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

Baby, Baby, Baby ohh

Tonight I brought Justin to India...well mainly to the boys in my house at Rising Star. Yesterday I promised Balakumar that if he finished his homework I would bring my computer and we could look at more pictures... So  he did- because he is the most amazing child ever. And then they wanted to see videos. It then became a major distraction for everyone who still had homework so I had to put the computer away. Balakumar came up to me today during playtime and said "I'm almost done with my homework- only one more thing. You bring computer this evening." So of course he finished his homework, in record time I might add. And I brought my computer again, but this time we went up to where all the little boys, who don't have homework sleep. And then I showed him more pictures and this time we watched videos. Except the only videos I have are a few music videos and some tv shows. And watching a tv show in a language you don't understand is never fun, so we watched Justin Bieber videos. They LOVED them. But after I ran out of those they thought all my other videos were boring. haha.
Then just when I was leaving Balakumar said "Auntie Martha, wait" and so I did and he handed me a piece of paper with his name at the top, and below it has a heart with has the words "for Martha" inside and around the heart there are lots of stars. Its basically super adorable and for sure tied for the best thing I have gotten while in India. I also got a bracelet from Soniya, she made me one and I love it. I'm only afraid of loosing it.
India is wonderful as always.

Here meet Balakumar.

Really not sure why this is my only photo of him. But it is. I'll work on this.

But for now goodnight/ good morning for all of you.

Tomorrow is my last day here at Rising Star so I'm going to try and be very awake for it.

Love. Martha

India Is...

Yesterday we went to the Bindi Art School. Which is in one of the leprosy colonies, Bharatapuram. Yesterday I woke up and debated with myself. I really wanted one of the paintings, but they are 45 American Dollars, and I just don't have any money- and I have already spent $200 on the trip already. So I decided no I wouldn't get more rupees out of the ATM. So we went and were bombarded with paintings. They brought us stacks upon stacks of paintings. And so we stayed there for probably close to two hours just pouring through painting after painting. It was beautiful. Each stack was from a different person in the colony, and each had its own unique flare. I knew it wasn't a good idea to look through them, since I didn't have the money to buy one. But I started by just looking over peoples shoulders, but then I just got sucked in. And grabbed my own stack. I then saw the first one. It was an abstract painting, but still had body's in the painting if you were looking for them. It reminded me of clouds, which often look just like clouds but if you sit there long enough you can find an Elephant, or a car. It was also so colorful, the color just spilled over the page. It was beautiful. I showed it to everyone around me hoping it would catch someone else eye like mine. Lots of people said they liked it but none really picked it up. Later I walked over to the table and Sarah is showing a different group of people the same painting. Finally Rachel picked it and added it to the pill she was debating between. I was relieved, if I couldn't get it- at least someone else would. But then I found another one. It was of a Sunset and was filled with amazing color, and had a silhouette of two people sitting on a dock. It was so beautiful. I just sat there for probably 10 minutes looking at it, wishing somehow money would just appear next to it- so it could be mine. But no money appeared, but I do believe that I sat just long enough to keep the image of the painting with me for quite a while. I slowly got up, and walked out of the school. It broke my heart way more than I thought it would to leave it behind. I think it was because I met the artist. He actually did both of the paintings I loved. His hands and feet were calloused. But his smile was brilliant, and his creativity was untouched by the leprosy that has so much affected his body. Watching the people explain the art work was beautiful. They were so proud they would hold up there paintings high for the photos. It was all beautiful and I loved it. Even though I left the painting there, I'll still have the memories of the people who made them.
Today we did our "Wall" in the back of the elephant house, each session has painted a section of the wall in there own special way. Today we decided to do India is... as our theme and we all have a ray of sun to fill with what we think India is. I'm going to put color. I love riding around India because I'm always entertained with either the color of the sky, the plants, the clothing or the houses.  It's all so beautiful.

This is my favorite doorway in Old Delhi- the purple and green were beautiful.

Well I'm off to playtime with the kids.

xoxo Martha.

Inspired

Dr. Kumar is great/ amazing/ wonderful/ kind of just adorable. He is the doctor here at Rising Star. He takes care of all the children here, as well as all the leprosy patients. So he has a ridiculous number of patients and visits them twice a month. A while back- I meant to blog about this forever ago. But then life happened. So the day we went to do medical we first went to the Preschool at one of the colonies. The children are so adorable, but were all terrified of Dr. Kumar and all of us. But as soon as they got the children to go to him, he had a way of calming them. Which was very impressive. After the preschool, we went to the colony where he showed us the self-care program he has established. Since leprosy patients have such major wounds that have gone on so long without treatment, they have a lot of work that needs to be done. And so Dr. Kumar taught them all how to treat themselves. The wounds have such big callouses that they have to scrap/ sometimes even cut away the dead part- for the new to heal. Dr. Kumar has so many patients that he keeps them all organized through pictures. And since we were at a small colony on this day, and only had 5 patients he showed us the before of the wounds we were now cleaning. And they were all amazing. after months of self care they were amazingly better. 

