Thursday, July 9, 2015

Second Letter Home


Hello dear family,

I figure it is that time to write again and to let you know how I am doing. Thank you for all the messages and emails you sent. It was really good to hear from everyone.

Things are going well here and I am settled down into a routine. The actual volunteering is usually quite boring for me, but as is usually the case, my favorite moments and experiences have come in the time while I'm waiting around for the electricity to come back on, for the internet to work, for the bus, or for my friends at work to give me a project to do. It has taught me the value of living in the present moment and taking things one day at a time. I continue to try to learn Tamil. I know I won't get very far learning it in the three months that I am here, but it makes my friends here and the other locals so happy to know that a U.S.-American is interested to learn of their culture and traditions. It is the same with me wearing local Indian dress instead of jeans and a t-shirt. In my experience, everyone has respected and has been appreciative of me wearing the salwar kumeez, a scarf, flowers in my hair, and the red dot between my eyebrows. And let me tell ya, it isn't easy! Only now do I realize how much I took shorts for granted.

Everyone constantly told me about the differences I would encounter in daily living, the logistics, not using toilet paper (though it is still available here), taking bucket showers, eating with my right hand, the spicy food, bobbing my head, not to smile at men you don't know, etc. In my opinion and thus far in my time here, though they are to be prepared for, these have been the easiest things to adapt to. It is the differences in deeply instilled culture and communication that takes the most energy to mitigate. Concepts which we find so easy to understand can mean entirely different things here: what it means to be a friend, to be a guest, to work a full day, to be somewhere at a certain time, to be religious, to eat a certain way, to love, how to communicate appreciation, etc. It is things like this, trying to bridge the gap between our different ways of understanding, that is most exhausting, but also the most rewarding.

In addition, the heat just wears you down. It is usually manageable, for most places have high-powered fans, and my room has a small AC unit (thank heavens). But when the electricity goes out for short or long periods of time, then you must retreat into the shade or the innermost part of the house and try to move as little as possible.

Overall, all of these things are very challenging but thus far are worth it. I feel my soul stretching and learning. I always pray for and need extra strength and patience. And I really love my friends and host family here.

This weekend I am planning on taking a trip to an old ancient city on the coast, and then go to the nearest city with a LDS Branch, so that I can go to church at least once while I am here. Wish me luck and I will take pictures. I love you all and hope to see you soon! I've only been away for five weeks, but I feel like I have been gone for 6 months or something! Love, Sarah

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