so we have been at the ashram for about a week and a half doing yoga and just really taking it easy. it has been really cold and there is no central heating so it def. sucks, but it gets really warm in the middle of the day so we soak it up as we can. we have also met some really awesome people here at the ashram, a girl from Sweden, several people from Canada, and there is this one guy from Monterrey but he grew up in Fiji so but we ar the only girls from SF and so everyone calls us the girls from cali!
we had a very relaxing christmas and new year and the restaurant that we went to eat at for christmas dinner actually had a tiny christmas tree with little balloons on it as ornaments! we have met so many amazing people here from all over as well, and it has been so great getting to know these diff. people and talk to them about all there diff. experiences and be able to relate ur experiences together. there is so much good energy and love here it is so refreshing. it is def. something u can't quite explain so i encourage u all, get to india at some point in ur life! i have also been receiving reiki healing from this amazing woman from texas who has lived here for the past 4 years and is a reiki master. and what it is, is basically energy healing for physical and emotional pain, and for all of u that know about my back it is unreal how much it is helping. i am so excited to learn how to do it myself when i get back and continue the healing and help those who want it!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Back to India!- by tina
so we are back in india in darmasala! nepal was amazing and we had a great time, and although we are all sad to leave we are so excited about what lays ahead for us in india. the bus ride to darmasala was amazing and this is me being sarcastic now! it was a wonderful 15 hour overnite, ass bumping, back squishing, freezing ride! but we made it and it is all part of the experience and we were all totally fine. so here we come india again! so far we have just hung out in darmasala, taking it easy after that bus ride. and today we hiked up to a beautiful waterfall, were we could see the snow caped mountains with 2 new friends we made along the way; a guy from florida and a native. they are totally nice guys and we were very grateful to the indian who took us to the waterfall.
so since my last blog in nepal- which christie has updated y'all in her blog about as well, so this will be short- we went to pokhara after kathmandu. went canoeing and bike riding. we saw a live nepali cover band and went to these fun caves with a waterfall. and...we went paragliding which was amazing! we then went to bardia and went on an elephant ride-so awesome! and on a safari walk in the nepali jungle. didn't see much but it was just so cool to be there and we did some yoga by the river! then from there we went back in to india and here we are!
so since my last blog in nepal- which christie has updated y'all in her blog about as well, so this will be short- we went to pokhara after kathmandu. went canoeing and bike riding. we saw a live nepali cover band and went to these fun caves with a waterfall. and...we went paragliding which was amazing! we then went to bardia and went on an elephant ride-so awesome! and on a safari walk in the nepali jungle. didn't see much but it was just so cool to be there and we did some yoga by the river! then from there we went back in to india and here we are!
Nepali Refugee Camps
I am trying to update you all at once since I have been busy....so after Darjeeling Nepal.
So far the most frustrating moment of the trip and what ended up being one of the most redemptive moments as well came on the day we were planning on leaving Darjeeling. Part of our time spent in Darjeeling was waiting on the director of the non-profit called IOM (International Office of Migration), who assist the refugees in resettling in the States, to inform me about how I can gain access to the camps now that we can not volunteer but merely visit. On our last day in Darjeeling after I had emailed her a few times she tells me that in order to get into the camps I have to ask permission from the government of Nepal or the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). Mind you I do NOT have contacts to either one of these entities since I was assuming that she would give us access AND she gladly leaves out any contact information to either one of them and tells me she is leaving the next day for the U.S. I was thinking, "How the hell am I going to get access, do I call the government of Nepal? Do I send an email to the UN headquarters in Switzerland?" ARG! I was hoping for a little more direction!....After failed attempts to contacting both places, and no time to wait around, we all decided to just go for it leave for Nepal and figure things out along the way and trust that it will happen.
