March!

Namaste Friends,

I have purposely chosen not to write for some time.  As my time in India becomes shorter I find it difficult to discuss my everyday experiences.  Dayana left at the beginning of March and since then I have spent all my time with the girls, they even sleep with me on occasion.  They have become my friends, sisters, and confidants and like most people in their lives, I am also leaving them in a month.  Most of our discussions now revolve around when I will be able to return again (which I know will not happen for several years) and how I will contact them when I get home.  I find myself in tears most days when we talk about my departure because they treat me like family.  I have been sick the last few days and since I have not been well enough to get out of bed they bring me food, wash my clothes while I am sleeping, and give me head massages when my headaches increase.  There is nothing I can do to express my gratitude for their acceptance and care for me over the past 3 months.  Although I travelled across the world to help them, they will be in my heart and mind forever.

Although the past few weeks have been difficult, we have also had some great times.  On March 20^th, we celebrated Holi, the Hindu festival of colors.  For about 4 hours we proceeded to throw water, colors, and mud at one another. I was a little nervous when the mudslinging began but once I was dragged through it once and then twice I got over it and joined in the fun of chasing girls, picking them up and dragging them through the mud.   There were about 10 of us that were like a mob.  We would trick girls hiding in their rooms to unlock their doors and then carry them down 3 flights of stairs.  The whole day was amazing. 

I leave for Patna again on Thursday so I will be out of touch again for at least a week.  Although I am excited to travel to the villages that Father Dan lived in it is tough to tell the girls I am leaving them for a week.  They now expect me to be there when they get home from school and they know that if I am not the up at 4:30 am to make breakfast that I am sick.  I feel like I am letting them down when I leave.  I will return from Patna on April 7^th and then my 23^rd birthday is on April 9^th.  I made the mistake of letting the girls know when my birthday was when I first arrived and they have been plotting for the last month.  I am quite positive that it will be my most memorable birthday.

I apologize for the somber mood of this post but it is tough not to think about what it will be like when I have to leave them.  On a positive note, I found out that I was accepted into University of Louisville’s Speech Pathology Graduate Program so when I get home I will have more than enough things to keep me occupied.  Right now I am trying to secure a roommate and apartment with the help of my wonderful boyfriend who is checking out all the places for me and actively scanning the internet daily for jobs and cars.  Hopefully my busyness will help me cope with the fact that I have to leave this amazing place.

Love you all!

Allie