simplicity

Hiya!
Well, it's Thursday now. The week is flying by and I will be back in the states a week from today. It's bittersweet really. There is much to be done back home and school is starting just around the corner! yikes...

Let's see.. where have I been the last few days? Okay yes. Monday was a pretty typical day for us here in Bangalore. We woke, had our usual breakfast which consists of cereal, toast and a cup of tea.. then we headed off to YuvaLok for another day of teaching! We have really gotten to know a few of the teachers and staff at the YuvaLok school and it will be so sad to leave them...
Usually our afternoons are fairly low key... Tuesday came and we headed off to school once more. Everyday as we walk into school all the students yell for us, "AUNTIE AUNTIE! GOOD DAY AUNTIE!" I don't know if I've mentioned that yet but all the primary school kids call us "auntie." Pretty much they call any woman who is older them, auntie, out of respect. They love to shake our hand or high five us at any opportunity that arises.
Every Tuesday, the YoungLife leaders visit a slum in Bangalore in an area called Bagalur. This past Tuesday we were given the go-ahead to join them for a trip to visit the children they know in the slums. My eyes have witnessed some pretty harsh conditions, intense poverty.. but nothing like this. Sharola and Chinky told us to wear all the scarves that we had so we wouldn't stick out so blatently. Well regardless of what we wore, we stuck out like sore thumbs. People were gathering in the street to witness the white folk who had entered their part of town. Many children apporached us hoping to practice english and get a solid high five in :) We visited a few homes of the children we knew.. The homes we visited were homes of children who are in our classes at YuvaLok. As they invited us in, the 3 of us took us most of the space in the home but they were overly hospitable and were anxious to tell us about their families, as some of them had 11 children. I can't even count the number of times I have said this along our journey but I was once again completely speechless and humbled by these beautiful, gracious people. So selfless, and joyful in giving. Tuesday was a good day.

The last couple of nights we have been watching movies at night- we watched a Hindi film the other night which was absolutely positively the most hilarious thing I've ever watched. In their films they talk "Hinglish" half Hindi half English and it is ridiculous. seriously. The subtitles were completely off and it was a good laugh for everyone, even our Indian friends.

Wednesday came and we spent the morning teaching and the afternoon shopping! We haggled for the 'right' price and I walked away happy with a handful of shawls. I think I've become spoiled because everything is so cheap here, incredibly cheap.

Anywho- it's Thursday late afternoon now, tonight we have 2 YoungLife clubs to put on.. Bagalur club for the slum kids and Young Adult club after! It has been such a gift to see YoungLife run here. I must run now.. I sincerely miss you all.

Namaste.