We haven't had Internet for the last few days so I just cut and paste my last few blogs. We are sitting in the Chicago airport half way through our 7 hour layover, followed by a three hour flight home to Salt Lake. I can't believe I'm this close to home. It's been miserable traveling. Derek and I are both sicker than sick. We thought we had Jeardia from drinking drinks that were offered to us by the family of the girl that did my henna. After talking to a few girls in our group though, now were thinking swine flu. There is an outbreak of H1N1 in Tamil Nadu, the state we were in in India, and most of the people still there are sick as well. Yuck :( Being in an airplane for 30 hours is not fun at all when I feel this lousy. I am so anxious to get home though.

Sunday

We woke up early and I rode in to Chennai with everybody on the bus, who was going to church. I was dropped off at the Marriot and had an amazing bonding time with Kim. She’s from Boston and I am looking forward to her being my life long friend. She is wise beyond her years and I am a better person just by knowing her. Then we met everyone after church in the lobby for Sunday brunch. WOW oh WOWIE! If you want the most amazing spread of deliciousness, go to the Marriot in Chennai India on a Sunday afternoon. I was blown away! Cheeses, breads, fruits, pastas, pizzas, they even had beef J I was so stuffed after that I didn’t eat until the next afternoon.

By the time we got home the sun was setting, and I ran over to the kids hostel to say goodbye. One of the most precious two hours of my life. It was next to impossible to leave all those brown eyes and giggles. Most of the girls wrote me letters or drew me pictures and I couldn’t seem to let go of any of them as I hugged them all goodnight one by one and told them each how beautiful they are, and how much I truly love them. I left most of my heart in those small, bare rooms, with hard cement floors and bright blue nemo walls.

These swim costumes are so attractive!

Saturday

We all woke up early and headed to Mahammalapuram for a Saturday of shopping and the beach. I have to say I am now a pro at bartering and find it to be one of my favorite things to do. I wonder what it’s going to be like in the states when I tell the girl behind the counter at The Buckle I wan my jeans for $20, take it or leave it? J Ideal Beach lived up to it’s name 100% We were treated like royalty as we were lead down to our little cabana and had hammocks tied up for us on the coconut trees The little man in the floral print shirt knocked coconuts down for us, broke them open with a wicked looking knife and served them to us with straws. Katie, Carly and I wore our Sexy swim costumes, so as not to offend any of the locals, and Derek joined us for some serious body surfing. The waves were gigantic and the water was so salty it felt impossible to drown. I had a full body massage time reserved for 600 Rps ($12) that I was a little weary about. Best $12 I’ve spent. An hour of oily heaven.

We stopped for Parotas on the way back to the kids. Parotas will never be as delicious as the ones we get on the side of the road for 10 cents. I’m ruined! I know I’ve said this many times before, but being with my girls was so much fun again! More make-up more braids, more stories and more love.

Beautiful Moot!

Friday

Today was a hard day. Most of the volunteers left this morning. We had a challenge from the coordinators to share part of our blog, or journal, or just a thought with the rest of the group and to express why we thought we came to India, or what we brought this place of magic. I was re-reading my blog entries yesterday during lunch and got distracted by Face Book, It does that to me. Then I got back on my computer during our break time and was on Face Book again when the Internet went skitso again. My FB status read, “I know the moon is the same size, no matter where you are, but to me, it seems more full in India”. I decided to elaborate on that. I discovered that the reason the moon is more full here is that my heart is more full here. I am filled with compassion and love for these strangers whom I barely know and cannot communicate with very well. We are all connected, to the earth, to the moon, and to each other. I will forever be in awe of the fact that I have had the chance to experience this overwhelming feeling. Even though the moon is never changing it does change based on our own perspective. Each of our eyes see things differently because of the windowpanes of experiences placed in front of us. I think bringing my perspectives to Rising Star not only has shown others another side of life, but I learned mountains from the other volunteers, the patients and the childrens perspectives. Each one much different than mine. I hope I can remember to see things from other people’s perspectives the rest of my life. It makes me happy!

After hugging everyone goodbye, the six of us who stayed piles in the medical van an traveled to a colony I had not yet been to, Moot. Nothing could have prepared me for that little pocket of heaven dropped in the middle of the Indian wilderness. There are only seven people living in that place, but the joy that filled them felt like it was coming from one million people. Jay raj ran out of his doorway with a laugh that was booming and from his gut. His smile could only be compared to the happiness in his own eyes. We moved from house to house to tell the patients the Dr. was there. One lady, had lost both legs, one above the knee and one below, She had the build of a seven year old little girl, the face of a corpse, but she stole my heart instantly with her sparkly smile and talk of feeding the birds every morning outside of her door. Another man, Krishina, had a little skateboard type contraption, because he too had no legs. His hands were merely stumps, but it didn’t keep him from building up the Jenga tower. Yes, that’s right, we played Jenga. What a sight! We danced and sang and took photos, laughing with the “untouchables”. They loved the Christmas songs we all know. Jingle bells was a favorite since a few of us had jingly anklets around our perfect feet. I left feeling full of joy and inspired to be even more optimistic about EVERYthing.

After a community pot of Raman noodles and great conversation, back at the elephant house, we were off to play time. It was just as perfect as always. Dinner on the roof was Chipote, the BEST Indian meal! After tossing out my banana leaf I headed down the stairs and spent family time with my girls. I felt like such a part of that family that night. Like just another one of the girls, with braids and bindi makeup, reading Belle and the Beast and singing Amazing Grace. The walk back to the Elephant house was peaceful and I was full of thoughts, on my own. Luckily I didn’t have any run ins with Cobras or Scorpions.

Today was tutoring day for us. I helped a few kids write their sponsors letters and took a small group of 2nd standard kids out for a reading group. We read "One Fish Two Fish" and I've never heard it so cute. Their little voices with that Indian accent is so adorable there are no words.

There are journals in the Mango room(one of the common rooms) for each of the kids, organized by families. They were put together as memory books for all the volunteers to write in, kind of like a scrap book since none of them have one. I had the chance to write in all of my girls memory books today. It was a special time, and I loved seeing my love for each one of these precious princesses written down in words. They truly are all goddesses in the making.

Play time was SOOOOOOOOO much fun. Reagan has a water balloon sling shot and we filled a bunch of balloons. The kids were so adorable taking turns launching the bright orbs higher and higher into the sky, and cheering when the burst with fireworks of water. They would all run as fast as they could to try and catch the rubber so the cool water would refresh their faces. After the balloons were all popped, a full on water fight began. Buckets were brought out of nowhere and I got soaked soaked soaked. It felt so nice in the dead heat of India. Our rain dance worked well because during dinner a full on rain storm suddenly started dropping on us. We all ran into our families houses for shelter and it worked out well because we got more time with them. Dinner was fish anyway so I didn't mind not having time to gorge myself.

Most of the volunteers are leaving in the morning so tonight was hard. Derek and I planned a few extra days for touring after but have decided to spent the next three here anyway, so I feel fortunate to have a little more time with the children. Plus we will have the chance to go to another colony and help tomorrow with medical attention. I received a full blown makeover again tonight only this time they even did my hair! Pretty sure I'm going to be needing lice shampoo at the hotel before I get on the plane-so worth it though :)

I'm going to go hang out with all these amazing friends I've mad over the last two weeks and try not to cry saying goodbye. The adventure is not over for me though...more to come!