Eatin curry...in no hurry...

Hello dearest loved ones,

It has been two weeks, and as I have shared with some of you already, I feel as though it has been lifetimes. That is not to say the time is dragging, it is simply a statement of the vast experiences and changes I have felt in what is considered to be 14 days. I have been living in a world of child-like wonderment, that I greatly enjoy, and have consciously made an effort to retain in my life. I smile, laugh, and love with my new friends and my heart is full. I feel both creatively inspired and centered. I feel alive and energetic while also feeling quiet and peaceful. I walk slowly and happily in the bubble of love that I have found (or has found me) here.

I currently reside in a humble rooftop abode...or the penthouse as i sometimes think of it :) I have a cot, that happens to be a bit shorter than I, and a small table. My room is often scattered with books (as I have been reading everything I can get my hands on) and full of curious students enjoying conversation in whatever level of english they can manage. My room has not only become a social center, it is also a safe haven for studious woman looking for reprieve from their distracting rooms. They all worry greatly that I must "have so much fear" after traveling so far on my own, only to live in a room by myself on the roof. I reassure them often that I could never be lonely with so many loving souls around, and that I too enjoy time alone to meditate and reflect, or sit quietly reading and drawing. Also, I have a lizard friend who visits me nightly after everyone leaves, to say goodnight and snack on bugs :)

For the first time in my life, I have gained a sense of what a rock star may feel like. I have become somewhat of a local celebrity. In addition to all the college woman who adore/feel comfortable with me because I speak slowly and take the time to understand their english, I have random people coming up to me on the street, telling me how awesome I am, and to shake my hand(Even at temple!). I am escorted nearly everywhere I go, given first priority to every seat, always being gifted snacks and treats. My morning and afternoon tea is hand delivered to me wherever i happen to be at the customary time. I surely am not used to it, and it is taking me a while to adjust/feel comfortable with it. I must say, the girls think i am very special, as I am the 'royal American' who still washes her own clothes by hand at night and lays them out to dry :)

I have coined a saying since I have arrived. "We eat with our hands, and work with our hearts." I find it very appropriate. We do actually eat with our hands! Every meal consists of rice, some sort of curry, a tenuous broth called sambar, and a white yogurt type curd. We mix these things with rice on our plates, and eat them with our right hand. The left hand is not used, as it is used to wash after using the bathroom. Instead of toilet paper, there is a small bucket of water by each toilet. (I still treat myself to roles of toilet paper from the 'modern super market' as I am not completely sold on the hand) The toilets are essentially a porcelain hole in the floor that is squatted over. I am becoming a very good marks woman :)

The work that is done here, I have only begun to scratch the surface of. Yesterday I visited a home that currently houses 19 "Grannys." These are all older woman who have nobody to care for them, and would otherwise have nowhere to live. VMM is currently building an addition to house 7 more woman. I attended thier support group, with Keerthi Madam, my advisor and increasingly close friend, who has been overseeing the home for the last 13 years. Although i could not understand the meeting, as it was in Telugu, the local dialect, I could see the love and gratitude on these beautifully aged woman's faces. Many of them could barely stand, but all stood up as soon as Keerthi walked into the room, and did not sit until she herself was seated comfortably. It was an incredible sight.

I am currently planning a workshop for street children. My team and I will be training ten of them in basic photography and videography. In addition we will be writing the 'script' to four short documentaries, chronically a small portion of the work done by VMM. One of the videos will focus on the street children themselves, thier struggles, and how VMM and the youth shelter, the youth center training programs, and overall support of VMM has aided in making lifestyle changes. I feel so privileged to be a part of this work, and look forward to seeing it captured through their own eyes. I will edit the footage, and the final products will be used in a variety of settings including national seminars and fundraising events.

I could write pages and pages, and never being able to fully capture a single aspect of my life here, but this is my attempt to share a sense of what I am experiencing. I will keep you all updated frequently, in hopes that you enjoy my ramblings. I love you all, and look forward to seeing all of your beautiful faces when the time comes for my to return. If you have specific questions or feeling like saying hello, feel free to send them my way. I will gladly return an email. I enjoy having little pieces of my past life in my inbox each morning:) Until then,Haley PS my apologies for typos / things that dont quite make sense...hopefully you can decode excited Haley jabber :)