My official last day

It's my last day in india.

Wow.

I feel so weird. yet, not at all. I think that is why i feel weird. It almost seems natural to live here. I am sad to leave, but oh so excited to come home and see everyone. My bags are packed for the final time on this trip...no more folding and rolling.. eerie man. that's just plain ol' eerie.

Last night I tried to stay up late to lesson the impact of my jet leg. I'll work on napping today, and staying up for India's night tonight, on my flight. I can't wait for the welcome home bbq with my family.. eeek.

I"M LEAVING! (do i have to say it again---weird!!!!)

Thanks again for all you have been doing. It was so much appreciated!

Birthday bash, and the monster mash

(this is an older post, i put it on russal's blog by accident.) OOPS
Well, well, well.Here i am at the baby home-day 5/10. Today was Glory's birthday, one of the staff members here. So, we had a beautiful, sugary, pink cake, some ice cream and a wonderful supper of chipati and chicken to celebrate. It was wonderful! The kids were full of icing and my belly was full of good eats.I am really starting to get to know the girls. I mean, yes they are babies but boy do they have personality! Jennifer is a naughty, wide eyed wonder, while teresa loves to be cuddled. Erica is mischevious and so sweet at the same time, while angel should be named devil because she is in her terrible twos, but somehow you just love her since she is hilarious. Grace, the biggest sister takes care of the rest and points out any trouble. Blessy cries all the time and looks like a mouse. Hannah is fat, and is always chewing on something, she also rolls around really fast. She just brings joy to my day, probably because i was the fat kid, and i love that she will be too. (am i cruel or what?!) Sharron is the youngest baby, and doesn't do much but pee and drink milk.I love it here, i am doing more work now.. i kinda just started doing it! haha. So, that helps the days go by faster. At night i usually watch a movie on my i-pod...I am getting a little canada sick. I just am itching to come home because it is sooo close. I am a bit nervous if my bag will be too heavy to go on the plane, but money will solve that issue--hopefully. haha. I have four sleeps and four nights until i am on the plane. I can already smell the starbucks coffee...I have been doing some editing for Russal on his blog, and so I have been getting a lot of information on the home. The stories are incredible! There are times when i just sit here, dumb founded by what these girls have been through. It is so much crazier when you know them, but when all the editing is done i'll be sure to post the link. People are stupid and crazy. But, I am so glad for people like Russal and Kumari... I am so glad for this home

2.5 days, OH MY!

My days have been mostly the same since I have arrived at the baby home. I wake up around 7-7:30, take a shower, get ready and then go downstairs to be with the family. Sometimes the babes are sleeping so I get to bask myself in 'A Fine Balance' and read, read, read.with my tea... until my fabulous breakfast is ready. After that, i help feed the girls then hop in the van to take three of them to daycare.

After I usually check my mail and do my computer stuff. I go down and play with the babies. At one or so we eat lunch, we pick up the daycare girls, then have nap time. i don't usually nap anymore. I have been packing and cleaning. I usually take another shower then read or listen to music until everyone is awake.

The evenings are basically more playing, changing diapers, and rocking Trisha to sleep. Apparentally I spoiled her a little too much one day and now my touch is the one that cures her of tears. I have to neglect her a bit now so that when i leave she won't cry all the time. That really sucks, since she was one of my favorites. She thinks I am her mom....they told me i had to take her home. haha. Imagine! Me, 18, with a baby.. first of all it's super illegal and second..I DONT WANT KIDS! (not yet, maybe not ever.) Then we eat supper around 7:30-8:30 and hang out for awhile. I head up to bed, watch a movie on my ipod or go on the net. Then i sleep tight, and the days start over again.
It's nothing too exciting, but it's life, and it's good. This family amazes me.

I am looking forward to home. I can't wait to see my parents and the rest of my family. I can't wait for the BBQ that will be awaiting me, and to sleep in my own bed. I might tear a bit when i see a real shower, and just to have some Canadian air. Who would have ever thought I'd crave the farm smell? haha.

Thanks again.

A poopy diaper, a hospital trip, ice cream and a pedi

Well, I've had a few days at the baby home now. They have treated me so super! I feel more like a guest, but I try to help out where I can. I change diapers, and make funny faces/noises. I hold and rock babies when they cry... And i try to do the dishes.. until they notice then they make me stop. haha.

So, I have a story for you. In all my years of babysitting and what not I have never had to change a poopy diaper. I don't know how i managed this. But none the less, it happened. I knew it woudl happen here, i mean, how could it not-with 9 babies and all.. For the first 3 days it didn't happen. Could i possibly get away with this? Well, i think not. Teresa was my number one poopy diaper change. It was runny and gross.. plus they don't really have cleaning supplies so i had to run her under a tap, wipe her up with a piece of cloth and rinse the cloth diaper under a tap until the poo was gone. Yum. But, I managed.. and now i am basically a professional. haah. NOT. (remind me never to have children.. tee hee.)

A blond moment. Haven't had one in awhile so it was about time. I got in the van and tried to move these mini fans they have all around. You know when you're little and you wonder what will happen if you stick your fingers in the fan.. well, mine slipped and my fingers look like gills on a fish. I went to the hospital to get cleaned up, and some ointement. It wasn't as horrifying as i thought. but yes, one visit to the hospital, 70 rbs... less than two dollars.

I went shopping for the day, got some last minute things. i can't find vogue anywheres so i need to do that later. I was looking and looking, and almost at the point of giving up when a light of happiness spread upon me...a LAKME SALON! I got a pedi, for the cost of 5 dollars! I wanted to cry. my feet no longer feel like sandpaper... and as i was walking out.. what do i see.. a nice a/c ice cream parlor... could this day get any better?

I am looking forward to coming home, 6 days.. I feel like i am just exsisting through the days. I am looking forward to being busy again.. but, i guess i should enjoy this while i am here since i'll only be home for 2 days.

Thanks for reading, the emails and prayers.
Lots of love.
Cassandra

a taste of the west, then back to the east.

I left Kollegal yesterday morning. My body was worried I'd miss my bus so i woke up at 3. 30 am, forced myself to stay in bed until 4, then got ready. I said my goodbyes to the girls, and shed a few tears. Babu took me to the bus stand and in two and a half hours i felt away from India..i was in a big city.. and SHOCKER there were people. I even saw other foreigners. And i had a donut! It was the closest thing to baking i could get. tee hee. Anyways, Lilo took me to the shopping centre, and we just walked around. I tried some interesting new fruits, and then has a western supper of a fantastic pasta that Lilo made. In the morning i had CEREAL AND BREAD WITH JAM... i never thought I would be so excited for a western breakfast. Of course i had coffee.

Again, this morning I was worried about missing my train. I woke up at 3.30, then half slept until 5.30. My train was 5.5 hours to Chennai. I could feel the heat rising. I even got a sun burn on my arm, and my face is rosy! My bag weighs about a million pounds, my real estimate is about 70. So it was a struggle getting it to stay somewhere on the train. Some nice men helped me lift it up and store it away. Thanks to them! Then i basically listened to my i-pod and started the book 'a fine balance'. At the station I found Russal quickly and it was almost 2 hours to the home.

There is something about this home that screams family. I am so happy to be here. The girls cried when they first saw me, but already after 5 hours are cuddling and playing with me! I am looking forward to a)sleeping in and b)being here at the baby home.

Keep me in your prayers in my last few days in India. (9 days... eeek) Maybe pray that i won't melt.. chennai IS HOT! today was a cool day of 90 degrees... and it rained.. a miracle! but that doesn't change that it is SO hot here.. it will probably reach about 100-110 while i am here...

Thanks again. See you soonish.

New staff, and a New Outlook

1.5 days left in the girls' home. how strange is that? well, actually not that strange since it feels completely right. I feel like i did at the January mark of highschool. Right now I am just here, i've learned the lessons, now I am just learning the facts. And really, the facts are hitting me like the heat in bombay...hard.

We've had two new staff come, that are hopefully long term. Their names are Babu and Moonie. They are wonderful people, i met them in Bangalore when I stayed with the Penny's. Their english is fantastic so it's been nice to have a few real conversations and make jokes that are actually funny. Fact number one: They are a great addition to this team.

Fact number two: I was in Kollegal during a hardcore transition phase. The reason everything seemed so unorganized simply was because it was. Sam has been telling me of some of the things they used to do, and with the new staff, and new positions they can start doing some of these things again. Phew. i was really starting to worry that these girls had too much free time. Now there will probably be little end of the month birthday parties, and more organized games and dorms. The older girls will be paired up with a younger, and there will be a head dorm girl, that helps with the dorm mothers. This will be especially helpful when the mother is foreign and can't speak Kanada.

