The people of India have captured my heart. I have always enjoyed observing people in busy places. Malls are good for this. State Fairs tend to bring out some unusual people. Even Walmart can be quite interesting. We are a fascinating looking species, each one being unique in look, walk and dress. India has fed my fascination in every way. Its a busy place, lots of people, colorful saris, different religious attires, raw living, endless accessories on lovely dark skin and hair. Here is a kaleidoscope of what I got to view during my three weeks in India. This is dedicated to those that love to people watch just like myself.
Sometimes people's paths cross for a reason. At the time it seems random but in hindsite it becomes clear. This happens when you find your eternal mate. You experience this when you find a life long friend. It also can happen when you are put in the right place at the right time. It may only be for a moment, a second or maybe for a few weeks. It is hard to predict. I do know though, if you are in tune with the Spirit and living your best life, these experiences are abundant and make sense. They aren't chalked up to simple luck. They are interpreted as destiny.
I have no doubt that coming to Rising Star was supposed to happen. There were people's paths that we were ment to cross. There were people that would touch and soften our hearts. There also were those certain people that we would connect with and never forget.
I want to talk about a young woman that I feel this way about. Her name is Eswari and she lives in the Tamilarasi house. She is eleven years old and absolutely beautiful. Inside her is a compassionate kind heart that is needing a little extra love.
From the first day Quincy and I met her, we connected. From that day on she seeked us out, especially Quincy. In the house she lives in there are many biological sisters or cousins. At times, I think, she can feel left out and alone. Even in a group of twenty two girls you can still feel alone and this is apparent with this sweet girl.
Within a week, Quincy and Eswari, were like sisters. As a matter of fact, she calls me her mom and Quincy her sister to this day. Recently, I looked in to sponsoring her and found out that she had written a letter to us and it was waiting for me to send an address. The sponsorship coordinator said that she still is talking about us.
I miss Eswari and want to make sure that she feels our love from as far away as Washington. I want her to know that she is special and destined to do amazing things in the future. I want her to know that she is valued and unique. I want her to gain confidence to see how wonderful she is and how capable she is to stand on her own. My own daughters have this and I want her to have it too. This is a little video clip that was taken on the evening we put bindis on them and had them share something that is special about themselves. Most of the girls go instantly to what or who they are grateful for.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiSybhNj7S0
Eswari has a father that visits the first Saturday of every month. She loves him but craves that female role model. Her parents split up a while back. Her mother was very angry and told her she would kill her if she didn't stay with her. She chose her dad. It is a common story in America and here with broken families. The sad thing is that although kids are resilient, they replay in their minds words that hurt.
During our stay at Rising Star we both spent a lot of time with Eswari. There was an ease to how she fit in with us and she smiled. I saw her doing work in her house. Many times she was doing the laundry for the girls in her room. Other times I saw her helping the littler ones. Nurturing others is in her nature. Her kind words for others did not go unnoticed. She has gratitude for the little that she has. It was so apparent that our friendship was important to her and the need to feel loved is at the top of her list.
On our last evening together tears were shed between Quincy and her. It was apparent that this fast friendship was stronger than either one had anticipated in the beginning. It broke my heart to know that we couldn't bring her with us. I have no doubt she would love being part of a family with girls. I knew the attachment was a strong one and this one was a hard one for her to let go of. Many of the kids at Rising Star deal well with the change in people. Eswari has a tender heart and change is hard for this one.
The decision to sponsor this young lady has not been decided without a lot of thought. I know that it will be a long term commitment as I feel that she will come to lean on the support she gets not only in the donation but also in our correspondence. She, along with Bujji, will become a part of our family through sponsorship. I don't want to let them down. They have gained a place in my mother's heart.
Many of the kids, young and old, are involved in a lot of additional activities to enrich their lives. I witnessed an environment that allowed the kids to develop their interests and have some fun on their free time. As volunteers, we are a part of this process. Sometimes we participate in it or show up and watch to lend our support.
Every day between 4 and 6pm the children have free time. Sometimes I would find myself pushing little ones on the swings. One day I was helping a young girl learn how to ride a bike. Other times I would sit and visit with one of the older girls that just needed someone to talk to. They enjoy hearing about my life as I like to hear about theirs.
