Little acts go a long way

As I have worked with and gotten to know the locals here in Hyderabad, I am amazed at their openness and kindness. I realize and have experienced that not all are like this, but so many are, especially in the poorer areas.

When we took a wrong turn in the slums on our way to our mural project we started asking around if someone had a phone we could borrow. Even though some of them just laughed and informed us "they were street bums, so no they didn't have a phone", one family took us in, let us use their phone and cared for us while we waited 2 hours for Bindhu (our Indian partner for murals) to come.

They gave us food, water, offered to wash Lydia's feet, and go safer shopping with us, so we wouldn't get ripped off. They gave us 100% hospitality asking if people in India were kind to us, it was so important to them, that their countrymen were treating us right.

On the flip side I have realized there is also the selfish side in people as well, and having experienced both sides here is a bit overwhelming at times. I have realized that being open (to an extent) and loving is necessary but trust needs to be prove. Just when I believe that most people have an innate desire to do good & help out their fellow man, I get a slap of reality when twice in one day the auto drivers decide to rip us off. We agree on one price (the foreigner price most of the time) before we hop into the auto, on top of that once we get to our destination they demand more money saying they didn't know it was 1 min from the club we told them, or that there was traffic... Blah blah blah whatever happened to being honest and a decent human being who keeps their word. I get they are living in a third world and need to make money, but I get upset when people try to take advantage of us.

It is annoying that they think they can rip us off in everything (autos, shopping, food etc.) and think we don't know better. 

Nevertheless I love that people come out of nowhere to help us out, focusing on that helps me to stay positive and love the place I am. 

3 things I love about India 

-mango milkshakes=heaven in a glass

-people love to shake hands ask my name and then run off. 

-women are blank faced until I smile and wave & then they give a beaming/shy smile

Today Andrah Padesh was officially broken into two states. Everyone was out  celebrting the newly formed Telengana state, some added lots of color to their otherwise white doorstep murals!

Our trip to Sharmenar bazaar and Mosque

Taken from inside the Mosque looking at the bazaar below

Peace & happiness

Realizing a dream come true

Wow I can't believe I am actually here in India! The land of my dreams (in case you didn't pick that up). I have been on the ground for about a week. India is such a vibrant country, every time I wander thru town or the slums, I find happiness in all the colorful saree's. They are each so unique and beautiful, almost as beautiful as the people who were them.
I have noticed as a general statement they are reserved towards us until I share a smile and a wave, and then a giddiness comes about them, no matter their age. This week we have been working in one of the slums about 30 minutes away from where we live. Even though they have close to nothing they treat us like royalty. They bring out chairs or tarps for us to sit on, and always offer us a drink, & 'offer' to throw away our garbage, which means they take it and toss it on the ground.
The one slum we have been working closely with, is working on getting government recognition, which will enable them to have a more permanent home (aka the government won't come in and level their homes). Key factors include 'real' buildings instead of sheet metal and tarps. We see them out there mixing there own cement and building walls day after day. They are hard workers. We have and continually are helping them fund and build borewells, which makes a HUGE impact. They walk anywhere from 2-5 kilometers just for water, which is always contamenaited. Leading to so many illnesses. However borewells are drilled into the ground and bring the water up from the water table, leading to clean water. We have noticed in the colonies that have borwells their is a greater sense of community, they all pitched in (along with outside sources) to help pay for the borwell, and they have a keeper who monitors the usage, leading to less contention due to families monopulizing the borewell.
We have also been running a summer camp for the kids in the slums, reviewing English, and teaching games and songs to give them something to do instead of get in trouble. They are so adorable, sweet and full of energy. 3 hours with them in 104* weather is quite exhausting. These kids are brilliant, they pick up on English so fast, the older ones help the younger ones and translate for us as needed.
Thanks for your love, thoughts and support, they are working miracles!! Till next week.
Namaste

Our country director Ann, doing "the handshake"

Some of our kids from summer camp, they LOVE the camera

Our first rickshaw ride!!

Bimala, the sweetest girl whom I almost brought home from our tourist stop at Golconda fort.

Our coke party after we drank some tap water on accident. Apparently coke is the cure all.