We head out a little later than we wanted from Darjeeling which would put us in the border town of Nepal after dark, not our favorite, but at least we would be at the starting point to reach the camps since they are close to the border. It was easy sailing into Nepal and literly crossed the border on foot in the dark. We got our visas and were ready to find a hotel from the many scouts waiting for us to leave the Nepalese immigration. There was only one left afterward and sometimes those scouts do come in handy when you have no idea where you are and it is dark. I go with my gut and trust this guy who leads us to his hotel which ended up being our link to the refugee camps. I was reluctant to tell anyone about our true purpose in Nepal because I could get in trouble if officials found out we visited the camps without permission but these hotel owners I felt comfortable with and told them our goal of entering the camps for visiting. The elder brother was like no problem! I can help you get into the camps I assisted another foreigner who wanted to go and anyone can enter. What! He arranged a taxi for us the next day and came as our guide/translator when we first entered the camp. Fortunately I had contacts in the camp so I was able to ring them and let them know we were coming so we had people waiting for us when we first arrived. I love these redemptive serendipatious moments!
Being in the camps made me feel at home and right back in the office in Oakland. Soooo many people were interested in who we were, what we were doing, and once they found out about my work in the States had a slew of questions for me about resettlement in the US, since most of the people in the camps are applying to relocate. It was our first taste of the Nepalese hospitality. Friends and old clients of mine from back home told their family in the camps that we were coming, and all the family and friends in the camp wanted us to visit their home and feed us. The next thing we know we had visited several different bamboo huts and ate all different kinds of delicacies.....warm goats milk, red bull - yes really, oranges, crunchy noodles, and hot tea....! And this was just the beginning!
The Bhutanese refugees have an unique story. Another history lesson I do apologize, I just can't help it I AM my father's daughter. About 18 years ago the government of Bhutan which really was a monarchy with a king categorized everyone in the country into different ethnic groups, placing the Lhomstapa (spelling is probably wrong) in the last and most hated category meaning they had to leave or else. The ethnic background of these people come from Nepal, speaking Nepali and living a culture close to that of Nepal unlike the very Buddhist nation that speaks Ghongka and who's heritage and ancestors come from Tibet. Therefore, they were forceably removed from the country and set up camp in Nepal and have been waiting for 18 years to either return back to Bhutan (which won't let them back in) or naturalize into the local community and become citizens of Nepal (which the government has refused to grant). The third and final option for these refugees, like many other in the world, is to resettle to a third country permanently, and this is why so many Bhutanese people have been coming to the States. Ok finished!
I have to run...but I will talk more later about the camps later........!!!
So far the most frustrating moment of the trip and what ended up being one of the most redemptive moments as well came on the day we were planning on leaving Darjeeling. Part of our time spent in Darjeeling was waiting on the director of the non-profit called IOM (International Office of Migration), who assist the refugees in resettling in the States, to inform me about how I can gain access to the camps now that we can not volunteer but merely visit. On our last day in Darjeeling after I had emailed her a few times she tells me that in order to get into the camps I have to ask permission from the government of Nepal or the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). Mind you I do NOT have contacts to either one of these entities since I was assuming that she would give us access AND she gladly leaves out any contact information to either one of them and tells me she is leaving the next day for the U.S. I was thinking, "How the hell am I going to get access, do I call the government of Nepal? Do I send an email to the UN headquarters in Switzerland?" ARG! I was hoping for a little more direction!....After failed attempts to contacting both places, and no time to wait around, we all decided to just go for it leave for Nepal and figure things out along the way and trust that it will happen.
