Getting Settled

8/1/09
I spent the day with all the volunteers walking the streets. We went to the Internet Cafe and Chinese lunch (I didn't eat). It poured down raining. I was the only one with an umbrella. I find myself talking all the time. I need to be more aware. I passed out at 9pm.
8/2/09
I woke up at 5am. No water. I wanted to go to mass but Rocio didn't get to shower last night so I guess we will find another service later.
The black birds (they are called Kaks) because the yell "kak" "Kak" are everywhere and they are as dirty as the people. The horns honking is brutal on my ears. I won't be wearing my hearing aid much outside. (The horn honking is actually a traffic law if you can believe it)



Crossing the road is very dangerous. I almost collided with a man on a bike hauling at least 50 chicken that were half dead.





Today I want to go out with my camera only so I can take lots of pictures of different scenes. Each block is the same - little cubby holes 4x4 max with people cooking on the sidewalk, others begging , different smells which I can't capture. I think I'll video 15 seconds in a cab towards the end of my trip so others can see the feel of things.
5:30am and I am already sweating just lying on my bed. I've gone 1.5 days with my water purifyer and I'm not sick so that is good. I taught yoga yesterday with the other residence, it was fun. We will get together a few times a week to work out.
Back to the Kaks - they are loud and dirtier than pigeons in NYC. Their feathers are missing and they look oily. They perch on our windows and sit there looking at Rocio (my roommate) and me.
7:30am "It's a Wonderful World" song is in my head today. Breakfast is served at 8am. I hope today I get over the jet lag. We went tot he YWCA mass and it was interesting. We had a latte next door in the A/C - what a treat!. The water isn't making me sick but the smell and taste of the water is gross so I bought 3 liters of water today at under $1 so I think I'll just go that route.
I painted today. My feet are really swollen for some reason. We went for a late lunch around 3pm and took a walk for about an hour. The walks are not long but the sights, smells and filth are so overwhelming that I feel exhausted. I'm ready to sleep at 8pm. Tomorrow we start training so it's time to get focused. I'm excited. IT was good to have the weekend to get acclimated but too much time on my hands is making the days longer than they should be.

Orientation

8/3/09 3am - awake
4am - eat power bar
5am - get up and do yoga
6am - wait for the Y to turn water on so I can take a shower.
I've been showering in my clothes and washing them first as I strip, that way I don't have to set aside a time to do laundry. They dry over night and I'm ready to go. The thing that gets me confused is the lows are in the 80's and I get chilled at night. Strange.
My feet are still swollen and retaining water for some reason and it's uncomfortable. My sacrum is still sensitive. (I fractured it 2 weeks prior to the trip) When I sit or some times while walking it bothers me. Today I would like to be quiet. Let others start the conversation and LISTEN.
Each volunteer has their issue. Rocio has issues with smell, Mara has issues with horns, Arjun's family lives here - he's got issues with no gym to workout. Trevor - I'm not sure yet. He is staying at another place with A/C so I don't see him much. My issue is the toilets. I've seen women come out knowing they wiped water on their privates and didn't wash with soap afterwards. I don't know why I'm obsessing over taking a bowel moment and wipping my rear with water only. God please keep me healthy. Thank you Jesus. Amen.
Orientation today. The metro (underground) was very impressive. Clean and fast. I was expecting worse than NYC but was pleased. We went to South Kolkata to Global Ventures office. It was more pleasant than the central hub where we are staying. We met Jane and Alan. Jane works with slum women and they take 5 Saree's and stitch them into blankets. I want to share that when I get home and be a distributor. It's a beautiful concept.
We had the most delicious meal at Jane and Alan's. I was so happy to have a good meal. We took rickshaws on the way there after the metro. We hit a bump in the road and I slammed down on my sacrum and I'm in total pain now.
We went shopping. I bought a very nice shirt that they altered all for only $4.10. The prices are so low here. I would like to have more money to purchase some other items but I'm happy just to be here. We stopped for tea after - very cool place.






