India

What a beautiful day!! Last night I wrote for a long time in my journal and ended up going to bed at about 2:30 in the morning. This didn’t last long. I was soon woken up to the sound of things crashing and dogs fighting. There are stray dog all along the street all the time so this awakening is very common, but this time I couldn’t get back to sleep. I was luckily able to swindle some Internet, which was a first for this late in the night. I got online and had a great morning of chatting and tea. When 6:30 rolled around I decided I should probably get a little rest, But just as quickly as I fell asleep I was reawakened by the late alarm telling me I had overslept and I had four minutes to get to my driver. I felt better leaving the house with dirty teeth when I thought about the smiling Indian people as I said to myself, “at least I have a toothbrush, I’ll use it when I get home.”

Needless to say I was dead tired, but I often am when I go to work. I have learned to stop worrying about it because I know the energy I need lies in the children. Everyday they get me into the swing and everyday they remind me how to live. Today was no different.

I was with the older children today and I was asked to film some of the class to send Vidya’s supporter. So I walked to the class, took my shoes off at the door, and then the children saw my camera. “One photo, one photo!” They began. They knew today was their favorite day and they wanted me involved. Once a week the children have a photo project where they go out in the slums and take a few pictures based off a certain theme. Seeing tired Jake met with excited young children created today’s theme, happiness. The children were assigned to go and take four photos of things the represent happiness to them. Normally I stay in the classroom or am in my other class, but today the possession of my own camera made things different.  I agreed to join the class outside and we were off.

I really tried to observe their thought as they explored the poor, messy, unhealthy, small community they called home. They didn’t have to look far. As soon as we put are shoes on the cameras where out. Click, Click, Click- photos of the school for education, homes for shelter, stores for food, peers for friendship, siblings for family, and mothers for love. All things that make them happy, all things that make everyone happy. As soon as the cameras started clicking the slum morphed from unfit for living to home. I came here to help these children, but in some ways they have it all. In four photos these kids showed me what it’s all really about and for that I adore them.

I knew I’d have to show my photos and tell them what makes me happy. Seeing that I didn’t have my family, friends, house, or school to take photos of I decided to take photos of things about the Indian people that make me happy and I love. Here is what I came up with.

1.     I love the way they see their lives. (This is my class before they went out for pictures)

2.     I love their value of friendship. (Two of the many children who are not in school)

3.     I love their responsibility. (The little girls on the left taking care of other children)

4.     I love their smiles. (Two young girls outside their home)

This exercise really made me stop and realize where I am. Of course I’m

in India, but it has little to do with that. It was just the fact that I was on the earth and I was with such amazing people. I had once again been touched by the littlest people with the biggest hearts. They had taught me two very valuable lessons. That as long as you have things you love you can been happy and that I should stop every once and a while and just enjoy what I have. It really is refreshing. Please take a minute today and just think about where you are. Look around you and know you are alive. Notice the sights, sounds, and smells of your life and know they are you. Think of the things you love and how you are so fortunate to have these things. Look to the person next to you at the dinner table and remind yourself how they have been there. Thank them for their love, laughter, tears, and smiles over the years. Think of the people you miss and be thankful that you have someone to miss. Notice it all and know you are there. You might not have it all, but as the children taught me today, you have everything you need to be happy. Hey maybe even take four photos of what makes you happy! Do what ever you want, just enjoy your day and know it is yours.

Of course I couldn’t resist taking just four photos so here are a few more. Tomorrow I am traveling to the border, so there probably won’t be any more updates till Monday. That means you have to enjoy this one!  Thank you very much for following!

Today we also listened to world of the music, this is the children listening to the music of Egypt.

a little child who was following us around.

two homes by my class

The slums