Dying

I have the flu. Or strep. Or both. Let's throw in some weepy crusty eyes as well. And that is literally my life right now. For the past 4 days and counting. I don't know if I have swine flu, we would have to get certain tests to confirm that but either way--I have body aches, red sore throat, headache, fever, sweats and chills, etc. Regardless of what it is--it sucks. Like really really bad. I'm confined from others, I have masks to wear when talking to people, the works. In any other circumstance I would shrug it off and welcome a few days off "resting" (aka playing catch up--lets be real) but not right now. My playtimes and working days are numbered. I can't afford to be sick right now. I feel like I am dying--in more ways then one and it really really blows. 

So since I've already completed what work I can, caught up the good ol' blog, primitively packed, read, taken a ton of naps, planned out my future everything via Pintrest (numerous times mind you) and watched a whole slew of old school Julia Roberts movies (basically whatever I've been able to find on YouTube) and am still sick----I decided to post some of my favorite kids pics as of late. They were taken pre-sickness obviously because I am not allowed anywhere near them right now. But here are the pics, because even though they are just yards away, I miss them. Like bad.

Oh and some of the girls gave me these flowers the other day. How sweet is that!

And because I am already at this blogging thing again today, I have to post that Brooklyn left for America the other night. It is really weird to have her gone. I keep thinking I need to go over to her room and tell her this or that but then I remember she isn't there anymore. She came a day before I did so no matter what has changed, Brooklyn has always been here. So here are some pics from the last night we were all together and right before we walked her out to the car. 

This is my sad face because Brooklyn is leaving and because I am sick. And because she is getting lice checked----this picture is such is poetic expression of life in India!

Medical Camp with the BFF's

More then half the group went to Tritchy today, and the four of us who were left went out to complete a medical camp in Vengathur. It was a couple of hours away and as luck would have it a lot of the patient's happened to be gone today. I guess there was a mis-communication about when to come that we didn't find out about until we had traveled two hour to get there. This is India so what do you do---you make the most of it that's what. So here is our two work pictures....

and after work we got to spend extra time just being in the colony itself. There was the cutest family that we had a blast with 

After a stop to the restroom (I opted for the field behind the restroom) the mom of the younger kids in the family took us on a walk around the colony

By the time we reached her house we were all more or less BFF's. She had her friend (who was sporting scissors in her hair--that's one way not to lose them) making flowers for our hair while she was telling us about some drink/refreshing treat recipe--lime, salt and lemon I believe it was. After some pics Caroline offered to do some henna for her so basically there we were, just chilling, having some girl time with the locals in India. No big deal.

It's amazing how "normal" these types of situations feel to me now. Im really going to miss girl time with the locals.

Christmas in March

Guna's in need of some new clothes--pants especially.  I picked him up some clothes from Chenglaput the other day and today was the day I was able to "give" them to him. Because I am his sponsor I'm allowed to buy him things but I still can't simply give him things. I can show him what I bought but then the gift goes into the Star Store where he has to purchase it with the stars he has earned from good behavior, good marks in school, etc. But enough of the technicalities, the point is I was able to show him what I was putting in the Star Store for him. And as if giving Guna stuff wasn't good enough my sister is sponsoring Kaviya so I was able to give her things via my sister as well. In short it was such a blast! Basically it was like Christmas.

Here is his cheesy "Ashley is making me smile when all I really want to do is open my stuff" face.   

Once he opened the bag and saw one of the shirts he got so excited and squealed, "A SHIRT!!!" and started giggling afterwords. He was equally excited about the smiley face ball too.

The good news is the shirts fit great, the bad news is the pants that came with the shirts didn't fit at all really. One of them was okay.....

but these ones weren't those ones. I am actually really surprised that he got them on--we almost didn't get them off again. He may not be able to breath or have children one day due to the short time he spent wearing these pants but at least the shirt fits well enough that he can still flex his muscles without ripping it to shreds.

Guna was more then happy to help Kaviya open her gift......

but true to Kaviya's personality she quickly took charge of the situation and made sure Guna didn't help out to much. She loved her gifts as well. She got an outfit, pics of my sis and her family, a little notebook and a necklace/bracelet set. She was all smiles. And kept pulling things out, would inspect it and say "It's so pretty Auntie!" or "I love it Auntie!"

Sponsoring a child is one of the coolest things I've ever done. I wish I would of figured out who I was sponsoring earlier because it would have been fun to spend more time with Guna as his sponsor----aka get to spoil him more. :)  I can and still will spoil him-I just won't be here to watch him squeal and giggle over being spoiled. 

Bethel Nagar

Today we went to one of my favorite colonies--Bethel Nagar. I love the independence found in this colony. It is so refreshing. It seems the patients in this colony have their own brand of fierce independence--the most independent being the ones who seem to have the least physical independence such as these two....or three I guess: 

This man has no fingers or toes and is pretty close to blind. His wife is helpful and firm with him--sometimes to the point that I felt a little bad for him. But he himself was really happy. I was doing blood pressure and blood glucose today and as soon as he sat in my chair I asked him how he was doing and he exclaimed (and very enthusiastically) "I am fine!" but not in a loud I can't hear well sort of way, just in an energetic happy way.

And this lady-----not only does she get around on her scooter but she gets around well. And FAST. Im pretty sure I have written about her before, but I just had to highlight her again because I love her. 

And the fact that I can't remember either of these patient's name frustrates so so badly. 

Here a few more pics from around the colony today. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how many times Ive been able to work in the colonies I still always end up having a meaningful and touching experience. They really are special--I would even go as far to say sacred--places. 

After the colony we stopped at Pulipaakam Hill/Temple afterwords. Climbing up the hill in flip flops in the hottest part of the day wasn't so fun but the temple and experience that awaited us up top was. First off there was this guy--straight from National Geographic right?

Usually the priest at temples are really private but this one wasn't so much. He and all the temple staff were for that matter. They showed us around  the temple and instead of just pointing to were we could look in at things they let us go into the chambers--and take pictures even. I have never been to an "open" temple like that before. It was really really neat.  

I didn't get the closing our eyes memo on this one......

And this is why we tell volunteers not to touch the animals:

Right before we left the priest was leaning up against this pole so I had to take one more picture. His friends started saying this was his sexy pose......its probably a good thing we were on our way out. And that we had Bryan with us.

We took some pics of the view on way back to the trail head. That my friends is Chengleput Lake. Im not sure if that is it's official name but that is what I'm calling it. I love the train in the second pic. I still have yet to ride an Indian train--I guess its good I still have an uncompleted Indian bucket list, it will give me more of a reason to come back one day. As if I need more of one. :)