Home and LICE FREE

I am officially home and its a bittersweet feeling. I loved so many things about India it would be hard to name just a few. I also came home without lice... HALLELUJAH! This was the best news since 4 out of 8 of my friends got it. It's good to be home but I've realized that nothing has changed since I've been back except for myself. This was quite the humbling experience to say the least.

Oh I forgot to mention we got to ride an Elephant on our way to the airport. If any of you know my love for elephants this was a dream come true.

Taj Mahal Chillin & The Final Days

We landed in Delhi after a 3 hour plane ride and went straight to Old Delhi and New Delhi where we rode rickshaws and went to the spice market. This was quite the experience and it was one of my favorite parts of my trip.

Whenever I think of a famous structure I always picture them in my mind, usually based on pictures/movies that I've seen. When I got to the Taj Mahal it BLEW MY MIND. I was literally hit with awesomeness looking at it. Its jaw dropping huge and just out in the middle of India.

“There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won’t go. For me, India is such a place. When I first visited, I was stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beautiful and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colors, smells, tastes, and sounds…I had been seeing the world in black and white and, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything re-rendered in brilliant Technicolor.” 

               – Keith Bellows 

My last day at Rising Star was a rough one. I never thought I'd become so attached to kids I had only known for a couple of weeks. Saying goodbye to them was a lot more difficult than I had anticipated but they will all hold a special place in my heart. I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to be apart of a program like this and I can't wait to write my favorite girls some letters!

Talent Show

Yesterday night at Rising Star we had a talent show! There were 10 acts that included singing, dancing, theater, and some art work. It was so much fun and I loved seeing how excited the kids were.

These are my favorite little girls Priya (left) at the talent show and her sister Gracie. 

Cricket

Today the kids had a cricket game against the Marriot. It was such a fun day and the kids were so excited they won!

Week 2

Hello everyone. Im sorry its been awhile since my last post. My internet was down for a couple of days but I'm back! Heres a look at what I've been up to for the past few days...

Wednesday: Today was a great day.  It was my 2nd time for medical and going out to the colonies. This is my favorite rotation we do by far! I was assigned to put eyedrops in after the ulcers were washed and rewrapped. Afterwards my group went to the zoo and rented bikes to ride around. It was lots of fun and not to mention I had a little slice of America after at pizza hut.

Thursday: Today instead of playtime the kids had craft day and it was so cute!

Friday: Today we went to a little beach town called Mamalapuram. It was so nice to relax at the beach and get into some normal clothes! 

I would really like to go back to Paris right about now...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150981793169962

Leprosy Colony

Our Rising Star group is split into three smaller groups each week. Everyday our group is assigned to help tutor at the school, do community service or help with medical at the leprosy colonies. My first rotation was the medical service and it is my favorite! The experience of going to my first colony was the highlight of my trip so far. When I think of Leprosy I think of the time of Christ. Here we were in 2012 seeing this thousands of year old disease that I thought didn’t exist anymore. I’m not going to lie I was quite nervous going in at first. The people living at these colonies are banned from the world and their families. As soon as I stepped off the bus, I was struck with how special these people are. They are living with a terrible disease, yet still smiling and happy. I was overwhelmed with so much love that all my fears of touching them was gone in a second. It would be so easy for these people to give up on enjoying life, but their faces were so bright and they didn’t just sit there and feel sorry for themselves. I never knew that such a simple task like changing bandages or oiling feet could mean so much to someone until I saw these people show off their smilies afterwards. This is an experience I will never forget and I can’t wait to go to the next colony. 

Sick..

Hello family and friends! Sorry its been awhile since my last post. My internet wasn't working and then I got sick and had to go to the hospital. The hospital in India was quite an experience to say the least. I really have never felt so sick or so scared in my entire life. But I am back on Rising Star grounds feeling a little better. I will try to gather all my pictures and update you all tomorrow. Thanks for all your prayers back home, it means a lot! 

GREETINGS FROM INDIA!

I am very happy to be here! The past few days have included an groundbreaking amount of travel for me, and many hours later, I have arrived in India! (relief). After months of planning and anticipating this trip, to actually be living it out was a very unreal moment. I still pinch myself every now and then just to make sure this isn't just a really good dream. To say the least, India is already a culture shock and a half and there is no shortage of cows or goats roaming around. Not to mention being blonde, I feel like a total deer in the headlights as I try to not feel awkward with everyone staring and asking for my picture.

I am already obsessed with the kids and the outfits I get to wear! They are so comfortable and the kids are so fun to be with. The next 3 weeks are going to be a wonderful time!

Ooo La La: Paris

Paris has truly amazing food. It kind of melts a part of your soul. Especially the desserts!

The Eiffel Tower really is as magical as you think it would be. I want to go back...

Plane Ticket In Hand

Finally I have my plane ticket in hand and a big smile on my face. I will be leaving in T-minus 1 hour to India and my flight routine goes something like this:

Salt Lake ---> Pairs ---> New Dehli ---> Chennai ---> 2 hour bus ride. I will be in transit for far too many hours to mention and I'm sure by the time I step off that last flight, I will be tried and in "moody mode." Luckily, I get a 2 day break in between flights to stay in Paris. I have been getting ridiculously overwhelmed as the reality of the trip has hit, and hit hard. Don't get me wrong, on a scale of 1-10 my excitement levels are sitting somewhere around 20 at the moment. On the flip side, I get to think about everything that I won't be able to pack in my suitcase and take with me to this new land full of adventures.

At this current moment, I am savoring what's left of good ole' Salt Lake life as if it were the last bite of my favorite meal and am soaking up the last of the good times like a sponge. I have a new found appreciation for my go-to meals and not having to do worry about getting sick/lice/malaria, because soon I won't have such luxuries.

Goodbyes & Stuff

When it comes to goodbyes, they are never easy. I know its the stage of life I’m in, but these next 2 years already seem like an eternity. Saying goodbye to my best friends for the past few months has been a rough life adjustment. Although hugging them for the last time was VERY SAD, I’m so excited they are off doing marvelous things all over the place! I love my friends and people to who I have to say goodbye. I am welcoming all the hellos that are coming my way too. Because this is a transitional time of life, full of comings and going and we get to have our memories of one another for a lifetime. To all my friends that are gone, I MISS YOU! To all my new friends coming, HI.

Boy Bands 4 LIFE

Every now and then you need a little 90's boy band music. This morning was one of those days and of course I listened to Backstreet:

I think it's safe to say we were all there for "I Want It That Way," but not everyone was around for their 2005 comeback. 

Cast aside your "I'm over teenage boy bands" attitude and embrace the joy that five teenage boys singing, dancing, and jumping around can create:

(sigh). I love this video for so many reasons. And not to mention my future hubby Niall (mentioned in my previous post) is in this. 

Perfection...

I'm Not Marrying Anyone Unless its Niall Horan. End of Story.

Ear Candy

Just doing my good deed for the day and sharing some of the delightful music I've been listening to lately. It will make your day, this I do not doubt. 

Blood Brothers- Ingrid Michaelson

The A Team- Ed Sheeran

The Woman I Love- Jason Mraz

Down- Mat Kearney
Home- Phillip Phillips
I'm On Fire- John Mayer

Big Black Car- Gregory Alan Isakov

Hello My Old Heart- The Oh Hello's

Stubborn Love- The Lumineers
Digest- Ben Taylor