No Problem

No Problem, is the new mantra I have adopted since being in India. As we drove the two hours back to the city of Chennai, someone asked the driver what happens if you run into someone else car his reply "No problem, you keep on driving." I had to laugh at this, because its true so many times in the trip we had to just look at each other and laugh and say "It's India". On my journey to the airport we took part of a Bus strike, and were stuck behind a bus for 15-20 minutes, before my driver finally weaved his way out of the cars pile up. And I had to just laugh and have faith and we would still get to the airport "No problem". I was surprisingly calm through all of it, knowing I was leaving India I didn't want to miss any experience. Including that of being part of a Bus strike. It was something I had never seen, I watched as the three buses driving (right) in front of us slowly turned all different angles and stopped. We all looked at one another and were very confused. I thought maybe an accident was in front of us or even a cow herd was crossing the street. Because even this is possible in India. Our driver got out after a minute or two of waiting, and turn to us saying "wait here, I'll be right back" in his cute little Indian voice. Not sure why he thought he needed to say wait here, I was not about to get out of the car with motorcycles flying by me right and left. He came back and explained that the bus driver's were striking... this was kind of difficult to explain because his English was very limited but he very patiently kept trying till we understood. We did eventually get to the airport after avoiding several more car pile ups as the buses were striking all over the city. Once we got there and stood in three very long lines we were at our gate...just in time for them to tell us it was delayed and that they didn't have the information now to tell us when we would be leaving. At this point it was much more difficult to say it but I closed my eyes and took a deep breathe and said "No Problem". My flight did eventually leave and I was rerouted and even got to visit Denver. I met several nice people on my flights and even shocked the Indian man sitting next to me when I started watching the Bollywood film on the flight. He then said "soon you will be telling me you're marrying an Indian man." I then said "I wish." This man lives in Denver and offered me a home cooked Southern Indian meal anytime I'm in Denver. Then on my next flight the lady sitting next to me saw the tag on my bag said Chennai and began talking to me. Her and her family had also just traveled back from Chennai and were probably on all of my same flights. Even though they also had a different connection originally. They live in Washington but recommended I go to Chennai Mashala- which happens to be the very restaurant my dad recommended before I left. She told me the Owner there also speaks Tamil, so I'm excited to go in sometime soon.
Several people have asked me if I'm a changed woman since India. And I think in many ways I have been changed but they are all small things. Like I may be able to handle a little more Indian spice than before. I now feel I could take on any airport in the world. I'm now not afraid to barter. My English may be more broken than before I left. :) I can now understand almost any Indian accent. I now have lots of new wonderful friends.  and I think most importantly I now have Indian eyes. But I'm still the same Martha looking through them.

We finished our wall the day before we left and it looks amazing. It reads India Is... in the middle and then we all put around it the things that make up India. Heart is what Ryen put in the very middle, except it's in Tamil so it actually says Irudhayam. But this is so perfect. India is Heart, and it has certainly stolen mine. I loved everything everyone wrote so I'm going to list them.
India is...
What you will make it to be.
The BEST
Karl Marx and Joseph Stalin (haha- names of two brothers at the school)
Divinity
CTR (also another long story)
"This Boy"
Humility
"No beating"
Hot
Incredible
"Opium to my Ears" (longer story)
Vanakkum
Art
Color
Forgiveness
and Lice :)

I want to again Thank everyone who made this possible. I loved every minute of India. And will someday go back...hopefully sooner than later. Rising Star is an amazing program, and I'm so grateful to have been a small part of it. I hope I have been able to accurately portray my experience, and the love I have for these children and then Indian people.

Nandri (Thanks in Tamil) for reading.

All my love.
Martha Davidson

This Boy.

Tonight I sat in a dark room full of boys with wide bright beautiful eyes, and watched them watch TV. For the past three nights I have brought my laptop to the boys- Balakumar specifically. He has come through on his promise and finished his homework every night. So tonight since it was our last, I wasn't about to inforce that only the boys who had finished there homework could come. Because then I wouldn't get to see any of them but Balakumar. But surprisingly enough several others had actually finished there homework as well. So we all sat down around my little computer with horrible sound and watched The Suite Life of Zach & Cody. They LOVED it. They sat there and watched a tv show, they couldn't hear, and couldn't really understand even if they could hear it. They sat with wide eyes and laughed and laughed. I decided more boys could see if I kept the laptop in my lap, but flipped it around so it was facing out. So I watched the faces of these boys, while they watched probably one of there first tv shows. Television is a part of my daily routine almost- as sad as that is. I watched them all with their open mouth stare- trying there best to figure out what was happening. And then all in unison they would bust into laughter, afterwards speaking in Tamil- discussing the funny thing that had just occured. Hari, has THE best laugh. He likes to pretend like he is this tough guy, but when you can break through that he has the best smile and laugh you will ever see. I had to upload this picture- regardless of the additional hand in the photo, because this is his Tough guy face. And its hilarious because he is doing it while showing me his newly painted pink, red, and orange nails. And the second photo is his smile.

After watching part of the TV show I turned it off- much to their dismay. But we wanted to play with them, so then we had a dance party. And Hari danced for us. It was hilarious. Did I mention his full name is Hari Krishna. I basically love this kid.
The night continued as a party but then it was time for the little ones to go to bed. And I had to say goodbye to most of my little boys. I gave Aravindraj and Peter one last big hug. And then turned to my big boys. I love the little ones but I really got to know Basha, Hari, Balakumar, Ebkenezar, and Krishna. So parting with them was much harder. Kala then came in the room and gave each of us a necklace. I love mine and have been wearing it everyday since then. Then the boys gave me a puppet one of them must have made in talent class. It was so nice of them. And I had held myself together up until I said my final goodbyes and Basha and Balakumar (my two favorites) came up and gave me the biggest hug ever. I held them tight as I knew the tears  were coming and I didn't want them to see. I quickly got up and waved goodbye as I walked out of the room.   I said "goodnight and I love you" one last time, and did the heart hands we had just taught them. They all did heart hands back and I lost it. We walked down out of the boys hostel and then I realized I still needed to say goodbye to Soniya. I tried to contain my crying long enough to go say goodbye but that didn't work at all. I probably scared poor Soniya, But I managed to tell her how much I love her, and how smart I think she is. Gave her one last big hug goodbye and then walk out. As I was walking away I had just passed the corner I heard my name so I went back and Soniya was standing there waving out the window. It broke my heart and I felt like I was abandoning her as I waved back and then kept on walking. I know they have done this so many times now, so I know its more me feeling abandoned then them.

That night we had a devotional like thing, where we all went around and shared the one thing we have learned from Rising Star. I knew after crying earlier that night, I wasn't going to be able to handle this little gathering. And I was right, I cried and barely could speak audible words as I told the group the thing I learned was how to love. And not just love, but to love so freely and whole heartedly. I have learned from these children that you can't live with your heart being guarded you have to let people in, and let them change and affect you. Even if its only for a short amount of time. So that is my new goal. But it's so much harder when its not little Indian children that I'm letting into my heart. But I'm trying world.
I love Rising Star and I love my life.
Thank you everyone who made it possible to meet these children...it is something I will never forget.

Martha