One of the Preschoolers. SO adorable.

Today I had the experience of washing the feet of a man who had just helped me get the water to wash his feet. Even when we come to serve them, they end up serving us so much more. As we were behind his house getting water from the pump. He asked me my name and I asked him his. It was an amazing feeling to really try and communicate even though our ability to was so limited. This man's smile was brilliant. I wish I had thought to take a picture. But being caught up in the moments is something I rarely do...so I'm also cherishing the fact that I'm just looking with my own eyes instead of always through my lens.
After we were finished we all got back on the Bus, and started driving home. Dr. Kumar then gave us the privileged of hearing his life story. So I'm hoping it is okay to share here.
Dr. Kumar knew he wanted to be a Doctor from a young age. He was only 10 or 11, when his Grandfather got very sick, Dr. Kumar visited his Grandfather everyday. And one day when he was there visiting his grandfather he had a Heart Attack, and when Dr. Kumar went to go find one of the two doctors they were both busy with more crucial patients. When one was finally able to come see his grandfather it was to late. Dr. Kumar watched his grandfather die. Weeks later Dr. Kumar returned to the hospital to visit the doctor who had come in and tried everything he could. And then asked why his Grandfather had to die. The Doctor explained that there are never enough doctors, so they had to prioritize and since his grandfather was older the children took priority. Dr. Kumar explained that even though his Grandfather was old, he was still a person. That day Dr. Kumar decided he would be a doctor- so he could save real peoples lives and make a difference. Dr. Kumar studied very hard so he could be in the top of the top of his class. Because only the very top were able to get scholarships from the Government. After his many years of schooling, he started working in a Hospital. And as he puts it, he forgot why he wanted to be a Doctor.
During his break from his schooling and his next contract, Padma (the amazing woman I really can't do justice telling you about right now) convinced Dr. Kumar to come help Leprosy patience's only for a month. And once he got here he remembered why he wanted to be a doctor. And he has been "still doing his month- for several years now" as he puts it. Such a funny man. He then told us to figure out what we want to do in this life and do it, and then never forget why you're doing it.
This has kept me thinking all week about this. So this is my goal. I'm pretty sure I know what I want to do, but I need to decide and be ready to fight for it.

xoxo Martha

Agra, Delhi Mini Vaca

This weekend I went on a crazy adventure.
2hr bus ride to Chennai airport.
2hr wait for flight
3 hr. Plane ride on Spice Jet to New Delhi
               First I would like to marry the flight attendant we had. He was super adorable.
               Second it was amazing that even Indian air is bumpy. There was the most turbulence I have ever experienced on our short plane ride. It was almost amazing.

2 hrs in Delhi- Going to Gandhi's assassination spot. There was a surprising about of peace and calmness here. Considering the tourist sight it has become. I loved all the quotes and getting a better feel for the impact this one man had on the world. He is such an inspiration.

Then we did a bicycle rick shaw tour of Old Delhi.
               This was amazing. We went through the market with these tiny streets, where no cars are allowed. We also went to the Spice market- which was amazing. Even being someone who knows nothing about cooking or spices. It was still fantastic. We also got to tour one of the oldest Jain temples, and were given the tour by one of the Jain priests. He explained a little about there religion and it was great to hear it all first hand.
During all of this I decided to take a rick shaw with our tour guild. So I could really hear about what we were seeing. And it was probably one of my best decisions of the trip. We were all really tired from the night before so most people were sleeping on the bus when he was explaining all the neat things we were driving by. But I was listening and excited. So he was like "I like you, you actually want to be here." Even though I know everyone wanted to be there. They were just to tired to fully express it.
But since our tour guild is a member we talked a little  about the church and specifically dating with in the church in India. Flirting here consists of boys staring at you, and girls not responding. "Love marriages" as the children here call them, are not the norm. So dating isn't really an important thing here in India. But with in the church we have been counseled to date many people before marriage. Which is pretty much unheard of. But our tour guild had what he called a "both" marriage. He dated many people, but always liked her so then their parents arranged it. He was a Branch President a while back. And he encouraged his youth to date, no flirting but to date each other. The new Branch President is more traditional and discourages dating, but the Mission President is fighting him on it because it is what the Prophets have counseled us to do. So that's interesting, having such a cultural against religious issue.
I'm really not sure where I stand on the subject. Because our "Love Marriages" have a much higher divorce rate then the arranged ones here. But who knows who is happier.
In the Spice Market my flip flop broke and I was walking around the muddy streets of Old Delhi bare foot for a while. Which was interesting, but totally fitting. Since so many people here never wear shoes. I later got a pedicure at the hotel for something like 7 dollars, from a very nice man. haha My feet have never felt so clean.
We then did lunch/ dinner at Pizza Hut which was some of the best food I have ever had. :) We may have overwhelmed the restaurant with our party of 17 in the same area. But it was worth it. Did some great people watching here. Lots of teens on group "dates".

