After a truly grueling flight process, I finally arrived at the Bangalore airport. I got through customs, gathered my incredibly heavy bags (filled with paper, books, flash drives, etc. to donate to SB), went to the Thomas Cook Foreign Exchange Booth, and began to look for the driver SB had sent to pick me up. I had a minor panic attack when I couldn't find anyone with an SB sign. But, after waiting a little while, a nice young man named Hanan appeared with a sign that read, "Shanti Bhavan: Austin".
I put my bags into Hanan's car and we began the 2.5 hour drive. I had been wondering what it would feel like to return to India... familiar or surprising and new? Here is a piece of a journal entry from my first time arriving: "The car ride to the school was an experience in itself. Katie and I were literally so excited that we kept looking at each other and silently squealing over the amazing landscape we were soon to be a part of. The first thing we noticed was that there were mopeds and bikes on the same highways as huge trucks and cars. Very young children rode on the back of motorcycles, whizzing past and driving in and out of traffic. There were several buses filled with people that were staring at us as we went through towns and cities as if we were some strange, otherworldly race, which to them, we probably were."
Arriving the second time did feel oddly familiar. I found myself recognizing tiny villages and certain dirt roads that had changed or that looked exactly the same as they had last year. However, regardless of how familiar everything seemed, the rich colors, genuinely happy outlook despite complete and utter poverty, and overall culture, remain just as magical to me. And these were all abundantly clear within the first minutes of our drive.
Pulling up to the gates of Shanti Bhavan is always a wonderfully powerful moment. I feel silly saying this, but I've always felt like there was a parallel to the Gates of Heaven somewhere in there. But maybe that's just because I sincerely hope my personal heaven is SB.
I was so excited that I made it in time for my favorite SB treat, sweet chai tea in a little tin cup, as well as morning assembly! I got to see the SB classics, the nondenominational prayer, school song, daily news, and moral lessons from the little ones. Then I got to speak in front of the school, something I had been so nervous about last year. This time, it was easy! I knew just what to say.
I'm writing this having just bucket bathed and changed into clean Indian clothing. What a difference that made! I'm taking advantage of this time because I've just learned that there are only 8 volunteers here right now, 4 of which will be leaving in the next few days. That makes for some CRAZY busy teaching schedules for the 4 volunteers that remain, as well as the permanent Indian teachers. I'm hoping I'll still have time to update the blog! Really looking forward to finding out what I'm teaching tonight. I'll report back some time tomorrow whilst preparing lesson plans for Monday, my first day of teaching!
Sending lots of love to my friends and family.
Xoxo,
Austin
I put my bags into Hanan's car and we began the 2.5 hour drive. I had been wondering what it would feel like to return to India... familiar or surprising and new? Here is a piece of a journal entry from my first time arriving: "The car ride to the school was an experience in itself. Katie and I were literally so excited that we kept looking at each other and silently squealing over the amazing landscape we were soon to be a part of. The first thing we noticed was that there were mopeds and bikes on the same highways as huge trucks and cars. Very young children rode on the back of motorcycles, whizzing past and driving in and out of traffic. There were several buses filled with people that were staring at us as we went through towns and cities as if we were some strange, otherworldly race, which to them, we probably were."
Arriving the second time did feel oddly familiar. I found myself recognizing tiny villages and certain dirt roads that had changed or that looked exactly the same as they had last year. However, regardless of how familiar everything seemed, the rich colors, genuinely happy outlook despite complete and utter poverty, and overall culture, remain just as magical to me. And these were all abundantly clear within the first minutes of our drive.
Pulling up to the gates of Shanti Bhavan is always a wonderfully powerful moment. I feel silly saying this, but I've always felt like there was a parallel to the Gates of Heaven somewhere in there. But maybe that's just because I sincerely hope my personal heaven is SB.
I was so excited that I made it in time for my favorite SB treat, sweet chai tea in a little tin cup, as well as morning assembly! I got to see the SB classics, the nondenominational prayer, school song, daily news, and moral lessons from the little ones. Then I got to speak in front of the school, something I had been so nervous about last year. This time, it was easy! I knew just what to say.
I'm writing this having just bucket bathed and changed into clean Indian clothing. What a difference that made! I'm taking advantage of this time because I've just learned that there are only 8 volunteers here right now, 4 of which will be leaving in the next few days. That makes for some CRAZY busy teaching schedules for the 4 volunteers that remain, as well as the permanent Indian teachers. I'm hoping I'll still have time to update the blog! Really looking forward to finding out what I'm teaching tonight. I'll report back some time tomorrow whilst preparing lesson plans for Monday, my first day of teaching!
Sending lots of love to my friends and family.
Xoxo,
Austin
Thanks for sharing blogs with us. keep blogging
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Anandam
Shanthi Bhavan
All The Children
Vasantham Fedration