If I could sum up the past few days in a two words, they would be:
SENSORY OVERLOAD
Foreign sights, smells, sounds, and textures bombard me. I feel like a three year old who is discovering basic life skills and is full of wonder at the smallest things.
To be honest, I have never felt so vulnerable in my life and feel so dependent on other people to help me. Our site director told us that Jesus displayed that vulnerability in all his relationships, and through his vulnerability, he invites and empowers other people. When I get frustrated about my helplessness, I hope to remember that pearl of wisdom. I'll figure out more things over time. I wish that I eloquently describe everything in detail, but I will start a rambling list of interesting things.
Our site director, Thomas John, and his wife, Betty, taught us how to eat with our hands, and you're supposed to mash up the food with your fingers and compress it together to blend the different flavors. Its funny how playing with your food is culturally acceptable! I cannot expect anything to be similar to my American life. Even Indians even use toilet differently (if you really want to know the process, you can ask me). Each night, the power shuts off for a half hour or so at a designated time, and the current can be unreliable at times. I've learned to shower/bathe using a bucket of water, and the humidity is extreme. Monsoon season is upon us, and pouring rain falls often. Banana and coconut trees are everywhere, and the verdant, lush landscape impresses me with its beauty.
During the past few days, our group (Rebecca, Sudie, Ariel, John, David, and I) has been struggling with learning Malayalam, the language of Kerala, and has had the opportunity to learn about Indian economics, education, politics, and history through Achen (an Malayalam address term for a pastor who is Thomas John, the site director) and a few of his friends who are professors at local colleges. I am still processing all of the information but love the emphasis on social justice and finding ways to bring more equality through structural changes. Although it may sound a little nerdy, I cannot wait to learn more on a more first hand basis. Also, I am determined to have a working knowledge of Malayalam at some point, but the hardest part is mastering the alphabet and the unfamiliar sounds.
Hopefully, I will post a better update later along with some video and pictures. Please keep me in your prayers as I travel and get settle at my permanent site, the
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