I have not posted in quite a while and a lot has happened. I am sorry to those who have been bugging me for a post!
India is the craziest place ever. Every day that I am here I almost cannot believe that it is a real place.
On Friday we had plans to go to the special needs school but due to the road conditions from the storms, they called and cancelled on us. Brooke, Lindsey, Eric, Julia and I ended up going to a mall and eating lunch. Brooke and I shared a Thali which is a plate with a few different curries and some rice. We also ordered some naan. We are waiting in the food court for our food to be done and we look over and see Eric pick up his food which is this giant smoking, sizzling platter. Food courts are much different here than in the states...After lunch, Brooke, Lindsey and I went to see a Bollywood movie called Ramaiya Vastavaiya. It was awesome and I love the music. I want to go again tomorrow to see a movie called Bhaag Milka Bhaag after projects.
Seriously, tell me this does not look awesome.
Anyways, I went on my first shopping extravaganza with everyone on Saturday. We went to Charmanar. I am mad I did not take a picture. I will if we go again...Basically imagine streets with shops on the side of the road and street venders packed in between the shops and the road.
I was finally able to get enough clothing to last me a while. It is so weird how the dress for women in Hyderabad is still very traditional. The dress is very modest, but modest here has a different meaning than what we are used to back home.
That Saturday night we went to the LDS church for a Pioneer Day activity. We were greeted at the church and then led to a room where we listened to a lesson about the beginning of the journey in New York. We were then led to two additional rooms where we heard the history and stories of the pioneers up until the settlement of Salt Lake City. The church here is unbelievable. The saints in India have so much love and so much faith. For eight years they have been hoping to hear the announcement of a temple in India and though there are still no plans, they have faith. It was really humbling to hear them talk about the temple and how much they love it when many of them have never even been to one. I realize every day how much I take for granted.
The organization I am with is not religious based, but I am so blessed that the LDS church has so many service oriented projects happening here. We are able to be a part of some great things because of the partnerships that HELP has here.
OK, Sunday has one story that requires sharing. We took an auto to go to church kinda far away and our driver got lost and we were so late and on the way Eric and I saw a man squatting with his backside to the road where we were driving and there was literally poop hanging out of his butt and on the street...Forgive the grossness, I have just never ever ever seen anything like that. "Welcome to India, Kayla. You think you have seen some crazy stuff? LOL, check this out then." -India
On Monday, we all had the opportunity to go to 6 bore well ceremonies. These bore wells were projects that the LDS church and HELP worked on together. Our team member Eric has been a big part of making these bore wells happen. The ceremonies were really beautiful. Typically, one of the members of the community would offer a scarf type thing to the three head members in our group which consisted of Ben, Julia, and Eric. Then everyone received a chalk bindi, which represents friendship. At each of the bore wells, there was a small plaque explaining who was involved in getting the bore well in the community. Chalk would be sprinkled on this plaque and a coconut would be broken by one of the guests. Then a beverage and a small snack would be offered to everyone. These bore wells were put in slums where water was a great distance away. Often times members of the community would spend most of the money they had just to travel to get water. The energy at each of these ceremonies was tangible. The gratitude expressed was unbelievable. India is beautiful.
India is the craziest place ever. Every day that I am here I almost cannot believe that it is a real place.
On Friday we had plans to go to the special needs school but due to the road conditions from the storms, they called and cancelled on us. Brooke, Lindsey, Eric, Julia and I ended up going to a mall and eating lunch. Brooke and I shared a Thali which is a plate with a few different curries and some rice. We also ordered some naan. We are waiting in the food court for our food to be done and we look over and see Eric pick up his food which is this giant smoking, sizzling platter. Food courts are much different here than in the states...After lunch, Brooke, Lindsey and I went to see a Bollywood movie called Ramaiya Vastavaiya. It was awesome and I love the music. I want to go again tomorrow to see a movie called Bhaag Milka Bhaag after projects.
Seriously, tell me this does not look awesome.
Anyways, I went on my first shopping extravaganza with everyone on Saturday. We went to Charmanar. I am mad I did not take a picture. I will if we go again...Basically imagine streets with shops on the side of the road and street venders packed in between the shops and the road.
I was finally able to get enough clothing to last me a while. It is so weird how the dress for women in Hyderabad is still very traditional. The dress is very modest, but modest here has a different meaning than what we are used to back home.
That Saturday night we went to the LDS church for a Pioneer Day activity. We were greeted at the church and then led to a room where we listened to a lesson about the beginning of the journey in New York. We were then led to two additional rooms where we heard the history and stories of the pioneers up until the settlement of Salt Lake City. The church here is unbelievable. The saints in India have so much love and so much faith. For eight years they have been hoping to hear the announcement of a temple in India and though there are still no plans, they have faith. It was really humbling to hear them talk about the temple and how much they love it when many of them have never even been to one. I realize every day how much I take for granted.
The organization I am with is not religious based, but I am so blessed that the LDS church has so many service oriented projects happening here. We are able to be a part of some great things because of the partnerships that HELP has here.
OK, Sunday has one story that requires sharing. We took an auto to go to church kinda far away and our driver got lost and we were so late and on the way Eric and I saw a man squatting with his backside to the road where we were driving and there was literally poop hanging out of his butt and on the street...Forgive the grossness, I have just never ever ever seen anything like that. "Welcome to India, Kayla. You think you have seen some crazy stuff? LOL, check this out then." -India
On Monday, we all had the opportunity to go to 6 bore well ceremonies. These bore wells were projects that the LDS church and HELP worked on together. Our team member Eric has been a big part of making these bore wells happen. The ceremonies were really beautiful. Typically, one of the members of the community would offer a scarf type thing to the three head members in our group which consisted of Ben, Julia, and Eric. Then everyone received a chalk bindi, which represents friendship. At each of the bore wells, there was a small plaque explaining who was involved in getting the bore well in the community. Chalk would be sprinkled on this plaque and a coconut would be broken by one of the guests. Then a beverage and a small snack would be offered to everyone. These bore wells were put in slums where water was a great distance away. Often times members of the community would spend most of the money they had just to travel to get water. The energy at each of these ceremonies was tangible. The gratitude expressed was unbelievable. India is beautiful.
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