover, there could've been more. Enough about the zoo itself though...

This is why these two days were incredible. The kids bring a fun spirit to everything. They were so excited and curious about everything we saw. It was so much fun to see their faces with each new bird and each new color. One of the best parts was to listen to the UKG girls saying "white peacock, white peacock" over and over again. 

Since I've been here, I've learned that monkeys are a huge part of everyday life. There are monkeys everywhere! On every road, on every electrical post. You would think that the people, not just the kids, would eventually stop being excited about monkeys. But, NO, monkeys are still the most exciting animals around. And, I've got to admit, that I, also, love to see them and I love to feed them.

The best of the day was getting to know all of the teachers and staff better. I love the men at our school. They are all so noble and giving- each and everyone of them becomes a father figure to all of the children. I appreciate that so much. It was great to walk around with Johnson and Kateravan. And I can't even mention how warming it was to see Tannikka running to each new display, probably more excited than some of the kids. 

By the end of the first day, all of the volunteer's and teacher's feet were dying and we were exhausted. We couldn't even imagine a second day at the zoo to take the second group of kids. But, when you look at a picture like this one of little Jessie, who wouldn't want to go again and hear all the excitement over.

Yoga

Each Friday Afternoon, the kids spend their time in the Dining Hall taking Yoga class from the P.T. (or in America P.E.) teacher. They get all Indian, and it is completely fun to watch and laugh at their goofy poses.

My roommate Kenady and I had originally decided to make Friday yoga day, so instead of doing our Zumba, we would be joining the kids and work on our yoga. But, that never actually happened. Still, I had fun taking pictures and giggling at the kids.

These kids are so strong. Yoga here is totally different. It isn't about breathing through the pose or making yourself bigger and better and stronger. It is simply about holding the pose as long as you can. Frozen. So P.T. sir will tell them the pose to get into and when everyone is ready, he will count to 16. And then they are finished. We think it is so funny.

Oh man, I love these crazy flexible, monkey kids. They are the best around. 

Megala

Meet Megala. She is fourteen, an amazing student, and a beacon for the gospel. She has such a calm and peaceful spirit about her, but really owns who she is and what she is good at. She knows what she wants in life. She does not complain and works hard at whatever she is asked to do. A member of the Life Dance Troupe, Megala not only pushes herself in her studies, but works incredibly hard for Diana and I.  I love this girl. Just like most Indian woman, she thinks I'm a bit crazy and just laughs at about everything I do. I love to just pull her into a hug and feel her giggling at me.

Megala has a beautiful mind. Next to the gospel, her favorite thing in the world is to write poetry. I made a special point to sit down with her and hear her poetry. She really touched my heart. So, I thought maybe I would share with you all some of her words. Keep in mind that most of it is written in Tamil, so she translated it into English for me, which takes away all the rhymes and poetic aspects of it. But her thoughts are beautiful.


I Want to Be (Tamil)

Maranthilum santhashappaduven

Mahalray yennai kadaul padouithidhayaga

Karunaijaana ullam kadayulidam sruntadhu vanthadlu

Kathiduren Kalamellam

Nalla manam magimaiyana

            Sraivanidam srundha vanthadha

Mandaalum karaipadamal badhukappen

Mayamaana yulagil muulgividamatten

            Mattam thattum alavirkku vazamatten

Kanduk kolvier yannai thedinaal yantru

            Sonna katayullalai kallamellam dheduven

Kadyulaiye kalbmellam yannadha            

            Sruthiyaththil kathiduven

Kadaisinaal varai kadayulaiye

            Ninaithuduven

I Want to Be

I can face death with happiness because God created me as his Daughter

The humble heart came from God, so I will keep it as a special gift

The pure heart came from God, so I will keep it clean from forming with dirt

As the world fills with darkness, I will not be involved in that

The God who said, “Search and you will find”

I will be searching everyday for his love

I will keep his gospel and protect his words

Till the end, I will think of my savior 

And my favorite one:

Sound

In nature and artificial, I can hear lots of sound

Thundering sound and the sound of dropping water

Animal sound and the sound which is made by birds

The moment of leaves falling and the sound of machines

People talking and all others I can hear

But not everyday,

From my birth till now, I can hear only one sound constantly

You know what is that sound?

For me, it is the beat of my heart reminding me to be grateful for my life

Vanakkum

Wordless Wednesday

Celebrate!

So, this is the story of our wild and most memorable Thanksgiving. The wonderful Papa Gates wanted to give us an American style dinner despite being in India, in hopes of making it a little less of a homesick holiday. Here, no one has ovens. They exist in only hotels and nice restaurants, but would never be considered a household appliance. On the Rising Star campus, we use convection ovens and stove tops when we have a need, but at the Green House, we mostly just live off of packaged food. Now, Papa Gates wanted a turkey and a convection oven would not make due. So, he decided to pit-cook our specially delivered from America turkey. Early in the morning, we set off to heat the rocks.

This was a wonderful idea and we had a lot of fun throwing in the logs, BUT being the middle of monsoon season, disaster was bound to hit. At around noon, the rains began to pound and our fire became hopeless. Jim wouldn't change out of his soaking clothes, calling them his battle wound. He was so upset. We cut the turkey up as much as we could and turned to every convection oven on campus to cook it through for us. Dr. Susan even went to her house about an hour and a half away to get us her personal one.

