5 Highs, 0 Lows
When the RSO volunteers have dinner, they follow the transition of everyone sharing one "high" and one "low" from the day. This is an opportunity for people to talk about what they are experiencing on this extraordinary adventure. In relation to that, I would like to share with you what I said at dinner tonight, plus an additional "high". (And due to the difficulties I have been navigating recently, I have made it a point to not share any lows at dinner until I feel that I'm out of the muck.)
HIGH #1
When I arrived at the old folks home in Bharathapuram, I was drawn to sit with a woman on her bed. We spoke with each other for a long time, but neither of us really ever understood the other! Despite our communication barriers, we were both smiling and focused on each others eyes. At one point, she pulled out a picture. Although there was much I didn't understand, I was able to glean that it was an image of her and her husband on her wedding day. She seemed to speak of it with fondness and joy! I'm grateful that I could share that time with this woman even though we had to rely solely on the language of love.
HIGH #2
I visited another woman's bed next-- I think her name is Nasarethmary... It's definitely something like that! Anyway, she is a very petite and fragile angel. As soon as I sat down next to her, she wrapped her arms around me and nestled her head against my chest. And there we sat. I wished that I could have stayed with her all day! She would occasionally kiss her hand and then place it on my cheek or my forehead. When she released each other from our embrace, so spoke to me and signaled with her hands about how she had three children who are all grown up now. She was so proud and so happy as she spoke about them! I hope I get to spend time with her more if I visit this colony again.
HIGH #3
I got to help the medical team today for the very first time!!! Unfortunately, volunteers are only allowed to get tourist visa's now, and with recent changes to laws in India, they are not allowed to take part in any medical aid or big service projects. However, I am here on an employment visa because of the type of work I do, thus I am allowed to do medical work!!! Because it was my first time, I only worked on taking blood pressure. It was so fun!! I got to greet the patients as they came, and I tried some of my newly learned Tamil words on them, haha. It was a good time :)
HIGH #4
I finally got the henna tattoo that I've been wanting! Today was Kavitha's birthday, and she was kind enough to take time out of her schedule to do henna with me :) She is very talented! She had never practiced the image I requested, so she learned how to do it on the spot just from looking at a picture. After completing mine, she looked at another one of my images and did the henna on herself! She really seemed to have a good time with me, so I'm grateful that she shared that time with me on her birthday!
HIGH #5
Cartwheels with Life Dance Troupe! Unfortunately I don't have an image of this, but really-- it was a blast! We went to a field near the dining hall to practice, and it was so fun helping them practice being upside-down!! Everyone was smiling and laughing, even when they occasionally fell on their bum. I can't wait to practice them again tomorrow! :) (I'll try to get a picture then!)
Have a great day!
HIGH #1
When I arrived at the old folks home in Bharathapuram, I was drawn to sit with a woman on her bed. We spoke with each other for a long time, but neither of us really ever understood the other! Despite our communication barriers, we were both smiling and focused on each others eyes. At one point, she pulled out a picture. Although there was much I didn't understand, I was able to glean that it was an image of her and her husband on her wedding day. She seemed to speak of it with fondness and joy! I'm grateful that I could share that time with this woman even though we had to rely solely on the language of love.
HIGH #2
I visited another woman's bed next-- I think her name is Nasarethmary... It's definitely something like that! Anyway, she is a very petite and fragile angel. As soon as I sat down next to her, she wrapped her arms around me and nestled her head against my chest. And there we sat. I wished that I could have stayed with her all day! She would occasionally kiss her hand and then place it on my cheek or my forehead. When she released each other from our embrace, so spoke to me and signaled with her hands about how she had three children who are all grown up now. She was so proud and so happy as she spoke about them! I hope I get to spend time with her more if I visit this colony again.
HIGH #3
I got to help the medical team today for the very first time!!! Unfortunately, volunteers are only allowed to get tourist visa's now, and with recent changes to laws in India, they are not allowed to take part in any medical aid or big service projects. However, I am here on an employment visa because of the type of work I do, thus I am allowed to do medical work!!! Because it was my first time, I only worked on taking blood pressure. It was so fun!! I got to greet the patients as they came, and I tried some of my newly learned Tamil words on them, haha. It was a good time :)
HIGH #4
I finally got the henna tattoo that I've been wanting! Today was Kavitha's birthday, and she was kind enough to take time out of her schedule to do henna with me :) She is very talented! She had never practiced the image I requested, so she learned how to do it on the spot just from looking at a picture. After completing mine, she looked at another one of my images and did the henna on herself! She really seemed to have a good time with me, so I'm grateful that she shared that time with me on her birthday!
HIGH #5
Cartwheels with Life Dance Troupe! Unfortunately I don't have an image of this, but really-- it was a blast! We went to a field near the dining hall to practice, and it was so fun helping them practice being upside-down!! Everyone was smiling and laughing, even when they occasionally fell on their bum. I can't wait to practice them again tomorrow! :) (I'll try to get a picture then!)
Have a great day!
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