On Mondays and Wednesdays organized sport activities are offered and many of the older kids participate in these. It includes badmitton, Kabidy (a game the girls play that I still don't understand), and soccer.
On Tuesday, yoga is offered and it is fascinating to watch how limber so many of these kids are. They take it very seriously and do their best. Boys and girls participate in this and it is a popular activity. A lot of the kids that participate in this also are in dance.
Thursdays are dedicated to dance and I have to say, this is by far my most favorite activity to spectate. The talent and dedication is inspiring to watch. Rising Star participates in a program called Life Dance. It is a dance program that brings coaches to impoverished areas of the world and provides instruction. They have had a few choreographers come teach and inspire them. Famous choreographers, Stacey Tookey (from the Canadian version of So You Think You Can Dance) and Shaun Parry (from Promethien Sparks) were here earlier in the year and taught them a dance that was set to and sung by David Archuleta and some of the children. The song is "Someone Out There" that they perform too. A part of the dance is a form of method acting. The kids were assigned, when visiting their homes to mimic the way a leprosy affected person in their life moves. The message of the song is that there is always someone out there to help with the burden of this disease. It is a very moving piece and touched my heart each time I got to watch them practice and perform it. This is the dance.
David has been contributing to the fundraising efforts for Rising Star and also was here serving as a volunteer. He is idolized by all of the children. They sing his songs and talk about his visit often. In between coaches coming to share their talent, these kids faithfully practice what they have learned together. They have to try out to be on the dance team. Throughout the year they perform at Marriott Hotel in Chennai for the guests.
While we were there some try outs were occurring for the choir. Pam Gates, one of the directors, was organizing and taking this on. She has her work cut out for her. Most of the children sing very monotone. I don't know if it is because they are singing in English or if it is how they sing here. Choir practice takes place during that free time. I know piano lessons are available to some kids too.
Every weekday for an hour, just like in America, LDS Seminary is held for those that are at high school age, interested. It is a good sized group. I attended once along with some other volunteers. We were asked to all share our testimonies. It was kind of a neat experience. Against the backdrop of an intense rain shower we shared our thoughts and poured our hearts out to these young people. I remember telling them how powerful having faith is and how it can get you through trials you come up against in life. I told them that this is the time to really study and ponder what you learn so you can figure out what you believe and stand by it. I could feel the spirit in that open air dining hall as we all sat on the floor. Most of all, I could feel the presence of children of God seeking the truth for themselves and choosing to do this on their own without parents prodding them along. It was refreshing to see as many of our American teens tend to complain about attending seminary. Majority of these kids show up without even being baptized for the soul reason of wanting to feel the spirit for themselves. Rising Star is a patchwork of many religions and are accepting of them all.
Birthdays are celebrated. On the actual day of their birthday the child gets to dress up instead of wearing the school uniform. They get a gift on their special day. Many times you will see them sharing their candy they got in their gift with their friends. Monthly, the birthday kids are sung to in the dining hall and a big cake is shared. The kids look forward to this.
On Thursday before we left to go home, our Scorpion group had filled up over a thousand water balloons after we finished construction that day. We couldn't resist and managed to get in a water fight doing that task. For us it was round two when we got to do it with the kids. It was a lot of fun. I took a lot of video and through my view finder it was pure joy to see these kids go crazy and soak all of the volunteers. The balloons went fast and quickly buckets were found and the contents dumped over unsuspecting victims. Some were ambushed from the above balconies.
As you can probably tell, it is not all work and no play here. The environment on campus is to provide a well rounded life. Many of these children's past lives have not allowed play to be a part of it. Many would be out begging to put food on the table or helping parents that can't do for themselves due to stigma and deformity. Many come from domestic abuse situations. Many have been treated awful for the simple reason that leprosy is in their family. Although they miss their parents; the life here gives them the best chance of a brighter future. This is why their parents have signed them up and only get to see them the first Saturday of each month. By doing this unselfish act they will not contract leprosy. They will learn English. They will expand their computer skills and find out what their gifts are. They will have dental and health care. They will develop friendships, some for life. They will have the opportunity to play, have their tummies full and learn. If they are able to afford to stay here, they will graduate and go on to lead successful lives.