It did turn out absolutely amazing. Each of the long terms had a food assignment and we had a full meal, complete with ham, turkey, stuffing, carrots, rolls, mashed potatoes, and two desserts. Diana and I combined forces to make an incredible apple crisp dish and Mama Gates made pumpkin squares. We dressed in our nicer outfits and ate dinner together. We even went around the table and said three things we are grateful for. 

After dinner, my little India family of roommates went back to the Green house and began to get comfy watching White Christmas, when all of a sudden, Melissa ran into the house calling our names and telling us to come dance in the rain with her. Monsoons are CRAZY. You haven't experienced a rainstorm until you've been in a monsoon, and there is nothing like dancing on the Elephant House roof with rain pouring down on you and it almost flooding in huge puddles. 

Let the rain pour. Over Thanksgiving week, there was a one week session of girls that came out to serve, including Kenady's mom, Kathy (who became a substitute mom for the week). I'm super happy to have met all these new girls. There is Trish, Lisa, Diana, me, Kenady, Beka, and Melissa in this picture. And, the beautiful Kathy was kind enough to play photographer as we all danced. Afterwards, cold and wet, we all got in our nighties and watched White Christmas snugglin' up close. I'm ready for the holidays, now.

Celebrating life is one of the most important things. If you are ever looking for good ways to celebrate, I know that I can always turn to this amazing blog for inspiration: The Bugg

This year, I am grateful for:
1. All of the amazing staff, volunteers, and kids at Rising Star. They have taught me so much and supported me from the second I got here. They have showed me what true love is and the power of service and have honestly changed my life forever.
2. My incredible family who helped me get to India and supported me every step of the way. I have been so blessed with a loving home and parents. I miss them so much everyday and now understand all they have given me.
3. The small things. For example, not having to walk to the kitchen to brush my teeth using clean water, not having to throw my toilet paper in the trash, air conditioning, napkins, safe driving system, pillows, etc. I have been so spoiled and I am so grateful for all the little things I've been given.
Happy Holidays!

Check!

When I first found out I was coming to India, everyone told me that I MUST ride an elephant. Well over the weekend, I gladly checked that little number off my bucket list. This is Lakshmi (why does everyone name their elephants Lakshmi?), Diana, and I. Oh, no big deal, just riding an ELEPHANT.

At the same park, we got the chance to also ride a... CAMEL. Which, to be perfectly honest, was a lot more fun than riding the elephant. As Laura and I trekked along, we were making Aladin music and realizing just why it all sounds so round. With each step, your head wobbles and your bum shakes, it is incredible fun.

And then, of course, just to finish off the exciting morning of animals, a cobra charmer happened to be sitting in the same area. He had two cobras with him, so, he draped one around my neck and let the second dance as he played his awesome flute. I'm not afraid of snakes, but as the cobra danced a little too close to my face, I did get a little nervous.

Check, check, CHECK.

Agra

After the Taj Mahal, we were taken around the rest of Agra to get a feel for the beautiful and cultural city. We visited the Agra Fort next, and to be honest, by this point, all of us were a bit ready to be done touring architecture and ready to shop or really get inside the culture. I guess you could say that we didn't want to be in tourist areas anymore, and rather in INDIA.

We got to go to a Persian rug factory and they showed us how they tie and burn the rugs. It was really fun to see the process being done. The men who do this, tie each knot SO fast. The owner asked if any of us wanted to take a shot at tying, and of course, being a bit frank and outgoing, I jumped right in and dragged Diana into it with me. Being very patient with us, the workers went slowly as they taught us which string to grab onto.

After the tying was done, they took us around to the backside of the rug, and we took matches to the fabric. They burn it in order to give it more tension and grip. Kalma grabbed my arm and whispered in her broken English, "this is a very important rug. Do not mess it up." 

After going through the whole shop, they practically put on a rug show for us and we got to see all of the gorgeous designed rugs. He pulled out two rugs and asked us which one we liked better. We pointed to it and they told us that he was going to change our minds. Then, we walked down the rug that we didn't like as much. When we got to the other side, he asked us again what rug we liked better. Of course, we switched. Each person likes a rug depending on the way the light hits it. So, the rugs were the exact same, just flipped around so the knots were facing the other way. Those Indians and how they love their optical illusions.

After eating and saying goodbye to Ramish, our party driver took us back to the hotel. On the way, we spontaneously decided to crash a wedding parade. In northern India, weddings are completely different celebrations. They last about a week and they are party after party. The part that we attended was the groom and his band of friends parading down the streets to go pick up his beautiful new bride for the ceremony. They hire people to hold big lights and pull the carriage down the street, the band plays and walks, and all the friends and family are on the inside, dancing their hearts out. It is so magical. 

All I know, is that those 2 days were magical. I love Agra. We got our palms read, we went shopping, saw the Taj Mahal, crashed a wedding, had a crazy traffic-driving experience, and, oh yeah, ate at McDONALD'S!

The best and last part of the trip: up next!