People in My Life

So the past couple days have been total and complete awareness for me. Maybe because my volunteering portion of the trip is about to end, maybe because of yoga, maybe because I'm leaving Melissa, maybe because the thought of returning to the US has finally entered my mind.

But I realize there are people I miss tremendously. And there are people that without contact, my life has been brighter and happier.

My experience here has been a 180 from my last experience here. Last trip I fell in love with the people of India. And that made my trip. This trip, has been equally as full, but it's been in finding an amazing, life long friend, and doing soul searching with her. As I've said before, something I did not anticipate in the least before coming to India. Melissa and I are so much alike, it's scary. Both complete brats.... know it........ and accept it.

The things we've been reduced to......... uh!!! And at the top of the list is bucket laundry. We've cussed and cussed about having to do that. Walking through cow crap, the flies, the power outages, the dal, the heat, the sharing, the forced conversations and socializations, the 4 oz cold drink... OMG never again.

Anyway...

All of this really makes me appreciate the special people in my life. People make an enormous impact. Being so far away from everything, I think has made my mind clearer and those in my life who are important have come to the surface, even though I haven't really been in contact with them while here. I think they know, but I will probably re-itterate to them they are appreciated and valued.

If you are taking the time to read all of my babble, no doubt, you are probably one of them.

I have come to realize something others have told me before, it doesn't matter where you are in the world. It matters who's with you... mentally, emotionally and physically.

More later..., I feel lots of thoughts in my head. And I think I'm a bit delirious also. It's super hot in here.

But alas, it's time for my exciting voyage back home.

Love, Janelle

Not Ready to Say Goodbye... and Happiness

So great news! Melissa is coming with me tomorrow to Mc Leod Gange! Soooooo excited. We are sharing a taxi there - and she's meeting her man there. This will benefit her - by not having to take a train ALONE 10 hours to Manali to meet him. And now we can spend the next 2 days together also.

We were going over all of our plans for Mc Leod tomorrow/Friday and getting sooooo excited. We both said we weren't ready to say goodbye (to eachother) yet, so this works out so well.

She is planning on spending the nights with her guy. But I told her if it doesn't work or gets weird, she is to stay with me!!

And we literally made a list of things we need his (and his cousins) help with. I need to add minutes to my phone and like many things here, Americans get different prices than natives. The last two times I've added minutes I've had help. Sooooo........that is one thing they'll be doing. I also need to find a cheap taxi to Dharamshala on Saturday, and need a discount price on an energy bowl. Melissa has an equally long, if not longer list. And on hers it includes them taking us out to dinner Thusday - lol. Oh that girl, I love her!!!!!!!!

So looking forward to tomorrow.

Love, Janelle

Daily Vitamins

We've been bringing "gummy vitamins" for the kids on the days we remember. (We're awful...) and they are so good we always bring extra for us. And like Melissa said we need 2 because our bodies are bigger. Lol. They are like ummm.... just like gummy bears actually. The kids love them. And when one of them starts to cry (see one in middle did today because he/she... we're not sure.... got scared of Melissa's camera flash)...anyway, they are always a good distraction when one of them is crying!

Love, Janelle

Mango Pickle in the Making

Bobby's mother and grandmother making mango pickle (relish) here.

Cutting the mangos.

Letting them dry out to make powder.

Love, Janelle

Leaving Our Mark

So here is what we've accomplished. We are pretty proud of ourselves. Although it may not seem impressive, trust me..........it is.

Today Anita was really pressing my buttons. (Which yes, did clue me into all of my issues.) But we have two things of glue with the nice orange tips that you squeeze.......and then....magically glue comes out very nicely and evenly. I started doing that to the back of our "body" when she steps in and takes the orange tip off and starts globbing glue on the back, then proceeds to get a spoon hands it to me, then she starts using her fingers to spread it around. OMG, I was so pissed! Melissa was holding the paper up - seeing the smoke coming out of my ears and she kept telling me, "Let it go" "It's gonna be ok" and I'm replying, "Melissa, I reaaaaaally need to see my therapist, like right now!" She laughs and I'm like "this (pointing to the orange tip) is what's called an invention"! Anyway, I got glue all over my hands and was ttly pissed off. Melissa and I, over the course of this trip have identified issues we need to work on, and no doubt, control is one of mine. This is NOT what I had pictured for the body, but since Anita and her bright ideas had to take over. Finally I took a deep breath and let her go with it. Although I DID have to correct her because originally she had glued "wrist" on the "chest" of the body.

I have issues. I know. Lol.

Love, Janelle

My 2 Favorite Girls

Unfortunately blurry because this kid cannot sit or stand still...........EVER!!!

Today she kept using her little plastic phone and saying "Hello Daddy!" Which was hysterical to us because those are the ONLY English words she's ever used. It was really cute to hear.

And Parveen. What a little sweetie. Never any problems. Never cries. Or runs away like her friends - lol. We will miss her.

Love, Janelle

Lunch at School

I'm not thrilled with these pictures because the ones we originally took were much cuter. But you get the idea:) We all line up on the comfy cement floor and eat around an hour before the kids go home.


And we think it's hysterical that sometimes random women just pop in and get food and leave (see 2 in photo). And they aren't the mothers of the kids - because we see them twice a day. (?) Who knows.

Anyway, we've both discovered an amazing trick of dumping our food into one of the kids' bowls when Anita isn't looking because... well... yea... it's not good, as you can imagine.

Here I am with Mahak and her brother and sister... I love them ... and tomorrow's my last day :(


Love, Janelle