We head out a little later than we wanted from Darjeeling which would put us in the border town of Nepal after dark, not our favorite, but at least we would be at the starting point to reach the camps since they are close to the border. It was easy sailing into Nepal and literly crossed the border on foot in the dark. We got our visas and were ready to find a hotel from the many scouts waiting for us to leave the Nepalese immigration. There was only one left afterward and sometimes those scouts do come in handy when you have no idea where you are and it is dark. I go with my gut and trust this guy who leads us to his hotel which ended up being our link to the refugee camps. I was reluctant to tell anyone about our true purpose in Nepal because I could get in trouble if officials found out we visited the camps without permission but these hotel owners I felt comfortable with and told them our goal of entering the camps for visiting. The elder brother was like no problem! I can help you get into the camps I assisted another foreigner who wanted to go and anyone can enter. What! He arranged a taxi for us the next day and came as our guide/translator when we first entered the camp. Fortunately I had contacts in the camp so I was able to ring them and let them know we were coming so we had people waiting for us when we first arrived. I love these redemptive serendipatious moments!
Being in the camps made me feel at home and right back in the office in Oakland. Soooo many people were interested in who we were, what we were doing, and once they found out about my work in the States had a slew of questions for me about resettlement in the US, since most of the people in the camps are applying to relocate. It was our first taste of the Nepalese hospitality. Friends and old clients of mine from back home told their family in the camps that we were coming, and all the family and friends in the camp wanted us to visit their home and feed us. The next thing we know we had visited several different bamboo huts and ate all different kinds of delicacies.....warm goats milk, red bull - yes really, oranges, crunchy noodles, and hot tea....! And this was just the beginning!
The Bhutanese refugees have an unique story. Another history lesson I do apologize, I just can't help it I AM my father's daughter. About 18 years ago the government of Bhutan which really was a monarchy with a king categorized everyone in the country into different ethnic groups, placing the Lhomstapa (spelling is probably wrong) in the last and most hated category meaning they had to leave or else. The ethnic background of these people come from Nepal, speaking Nepali and living a culture close to that of Nepal unlike the very Buddhist nation that speaks Ghongka and who's heritage and ancestors come from Tibet. Therefore, they were forceably removed from the country and set up camp in Nepal and have been waiting for 18 years to either return back to Bhutan (which won't let them back in) or naturalize into the local community and become citizens of Nepal (which the government has refused to grant). The third and final option for these refugees, like many other in the world, is to resettle to a third country permanently, and this is why so many Bhutanese people have been coming to the States. Ok finished!
I have to run...but I will talk more later about the camps later........!!!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Darjeeling - And NO Centeral Heating
Now that the three of us have some time since we are not bouncing around from place to place...I am able to update. Being the trip planner means that you don't always get to blog or email since I always seem to be doing something else!!
Where did I leave off? Darjeeling...it has been to long I do apologize.
Our mountain trip was well worth it, no trekking unfortunately, to little time and with Tina's back we were unable to go. But in the future....I do plan on coming back so that I will be able to go trekking...a must if you like backpacking.
Darjeeling, the land of teas and mountains, was freezing of course, and a few strikes thrown in there as well. Remember Ghorkaland? Well here is my opportunity to explain. Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and the surrounding cities are part of West Bengal - one of the many States in India that includes Kolkata. The majority of the people in this area are Ghorka people originally from Nepal which was once a part of it before the new borders of India were drawn on them. Once you enter Darjeeling you see flags everywhere that say Ghorkaland, at first it kinda looks like an Indian flag because of the colors and then when you really look it definitely isn't. So why Ghorkaland? Well, West Bengal hasn't been the most efficient state government to these mountain people while profiting off of the tourist industry up there and the local Ghorka people not reaping the benefits of it. People have been fighting since the mid 80's - through strikes and talks - to create their own State in India separate from West Bengal. Many times the Ghorka fighters will call strikes where all the shops close, cars don't run, and whole cities shut down. It hasn't been working that well, and most people don't think that Delhi (capital government) and West Bengal will give them their own statehood....and there is rumor that things may get violent... I hope not. There is a very charismatic leader - whom I forgot his name - of the Ghorkaland movement who I have heard is a very powerful speaker and persuader...not good if things get violent. Anyway...enough of the history lesson.