Fact number three: I might be addicted to caffeine and sugar. I'll really have to downsize when i get home... i had a headache yesterday.. then i had a cup of coffee and it was gone.. shoooot.

Fact number four: I'll be sad to leave. Now that i see there is so much hope in this place, it would be interesting to see the progress. But, all in all i know i've made the right choice, so it's a good kind of sad, the happy kind of sad. I am glad to leave this way too, because if i was leaving in a desperate state that would ruin my time that i had here.

Fact number five: I've learned a lot of lessons. Some i can't put words to. Others i can. But, that would just be too easy of me to tell them to you.. so hang out with me and we'll see if they stick.. k?

Fact number six: I miss you all like crazy. I called shelly this morning and she said it perfectly. "I don't want to leave, but i want to come home." There are days when all i want to do is leave india, but i'll miss this place a lot. I'll miss having my regular fruit man, and the 2 shops i pick up sweets from. I'll miss walking 20 mins for a bottle of OJ.. ha, ok maybe not. I'll miss the cows on the street and the random surprises around every corner. I will miss it.. but i am excited to come home.

Fact number seven: The one word i'd use to describe my trip.. and i hope it sticks until the end..

Enriching.

Enriching.

Fact number eight: I am so thankful for all of you who have helped me financially to be here. Your money did not go to waste. I have learned so much about God, myself and I do think I've touched these girls' lives. Also i am just as or even more thankful for those who have been praying for me. I've felt your prayers everyday and I just wish i could show you how thankful I am.

Love ya'll. xo

Taking in my last moments in Kollegal

As you all know Kollegal hasn't been all ups. But, it hasn't been all downs I'll let you know that much. It hit me the other day that i really only have 2 more weeks in India. At times that number seems monstrous, and others completely minuscule. I am still looking forward to coming home, but am enjoying my last few days at Kollegal.

With the girls in school my day is different. I spend more time with the dorm mothers, cooks and college girls. I love these times. They are more like friends, than children I am looking after. In the evenings I am with Retna, helping with her baby a bit or doing dishes now that her mother and sister have returned to their village. Or I am with the girls, doing subtraction, giving medication, and visiting. One of the girls even threaded my eyebrows. It was less painful than i thought it would be, and thank goodness because my eyebrows were a bit bushy.. you may have not recognized me! (ha don't worry, no uni!)

Lots of our girls have fallen ill. Sore throats, coughs, and stomach infections. The bird flu is in Mysore which is about 2-3 hours away from here. We don't know how long it will take to reach Kollegal, so just keep that in your prayers.

Also the behind the scenes political matters have heightened. Thank goodness it is not with me this time. There is just a lot of problems with the management and teachers. So this has caused a bit of tension, and i am starting to think that this stressed caused the blow out matter that happened to me. Maybe not, but again, that was a management figure, not anyone directly at the home.

I will miss Kollegal. It's been a stepping stone in my spiritual journey for sure. It's been another home for me, a home at times i hated. I love these girls. Sometimes I think to myself how weird it is that a 8th grader is one of my best friends right now. These girls have brought me laughs, tears and I will never forget them. I am excited for the next step in my journey--Chennai. I don't know if i will be alone there or not. But, whatever is ahead for me I am very glad of my decision to go there. I will end my trip exactly where it begun. I will come back the same Cassandra with a whole lot of lessons learned. Maybe some I won't even be able to verbalize. It may be 'goodbye Kollegal' in three days, four sleeps.. ha, yes i am still counting a little. But it isn't goodbye india yet.

Thanks for you're prayers. Thanks for your thoughts. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Indian Betty Crocker

I just wanted to let you all know that I made my first Daal yesterday. I basically learned it so that I could cook it for my brother. It was so fun! Retna showed me all the ingredients, most of which we picked from around the compound.

This daal was amazing. It was thick, and yellow with hearty vegetables. MMmm, i haven't eaten a daal like this yet while i have been here. Then they made me a new type of raggie ball that is more soft. They shoved fish down my throat, I didn't want to eat it since i was so full but they insisted! I actually felt like i gained ten pounds. I went to bed hurting from all the food. OH ya, did i mention that she made me eat four chipati? I said, no, no i am full.. but that didn't matter. I HAD TO EAT IT! But boy was it good. I hope that when i make it at home it turns out half as good as this one did. It was really easy too, so i think i just might. I'll maybe settle down on the oil though.. oh those indian's love their oil. She wants to teach me some more recipes, so I may learn one or two more before I leave. Who can turn down personal, indian cooking lessons? NOT ME!

I also have been starting to like the Indian sweets.. something is wrong. haha. They are so full of sugar. i might actually have to go on a NO sugar diet when i get home.. wait a minute, cookies have sugar.. Ok, so i'll stop putting sugar in my tea.

The days are getting better and shorter! See you all soon. Well, I'll be in Canada soon. Visit me at Roseau! (or write me a letter, mail days are oh so fun.)
xo

they call me 'sari barbie'

The days left at the girls' home are fewer and fewer. It is weird to actually be leaving here, but I know that it will be a refreshing experience to be at the baby home.

My days have really been looking up. I enjoy my time with the girls, and now that they are at school for most of the day, i find myself enjoying the PUC (college) girls as they are still on holidays. I feel really lonely when they aren't around, so it's good to know that the girls absence has had an effect on me. I really do miss them when they aren't here, so i know we have a relationship.

Like I said before I have been spending more time with Retna. The other night she dragged me into her house and was so excited. she handed me a sari blouse and sent me into her bathroom. She pulled out the most wonderful sari and made me put it on. I felt so beautiful! The girls started doing my hair, and added a yellow flower to the side. They were all 'oohing, and aahing' and creating lots of noise. Then one of the girls said,"We must do her make-up!" Memories from my bollywood days came creeping up, and i became afraid, very afraid. But then I thought, what the heck.. it will be fun.. right?
AND it was. My eyebrows were REALLY dark, and hilaroius. I wore a pink lipstick suited for a grandmother, some mascara and they attempted to put sparkles all over me.. there is a line people! haha. Retna decorated me with bangles, and chains and insisted on a photoshoot. We had a lot of fun taking pictures. Some with her, some with her daughter, and some alone. I know i'll miss these nights with Retna and her mother. They are woman of strength, a part of my heart. And somedays the only thing that pulled me through.

Otherwise the girls and I have been hanging around, reading books, sewing, cutting vegs, preparing for school... playing in the sand..and i've been doing some paperwork on their backrounds so i have been asking some personal questions like.. 'is your dad dead or alive?" um, awkward....

I just want to let you know how much I appreciate you all. A lesson I will continually learn here is how much I need support from home.Your prayers have cheered me up, knowing that you are all praying. I can feel the difference in my attitude since i've shared with you. I couldn't do this alone. In a small way I feel as if you are all here with me on my journey. You are my church and my family. My community.
Thank you for the prayers, the emails and everything. I know i say this every time, but keep them coming.

Lots of love-Cassandra

maybe it was the tylenol

hey,

So i just wanted to let you know that all things aren't horrible. I've had a few really good evenings and one semi good day. I have been spending time with Sam's wife, Retna, who is a sweetheart. She did my henna, and we just talk like girls. Well, as much as we can. She has an adorable baby Sara so we talk and are with her. Sujanta, another one of the dorm mothers here, and i have also been talking more lately so that keeps me busy, and these woman feel more like friends than people i am responsible for. Other than the early mornings, things have been going better. Usually by 12 o clock or 1.30 i am feeling a little more upbeat.

I am becoming pro at making sand dosas. (like making sand castles, except in india the children make little dosas-a food, kinda like a pancake except way different.) I've done a lot of playing on the swings, painting and what not. keeping "busy". I also get to cut veggies in the mornings with the cooks while the girls are at school. My hands will probably always smell like onions, but that's ok. aha. It is giving me something to do.

And on the inside, well. I still feel a pain-ish feeling. I miss home a lot. I think my heart, mind and spirit are stewing through somethings that i can't comprehend right now, so that is why it hurts. My lessons will be revealed over time. In the meantime. I'm here, wishing and waiting.

a little ray of hope

The last few days, as you know have been rough for me. But, i just had something to share with my readers.. yes, yes, you are my little readers.

I was walking, and not thinking about this whole situation, which believe me, doesn't happen often. and all of a sudden I got this feeling, and it said to me. "It's ok Cassandra. You're decision is ok. It's ok. Leaving may help you serve these girls better, you're not as miserable. It's ok. It's ok."