We all exercised when we got back to the Y for about 20 minutes. I'm going to a yoga class tomorrow morning at 5am in the park. (post note - didn't happen).

Orientation day 2

8/4/09
Yoga class didn't happen. The rickshaw really messed up my sacrum so I slept in. We went to the red light district today. We went to two project. Freeset www.freesetglobal.com is where they make jute bags. I purchased 2 for $8.


The 2nd place they made candles. both get the women off the streets and give them a skill so they can start a resume.



We ate fried dumplings call Mo Mo's. It was a great lunch. It was the hottest day yet and I haven't had a bowel moment since I left home so I ventured out this afternoon to find Phillips Milk Magnesium and got lost. It got dark but I got back safely.
The last two night we haven't had water to shower so I've had to take a bucket and fill it with bottled water to wash my hair and sponge off. This really, really sucks. My feet hurt. My neck is stiff and my sacrum is sensitive and a bath would be nice. It we do get running water it's only cold so LA Dee Da.

Orientation day 3

8/5/09
Dog Wars in the streets in the middle of the night. I woke up to these growling barking dogs around 2am. I got up to see what was going on. The dogs (around 8) were circling 2 dogs in the middle. It was very weird and strange. During the day the dogs are motionless in the middle of the sidewalks and people just step over them but they wake up at night and have a grand party.
So...today we went to 3 slum schools and Mother Teresa. I will work Mon-Fri 8am to noon at the school and M/W/F 3-5pm at Mother Teresa's home for the dying.




We crammed 8 people in a cab today 3 times. It was so hot and I was soaking wet. The people in poverty will stay in poverty if these kids don't get a proper education. It's really sad. I need a bowel movement! Almost a week now and I believe it's making me more sluggish. Vishaul said he'd get me something but I won't see him until Monday.

A rainy day

8/6/09
Raining hard this morning. The latest I've slept in at 6:30am. We met our neighbor across the hall and had breakfast together. (BTW, breakfast at the Y consist of 3 pieces of white bread, a hard boiled egg with no salt or pepper, a green banana, a dab of butter and jam with Chai tea)I gave our new friend one of my paintings.
I went out to find a laxative, finally found it so I'll spend the afternoon at the Y and paint until it kicks in.
2pm. 2 paintings later





and I'm still constipated. I don't want to take any more laxatives or I'll be sorry. I'm lying down and all I hear are the car horns and black birds. I just re-read everything I wrote and I see how my thoughts jump around.
5:20pm the tubes are open and movement is happening. The only problem is we don't have running water at the moment so I'm using the squat toilet and flushing it with bottled water. I can't say it is a pleasant experience at all.
We went out to eat at KFC since it was close by and I almost shit in my undies. I had to run to the Y. Later I fell asleep around 8:30pm. I had two episodes where I was choking in my sleep and Rocio was trying to help me but I was totally out of it and those fricken dogs were at it again at least 6 or 7 times. I woke up at 11pm and didn't make it to the bathroom in time and to top it off, while diarrhea was flowing out of me I threw up so I had to clean up the bathroom and my pj's. I was freezing and every muscle in my body ached. I wanted to disappear from my life.

Surviving a week

8/7/09 I feel better today and hope everything is out of me and my bowels move normal from now on. I start Mother Teresa today. I'll be venturing out on the metro by myself.
Noon - back from the Internet Cafe. Hopefully I can pay GVN to wire moeny to me via internet so I won't be worried all month about finances. I bought a pair of green pants for 45 Rs, less than a dollar and I found a place that takes credit cards so I purchased a top.
I'm soaking wet all the time. I hope in another week I won't still obsessing over being wet all the time.

