Today is Republic of India Day.. On January 26, 1947 India received Independence. They finally parted ways with British rule and became independent. The Liberation Movement that started in 1920 by Ghandi was a completely non-violent movement that ended in January 1947.
The streets are silent today... the hustle and bustle has stopped. There was a huge parade this morning that was televised in honor of Independence day. We've been here for two weeks now. We've sat through speakers on politics, religion, women's rights, we've had Hindi lessons, we've talked to locals, fed them, we've seen the poverty and the despair, we've eaten their food, shared in their stories.. and now today we get to share in their CELEBRATION of INDEPENDENCE! India is a country that contains 1.3 billion people, has 15 different official languages, 29 states, more than 10 official religions, thousands of different traditions, hundreds of different cuisines, has the wealthiest and the poorest people in the world and they have still survived in 1 piece as a democracy.
As I told all of you in my last post I've been extremely sick. I still am. It sucks.. I haven't been to work all week instead I've been in and out of the hospital. Apparently it is an infection that must run its course. Well its been running me into the ground... I've been moody. I've cried. I've wanted to go home. I've played the pity me game with my parents. Tomorrow I have a flight to Calcutta and I am mad that I am sick and of course I am thinking why me? I (we) spent all this money, quit my job, followed my dream, came to India, and now all I've seen is the inside of bathrooms and hospitals.. well after talking to my mom this morning it hit me... what was I expecting? I knew going into this it wasn't going to be easy.. that I may get sick.. that the curry is eventually going to be the death of me.. that I will be exhausted and worn out but I will have accomplished my goal of going to India and helping the poor just as Mother Teresa did. So in the words of Diane O'Donnell I will be getting on the plane tomorrow and if I shit my pants I shit my pants! I will be going back to work tomorrow and if I have to shit in dirt I shit in dirt. I came to India to follow my heart and it's time I stop letting my ass plan my days!
I will keep everyone updated on what's to come this weekend and over the next few weeks here... I have to make the best of what I've got!
“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.” ― Mother Teresa
The streets are silent today... the hustle and bustle has stopped. There was a huge parade this morning that was televised in honor of Independence day. We've been here for two weeks now. We've sat through speakers on politics, religion, women's rights, we've had Hindi lessons, we've talked to locals, fed them, we've seen the poverty and the despair, we've eaten their food, shared in their stories.. and now today we get to share in their CELEBRATION of INDEPENDENCE! India is a country that contains 1.3 billion people, has 15 different official languages, 29 states, more than 10 official religions, thousands of different traditions, hundreds of different cuisines, has the wealthiest and the poorest people in the world and they have still survived in 1 piece as a democracy.
As I told all of you in my last post I've been extremely sick. I still am. It sucks.. I haven't been to work all week instead I've been in and out of the hospital. Apparently it is an infection that must run its course. Well its been running me into the ground... I've been moody. I've cried. I've wanted to go home. I've played the pity me game with my parents. Tomorrow I have a flight to Calcutta and I am mad that I am sick and of course I am thinking why me? I (we) spent all this money, quit my job, followed my dream, came to India, and now all I've seen is the inside of bathrooms and hospitals.. well after talking to my mom this morning it hit me... what was I expecting? I knew going into this it wasn't going to be easy.. that I may get sick.. that the curry is eventually going to be the death of me.. that I will be exhausted and worn out but I will have accomplished my goal of going to India and helping the poor just as Mother Teresa did. So in the words of Diane O'Donnell I will be getting on the plane tomorrow and if I shit my pants I shit my pants! I will be going back to work tomorrow and if I have to shit in dirt I shit in dirt. I came to India to follow my heart and it's time I stop letting my ass plan my days!
I will keep everyone updated on what's to come this weekend and over the next few weeks here... I have to make the best of what I've got!
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.” ― Mother Teresa
No comments:
Post a Comment