WOW. Yes, it's small. but i felt so comforted. I had a lot of turmoil in my body, and mind due to all of this. I didnt' want ot leave if i wasn't supposed to. but, i had made the choice and i feel good about it. I really do. I am not failing. I am choosing a different route, a vacation for my heart if you will. I just need to have a few moments away from this..and that's ok. it takes a big person to walk away sometimes. and, maybe i am a small person walking away.

thanks for the prayers. things are looking up. The girls are great and i wouldnt want anyone to think i don't love these girls or are not having a good time with them. the work with them is fun, and I get to see small accomplishments day to day. I just feel, finished here....

xo. Keep the emails coming. i need the encouragement somedays.. ok, ok. most days. haha

politics

So, i haven't updated in a while and there is a reason why..
there have been some weird issues at the home and i've been feeling, lost, confused, lonely and quite hurt. I am hoping this will be sorted out soon, today actually.. but let me tell you the story. of course this is biased cuz i am writing it. so remember there is another side.

So, i was invited to ooty from a trustee named paul. I was going to bangalore on the weekend so i said i couldn't leave that long. but then i decided, hey, i'll only get this opportunity once, so i should go to ooty, not go to bangalore and then leave the home june 10th to work at a baby home that i fell in love with the one day i was there. it seemed like the best of all worlds. Sam, teh guy that runs the place here, was ok with it.. but i called ron, the guy who owns the school and holy heck.. he was not ok with it.

To make a long story short he told me if i go to ooty i should pack my bags and not come back. aaaahk. that is not what i want at all, why all this trouble and drama over permission to leave on an invite? so i told him i wouldn't go to ooty. he said i was selfish and should re evaluate some of my faith and what not. I told him i was very hurt and felt very judged. I will be leaving on june 10th to Chennai to work in a baby home. If he choses to help me at the train station like orginally planned that is up to him. I don't know if he is or not.... but. ya. So.. i wasn't expecting this at all. It's weird though, cuz the guy who runs the place here didn't mind me going either.
So obviously there were some problems. All the other volunteers left and i was getting all the flack. Sam and i sat down, talked it out and i told him i needed a schedule. I need to know what i am doing when, and when is my free time. A lot of the day the kids just wander around with the little supplies they have.. we've used all the craft stuff! i just don't know what to do with them. and the english barrier doesn't help.

i am trying not to complain, it is just so weird ot me. i don't want to leave on a sour note, because i love the girls and the staff here. i really have been doing my best.. unless i am sick, and it was all a misunderstanding and miscommunication. i dunno.. man. today, i want to come home a bit.

please pray for this sticky situation. i know it's a time of high stress for Ron so I don't want to make it worse, but me leaving 9 days early apparently has. I just can't stay here, especially not with all this. June 10th i head to chennai. june 21st I come home!

love you all.
sorry to sound like such a downer.

dorm and rainy dayz

Jody left yesterday from Kollegal. I am now with a new girl, kerstin from germany in none other than dorm 4. yep, i am living with the girls. and our first night was.. surprisingly well...

Kerstin is having a very hard time here at kollegal. she just came from ooty and it is quite a change from there. it is hot, it is less organized and there is no westerners here. she actually hates it here, hates the food, and is crying a lot. so that makes it a little hard on me, when jody has just left and all. i assume i will be alone within two weeks...if not, i'll be surprised. but, it helps me too because i am the optimistic one and i have been playing with the girls. it's very good. i will kinda do my own thing, help her as i can, and .... um, live the dream? yes. yes. live the dream.

Last night our dorm was a lot of fun. i stayed with the girls for a bit before they went to bed. we all talked and laughed. i sat with the girls in the dorm, and we laughed a lot. i didn't understand all of it, but what i did, was a good time. the older girls try to explain a lot to me.. i just hope they aren't pulling my leg. but really, i would never know.

it rained yesterday, PRAISE GOD! and it was a little chilly. I even whipped out my sweater i bought in mysore. the rain matched my attitude, but in it's own sense brought me bliss. yes, i had a teary day but rain refreshes and allows growth. and baby, am i growing. i called my mom and we had a very nice chat. i miss home, but i know i am not done here yet. i still have a lot to give, and a lot to learn/gain.

Almost all of the girls are here now, a few aren't coming back which is a real disappointment. there are a few that should be here, so they can get into college. but, their parents don't want them returning. ouch. things are pretty crazy here because school starts. i have no idea what is hapening most of the time. they have their uniforms, and this and that. so, i do a lot of watching and then try to help. it's weird. i am waiting for things to be organized..

yep, that's my life. i love hearing from you all so keep those emails a coming.

the only "funny" thing that has happened lately are the monkeys here. they are crazy. along with the birds. i really hope i don't get pooped on. and believe me, there are some close calls sometimes.

xo

a countdown type day

Kollegal girls home, day 18, 36 days until I come home.
Yep, today is a count down type of day.

The past week I have had a brutal sleeping schedule, not due to my duties, but my body. I can't fall asleep, and I wake up early. I can't nap, and if I do my mind is racing and my sleep is quite restless. I get up, and clean and do productive things around our room, I know i need rest, but i just can't seem to get it. Like last night for instance I had MAYBE four hours of sleep. I also got hit with a small dosage of sunstroke.The reason my low energy concerns me is then during that it prevents me from giving all my energy to the girls. My creativity is low, and frankly I am getting pretty bummed out about Jody leaving in 4-5 days. I know this is just probably how i am feeling today, low on sleep and energy, and once she leaves everything will be fine. (although i will be very sad!!)Classes will start and i'll be organized and yay. That will be good. And i just found out I will be dorming with the girls because they are low on dorm mothers. I will be moving to a less luxurious room, and a new volunteer from germany will be coming along with me. She arrives on the 19th. I would like your prayers right here. I will need a lot of energy, wisdom, creativity and patience. Probably the P-one is the biggest one. patience. I love my alone time, even when I am at home, and I see myself getting very little in the next month and a half. I am trusting that God will teach me, stretch me and use me. I am trusting that this is His will. I also think this could be really fun, and a great way for me to get closer to the girls, it will just be very different. Very, very different.

Some great news and an answered prayer! I got a new summer job. I will be the female program director at Roseau River Bible Camp. I will be at camp all summer, home on weekends. I am reallllly looking forward to this! The crazy thing is that I will arrive home from india on the 21st of June, and be leaving for camp on the 23rd. I'll be back for a day on the 25th (for LCI grad!) and then back at camp the next day. Then CSSM training, and then RRBC staff training. WOO. Busy bee, i think so. I'll also be making a very little amount of money so pray that God will provide for me, whether that means in finance or living without it. I know he will, but it is nice to know people are praying for me. I know it has helped while I am here for sure! thank you, thank you!

So now to the girls home update. The girls have been learning a few lessons. Jody and I have been teaching them the art of asking questions without whining and asking to use other peoples things. This is a very upsetting thing for some of the younger girls but the progress is entertaining and going well. Sometimes I feel like I went from being 18 with no kids, to being 18 with 12 girls! It's fun though, and when it is trying Jody and I usually have a biscuit and a good laugh.. maybe a cup of coffee too. haha. No, No. I am just kidding.

We've been holding a daily clue for the girls where they have a task to perform. For example, "Write someone in KGH a thank you card." or "Read a book to Jody or Cassandra and do 20 jumping jacks." At the end of the week if they perform all the tasks they get a party with a prize. (Don't tell them but it's ice cream sundaes!) So far, so good.

Today we started working on performing a skit for the prize night. We are performing the story of Jonah and the Big Fish. The first practice was a bit of a gong show. The girls were running all over the place and just so excited. Then some guests came in and they closed up completely. So, trial number two is tomorrow, I think it will turn out really good though because they seem enthusiastic.

The last few days we finished painting the dorm (second coat), i painted a postal box, we finished weaving the beds, made crafts and did all the normal day to day stuff. We have to paint the kitchen yet and that will be our last project before Jody leaves. Otherwise I have been meeting some of the new girls that are back from holidays. The rest come by the 18th. (There are 58 dorming in total. <12> ) I wish I had an exciting story for you but the only stories I have from the past few days are only funny to me and Jody. Sorry.

Thanks again, and please keep on emailing!

Weekend Trip to Mysore

Jody and I decided to take a 2.5 hour bus ride to Mysore for the weekend. The girls were sad to see us go, but Mysore had some pretty neat stuff that us tourists wanted to see...