I have to say though that after our early morning sunrise in Darjeeling to see Mt. Kanchenjunga (3rd largest peek in the world) at 5am there was a strike the same day and was unable to get a jeep back into town so we walked the 10km 6+ miles or so back into town. It is a good thing that we were already planning on walking otherwise that would have really sucked!!! We had a nice stroll back to the center of town...draggin Tina's limp butt JK! We did carry her stuff for her tho poor poopie.
The other interesting thing when we were in Darjeeling was the 'I love Darj' outreach. One day we noticed all of these people walking around town with these shirts that say 'I love Darj'. We found out that it was a Christian outreach venture where missionaries and local churches put on a day of random acts of kindness to the locals - free tea, flowers, and pony rides? Anyway, they had a evening show outside with music and skits and such and I felt like I was back at Christian camp. All the same songs song in English sometimes in Nepali, and kids running around on stage trying to do break dance moves...entertaining only because it was so bad :) but cute. It felt so wrong to be in a place that has so much spirituality, life, and sense of fullness to be blindsided by a type of Christianity that pushes its way of life on others. Way does Christianity always seem to be the Western way? And what about what the Indians have to offer?
Where did I leave off? Darjeeling...it has been to long I do apologize.
Our mountain trip was well worth it, no trekking unfortunately, to little time and with Tina's back we were unable to go. But in the future....I do plan on coming back so that I will be able to go trekking...a must if you like backpacking.
Darjeeling, the land of teas and mountains, was freezing of course, and a few strikes thrown in there as well. Remember Ghorkaland? Well here is my opportunity to explain. Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and the surrounding cities are part of West Bengal - one of the many States in India that includes Kolkata. The majority of the people in this area are Ghorka people originally from Nepal which was once a part of it before the new borders of India were drawn on them. Once you enter Darjeeling you see flags everywhere that say Ghorkaland, at first it kinda looks like an Indian flag because of the colors and then when you really look it definitely isn't. So why Ghorkaland? Well, West Bengal hasn't been the most efficient state government to these mountain people while profiting off of the tourist industry up there and the local Ghorka people not reaping the benefits of it. People have been fighting since the mid 80's - through strikes and talks - to create their own State in India separate from West Bengal. Many times the Ghorka fighters will call strikes where all the shops close, cars don't run, and whole cities shut down. It hasn't been working that well, and most people don't think that Delhi (capital government) and West Bengal will give them their own statehood....and there is rumor that things may get violent... I hope not. There is a very charismatic leader - whom I forgot his name - of the Ghorkaland movement who I have heard is a very powerful speaker and persuader...not good if things get violent. Anyway...enough of the history lesson.
I have to say though that after our early morning sunrise in Darjeeling to see Mt. Kanchenjunga (3rd largest peek in the world) at 5am there was a strike the same day and was unable to get a jeep back into town so we walked the 10km 6+ miles or so back into town. It is a good thing that we were already planning on walking otherwise that would have really sucked!!! We had a nice stroll back to the center of town...draggin Tina's limp butt JK! We did carry her stuff for her tho poor poopie.
The other interesting thing when we were in Darjeeling was the 'I love Darj' outreach. One day we noticed all of these people walking around town with these shirts that say 'I love Darj'. We found out that it was a Christian outreach venture where missionaries and local churches put on a day of random acts of kindness to the locals - free tea, flowers, and pony rides? Anyway, they had a evening show outside with music and skits and such and I felt like I was back at Christian camp. All the same songs song in English sometimes in Nepali, and kids running around on stage trying to do break dance moves...entertaining only because it was so bad :) but cute. It felt so wrong to be in a place that has so much spirituality, life, and sense of fullness to be blindsided by a type of Christianity that pushes its way of life on others. Way does Christianity always seem to be the Western way? And what about what the Indians have to offer?