The mission of this organization is to serve the child, medically treat the leprosy affected (many of these being the family members of these children), educate and encourage independence in the colonies through the micro loan program. None of this is possible without child sponsors and donations to this organization. Our family will be sponsoring a couple of the girls in the Tamilarasi house. It is a monthly donation of $30. Each kid needs four sponsors to keep them in school and lodged ($30x 4 =$120). I have watched many of these kids write letters to their sponsors with help from the sponsorship coordinator. It is part of their writing program. The children adore their sponsors and know them by name and talk about them. Pictures are exchanged and they are so grateful for the support. They consider their sponsors as part of their family. This is a fabulous link telling about all that is done and experienced at Rising Star.
After witnessing this program in action, I believe in its mission. There is a lot of good going on between our country and India through the efforts of Becky Douglas and the many people that contribute and help to make it succeed. I am proud to be a part of it and thankful for those that contributed in different ways to be a part of this experience with me and Quincy. Change is happening. Sometimes big ones, but mostly small. Those add up over time. The worth of each child, no matter what country, is great.
A person can't come all of the way to India without traveling to see the Taj Mahal. It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World and it lives up to it's reputation of being a site for all to admire.
Originally we were supposed to visit this place at sunrise but due to the rain from the day prior it was forcasted as having too much fog to be able to see it. Instead we got to sleep in a little later and eat a lovely buffet breakfast at the hotel. Continental breakfast in India is much different than in the U.S. They roll out the red carpet and serve an amazing number of dishes along with many that are made on the spot to your liking. It was the same at the Marriott. Each time I have stayed in a hotel here it blows my mind.
We left at 9am and arrived to an incredible amount of beggars and trinket sellers selling bracelets, whips, drums, etc. Our bus was a human magnet and we were the prey. It felt like a repeat performance of when we went to Mahabalapuram, only this time I was a little more prepared to handle it. I also saw some of the most severely deformed people that I have ever witnessed out begging in front of this lavish site. There was a man who was bent over with knees backwards in a table fashion walking on all fours incapable of standing up. Many thoughts have entered my mind as to how he became deformed in such an odd way. It made Quincy and I think of the movie, Slumdog Millionnaire, in which some children were purposely deformed by people to receive more money for begging. My heart hurt for him and many of the others that were out begging to survive either for themselves or who they were serving. Many, sad to say, were children as young as five. The image of the man haunted me in my dreams that night.
Let's not allow this to take away from the Taj as in India there always is contrasts. A lavish, expensive structure with poverty in front of its gates. This is the nature of this overpopulated country.
Being a bit of a sentimental romantic, this memorial is a symbol of crazy love. Here is a little history for those that are unfamiliar to why this place exists. It was built by grief stricken, Mugahl Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his first wife, Mumtaz Mahal. They were married at age 14 and 15. She was a wife that never seeked power but always traveled by his side. She died giving birth to her fourteenth child.
After this tragic event happened he began the process of designing and building what is to be considered the jewel of India to honor her. He spared no expense. It is the finest example of Mughal architecture combining design elements from Persion, Turkish and Indian architectural styles. Construction began in 1653 and ended 21 years later. This domed mausoleum employed thousands of craftmen and artisans for many years. There is an unproven rumour that those that designed it were ordered to never ever recreate anything like this and some say they were physically blinded, maimed or killed to make sure of that. I hope that isn't true as it makes this crazy obsession lethal and not so appealing.
The tombs are recessed into the ground at the center of the dome and they are sitting side by side. The precious and semi- precious stones that were imported from many different surrounding countries are imbedded throughout the ceilings and it is a feast for the eyes. Marble was mined from all over the country to form this perfectly symmetrical, octagonal building that is not unlike a castle in the clouds.
The roomies-Savannah, Chanelle, Quincy, Mama and Hilary-The only one missing was Ashley because she didn't come on the trip.
Savannah and Hilary doing the leap.