Friday- We left the home after weaving another bed for the girls. Patma took us to the bus stand because she was going home due to the election in India right now. Don't ask me anything about this election because I am just as clueless as you are, or maybe even more so. The bus was a standard bus. I sat with this old, indian woman who thought my black painted nails were the definition of hilarity. After about 2 stops the bus was packed full. And i have seen packed buses, but this one was PACKED. i had crotch in my face, a mans gut on my shoulder, the woman beside me kept pushing the men's bums to give us some room. Also the lady behind me kept touching my hair. It was just weird. But, India is the country of random so such is life. We arrived in mysore and tried to sign into our hotel. Jody and i both left our passports in kollegal (yes, we realize now that this is very stupid) so we couldn't check in anywhere. We were on our way to find the internet to get some phone numbers and see if we could print off a copy of jody's passport when we met our mini savior parootie. He took us to the internet, found us a hotel room and took us around the town for a little tour. all for free. we offered to buy him super but he said all he wanted was a bottle of coca cola. easy enough. Jody and I headed out for some veg. tali (a veg/rice plate) at hotel RRR. This tali came with 14 sauces! can you imagine!! FOURTEEN sauces! who would ever need FOURTEEN SAUCES!?! And unlimited rice. wow. i ate well, and all for 47 rbs. ($1.25 about) WOW. This restaurant didn't serve chai.. what kind of place in india doesn't serve chai? So we headed down the main strip to find some tea. On the way jody was distracted by some glasses. so we stopped and ended up each buying a pair. i made mine prescription! they are so 80's! SO FUNNY. i just love them. these are the kind of impulse buys you wonder about later. but, right now i am in love with them.
Saturday- Our adventure started at 8am on the streets of mysore. We headed to the market. Jody bought some gifts for her cousin, and some make up. I bought my bindi dots and some bangles. This man came up to me and said, "you smell good, I want you." Times like these i want to be around canadian men. Another young man lured us into his oil shop and we probably spent a good hour there, testing oils, and they even brought us tea! we ended up buying some then searching the rest of the markets. I bought some hair dye and jody dyed my hair. It wasn't dark enough to cover all the blond so my hair is a little grey right now. so funny. we are doing dye number two today. it is fine and all, but i would rather give it another go. For the evening we took a 2 hour bus ride to see the ever famous mysore, musical fountains. Basically it is a fair type feel where people sell food and what not. then you pay to go watch this fountain and lights dance to music. All this Indian music was playing and then out of no where BOOM BOOM from Venga boys comes on.. WHAT?! of all the american songs in the world they pick this one? haha. SO FUNNY. We walked around the gardens, took some "peace, love" pics, due to our glasses and indian sweaters. It was a really fun evening. I tried some Gobi Manchuri (which is deep fried cauliflower) It was spicy and very interesting. Good, I liked it. The bus home we were standing. I was standing behind this man who insisted on "letting them rip" for a good half hour. GOOD. GOOD. As if sweaty bus BO wasn't enough. We ended our evening with some reading and chatting.
Sunday(today!)- We woke up and went to our favorite cafe here. It's only our favorite because we know it serves tea, and it's close the hotel.. they are probably sick of seeing us there actually. We both ate idly and had some chai. Then off to the palace! For foreigners it costs 100rbs, and for natives... 20rbs! AS IF THEY CAN DO THIS TO US! imagine trying to pull this off in canada? you are kidding me! Inside the view was beautiful. We walked around outside the palace and enjoyed the architecture. we were amazed by this beautiful golden door and decided to take some pictures near it. All of a sudden we hear this HUGE bang and a sizzle. The temple lights went on and one of the light bulbs realllllllllly close to us exploded! AAAAH! (there were no injuries during the making of this photo) The whole trip i have been looking for an elephant ride so we are leisurely turning a corner and guess what we see? Camels! I was taking some pictures and then we kept walking.. and we see an... ELEPHANT! the man asked us if we wanted rides! I had really given up on this adventure about 2 weeks ago! So we got charged 100rbs (instead of the native 50rbs) and took a 5 minute ride. THEN we had a 10rbs camel ride! it was really fun. The men took pics of us, and boy did they take pics. Of course they wanted a tip, but we didn't have any change. Then we entered the palace. The art work was really elaborate and the arches very interesting. no photos allowed though. They had the most beautiful statue lights I have ever seen. I can't imagine living in such luxury! (and sometimes such gaudiness) Now we are just at the cafe, killing sometime before our bus leaves. We'll probably do dye number two today so i will no longer feel like a mini granny. tee hee.
* I've also tried some new treats (indian sweets are very gross actually) and some dried dates this weekend. yum. i love indian food!

That's my life as of now. Keep the emails coming. God bless.

a well needed update

The past few days have been pretty fun here at the home. So, i'll give you a short overview with some highlights!

I don't really remember the days we did this, heck, i don't even really know what today is... thursday? let me check my computer. Nope. It's wednesday. Just goes to prove my above point.
ANNNYYYWAYS....
Monday(i think) we painted at 6am due to the heat. We did a good chunk and then stopped for the day. The girls wanted to do crafts again, so we did. they are just loving the craft time. We watched a mary-kate and ashley video--boo ya. volcanoes! In the evening Jody and i organized a beauty night. we straightened most of the girls hair.. and believe me some of them have reeeally curly hair. I did the girls make-up. The younger girls were so excited! We painted nails and were just girlie. we took tons of photos and even danced a little. Patma taught me some sweet moves. She totally schooled me in the dancing department, but was kind and told me i did good. it was realllllly fun though. all the girls were laughing. i showed her a few of my moves as well. haha. we have a short video. ha. it was just a great night. especially after such a bitter day the previous day.

Tuesday- Jody and i finished painting coat number one of the dorm! boo ya!! We took a few girls to the market in the afternoon. we bought some needed fruits and veggies and more cookies for me. yay! the evening we learnt to play an indian game. it was really fun. i was horrible, but that is not the point! haha.

wednesday (today)- Jody and i made the girls exercise plan for the school year. as well planned some activities for next week. we are holding a treasure hunt all week. at the end we are having a sundae party! it will also be jody's last weekend here :( so, ya. i am sad about that.
the big news of the day.. (drum roll please)
I MADE MY FIRST CHAPATI! jody and i found some peanut butter so i wanted to put it on chipati. we havent had ti the last few meals so we decided to make some. it was probably teh most sketch thing but it turned out reaalllly good. we made the dough and then, since they dont ahve pans here really cooked them over an open flamed gas stove. haha. we were screaming a bit and just having a wild time. after, i put cookie crumbs on it too.. yum.

this evening it rained really hardcore. it was actually so nice. yay cool air. there is still some evening ahead.. you never know what will happen!
thanks for the prayers.

emotional smotional

this morning Jody and I skipped church because 9/10 times it isn't in english. and guess what? today it was.. oh well. we made ourselves some porridge and drank coffee. it is weird but the simple joy of cooking something yourself after always getting served is great. everyone came home and jody and i pulled out the craft supplies. Navya and Sangheta love crafts!!! We made picture books, more envelopes, colored and just let our creative juices flow. We've had some issues with the sharing aspects but it is mostly really good. sangheta gets really pouty when there is no pictures to cut out, and getting her out of that phunk can be a bit hard.. but it's ok.

i have been a bit emotional today. one girl in particular has been really aggressive and rude toward jody and i. we just really want to give them a schedule they will enjoy and she just always seems unsatisfied. as well, they don't really see our place of authority. they call us "sisters" and the people they really show obedience to uncle/aunt. which is fine, we are like sisters. but we are planning and here for them. i just hope that they can show us respect. plus with the language barrier it makes this far more difficult relationally. we have fun with the girls, but to get deep is very hard. the older girls have just been wonderful and very encouraging. so days like this, i am super thankful for them. i know it will probably just be a day or two, so i'll keep pressing on. hha. it really is no big deal. just a little emotional today...(tends to happen when you travel)

to finish the night we went to town with patma, an older girl, to get some study notes. all the girls got their exam marks and 6/80 failed. this is not good. last year 100% passed. on the marks it shows that math is the huge weak point, so that will be something we will be working on. but 4/5 dorm girls passed, and one even made it in the high class of marks! woo.

thanks for the prayers. personally you can pray that i find a job this summer. i know God will provide so just that i have patience in what that job may be. for the home you can pray that the girls will show respect and open up to us. most days are great, but just that we could understand why some days are so bitter. (and i erally don't want to make it sound like it is horrible, it was just a touchy day) as well pray for the girls who went home on holidays that they would be safe and have a great time with their families. i don't know the single situations of the homes...
yep. thanks again.
God bless.

scorpion in my shower, OH MY!

The past two days at the home again have been wonderful. These posts will probably all sound very much the same because our plans don't change much from day to day. But for my keen readers I'll keep a postin'!