I'm going to get a latte next door in the A/C before I venture off to the metro. Rocio said I was impatient and aggressive...SLOW DOWN DEBORAH!
8;m. I took the metro OK but it took over an hour to find the Kalighat Road and Mother Teresa. Once there, I was shuffled into a room with 25 women that were old, skinny and dying. I helped feed them and clean their beds. I sat with a few to look into their eyes. I met a few women that befriended me. Miral, from Chicago, is traveling the world with her husband volunteering. She was helpful and gave me a map. She is interested in the slum school so I'll ask Vishal if it's OK for her to come on Wednesday to check it out. It would be nice to spend the day with her at the school; then lunch; then Mother Teresa's. The other woman I met was Hispanic. I don't remember her name but she rode the metro with me and I'm sure we'll hook up again.

2nd Sunday

8/9/09
I woke up early, did laundry, read then did yoga.The mornings are quiet, cool (as can be expected) and I feel productive.
I'm headed out for an hour or so to get a metro ticket, look for the Calcutta Art Gallery.
11am - every thing was a bust. The Metro is closed until 2pm, Art gallery closed, park closed, couldn't find an ATM. Drenched, I'm back at the Y.
Went out again and purchased new shower shoes, my old ones were falling apart, then went back to street vendor and got two pair of pants. I met Mr. Islam and went to his A/C shop, was overwhelmed with shirts, skirts, pants and scarfs. They took credit card so I purchased 5 very nice cotton outfits, tops, pants and scarfs, two necklaces, and two cashmere scarfs. I have a new wardrobe Indian style but say-la-v, my clothes fit. We had chai tea in between each outfit I purchased and was escorted home.
I had dinner with Rocio and Yoseph at Jo Jo's. We have momo's or dumplings and lemon, pineapple juice, it was delicious.

Girls day out

8/8/09
5am - Rocio, Mara and I sat up until midnight just girl talking. It was refreshing and helped me giggle and smile. It takes such effort to smile these days and I'm use to being a happy person. I want desperately to experience the joy of the Lord in my life again.
Yesterday Rocio asked me about not having children and I told her about my miscarriage with Doug and began to cry. I don't think I have cried over that since it happened. I don't know where the emotions are coming from but I was embarrassed.
Today the girls are going to the Botanical Gardens and shopping while the guys play cricket. I'm going to teach yoga this morning and pray that the Spirit moves me in such a way that the girls will feel a bond with me.
7:30am - yoga by myself. The girls wouldn't get up. I had a good session and sweated alot. I'm showered and ready to go but it appears I'll have to wait India time for the girls to get moving. I'll paint in the mean time.
Bunny Boo - I love you!!!
Made it to the gardens and the big banyan tree was bazaar. I don't know if the pictures will reflect how the tree worked. The branches grew down into the ground and rooted. My feet are tired. I treated the girls to lunch via credit card to a delicious Arabic lunch all for only $22 US including tip.
I want to go to the Internet Cafe and down load my pictures because I'm out of memory. It was so quiet at the gardens, the air thick and humid but it was clean. Heard birds other than these Kaks. Getting out of the cab with their horns, the smells and dirt were overwhelming when we came back to the city. I figured out how to make my pictures smaller. I'm sitting in the garden at the Y and it is filthy. Words can't describe the atmosphere here. One has to see it to understand. GOD, It's HOT!
3pm - We went to the Internet Care to download our pictures to CD. Some guy named Shaquel came by and we went to his store even though Mara really didn't want to go. We got outta there quickly. Saturdays are really crowded in the city. We went to the food store and purchased some Indian snacks then went to Cafe Coffee Day to sit in the A/C.
Rocio and I did some exercises this evening. It was fun. Hopefully I can help her get motivated to work out more and lose the weight she wants - same for me. This roll in my mid section has to go.
9pm - the street outside is jammed with cars honking and honking and honking.
Agh - too many horns is getting my Vatta overloaded. Tomorrow I want to check my credit card to see if a pin works, if not, go to the Internet cafe, log on to Chase and change the profile to have a pin, then I can get cash out of the ATM.

