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March 30, 2017 - Uncategorized
I think this blog post might end up being something of a novel. I’ll probably write way too much and you’ll probably all hate me by the end. Actually, some of you might not even get to the end. I’m not the best with words but I have a lot to say. So that’s the reason for my title. Sorry in advance for the long post that might not even end up making sense. Here we go I guess.
India is amazing. I’ve traveled to a whole lot of places and this might be the most awesome I’ve ever been. And I don’t mean awesome as in the casual slang term that everyone throws around as a way to describe ice cream flavors and new pairs of pants. I mean I am literally awe struck. I am in awe. Jaw-dropping, intense, very real, not-talking-about-ice-cream-flavors awe. The mountains here are the most massive I have ever seen. They’re huge and they’re everywhere, and our hotel is smack dab in the middle of them. I honestly don’t know how to describe the mountains. We see them every day driving to and from our schools, not to mention every single time we step outside or look out a window, and I still am struck dumb every time I look. At home we live close to the mountains on the East side, so they look pretty big and you can see them just fine, and then as you look West you can see the whole valley and a slight glimpse of the mountains on the other side of the valley in the distance. Here you can only see about 4 mountains at a time because no matter where you’re standing in a building or which way you’re facing, you’re surrounded by mountains on every side, and they tower over you. I feel so small here. Actually I feel small everywhere. I’m a short person with small hands and small feet and short hair and small features. Normally I hate it. I don’t like being short I really really don’t. But here I am in India and I’ve never felt so happy being small.
I’m going to run out of time so I’ll move on from mountains to children. I love them. I love them I love them I love them. This is my third humanitarian trip working with children and it blows my mind every time I go somewhere new that I have the capacity to feel so much love and empathy to kids I hardly know. Today was our third day teaching, which means we’re halfway done. It breaks my heart a little bit to say that. But halfway is usually around when the kids start warming up to you. They aren’t as shy as they were the first day and you’re starting to grasp their names better, so that’s when the connection really starts to form. When we arrive at our school every day the kids scurry towards us to touch our feet and tell us “good morning ma’am” (or sir in the case of those who are sir’s). Our translator told us that in Hindi culture this is their way of blessing us. At the end of each day I’m exhausted and dehydrated and boiling hot and sweaty and I probably smell sooooooo bad but I never want to leave.
Mom: I’m alive and I’m healthy and I haven’t had any major health problems. Yesterday I woke up with blurry vision and that was weird but I’m good now. It was just a side effect of my motion sickness patch so it’s all been sorted out and I can see almost perfectly again now. My bowels are just fine. I miss the fam. I hope everyone’s good. I miss Brynley. I sort of miss Mr. Barton (my AP Calculus teacher) which is weird but hey what can ya do. Thanks for letting me be here and for teaching me the importance of education and being a good person. I’m lucky to be here. While there are people and things that I miss there’s no place in the world I would rather be than right where I am. Namaste!
I know like 40 kids who would kill to be in your place right now. Cherish it. Take videos of the children talking and waving and smiling. Ask questions. To your translators and your team. Collect the flowers and dirt from your village. Keep everything your children bring you because they will hold so much meaning for you later. DONT let anyone tell you how to feel. If you don’t like something don’t pretend you like it cause everyone else does. If you like something LOVE it.
buy lots of things. Take pictures. But mostly live a little.
-jane from art class lol
Madi!!! MY WHOLE HEART! This makes me so so happy I am legitimately crying I miss india so much, you are the luckiest. It will go SO fast so enjoy it and savor it! I can still hear the kids saying "good morning ma’am!" Ah okay I love you I love you I love you!!!
Madi! NAMASTE! you are actually experiencing what this means; it is one of my favorite favorite truths about the place where you are right this minute: the divine within YOU is SEEING/LOVING/REALIZING/AWKNOWLEDING the divine within the children, the teachers, the mountains…you are living namaste and it is amazing and happy and hard and awesome in the not and ice cream flavor kind of way. I am so proud of you. I am so happy for you. I would love to be serving along side you just so we could look at each other every 5 minutes and be amazed and awe struck together at the same time. I LOVE YOU!!! Love, Mom.
Madi, I have just enjoyed reading your post and the previous posts as well. Such an incredible experience! The children are wonderful. So grateful you are there and contributing to their schooling as they are contributing to your life experiences of good and giving and sharing. Take lots of pictures of them and the village and the mountains as well. Seeing one photo of one young man walking with a child along a rocky mountain path was so illuminating for me. Put your comments in true perspective. Soak up every moment. Enjoy every smile. Hold hands with every child. Love you! Noodle
You are an amazing human being madison graham. Your blog post actually brought me to tears. You have made a difference already and will continue to make a difference as you share your contagious smile and laugh (which, by the way I do not think it sounds like a witch, nor do I think you should EVER stop laughing) and just your incredible personality. Your ability to love so many people from Guatemala to Thailand and now to India is inspiring. Keep sharing your amazing love with the world because it is what is making a difference!