Yesterday morning Jody and I took four of the older girls to Kollegal town for a little shopping. We were looking for "push back" pants and I was on the hunt for chocolate. For most travelers they go through a time of sugar withdrawal. You see at home you have easy access to baking--cookies and what not. Here, you have biscuits. On my 3 weeks of travel I have come well acquainted with which biscuits are the best, and actually my favorite came from a man on my train. They are called "Chocolate Nut Good Days" and let me tell you, this cookie has made many of my days "GOOD DAYS." Anyways, the past 4 days I have basically wanted to inject sugar into my veins. Jody went through the same thing earlier in her travels. BUT DANG!! this is just crazy. I have eaten tons of biscuits, added sugar to my coffee, eaten sweet fruit--IT JUST DOESN'T DO IT! I think i am nearing the end. I can stand having just milk and coffee now, but when i get home i will eat a good brownie and a few muffins for sure. and chocolate milk. HOW I MISS CHOCOLATE MILK... ok, ok. sorry i love the food here but i am on a sugar hunt. You're not here, don't judge me. haha

We watched wizard of oz, one of my favorite movies, and asked the girls some more questions. They are really great at discussing the answers and helping each other out. As well, they are all spelling on an average level! yay!

NOW FOR THE BIG STORY YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!!!
Every night I have a shower..yes, it's true. Our bathroom usually has crawly creatures, so i am used to frogs and what not hoping around my toilet as I dump a bucket over my head. (yay bucket showers!) As I am going to my room I see this huge, black blob. We've had some trouble with rat poo but i have never seen anything this intense in my life. it almost looked like the roggie ball we had for supper which has a great similarity to elephant dung. ANYWAYS, I look a little closer and SCREAM! THERE IS A 4.5 INCH SCORPION IN MY SHOWER!!!! Jody had her i-pod on so the indian man in our dorm told her to go check on me. Quickly he comes running in with this bamboo stick and crunches the thing. it just twitched and twitched. I actually had to leave the room because the crunching sound was SO HORRID! the only way i can describe it is like... nails on a chalk board mixed with all your ribs breaking.. SO GROSS. i had a really hard time sleeping, not because of the scorpion, so my night wasn't that great. such is life. too much sugar, I suppose.

Today Jody and I organized all the textbooks. It took about 2 hours to see what kind of books we have and what we can use. The shelf looks so beautiful now, and now the books can actually be used. huzzah! Every third day we are planning a mandatory english workbook hour. They can do math, english, grammer, spelling, science, social studies or cursive. It just has to be an hour of being immersed in English. Today we made decorative envelopes with the younger girls for three hours. One girl made a little picture book. *sigh* I love my job!

We ate supper, which was great again. Rice and an egg daal. Jody and I planned all day to make rice pudding for dessert so we brought back rice and drank coffee. I'm off to shower. I hope no scary creatures join me tonight.

God bless.

Kollegal Girls Home

Hello everyone!
It's my third day at Kollegal Girls Home and everything is going great! The girls are wonderful, the food is great (even though i think i have had rice everymeal- but i don't mind!!) my room is clean, i have a guitar to use (man i missed singing and trying to play!!) and jody and i are making connections among the girls!

basically our duty here is to have conversation with the girls in english. we are helping them with grammer, spelling, and just plain ol' conversational english. i am basically here to talk! boo ya. not so hard. hah. we have also planned some activities like movie nights, crafts and are hoping to bring some girls shopping tomorrow and hold a beauty night. the girls just love movies! so we watch a film and get them to answer comprehensive questions in english. all films are english! jody leaves on may 21st i believe, so then i will be alone. i have already been feeling worried about her leaving, and i am sure i will be very lonely due to the min. amount of conversation availiable to me here. please pray for that! after june 1st my scheduel will change because school starts for the girls. also jody and i will be starting an exercise program, orderin books, and fixing things around the home. i am very excited to know exactly what goes on here.

we have a lot of time to do devotions and jody and i have been taking full advantage of that. if you have a praying heart then i'd ask that we'd really benefit from this time alone with God. i am studying romans, and at night jody and i study james together. my spiritual development write up is yet to come if you care. i am not sure what i really want to say over my blog yet, so i will remain in thought over that for now.

as well, due to low bookings i won't be working at the lodge this summer and need a summer job. I applied at village adn hope to hear back soon. pray that god will lead me to the right place and that i'll hear back soon. if you have any ideas or openings let me know. i am hoping for full time!

God bless and i love your emails! keep em' coming!

kollegal

We arrived at the girls home earlier this morning, and an early morning it was. Lilo, the dearest lady woke us up with a BIG mug of coffee in hand. Did i mention i love her? (and coffee) By 7, we were all on the road, packed up and looking for a gas station and a breakfast joint. It was a bumpy 3 hour drive to the home but we all made it! Our orientation started with a tour of the place. There are 3 dorms, a few kitchens, some cows, dogs, cats, and our apartment. The technology used in this place is awesome! they use gravity for the water, and a system that uses human/cow feces to fertilize the grass they grow for profit. As well they grow there own bananas, and other fruits. this place is very, very efficient! i am pretty sure i will love it here. we will be getting our jobs tonight, but i am sure they will keep coming through out.

some of you may be wondering what i have been going through as a person. Traveling has been quite the spiritual, and character building experience for me. i will be quite general since this is my blog, and you can talk to me once i get home if you really care...(actually i have to go, so i will update more later.. sorry!) cliffhanger!! haha.

anyone up for a poison banana?

The rest of the day in bombay was really hot, so we skipped the walking tour and hit up the museum. Again, since it is the end of season it was closed for a new exhibit. we missed it by ONE DAY. so we went searching for another art exhibit. we actually found a surprising amount of free exhibits, so we hit that up. I also learnt a new word--mutka, which means freedom. i mean, really what better word to describe right now, and how i feel? mutka. it is my being.

On the way we found this music shop. Who doesn't want to hear some hip, indian music? I bought the cd that was playing. (how original) as well as an artist from UK i believe. what i heard i really liked so i am excited to get to a cd player! Jody and i also got ice cream then headed back to the hotel. We only stayed in our room for about 2 seconds before the quick decision to leave. our room felt like it was a million degrees. We went along the coast of bombay for a little walk and found a treasure named.. BOMBAY ELECTRIC BABY!! Yes, yes, we hit up the HIGH fashion stores!!! This lady wrinkled her nose at jody in disgust due to our "fine" apparel. Seriously, who cares! the guy in burberry was super nice and talked to us a lot. he also let us know that the actor we were with in bollywood was just put in the wax museum! BOO YA! As well we visited the Taj, the nicest hotel in Bombay. it was sure beautiful... i felt like a stone in a rosebush.

We said goodbye to Julie, and took a taxi to the station. We had a 25 hour train ride a head of us, and we were ready! We bought tons of veggies, fruits and bread to last the whole trip! Nothing too exciting happened on the train other than a man offering me "poison bananas" and a woman coming into my bed at night!!! OK, so that was weird. a man fell asleep on the floor near my bed as well, i didn't notice him and i am pretty sure i stepped on his... um.. area...OOPS.

Now at the home we've met a few of the girls. we are preparing them for their college decisions. We will be teaching them english. Basically preparing for the switch to further education. teh girls are making big decisions on what to go into so pray for them as they make this decision. it isn't so trial and error as it is at home.. so ya. I'll keep you posted on further progress.

xo, thanks for the prayers.

just another day in bombay

Yesterday was a pretty relaxing day. Us girls slept in after our dancing queen status'. Jody and i went to check the good ol' email and then off to lunch. we went to this place called food of the gods theobroma or something.. WOW.

we step in and it is just a chocolate fantasy. jody and i decided to have one piece of cake as a meal and another as dessert. why not? i had an almond brownie and this chocolate cake. it had white chocolate, then dark chocolate then a chocolate cookie bottom! WOWWWWW. i wanted to cry. it wsa just that dang good.

after we hit the designer shops in 'courtyard'. There were some pretty intense clothes there. and it was airconditioned!! i almost bought this yellow dress. i loved it. LOVED it. but it would have been 150 bucks back at home, and i wouldn't have bought it there. and after today jody and i are on a spending and food diet. hurrah....

i bought souviners and some more things for myself. haha. sorry if you dont get one. (you most likley won't because it is so dang hard to pack!) then we went for supper. i had this weird burger. i thought it was going to be like a chicken burger (no beef:( ) but instead he brings me this bun with colslaw and chunks of chicken in it. it was good, just the weirdest thing ever.