First day of school

8/10/09
Our 1st day at the slum school. I'm amazed at how I saw the slum the 1st time and how desensitized I am. It didn't really bother me. It was raining and I had to sit on the right of the driver on a motorized rickshaw. I laughed my head off hanging on for dear life.
The older girls at the school were drawn to me so they taught me songs. I drew a map of the world on the chalk board to show them where I live. They asked about my family and were sad that I didn't live with them. Then we played some game with the little girls and I chased them around. This week is play week at school since Thurs and Saturday are holidays so I'm bringing my paints tomorrow.
Leaving I couldn't figure out where we were until we got out of the cab then Yoseph got us lost. I had to go to the bathroom so I was walking quickly. We realized we were on the wrong street and had to turn around....blah, blah, blah, I had a panic attack ARGH!
I'm skipping out on the dying today and feel horrible about it but I need to calm down.
We went to the Internet Cafe. GVN will transfer the funds but Chase declined the transaction. I can't get to Chase online because the Internet access is not secure. God, please help me. I tried the ATM again, no go. I don't have a phone so I can't call.
Today I wanted to go home but I will change my attitude. Jesus loves me this I know. The Holy Spirit is here to guide me. I pray Alan can help me tonight with the finances.

Another day in Paradise

8/11/09
Proverbs 11:14 for lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.
Proverbs 11:25 a generous person will prosper; one who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Watching the children eat, especially the little ones in the nursery is difficult. A teacher hits them with a wooden stick until they eat all their food. I feel conflicted.



I brought water color pencils to school today. These children are really talented and so sweet.























Rocio called me Satan today. After being called impatient and aggressive last week. I need to SHUT UP.
8pm I just ate a great meal. Dahl and sizzling veggies and a fruit drink. I'm stuffed. No water again tonight, another bucket shower.
I actually had to wash my clothes in a plastic shopping bag today. Everything is so complicated and long. PATIENCE is a virtue.
9:30pm Pam from Ping, gave me hope today or yesterday after my panic attack, I need to email her.
I killed a moth for Rocio who freaks out about them and it was lying on the floor. She yelled "kill it more!" How do you kill something that is already dead? This heat is making us loosey goosey.
I have a blister on the bottom of my big toe which sucks because I have to walk about 10 blocks total tomorrow which isn't long but on these sidewalks its rough terrain. Jesus - please heal me. Thank you Holy Spirit.

8/12/09

"What you fear will appear, what you resist will persist" Happy Yoga by Steve Ross

Rocio is leaving early. She really hates it here, kinda bumbed out but that is life. These mattresses are probably 100 years old and I keep getting bed bug bites- yuck



My arms feel like they are sunburned. I believe it's the malaria meds, makes me sensitive to the sun even though I'm wearing long sleeves. Today I want to work one on one with Nasreem to paint a bird. Hope all goes well. (didn't happen). I have to take a shower after the school because it is so very dirty and then go to Mother Teresa's. I want to get to know the women there too. Maybe see some sites with them since this crowd of volunteers are doing their own thing. (MT didn't happen)
Trevor is sick and staying at another place with A/C. Mara and Arjun are a cute 20 year old couple. He has family here so they spend a lot of time there and then Rocio my roommate. She's leaving.
5pm Happy yoga pg 90 "Being acutely aware of one's behavior is one of the most simple of wisdoms."
I don't know whats with me today but I've been extremely tired ever since I woke up.
School today was my first time with Kindergarden class. I couldn't keep their attention so I got the camera out and took pix. A big success.

At break I pulled out my spray first aid stick. I used the entire stick spraying boils on at least 30 kids, very sad. I helped serve lunch. There was a 4 year old girl who kept falling asleep eating and her head and face were full of food.
We had Chinese for lunch. It was ok, I still like JoJo's the best.
Mara, Arjun and I went to a hookah bar and smoked blackberry. I came back and fell asleep at 6:30pm. Woke up again at 9:30, now it's 11:30. Mara just came back with India sweets - wow are they sweet and the textures are like very moist cake. I really didn't care for them.