Sunday, December 6, 2009
nepal- so far by tina
so we arrived to nepal two jeep rides and a walk pretty much over the boarder later and we found a decent hotel b/c of some very kind help of some nepali native. we have now also visited some of the refugee camps of the people of Bhutan who have been living in nepal for the past 18 years now. the visits were arranged b/c of julia and her connections with her job back in cali., which i am sure u ar all aware of. the people in the camps were unreal with their hospitality and warmth with recieving us. we had such an amazing time chatting and getting to know them (understanding most of what they said:) ) and eating the loads of food that they so generously 'forced' upon us- which is absolutely amazing!
we then traveled on 13 hour bus ride to kathmandu, b/c we were near the border of nepal-this is where the camps are, and are presently in kathmandu. it is very city like and is actually the nicest city we have been to so far. we have had some epic shopping time, visited the many temples that are here, and went to some traditional nepali dance club. the people here are very helpful and have been so awesome since we have been here.
we then traveled on 13 hour bus ride to kathmandu, b/c we were near the border of nepal-this is where the camps are, and are presently in kathmandu. it is very city like and is actually the nicest city we have been to so far. we have had some epic shopping time, visited the many temples that are here, and went to some traditional nepali dance club. the people here are very helpful and have been so awesome since we have been here.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Open
Oranges, Bananes...apples...?
I first discovered in my last day in Kolkata that I would be unable to volunteer in the refugee camps, which I don't think I have mentioned so far. I know I have told everyone that volunteering in the camps was one of the reasons I put this trip together, and why I went on this adventure, BUT life always has different ways of redeeming itself for whatever reasons. I was surprised to find that I wasn't as disappointed as I thought I would be, probably because it never crossed my mind that we would be unable to volunteer in the camp! Crazy?! I felt like something would come about, and even if we just visited them I would be happy about seeming them and spending time in my friend's houses/huts/bamboo structures..... I still had time to figure things out, and wait and see what would happen....
In the mean time...
My traveling partners (Christie and Christina) and I ventured to the mountains; Kalimpong, Gangtok, and Darjeeling. Quite different than the city, not just because we are in a different landscape but the people, the language, the everything. We officially entered GORHKALAND! In other words a part of north West Bengal (the state in India) who's heritage and ancestors come from Nepal, hence the Gorhka tribe. Nepali is the spoken language, Momo (dumplings) is the staple diet, faces are more east Asian looking, and people are shorter with a more laid back village mentality. More on Gorhka for the history buffs...
Our first stop was Kalimpong to visit my work client's family who picked us up from the bus stand and found us a hotel! Much needed when you had an over night train ride and a really bumpy windy jeep ride up the mountain. It was wonderful having friends!!! What struck me the most during our visit was when Indu (Kalimpong friend) told me she thought I was Nepali. For a moment I thought she was referring to my toes since they are darker than Christie's and Christina's, but she said no. What she meant was that I was unexpectedly very easy to get along with and she didn't know she would be so comfortable around us! I just wanted to squish her she is so cute!! Our time with them was well spent, and we had personal guides to give us a tour of the small town.
to be continued...darjeeling
Long Awaited Pictures
Park Cemetery - Calcutta (Kolkata)
i could only get one photo for now...if your on facebook i have more there..sorry folks! :(
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
darjeeling by tina
so after kalimpong, where i got sick and then better, hung out with some of julia's clients family that lives there, and had a relaxing time, where my back got a lot better, we moved on to darjeeling. (and don't worry julia will be bloggging about her time in kalimpong just as soon as she can; she is the one who deals with the phone so she is a little busy at the moment, but never fear she will update u on her time in kalimpong:)
darjeeling- cold, freezing...u take ur pick! there is no central heating anywhere so we sleep like we are ready for the antartic and dress everyday like we are going to face a blizzard, but then very bizzarly it warms up during the day and u have to take your layers off, very awkward change in temps! but it is so amazingly beautiful up here! views that are unimaganble and breathtaking. we watched the sunrise one day and saw a glimpse of mount. everest! we could also see all the other huge mountains b/c we are so high up you can see for miles. so while in darjeeling along with seeing the amazing views and mount. everest we also went to the zoo here, visited a temple, did some shopping:), and julia and i went to the botanical gardens while chrisite took some time to rest. it was very peaceful.