Jody and i bought underwear today! it was probably one of the most exciting things!! haha. i am keeping this pair for my flight home. i want to feel like i am wearing clean something or other at least on the way home. and they are cute. so i am pretty pumped about that. small pleasures.

we went back to the hotel to pack. we just lay in our mess of stuff. packing is the worst. especially when you know you have to fit yet again more stuff in your already stuffed bag. we decided it was mandatory first to model our clothes are wear big sun glasses. why not? as well, we have started saying the same thing at the same time... we HAVE spent three weeks straight together. ha. great times.

today we are doing a walking tour, and heading to an art gallary. our train leaves at 9 30 pm, and is 23 hours long. then i will be at the home! i am very excited!!! please keep me in your prayers, especially for my health. i have been sick, not like a huge issue, it is just annoying. i also think my malaria pills are making me sick, but i need to take them. Jody and i don't really know what roles we will be playing at the home so please pray for good communication and just that we'll all get along! miss you all!

survival of the bollywood fittest

it was 3.45 pm until we even moved from our room. after awhile we were put under "prison arrest" and forced to stay in our little a/c room. at least it had a/c. no computers, no anything. we all sat there, playing cards, reading, or bickering. haha.
Chris, from chicago--the guy i was saying interviewd us, kept filming. All a sudden the man came in and got really mad that he was filming(he knew the whole time) and freaked out. it was extras against manager for the rest of the time.
Shannon (from newyork) said if we weren't on set in half an hour we were leaving. 2 girls tried to escape but security caught them and said if they would leave it was a 3000rbs fine! i didnt mind sitting around, i just thought we needed better communication and should at least be able to watch the set, or walk around a bit.
On set we held drinks and had to "sway and look happy" I don't know anyone that sways and talks at a party, but whatever. the director told me and the two isabelles that we weren' happy enough. we had one more chance or we were out. I SERIOUSLY DON"T KNOW HOW I COULD HAVE BEEN HAPPIER. but i did it. and they were happy. Jody had an action part where she got to give "cheers" to the main actor. we were actually on set with some bollywood shizz. Our second scene was at a bar. I got to dance with teh mayor, as well be in teh same conversation circle as 3 of the main actors. i might make it on screen in this scene. here is for hoping. it was so cheesy. we ahd to raise our right arms and pump them. that was our dance... oh my goodness. Our third scene was at a dinner party, again with drinks. i was dancing and the director told me i was dancing too hard and had to soften up. haha. fernando (my friend from argentina) turns to e and says, "oh, you crazy canadian! "
The favorite part of my day was meeting all these great people. i met people from germany, from england, cheq just all over. and they were all great. we become like a small family. it was actually really sad to leave them. There were just so many funny moments-- from our ugly costumes, and i mean UGLY, to our crazy meals. we just all enjoyed conversation. OH, and this guy from germany had to best dance moves. i couldnt stop laughing. he was FRIGGEN hilarouis. all the girls had to get our make up done and these guys were bad. i mean b-a-d bad! i just couldn't stop laughing. i really tried, bui couldn't. i was crying. as they were diong my make up. i had a giggle fit! everyone was just dieing laughing... oh man. my bollywood family.
after a few of us went out to this place called polly ester. a few girls and i danced the night away. finally i got to dance in india. i just love dancing! and i didn't only whip out the right arm pump that we learnt earlier in the day, i whipped out the wiggle step too! ahah. the indian woman here sure can move! man, i wish i could dance like them. too bad i amjust a little white, canadian girl. haha. saying goodbye was bitter. i spent 14 straight hours with these people, and i felt like we were exposed to everything about each other. plus we all looked like highschool drama crap. haha.

ps. i forgot to add this so it wont make sense where it is...

the whole day the extra organizer tried to put his arm around me. he told me i was his girlfriend. i told him no. and he said i needed to have an indian boyfriend. (like that would be hard to find..) at the end of the night he paid me and then tried to lean in for a kiss. i actually had to push him away! ahaha. so awkward. so awkward.

as well, 3 of our friends escaped. they met us at polly ester and told me they ran half way home. home is about a 1.5 hour drive. they must have hated it! they were hilarius though. i mean, who escapes bollywood? haha. love it.

there are only two words to describe bollywood

1) gong

2)show

GONGSHOW!

bollywood star

We left Goa with sadness. Goa is quite lovely. The relaxed atmosphere is enough to make anyone want to stay. Unfortunately due to political unrest on noise pollution or something, this is what i think they said, there was no silent disco, or no bands playing. huge bummer.
At dinner, at "CUBA BAR" i had a funny experience. Seeing as I am white, and blonde this is just the best thing in the world. It was odd though because Goa is filled with tourists. These 3 men from Punjab come up to me and ask me to take a picture. A regular occurance here. I told them they could have a picture for 100rbs. They laughed and laughed. They tried to convince me that their happiness was worth more than a 100rbs. Our waiter yelled at them so they left. Then they CAME BACK! We insist. just one photo! 100rbs, i said. They asked me what they could get for 500rbs...
um. a photo with all three of us.
Then one guy said, "what about a kiss?!"
I ALMOST DIED LAUGHING. I told him it would cost him $1,000,000 for a small kiss. The other guy said, one million kisses for one million dollars. (UMMM, let me think about that for just a second.. NO!) He goes on and tries to convince me his happiness is worth more than 100rbs or any amount of money. I told him, I am from western culture. Money is everything. hah (ok, not everything, but i needed them to leave) Then they parted. Very unhappy, and with no photo.
The train to Bombay was great. We were sitting with a family that had the most adorable kids ever. They shared their meals with us, and we just all had a great time together. the sleep was a bit rough, due to me being sick. I actually threw up on the train tracks. GOODIE. super sanitary. It was the first time in 6.5 years i got sick.
Once in Bombay we took a taxi to our hotel. It is a little grubby, but quite livable. The luxery I will consume when i come home! We did a little shopping, after my nap since i was sick. It is insane the "mam, my shop! come inside.' I can't imagine shopping in peace anymore. One man tried to get me to buy baby clothes.
"For your baby."
"I don't have a baby."
"Why not?"
Weirddd.
We went to the local cinema to watch some bollywood movie. This movie was sappy, dramatic, sad, sickness, a cruise.. it was just everything. Gotta love that good ol' bollywood.
Speaking of bollywood. I am actually on set right now for a bollywood music video. A bunch of us were picked off the street to be extras in a film. my dress is SO ugly and my make up is horrible! At the end of the day it was a great experience though. Still waiting to get on set. I've met some funny characters, and am really fully enjoying myself. This man from chicago, chris, interviewed us for his documentary back at home. So, i'll keep ya'll posted on when that is coming out on the net. Plus, i get paid 500rbs. and i dont have to kiss anyone. haha. WATCH OUT BOLLYWOOD, HERE I COME!

Living in a beach hut

It took ten hours by bus until we got to Goa. It was totally worth all the trouble, and heat.. and nasty pollution on my skin.

us girls decided to sleep in a beach hut. it is literately about a 10 second walk from the beach. it is small, but it has character. i almost love it. almost prefer it. but not for too long. we went to this really great italian restaurant called magic italy. we had spinach, tomato, mozza, mush and zucchini pizza. also this amazing salad that was just veggies with a friggen great oil on top. i was living the dream with that. we walked around town for a bit... and wanted to go to the silent disco. it is the tourist thing to do here. but since the season is almost over, the disco is over... so... it was a no go. :(
then we went for italian coffee and ice cream. i was really sick after that so i went to bed. and visited the bathroom a fair amount of time. (too much information? probably. pray for health)

today we shopped the strip. i bought some presents and some stuff for myself. then we hit up the beach. i had an allergic reaction to the water.. i guess because all my mosquito bites with the salt water, so i got out and showered. my friend mina, who did my henna for a steal of a deal and i hung out as she decorated my foot. i love it! soon we are going to meet our hippie friend for supper. he is bringing some of his friends. should be fun! then we're off to a relaxing night of music at a local beach bar.

two not very exciting days.