8/15/09

India Independence Day - no school today, just a little program for the directors of the school. I will go to support the children.











These kids are so cute!!

Last night every muscle and joint in my body ached. I have some kinda bug that there is no cure for. I have to wait it out. I want to investigate a parasite cleanse when I get home. (post note - At Tuesday meeting Vishal gave me 10k Rupees approximately $200 US. I can relax about money now. I need to send $200 to GVN.)
Since Rocio is leaving early, Tever is in another hotel sick and Mara/Arjun are leaving the 29th, I have the last weekend to myself. I found an excursion to a beach. I'm going to look at prices. It might be fun to get away from the city for a day and see other parts of India.

We had a meeting at St Pauls today with David, another person who runs 11 slum schools. He was very informative about the process, political, religious and corruption. We will visit some of his projects Thursday afternoon.
I got the money to transfer to GVN so all of that financial mess is behind me. I've been painting today. My joints are so stiff from the bug bites I get at night. I believe it's the mattress so there isn't much I can do about it.



It rained really hard this morning so it doesn't seem as hot but it's still blistering hot and the malaria meds make my skin feel like its on fire.
I'm hungry. I am waiting for Rocio to get back so we can eat together. Nap time...
Went to Flurry's - great sandwiches, but dessert wasn't too good. We laughed at all our melt downs. I called the passport doctor and told them about my skin. I have to call tonight to see what they say. In the mean time I will attempt to find burn cream.
I had my first experience with a public squat toilet. There were no lights, no sink, no toilet paper and no trash can, not to mention no water to flush my waste away...Lord have Mercy.

8/14/09 and 8/15/09 -

I have my dates messed up a bit...
8/14/09
Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Today was dance day @ school and we Americans got up and did the Macaraina, the kids loved it. Ate at Flurry's again, omelet and toast, yum yum. My pillow is so lumpy. Rocio said it was made of rat hair. I'll have trouble putting my head on it from now until she leaves when I take her pillow.
I just went out to buy the girls a little coin purse, soap, lotion and little painted card for each of them.
We're going out tonight to a club, should be interesting, after the club we'll go to Hookah bar. I need a nap.
Went to Fung Chu for Yoseph's last dinner. It was ok, too many fried things. After we went to Hookah bar and smoked plum and laughed and laughed. Arjun thew a water bottle on the floor to wake the owner of the shop up and she yelled some babble, it was funny. Then we went to a disco bar and had a drink. It wasn't crowded so we went upstairs to a rock bar that was stinky (beyond BO stinky) and the music was too loud so we went to a metro tech music bar. It was dead so we went to the Aqua bar outside and sat by the pool in a cabana having shots. The town closed early due to Independence Day. We got to the Y and had to ring the bell to get inside. I wished the guard "Happy New Year" everyone laughed at me, it's Independence Day.

8/15/09
I didn't want to get up this morning but I promised the little girls I would. I dressed in all white with an orange and green scarf to match the India flag. The girls were in their sarees and so cute dancing. Then the monsoon came, I'm in the slums wearing all white and the one time I could use the rainbow designed rain boots, of course I didn't have them so I rolled up my pants and walked ankle deep in the streets - yuck. I've seen people piss and shit around here, can't wait to get back to the Y to wash my feet and shoes.
Still raining a noon and I need coffee in the worst way. Finally at 2pm coffee!!! I came back and washed whites as best I could. My hand washing skills suck. I painted and made 5 little packs with paintings, card, bangle, soap, tea, lotion and a mint with the coin purse for the girls.
6:30pm - still raining. It's 82 outside and feels like 98. I'm getting soup and juice for dinner. The trip to the beach is 4k rupees around $80 to go on a boat ride, beach, A/C hotel and food. I'm going either next weekend or my last if a group is going. Please Lord, let this work out for me if it is Your will.
11:30pm - there was a good looking black man at JoJo's. He and I were the only ones in the place. Then 2 more black guys come in and they start talking to me and then all of them joined me at my table. They are from Africa and play soccer. I got all their names and numbers. They paid for my dinner, nice little surprise. Mara and Arjun said they would go to the beach with me, I'm excited. All and all it was a good day. I picked two giant grapefruits from the tree outside and ate them with Rocio, delicious!!! Fresh Fruit!!! Yeah


I put the camera on the grapefruit to show how big they are.