now we are in nepal and will be here for the next couple of weeks. it is def. different than india- more basic but acutually cleaner, so far. and will update u when we can of our journey here!
darjeeling- cold, freezing...u take ur pick! there is no central heating anywhere so we sleep like we are ready for the antartic and dress everyday like we are going to face a blizzard, but then very bizzarly it warms up during the day and u have to take your layers off, very awkward change in temps! but it is so amazingly beautiful up here! views that are unimaganble and breathtaking. we watched the sunrise one day and saw a glimpse of mount. everest! we could also see all the other huge mountains b/c we are so high up you can see for miles. so while in darjeeling along with seeing the amazing views and mount. everest we also went to the zoo here, visited a temple, did some shopping:), and julia and i went to the botanical gardens while chrisite took some time to rest. it was very peaceful.
now we are in nepal and will be here for the next couple of weeks. it is def. different than india- more basic but acutually cleaner, so far. and will update u when we can of our journey here!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Surprising Moments
I do apologize for the late blog, bouncing around from city to city and having bad internet connection now that I am not in Calcutta and organizing our happenings in India takes time! :) But on to more exciting moments and stories of the first weeks here in India.
First, did anyone know that there are more dogs than cows in India? Who ever told me about all the stray dogs in India? I must say that was a bigger shocker than any stray cow wondering down the street in the middle of traffic, maybe because I expected that.
Surprise Number 1: Everywhere you go feels like the dog pound or the humane society, there are so many stray dogs and cats you really got to watch your step.
Surprise Number 2: Asking for directions can feel like a board game gone wrong. Your trying to get to your finally destination by the many confusing clues left along the way.....deciphering them is a mind trip.
First, I have to admit I agree with my friend Mariah who went to India this past summer and told me that India is one of the safest places she has traveled too. I 100% agree. Maybe that is surprise number 3 for a lot of people. I didn't doubt that India would be a friendly place because it is all a matter of perspective, each person's has a different perspective. Of course, right? For example.....
The second day we were in India the three of us tried to find Mother Teresa's homes on our own to register to volunteer. I was determined to find it, and I wanted to walk around and see more of the city. We made our way dogging, dogs, baggers, poop, vendors, and every kind of movable object through the city to the street where - what is known in Calcutta as - the 'Mother House'. It was quite an epic walk, trying to figure out what streets we were on in the hot and sticky weather through what I like to call chaotic function - an insane amount of jostling commotion that all seems to work out. Ok, so we are on the right street right....so where is the Mother House? Let's ask....After 20 times of walking up and down the same 3 block radius, asking maybe 10 different people probably getting 9 different answers, and an hour later, we were probably as confused as we had ever been. Picking through the clues in all the answers and looking at the map we decided on a direction and start walking. 10 minutes into the walk I had an ah! moment and realized that I was the one looking at the map wrong and lead us to the wrong side of the street. Unbelievable, my most frustrating moment in India I created! How ironic?! All that to say we made it almost 2 hours late...Indian style and couldn't resister but not to worry you can still volunteer anyway.
Onward to the 'Mother Homes', I don't think I have ever seen so many volunteers in one spot. The first day was like a big - again chaotic function - of feeding, washing, cleaning, reading, drawing, playing, and dancing with kids, volunteers and sisters. I felt like I was getting in the way, talk about not what I expected. But what a wonderful feeling!!! There are so many people willing to help the poor, right?! My hat definitely goes off to the sisters that live and work there day in day out, they are the true heroines. My heart also wonders to the millions of children that are out on the streets who have no home to go to unlike these 60 kids. It is like an amazing blip in the overall situation. I need to remind myself....you do what you can and that is all you can do. I can't save every child of Calcutta. It is a very tide rope....a fine lane between being overly depressed over people's situations and numb cold to everyone. Gone down the depression road -not fun-...and don't really want to be numb, so I struggle to find the median.