Yesterday was basically two very long bus rides because we missed one of our trains.. we thought we booked our ticket for the 17th, but we did the 16th.. or maybe we just didnt know what day it was... that happens sometimes. so we took a 5 hour bus to mangalore, and then a 5 hour bus to kompta, and then a one hour bus to gokarna. i did a lot of thinking. as well, one man thought his hand belonged on my lap! i dont think so sir!!! so i moved and was bitter. we found our hotel after a few back allies, and tons of cows. the bed was hard, but i didnt realy notice because i fell sound asleep.
today we just went to the beach. the water wsa really warm and salty! it was nice to just relax. we ate at this cute cafe thing and then relaxed some more. we got a little lost on the way back, and walked on some volcanic ashes i think. it was neat. jody is feeling really sick so she stayed in tonight. julie and i hit up the markets. i got some sweet clothes for like 3 bucks i a piece. i love indian shopping! well, i should head for supper. later!

mountain sickness

we start our adventure on twisty roads, on this crazy bus. the view was absolutely fantastic the whole way up to the tiny town we would be staying at. shout out to gary.. this is your town gary. this is you. i kept thinking that the whole time i was going up and once i got there. anyways..
we ate rice balls for breakfast and then started our trek. we did 7 km up the mountain and 5 km down. now let me start with my story.
this trek was pretty awesome for the first 6km up. i felt good, felt the burn... was basically living the dream. all a sudden i felt very weak, like my body was on fire and like i was going to faint. and seriously faint, not just saying.. hey i think i might faint. so we stopped for water and some berries. basically i didnt want to move. i didnt watn to go on. i didnt really have much of a chioce, but them leaving me there to rot and die just sounded like a party. i have never felt this way before. i felt like a failure. i felt like i was going to keel over. i wanted to barf but couldnt. there was a little voice inside of me"you can do it" but i didnt want to. i didnt want to listen to it... and that is where my dear jody came in. she pulled my arm and said, just 1 more km cass. we can rest up there. she had to pull me a bit. i wish i didnt have to admit that. i wish i could say it was easy for me. but that km wasnt. i had been sick in the morning and tried to push through it. we got to the plateau before the top and we napped there for about ten minutes. i prayed, i just needed to get to teh top. getting down would be easy. i just needed to get to the top. when we did, i felt great. i wasnt miss happy, but i did it! i did it with help, but we did it. (can i throw up yet?)
the whole time i was thinking about how this situation was like church. (and i am nto jut talking teh building here)
when i left the church it was really easy for a long while. i would hit bumps and get scratches but it didn't really much matter. i was strong enough. i wouldn;t even really to for water, and if i did it was a small sip, just to satisfy me. then the sun really comes out, starts to burn my skin and my soul. it's hard to keep going, but you lotion up to prevent further redness. there are times when you dont want to go on. and if i was bymyself on that trek i probably would have just fallen asleep for hours and no one would have known where i was. but i had friends, people to encourage me. sometimes even drag me. In the church, in community it is abotu working together as one. most of the time i feel like i am encouraging and don't get encouraged that often. this has been one thing i have been really pondering on my trip. i need to be surrounded by Godly people, but still reach into the world. i need to be part of something bigger than my personal faith, i need to be part of the body of Christ. The trek down was easy because i had people with me. i had someone guiding me. i would have never made it down if i was alone. my guide will be compared to Jesus. he waited for me when i was tired, pushed me to keep going when i didnt really want to sometimes. but his eyes were so gentle, so caring, feeding me berries.. giving me nutrients.
jesus is my nutrient. he is my strength and i need to give that back to him. how i will when i am home will be only known then. but the thoughts are there, the desire is there.

the next day i slept all day and didnt trek. i was feeling quite ill. my stomach is feeling blah, but iwill live, i think it is just travellers sickness. i finished readign blue like jazz which i think is an amazing book adn everyone should read it. heading to the beaches tomorrow, and for the next three days. keep praying. and keep posting. xo

paper thongs and my massage virginity

i have tons of things to update you on first. but as this is fresh on my mind, and quite horrifying.. i will write it first.

my whole trip i have been looking forward to getting a massage. i thought it would be a cultural experience, safe... with a towel.

well boy was i wrong! i get in the room, which i had to share with jody and the lady asks me to take my clothes off. procedure. so i grab the towel that is near me and start walking to the bathroom. she grabs the towel and says no, here. (OH MY GOSH YOU HAVE TO B KIDDING ME!)
whether you know or not i am a very modest person. since after diapers i am the only person that has seen me fully naked. unless it was an accident that i am not aware of. maybe once when i was like 8 and it was my sister, but you know what i mean. lately, i am the only one.
so i try to tell her that i will keep my underwear on for this whole endeavor but she starts ripping my panties off! "i woman, you woman!" i just wanted to cry, but i laughed. and said no no no! she is literately pulling me clothes off, as i try to keep them on. she hands me this little paper thong that looks like a sumo wrestlers outfit. i say, can i go to the bathroom? she laughs, and says no. oh my goodness. GONG SHOW. so i modestly go to a corner and shimmy my new outfit on. i kept my bra on, she kept trying to take it off.. but i insisted.
so the massage starts. i am trying to enjoy it. but she just goes right for my chest. a) i am completely awkward, and b) it is extremely ticklish. c) i wonder has she cleaned this table since the last person? i dunno. anyways she is just getting right in there. i try to move so she understand i don't want it. all a sudden her breasts are in my face because she is rubbing my stomach so much! i am suffocating in this womans breasts. i just remember praying, "oh God, please help me." the rest of the massage was nice. my legs felt great, my stomach once she changed positions was good, and the back was great. then... she goes for my butt. she literately sticks her finger in my crack! SHOOOOT! i was trying so hard to embrace the situation..i just couldn't. i now feel a bit scarred. but i will be ok. it was just a gong show. and my body is mine. i have never had anyone try that hard to get me naked, and wont until i am married. haha. and after all that, she asks if jody and i want to shower together.. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! NO WAY! but.. the massage was mostly nice. mostly.

anyways, kotchi has been such a great time. we have watched some katakala dancing and make up application. it was the weirdest and most interesting form of theatre i have ever seen. the pictures will only explain. very enjoyable, very cultural. the make up was my favorite part. they used colored stones and coconut oil to make the paint. as well, as rice paste and paper to make 3-d masks. it was so awesome!!!

yesterday morning we woke up early for a back water tour. it was sooo beautiful!!! i have never had an optical feast as this one. my body felt so relaxed in nature. the boat was quaint, the people so friendly and the nature breath taking. we stopped at a cement plant, a rope plant and on a small island for lunch. they served us on banana leaves! we had rice adn some "salads" and sauces. it was quite enjoyable. after we took small boats through some of the canals. we were paired with 3 girls from london area, whom we have spent some more time with since. they were a hoot!!

after showers and some internet we went to our cooking class. the woman that ran this is just the cutest thing since sliced bread. she comes out with the electrical mosquito zapper and says, "I WILL KILL THEM!" i just burst into laughter. she gently strokes my chin, and smiles at me. i think i became her favorite. haha. the meal was phenomenal! we made chippati's, a cucumber curry, tuna, a vegetable daal and wow. i have never eaten like that before. it was amazing. a delight for my taste buds. after all of us that took the class enjoyed each others company and had a few good laughs about our adventures so far.

as we were going back to the hotel we decided to stop for some tea. our hotel manager joined us-he is just the most hilarious man ever! we go back to the hotel, play some guitar together, and sing songs. jody started harmonizing!! oh man. it was just the best thing ever!!! i will miss the princess inn. can you believe i stayed at a place called princess inn... oh my gosh. this country is changing me! hahah.

this morning we went to this cute tea house and had the best chocolate cake i have ever experienced. of course i had masala chai (i wish you could hear how the train men say this).

we are off tonight for another long train ride. i hope it goes better than the last. if not.. i am ready to plan another tshirt.... orjust say live the dream--our trip moto. haha.

xo, thanks for the prayers.

M&M's really don't melt

it's true. m&ms really don't melt. we have carried a pack around india for a week and they were perfectly good yesterday on our 12 hour, sweaty train ride. for some reason we got stuck on a waiting list, which is trouble and i hope never happens again. so we got stuck in the lowest of low classes. not even sleeper class. we only had a bench for us three girls, another man and our luggage. and it gets worse. the funny thing is that it was so horrible it was hilarious. like i didn't even hate it that much because it was so bad. haha. there were times when i wanted to cry, buti just laughed and looked at it in another light. i mean, i can't change it--so why not embrace it? i will give you a small picture. there were 5 men across from us on one bench. two men sleeping above them in the luggage area, a man sleeping above us, 4 on our bench, plus our bags. there were men surrounding us (not in a creepy or bad way- we were totally safe) we sat there for 12 hours. my body went into positions i didn tthink was possible in attempt to be comfortable. haha. FINALLY it was over. our phrases for this trip have been live the dream- i live for moments like this and gong show. (we just put ourhands in a gong fashion and make the sound) jody and i decided to get peach shirts made!! we took a boat to kotchi and arrived at 4 30 am. our hotel is pretty cute, had a CLEAN bathroom and even towels. i am getting some laundry done tomorrow!!
tonight we are watching some native dancing! i am so excited. as well we are watching them apply all their make up. i can't wait!! then we'll eat something and go to bed. tomorrow we are doing a back water tour, and then a cooking class. kotchi is great! i will tell you more later!

thanks for your prayers, and keep em' coming.
xo's!