8/16/09 and 8/17/09

Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Last night the winds and rain slammed the window twice. Anyone who knows me knows how jumpy I am and needless to say I screamed twice. I'm sure my roommate was a little freaked by my outburst. She woke up to it raining on her feet. I find that pretty funny.
4:30am - awake and sore throat. Took cold meds from US. I have to get this thing under control. At least my bowel is moving again and I have a fix on the hot skin if it arises.
5:45am - Just finished yoga and I'm sitting on the porch reading the Bible and Happy Yoga with the rain coming down and the wind blowing - a beautiful cool morning.
"Energy, attention and awareness are keystones of a yoga practice"
"Once you are no longer desperately seeking satisfaction, but feeling satisfied, the world will do everything it can to further satisfy you."
"Having can take you to a place of maturity where you can deal with deeper questions of existence and attain enlightenment."
"Thats why yogic saints look at you with a twinkle in their eye that say "come on, I know you're God, quit playing around with me." Happy Yoga

I went to the Internet Cafe, got update on Bunny. She' getting out of the closet more. Lots of emails from Lew. I'll look at them later. Still can't get to Chase online. I got all the volunteers on facebook taken care of. Went to travel guide and had ginger tea and talked about slum kids and got more acquainted with Shabir.
I ran into Arjun and Mara so I had tea while they ate breakfast at Flurry's. Rocio has check out. 2 day now, in bed. She said she had an upset stomach but I believe she just wants to go home yesterday or 2 weeks ago.
I bought a bamboo flute and I'm trying to remember Row Row Row your Boat for school but the sore throat is stopping me today. The rain was coming down so hard coming back to the Y I could have used my rain boots (again).
I'm going to take more cold meds and take a nap. I think I'll do soup again for dinner with juice. That seems to work for me right now.
The soup wasn't that great and I had a beer which wasn't too smart. Where is my life going?


8/17 - to answer my question - straight to HELL
I woke up late and did not want to get up. No water again!, no yoga. School - had the nursery again...

I've relinquish control - it's no use.

I got to spend a few hours with the older kids.



Rocio left school early today due to stomach problems which she had all weekend long. She just wants to go home.

Met up with everyone to go to the Horwah Bridge. It wasn't a very pleasant cab ride there, it took an hour to get there and 200RS, only 50RS to come back, in other words, we got taken for a ride. We ended up at the train station and had sweets. I finally found one that I like called 'cream chops'.







Came back to the Y and rinsed off and took a nap while everyone else went to lunch. We had our Monday night meeting at the coffee shop. Trevor finally joined us and is going to the beach with us.
Get back to the Y at 9:30, no water AGAIN! Bucket shower and washing of the clothes ARGH!

8/18/09

6:30am No Fricken Water- UGH!

Went to St. Paul's - this was on the wall:
HOW WE WORK
Go to the People
Live among the people
Plan with the people
Work with the people
Start with what the people know
Build on what the people have
Teach by showing
Let them learn by doing.

Went to a different slum school today run by St. Paul's. Quite impressive. Has Samosa and chai on the sidewalk with Vishal. A lovely experience.

8/19/09

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Today is report card day. I'm the only one going to the school. I want to meet the parents and the children want to introduce me to their parents. Four times now I've had the feeling, thought, awareness of belonging here, truly belonging, like the 1st time in my life.
While Rocio is happily packing I will miss making her laugh. I need positive reinforcements. Next week will be different and I believe the most impactful since it will be my last.
I'm eating breakfast at Flurry's alone today. I met the parents and spoke Muslim and I'm sure I said things wrong but the parents were gracious and smiled.

