I woke up Saturday morning at 5:30, thinking that a half an hour would be enough time to get dressed and ready for my trip to Secunderbad. Well, of course today it took me a half an hour to get my saree tied properly. So I ran out of my “home” at 6:09 thinking I was going to miss the bus to nalgonda. Sister Lilly told me that the bus “leaves about 6:15 or 6:30” well, I don’t know why I was panicking about being late – I am running on Indian-time – which means everything is 15 later than when they tell you. So, I got to the bus stop at 6:25, waited 20 minutes, then got on the bus to Nalgonda. It was a nice morning – it was drizzling so the air was nice and cool. When I got to Nalgonda, I got off the bus, took an auto to the railway station. For a few minutes I thought the driver did not understand “train” because he was taking me down this little dirt road – but a minute later I saw the train station! I was very happy. My travels were very easy this morning. I got my ticket, waited for the train, met 2 women and 1 man who were talking to me. They saved me a seat on the train which was very nice and in the sleeper section of the train. I got a look at what we will be travelling in for the trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. Oh boy! Those 25 hours are going to be verrrrry interesting! Anyway, they tried talking to me during the 2 hour train ride, but they had very limited English, so we only spoke a few words to each other. They told me that they were teachers at the government school so we all had something in common – teaching in India! They were very nice though and made sure I made it off the train okay and over to track #1 to meet up with Mike. I met Mike and he almost walked right past me because I was in a saree and he was looking for me in my American clothes. We got to the house here in Secunderbad and Sister Alice greeted me with a very warm smile and hug. She is very sweet. I am laying down now, lunch is in 30 minutes and then the 10 girls that live here will get home from school. I am excited to see them again. They speak English so well compared to the girls that I live with. I met them once when I came to Hyderabad for the first time, with Brenda. That’s all for now.
This weekend was so much better than I could have ever imagined. I got here and the girls were just as awesome as I remembered. We sang and danced and had a wonderful time. I went out in Secunderbad with Mike and John (the tech guy at this convent) to a computer warehouse. It was cluttered and just crazy but I did not expect anything less – we’re in India! We figured out how to play the ND game simulcast and we had to also download software for the computer to play a DVD that I brought for the girls to watch (Beauty and the Beast). They loved it! They also loved the ice cream that Mike and I brought for them – although I think I enjoyed that a little more than they did (if you know how much I love ice cream). So after the movie ended at 10pm the girls went to bed and I played with the German Shepherd that they have here, named Dolly. I wasted time until 1am – KICKOFF! I was extremely happy I was able to watch Notre Dame beat Purdue here, in India. I was up until 4:45, only to wake up to the girls at 6:45! Today was worth every single minute I was awake though. We had Mass in English!! The readings, the music, the homily – all were in English! It was the first English Mass I have been to since July 4. After Mass I helped the girls with their homework and hung out with them. I went to a bookstore across town in Hyderabad with Mike and picked up some books – one that my brother Stevie is going to want to read when I get home – a biography on Lionel Messi! (Steve you should be proud of me for buying it!) I also bought a chocolate bar -and only after I took a bite out of it did I realize that there were tiny worms crawling all through out the chocolate. I immediately spit it out and watched to vomit , but I held it together. So, so, SO gross. After that traumatic experience Mike and I went for a walk to a small park where there are a Catholic chapel, a Sikh temple, a Muslim mosque, and a Hindu temple all right beside each other. I went into each, which was just very interesting – try finding a place like that in the States! We walked back to the convent only to walk with Sister Geneva (I am not quite sure of the spelling of her name) up to a Buddhist Temple. I originally did not want to go; I wanted to stay home with the girls and relax, but I went. I am extremely happy that I went. Seeing this temple was one of the greatest experiences I have had so far. I can’t explain in words how beautiful it was when we saw it. There were many stairs to climb after a 15 minute walk that was all uphill, once I got to the top I saw all of Hyderabad and Secunderbad and the mountains in the distance. A mantra was playing all along the staircase and inside the temple. It was the most calming experience that I wanted to sit down and meditate right then and there. The sights were so incredible I had to stop thinking about everything and just take it in. Of course I didn’t have my camera, but I will go back next weekend when I come again for the ND – Michigan game! When we returned we ate supper and the girls put on a small program for us in which they dedicated a song to me! It made me so happy and I felt so loved. They are all begging me to come back and I am only more than happy and anxious to come back here! I love Chandur, and I am very happy I am there, but these girls are wonderful as well. Seeing Secunderbad, there is so much I would be able to do if I was living here. Stores are right down the street, as it is in a city. Anything I need is an auto ride away…but I think that living in Chandur is much more the experience I was seeking when I applied to come here. Chandur is a small village where everyone knows everyone else. There isn’t much in Chandur, and it is visibly much poorer than Secunderbad, but I do love it. Chandur is my home in India, I could not imagine leaving for longer than a week.
India amazes me more and more each day. I look back on the past 24 hours and I have had so many experiences that I would never think of having. I encourage everyone to come to this country. It is truly beautiful and breathtaking in more than one way. The sights, the smells – everything just hits your senses in ways that you can never experience in America. I am sure in other 3rd world countries it may be the same as it is here, but you can not get this experience or anything like it in America.
I have been writing this blog in three stages. I will now report my journey home from Secunderbad...
I woke up at 4:45, left the house at 5:15 and got to the train station - it was packed. My train was scheduled to leave at 7am so I got in line to purchase a general ticket because I did not make a reservation. Note to self: from now on...pay the 10 extra rupees to get a reserved seat. I got on the train at 6:15 and it was already jam-packed. I was in the first car which was a "ladies only" car. I ended up sitting on the floor of the train since when the train started to move (when it finally left the station at 7:45) I was falling out of my seat. We stopped many times on the tracks for reasons I will never know. No one seemed to be bothered by it though. I fell asleep clutching my backpack only to be awoken by a lady tapping me on the back to tell me that a child threw up and the liquid was coming towards me. Awesome. So, I sat on the 3 inches of the bench that was available for the rest of the 3 hours train ride that should only have taken 2 hours. The bus ride back from Nalgonda to Chandur was less eventful - but a man who was visibly drunk sat next to me and tried talking to me the whole time he was on the bus - gratefully he was only on the bus for 15 minutes. I tired to look away and act extremely uninterested as he was trying to explain the "Channel of Life" to me, whatever that meant. Then he wanted my phone number. I said no. He got off the bus. Other than that I arrived safely to Chandur to come home to the power out - no surprises there. It finally came on, as it has been out since last night apparently. They had no power or water...the water will come back on tomorrow morning.
Can't wait to go back to Secunderbad on Saturday for the Michigan game.
No comments:
Post a Comment