madurai

well, leaving pondicherry was a very sad time for me. i loved it there. the hot breads adn teh tranquil beach setting would make anyone want to stay. but we were up early to catch our train to madurai. the train was 8 hours. we gave a lady some bread, adn met a french man at the station. finally we arrived after a few naps and went to our new hotel. its called new college. let me tell you the word new is very decieving. it is a shit hole. taht is the only way to explain it. we didnt have a shower head, or a toilet. just a hole and a tap.
we spent supper at a place i picked, wasn't letting those two ladies pick after the great hotel choice. haha. so we went to teh park plaza roof top. i had a really great meal, rice and daal. i tried a lassie but it was really gross-tasted like sour milk. then we went to bed to teh sounds of the festival.. after gettign offered drugs. i was so scared so i ran. haha. well, nto really ran but i just walked rally fast adn yelled NO DRUGS!
this morning we went to the top of a buildign to see the temple view. it was gorgeous. then we went to teh temple. took some ics and boght soem jewlerry. we also got blessed with a bindi dot. we shopped a bit and now are going for lunch before our train leaves to kotchi! xox, keep praying!

pondicherry

I LOVE PONDICHERRY!!!!
i am out of my sketch hotel and am now in a verrrrry nice one. it has a view of teh ocean, two balconies and 6 beds. this is luxery. we paid 1400 rbs for 2 nights... which is amazing. 40 rbs=1 dollar. today we took a nice walk around pondicherry and saw some of the histrorical sights. gondi statue, and went to the ashram(a place of meditation) i tried ot meditate in this upstairs place and this man told me it was a big no no! shooooot. hahaa. oh well, i am white. they know i am stupid. we have seen some of the most beautiful furniture and architecture. i love pondicherry! it is soooo much better than chennai. the streets are clean, the people are friendly. i just love it!yesterday evening we went out for a nice dinner. i ordered this eggplant thing and waited forevvvver for it. the waiter brought out some naan which was amazing and this "bacon butter" jokingly i said, if this is my meal i am eating some of yours. low and behold this meal was my meal and it was the weirdest thing ever. i just took it and spread it over my naan and made a little burrito. hahah. it was an adventure for sure. after we went to go find coffee since we are in a french based town. it didnt work. our hotel curfew was 10 30, so we tucked in somewhat early. oh and, I am traveling with a french girl named julie-cutest thing ever, and this mornign we found a french cafe. we sat there and we all fully enjoyed our coffee and croissants! Later today we are going for a bike ride around pondicherry...that is our plan so far! OH and i bought the SWEETEST ring today. i l-o-v-e it!
xo to all!

chennai chennai

So, the rest of my day in chennai was an adventure.
I can't remember where i ended so i will just say taht we went to church, ti was an english service so taht was nice. after we came back and celebrated jody's bday. they had cake, confetti, and they even made us eat it indian style. which is where jody gets to smuch cake into my mouth. fortunatelly i am a hilarious person and i took cake out of my mouth (gross yes) and put it all over hers. haha.
we asked glory and shannon to show us how to dance. it was really fun. we tried, and they basically laughed and made fun of us. weshowed them teh macarana and boot scoot adn boogie. haha. sooo much fun.
soon we left for teh train station. we were in the womans section of the train. i almost hit this woman with my huge pack sack! they were all very helpful with us getting off at the right stop. the english here is pretty broken, but understandable.
today we are giong to pudicherry. (a little french town) i just had poudi or something like that for breakfast. it was basicaly bread with two sauces. very good. now we are just updating in the internet station. miss ya'll. and keep praying.
xxoxox

here...

I AM HERE!

India is so beautiful, and hot! but I will start from the beginning.

On my way to toronto I got bumped up to first class. so i had a glass of wine, and soem free salad. it was awesome. in toronto my passport had to get checked over, so i was a bit nervous, but everything turned out. then the long haul started. basically i didn't talk to nayone for 18 hours. i had two seats to myself so i slept, listened to music, attempted to watch bee movie and enchanted but fell asleep.. i was so excited once the flight attendent started asking me questions.. haha. yes! i could talk!!! once in india i had to shuttle to the air port and this man helped me with everything. the airport was really dodgy. broken tiles and puting grass. i went through "security" and waited 20 mins for my bag. finally it came! jody and two ladies from the home picked me up and we drove to the home. it totally reminded me of peru again. just the crazy caos of honking and people everywhere. love it here so far. it is so hot i am continually sweating. have fun in the snow! hahaha. ... sorry.

please pray! My travels start today-we are meeting with a friend of jody's from when she was up north. then we will make some of our plans. we are lookin ghard for an elephant safarie...that is my dream...so i hope it works!

XOXOXO

20 day feelings

So,

Twenty days until I leave for the adventure of a lifetime! I am so excited to leave. And all the stuff that has been happening makes me want to leave as soon as possible. I think influences have been trying to discourage me; but my spirit is still high--ha, I am just glad I have the ability to let things roll off my back. It feels as if anything that could go wrong has.

As many of you know I experienced a little car accident. My camera screen cracked. My cell phone won't turn on. Funds aren't taken care of. These are just a few of the things that have been thrown my way before I leave. I know it is all ok and all, but it just sucks having to deal with paper work and what not. Or just waiting four weeks for your phone to come back when you won't be here in four weeks.. blah. OH WELL. optimism is key. and i have it..at least for a while. haha. JK.

My visa has come in!!! So that is exciting. my passport looks really sweet now! My vacs as you heard have been all done, and now all i have to do is call the canadian embassy. I am ready to fly, fly away. Away from Canadian culture and run into an adventure so wild, so different. I am prepared to be spiritually, physically, and mentally challenged. I know God will change me on this trip and reveal something to me. I can't wait!

Please keep me in your prayers. Right now my specifics would be health, bonding with the home owners and the girls-wisdom in teaching, as well as safety while Jody and I travel. THANKS!

Vacs and Meds!

Well another little update for ya'll to read--if you are even reading them.. haha.

Yesterday I got my thyphoid vaccination, as well as my pollio/tetnis. I was supossed to pay 50 bucks fo ra sitting fee for the pollio because it is only done through manitoba health in winnipeg, but a family of four had five transfered over to the medical centre and I got it for free! YIPPIE! A blessing in disquise. Because I would have went in the day before if my car hadn't been dented in a ice/ditch relationship. Oh well, 500 deductable or 50 dollar savings. haha. the choice seems obvious to me. But none the less, I could have had to pay both. And now I don't. I also picked up my malaria pills and will start consuming two days prior to take off. It is so weird... 27 days until I am half way across the world. Now I am just waiting for my visa to return to me and I am ready to go!

There is a lot I will be leaving behind, but I think I will gain SO much from this trip. Please keep me in your prayers!

Booked my flight

Hey again everyone!

Well, today was the big day to book my flight. Yay!
I booked it through a marvelous man named mark from cheaptickets canada! He was just a joy to work with. hah, and did a fantastic job getting me the cheapest and most efficient flight. Props to mark. *everyone please clap here*

Anyways...

April 4th is my official depature date.
Flight times:

Wpg. 2:30pm- Toronto 5:55pm
Toronto 8pm- Brussels 9:40pm
Brussels 11:40pm - Chennai 12:45am

My return dates are set as well, but ya... who knows they could easily change.
Please continue to pray for me. Funds are slowly coming in, but i have faith it will all work out. My fundraiser is seeming blue but still, i think it will work out. Faith faith faith. haha. My favorite word. Pray for safety on my flights and minimal confusion. Love you all and i will miss you like crazy!

Cassandra

So, here's the deal...

Hey ya'll.

So, basically while I am gone I want everyone to have a place where they can read about my travels and mission work. I am SO excited to be heading out there-you have no idea! I will let you know what I know as of now and will keep you posted as I go.

My trip will start early April and I will arrive in Chennai, India. There I will meet my friend Jody-she is currently working in India. Then we will be travelling for a little less than a month close to where our mission work will start!

In May we will be working at the Kollogal Girls' Home teaching english, helping with homework and basically being a friend, sister and mentor to these children! THIS IS SO EXCITING! I am so excited to be doing something major for God-so EXCITED. I will be returning late June and will be home for about 2 weeks--then I head off to oh-so-exciting saskatchewan to work at a fishing lodge.

Things to watch out for- MY FUNDRAISER! since i need your money to get me there! haha. I am working on details and everything now. Silent auction will be had, baking and what not.. and definately a place to donate! yay!

* If you are uncomfortable with such a casual means of communication I am sorry. This is the best I can do. I love you all and I ask for your continual support in prayer before, and during my trip. Thanks a bundle!