Compulsive thinking distracts you from true issues:
Who are you?
Why are you here?
What is life?
What is death?
What is real?

Rocio told me I was going to fall in love with an Indian. I told her my concerns and this is the advise she gave...."Don't sleep with a man in a skirt" Believe me Rocio, I won't even consider it.




Byebye Rocio, I will miss you!

8/20/09

Today I didn't want to get up again, went to school and turned around and came back. Laid around most the day. Gotta pay for trip to beach tonight. I treated everyone to dinner last night at Peter Cat. My meal was horrible. I got the veggie sizzler but all the veggies were smashed up and I didn't know what I was eating. I want JoJo's!!
9:46pm - We paid for trip, had chai, went to Blue Sky Cafe and had a great meal. We were greeted by hookers on our way home. I went to the grocery store and purchased coconut oil for my hair. No roomie to talk to - sleep time.
Midnight - Long time to get to sleep.

8/22/09

6am -On the road in a brand new car. I'm riding in the back so I see everything as we pass it. Arjun made a statement "oh yeah, that's when Michael Jackson was black" - don't know why that was odd, but I did find that statement rather odd.
Our first stop for chai tea and toast - these bike carts came up behind us and this was my view while eating toast.



The roads are two lane and we're passing people walking, bikes, cows and goats on the road and no one gets hurt.

We have to wait for a ferry to cross a river for over an hour. At least the sights were pretty.



We arrive at 11am and eat breakfast. Took a nap then went to the beach via bike carriage.


I wasn't that impressed with the beach, I've never seen water and sand the same color before. What was I expecting in India anyway?



The rice paddy fields were pretty on the way back to the hotel.



So I have this little fantasy going on with our tour guide, Shabir. He approached me at the beach, one thing lead to another and he wanted to hook up. I've been 2 years and 8 months without so much as a kiss. All I could think of is Rocio telling me I was going to fall in love in India....I'm sure. Anyway, here is his picture.

8/21/09

Mara and I ate at Blue Sky Cafe (BSC) this morning. We normally don't have breakfast but found out they open at 6:30 so we have fuel now. We had peanutbutter and honey toast with a banana chocolate pancake and COFFEE!! Yeah!
We went to school hyped up on sugar and cafine. Of course, we had the nursery again. I taught them the hokie-pokie and you would have thought Santa Clause was in town, they ate it up.
Came back and packed a bag for the beach trip then had lunch at BSC. Yellow Dahl, nan and juice, cheap and delicious.
I miss you BUNNY!!!

8/22/09

Breakfast was loaded with ants. I think I ate a few. We ended up with Jim Jam crackers and lots of Chai tea. I'm wired for our boat ride and I'm enjoying the secret naughty looks Shabir is giving me.
10:35am The boat ride was interesting. The plastic container with gasoline and motor were exposed to us. It was loud, the fumes were gross and most everyone thought they would be sea sick. I felt great, I love being on the water.(click to see video)



We stopped at a sand island and everyone got off the boat but me. I had yellow pants on that if wet, would be see through. The sun is out and it's blazing. I'd be burnt withing the hour I'm so white.







The boat ride back one of the passengers got sea sick, I just had to look the other way. My feet are sunburned and my forearms are tan. Before we left for the boat ride everyone put their things in my room. We are all waiting for lunch. Lunch was the same as dinner. We were really disappointed in the food this trip. We were told we could order what we wanted (fresh fruit and veggies) but that didn't happen. After lunch we all went back up to my room for Beer and Vodka and got a little silly.





Once we left the hotel we went to a 'tower' which was only 3 floors high WooHoo!


Waiting for the ferry on the way back we were entertained with music.



One the road again, got back to the Y at 8pm. I'm showered off and tired. It was a long weekend - bazaar, but fun. Rocio wouldn't have liked it much but she'll have a good laugh at our expense.