Interlude - there are several Mother Homes and you can change it up if you want.
Now the adult home was the same set up but a little different. Here I felt like I was of more use and was told what to do instead of searching for a sister to ask her how I can help. Like the kids the adults are either extremely physically or mentally handicapped, and more so with the adults than the kids are wounds that need to be dressed. Huge sores from knee to ankle exposing the muscle...or was that muscle? Head bumps that I have never seen before and the pleasant surprise of incontinent bowels, but you can also never forget all the lovely smiles, laughs, and gestures. Prem Dhan (the adult home) was really a gift giving experience. The simplicity of walking a pocket 6 flights of stairs to bring laundry to the roof to dry, or messaging lotion on the ladies hands and feet, to feeding them and putting them to bed. Simple things that I can do for others makes me feel human again, while connecting with others from the other side of the world.
"The Flower Market"
A big part of this trip has been 'positive thinking', or serendipitous moments, or whatever word you want to describe the moments where you have the right intentions and something works out.....destiny maybe? Anyway this is just one story of many out of our trip so far. After Christina's poor back injury that left her to rest, Christie and I decided we wanted to visit the flower market in Calcutta. A place we heard that was quite spectacular. According to the map it was not in walking distance and not near the metro. Taxi would be expensive and the bus system...a wonderful experience but dear lord 'chaotic function' times 10. So, we leave our hotel, me not having a clue how to get there, and out of nowhere one of the chai wallah's on the corner of our street whom I was starting to befriend jumped out onto the street and started talking to us asking us where we were going. "The flower market?" We both said with confidence, and then he asked if he could take us there! I was laughing inside, and thinking of course!! Our adventure turned into a personal tour guide of small crowded flower market, but with our guide we had a boat ride over the hooghly river and tea on the side of the road. Christie and I would have NEVER been able to find it in that amount of time, especially before it got dark. This is one of the many reasons why I feel like India is one of the safest places I have traveled to.....
TINA's blog (on Julia's blog page:))
so here are some thoughts of mine, and i will be blogging on Julia's blog here and there b/c i felt like 3 blogs would be a bit much for ya'll. well so far just pretty crazy! we had an awesome welcoming in to India in kolkata as we road from the taxi to the hotel, thinking we were going to die many times but oh that is just how they drive, no biggie! and then we have Julia's wonderful contact and now friend of ours that helped us while we were in kolkata. we then volunteered at the mother Teresa homes and found that they are not we expected but def. a great experience to be able to give like that. however, at the one home we were at with the old people i was helping to put an old woman in her bed and the girl that was helping me did not quite have her and didn't quite know what she was doing and i ended up taking all the woman's weight, not the best on my back so i was def. in bed for a couple days. but it started to feel better just in time for us to go to kalimpong, a village at the base of the Himalayas and then when we got there i def. got a stomach virus of some sort and was in bed a couple more days! ahh, much time for reflection and reading, and oh thank god they have a tv here! but i am feeling much better now and it was a very nice time to just reflect and be with myself and just meditate. so now we ar on our way to Darjeeling tomorrow and on with our trip. not the best start for me but if anyone knows me they know my luck! :) and i def. got to volunteer as much as i wanted to in kolkata and see the city and i also got to go around kalimpong and see a buddhist monestary which was, of course, beautiful. so i have had a great time in between my misfortunes:) and i am def. blessed to even be on this trip and trust everything will always work out. faith is an amazing thing and when u see things work out time and time again it becomes easier to believe, this is were i am and i am so happy to be here in INDIA!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Streets of Calcutta
Calcutta the old British Capitol
South Park Cemetary...where the Brits lay
mmmmm......family on a bike!
It is such a fascinating, dense, crowded city....but the culture hub of India. Brillant friendly people, and the food.....um yea.