The grounds and other buildings surrounding the Taj are impeccable. The reflection pool makes for lovely pictures. Many people took crazy pictures of leaping or picking up the Taj. I participated in that but really only wished that Russ was next to me so I could wrap my arms around him, kiss him and profess my love to him. Call me crazy but two weeks is a long time for us to be apart.Someday I would like to bring him here and let him see this place for himself.
We picked her up!
A little meditation
Even when it is pouring rain, and I mean buckets, it didn't take away from the day. We didn't let it dampen our spirits. Many of the volunteers in our group danced in the rain, sliding on the marble walkways and soaking themselves to the skin. Quincy and I didn't do that but we had fun observing it. There is a lot of prayer going on inside parts of the building so this tourist atmosphere was another contrast that affected how I wanted to present myself. It is a place that demands respect as the attention to detail is so evident. I was in awe of its beauty.
We were two soaked women!
Ramesh, our tour guide, telling us about Agra Fort.
This is the view the emperor saw of his beloved memorial for eight years. He then was buried there next to his true love.
After the Taj we stopped at the hotel, and changed into some dry clothes, ate some lunch and then left to tour the Agra Fort. This was where the Emperor was forced to live in house arrest for the last eight years of his life. One of his daughter's stayed with him to tend to his health and take care of him. His third son claimed that he was incompetent to rule, due to illness, (although he was capable) in order to gain power of the throne. The sad thing about this, although the Agra Fort is by all means a nice establishment, it sits across the water with a full view of this man's building he built out of love for this boy's mother.
We ended our day with some shopping and dinner at Pizza Hut. We all had a desire for some all American food. There were some too-spicy-for-our-palette pizzas on this menu. Quincy wanted Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza. It was nowhere in sight. It completely catered to the tastebuds of India. We ate cheese bread and dessert.
On our final day we needed to take the bus back to New Delhi to catch our airplane that evening. The main thing on our agenda was to stop and ride an elephant....another thing on my bucket list. I have always had a little bit of an obsession for elephants. I even have a room in my house that is called the elephant room. I think I am fascinated by them because when they are in the wild they stick together as families. When they lose a family member, they return and grieve for it. I love that. Though massive in size, their hearts are gentle. Elephants are a big part of the Indian culture. They are everywhere. They are carved, embroidered, and printed on so many items. On this day I got to ride one and I can't think of a better place to do this than in India as I wore my newly purchased chudador.
We had one hitch that made me wonder if this would happen. Our bus broke down in the middle of a busy, little village. One of the gas pipes broke and leaked all the gas out. When the bus came to a stop, people were coming up to the bus and banging on it to get us to hand money to them. There was an unusually, persistent, old lady that made her way around the entire perimeter of the bus banging loudly holding a cup. Some young men, sweaty in white wife beater shirts, came up once they realized we had all of these beautiful young ladies inside. They were professing their love and trying to sell us burnt corn on the cob that they vended. It was all in fun but a little creepy. The bus became hot and humid and eventually we ventured out under the tour guides watchful eye. A businessman offered his humble, little office with an overhead fan for people to stand in to cool off. Derek got us water, so thoughtful. We were looked at like celebrities and drew quite a crowd. I even took a picture of some of our admirers.
The man in the center opened his office up for us to cool down. All of the men posed for me and wanted a kiss as I left. I shaked their hands and kissed my hand and put it on the young boy in the center's cheek. It made them all laugh.
Within two hours our van was repaired and we were on our way. In America, this would never have been fixed this fast. We would have had to find a hotel as fixing it out of office hours is just too inconvenient. In India people our labor driven. Making money is important and what time you do it does not matter. They also wanted to get us up and running as our bus took up a lot of space on the side of their congested intersection.
We rode it! We didn't go too far but it was enough to cross it off my bucket list. This was much cooler than riding one at a second rate circus. It's in India!
Looking into the eyes of an elephant in India is a bit intimidating.
Quincy actually kissed it! I don't know if that was on her bucket list!
We did make it to the elephant ride. There were also camels to ride and a pair of dressed up monkeys to pet. Unfortunately, Annie was bitten by one and later had to get rabies shots because of it. Not many people can say they were bitten by a monkey in India.
It was a great weekend and we made it home rather late but feeling renewed and more than ready to see the children the next day. I found that I missed them so much.