Mother Teresa's Homes....not what I expected, but you never know what something is going to be like until you get there, right? I don't think I have ever seen so many volunteers in one place wanting to help the poor!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
24 Hours
I am here now!!
I wish that I could email you each individually but unfortunately it is easier to just blog...hence the post:).
I must say the past couple of days has been a whirlwind - to be expected - and to my unfortunate demise I thought that I would have left my stress behind in America when I got on the plane to come here.....what a lie. Not that it is bad stress - I take that back all stress is bad - but stress over getting things done. How pathetic tho?? The one thing that I am worried about most is actually this excerpt that I am writing for this woman's book that has to be done in a few weeks. In hindsight I shouldn't have agreed to it especially on such short of notice before my departure date. But now here I am in Kolkata trying to finish a story that I am supposed to send back home. Anyway, now that I am done venting on to the more exciting part......
Cars honking, bikes peeping, dogs parking, people shouting.....it NEVER stops :)!! Even cats fighting! It is city life, crowded life, but I think a wonderful one none the less. (I might change my mind about that after I start volunteering tomorrow at mother Teresa's Homes - we will have to wait and see). The biggest word that has been very apparent since I have arrived here is DESTINY. Everything - or should I say the most important things - have been working out beautifully. My friend here in Kolkata has been amazing, sending her taxi driver to come pick us up at the airport with a sign and everything. Meeting wonderful people, and having a go-to person here to show us around is so significant in the type of experience you have - which i am sure you all already know so moving on :). The past day and half that I have been here I have deeply felt that if you will something there is a way and it WILL happen (I hope I am not being preachy). And the more it happens the more confidence you have that things will work out. In many ways this trip has been a leap of faith because many months ago when I bought my one way ticket I did not have solid contacts and in the course of a few months I now have people in every place we are going to! Trippy isn't it?!
I'll leave you with that...and....soon to come...pictures!
Love J
I wish that I could email you each individually but unfortunately it is easier to just blog...hence the post:).
I must say the past couple of days has been a whirlwind - to be expected - and to my unfortunate demise I thought that I would have left my stress behind in America when I got on the plane to come here.....what a lie. Not that it is bad stress - I take that back all stress is bad - but stress over getting things done. How pathetic tho?? The one thing that I am worried about most is actually this excerpt that I am writing for this woman's book that has to be done in a few weeks. In hindsight I shouldn't have agreed to it especially on such short of notice before my departure date. But now here I am in Kolkata trying to finish a story that I am supposed to send back home. Anyway, now that I am done venting on to the more exciting part......
Cars honking, bikes peeping, dogs parking, people shouting.....it NEVER stops :)!! Even cats fighting! It is city life, crowded life, but I think a wonderful one none the less. (I might change my mind about that after I start volunteering tomorrow at mother Teresa's Homes - we will have to wait and see). The biggest word that has been very apparent since I have arrived here is DESTINY. Everything - or should I say the most important things - have been working out beautifully. My friend here in Kolkata has been amazing, sending her taxi driver to come pick us up at the airport with a sign and everything. Meeting wonderful people, and having a go-to person here to show us around is so significant in the type of experience you have - which i am sure you all already know so moving on :). The past day and half that I have been here I have deeply felt that if you will something there is a way and it WILL happen (I hope I am not being preachy). And the more it happens the more confidence you have that things will work out. In many ways this trip has been a leap of faith because many months ago when I bought my one way ticket I did not have solid contacts and in the course of a few months I now have people in every place we are going to! Trippy isn't it?!
I'll leave you with that...and....soon to come...pictures!
Love J
Friday, October 16, 2009
prepare
just getting ready to go....and wanted to give you'all my knew blog info!! i had an old one but can't use it anymore.....
will keep you abreast on india journey's on this post and via email which is juliaguliaa@gmail.com if you don't have it....thanks for following me and my passions!!
love J
will keep you abreast on india journey's on this post and via email which is juliaguliaa@gmail.com if you don't have it....thanks for following me and my passions!!
love J
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