After this it was back to the bus. 5 hr buses ride to Agra.- this was just a little bit painful.
Check in to Hotel
Sleep.
5:15 up and ready to go to the Taj Mahal.

This man decided he wanted to be in my photo.

The Taj was amazing. You really can't get the majestic power of it from pictures. To keep pollution down we had to get into an electric bus, and then walk the rest of  the way to the Taj. We were among the first to go in. The Taj Mahal is more than just the white building everyone believes it to be. Its actually a huge fortress of buildings, and the white building is just the Mausoleum. Before going through the second get Neithan told us the background story...So I'm going to share it here. Mainly for my memories sake.
The Emperor who build the Taj had three wives. The second wife was the love of his life, and she is the woman buried in the Mausoleum, along with the emperor. The other two have burial spots at different entrances. The 2nd Wife is the only one who bore him children, she had four sons, and two daughters. She died shortly after giving birth to the third, who also died. This was a sudden and shocking death for the Emperor, and it is believed that in her last moments. She requested only two things from the Emperor first that he take care of her children and her parents, the second that he would always keep her close to his heart. So he then build the great Taj Mahal as a Mausoleum to her name and the love they shared. Later after it was built one of his sons decided to overthrow his father and lock him away so he could rule. His fathers last request was that he be held in a place where he could see the TajTaj and the river next to it. This is considered the greatest love story of all time- to the Indian people. Even greater than Romeo and Juliet because these two were married. And only after marriage does the true and full love grow and form. So I thought that was beautiful, and just makes the Taj Mahal so much more beautiful.

This is the tower his Son locked him in.

The Taj Mahal is breathe taking, seeing its magnitude in person was an unreal experience. We kept saying to ourselves "Oh no big deal, we are just at the TAJ MAHAL!!!" It was great.

We then went to the Agra Fort which is also just an amazing structure/ many structures. Every detail is amazing, and even had some pretty sweet history. We got to go inside the Harlots chamber. The Emperor had an amazing number of them, in the hundreds. And they each had rooms all around a courtyard with a bath in the middle. The Emperor was the only male allowed within the walls, even his guards during this time were female.

We then went back to the hotel for breakfast, swimming, and my pedicure.
We then went shopping at a store called Maxx, it was awesome and so colorful.
Then dinner at McDonald's- where many people got Veggieburger. I got a chicken burger.
Then half of us went to the show- while the others when off for more shopping. The Show was awesome. It was the story of the Taj Mahal, and it was great. I have learned that everything in India is just over the top. And I love it. The introduction to the show said something to the effect of "This will be the most spectacular thing you will ever see..." So that was great. They had so many special effects it was great. But the dancing really was just amazing. We got headsets with the translation of the show, so that also kept me very entertained.
Then we went out to dinner, and since I was in North India I got all my favorites. (Butter Chicken, Naan, and Sweet Lassi.) Since I had drank a little bit of salty Lassi at breakfast and almost threw it up.
We then finished the night at the hotel's Disco-tech. It was so fun. We just had our group and a few other Gentleman who were drinking at a table in the club. We were later joined by an older Indian couple who were so hilarious. I loved it. The wive taught us some moves, then we would teach her some. We even had a cha- cha line going at one point. Dancing is so much fun when you are with so many confident and silly people. I loved it.

Sunday
Eat another delicious Breakfast

and then the Elephant ride. For 200 rupees which is something like 4 dollars. The Elephants name was Malu and it was so crazy. We just pulled over to the side of the road on our Bus got out. And then suddenly and Elephant was walking up to us. It was great.
The Back on the Bus for 5hrs.
Plane ride for 3
Bus ride for 2
Home -its weird that in such a short amount of time Rising Star has truly become our Home. We even all missed it- even though we were gone for only a few days. Its going to be hard to leave this place.

So Much Love from India. Martha

Unga Peranna

My mom just got on my case for not blogging. So here we are.

The title is Tamil for "What is your name?" And is just so fun to say to the children. Because at first they respond and then they realize its weird I'm speaking Tamil. One house mother, even gasped from shock and said "Oh you speak Tamil?" I quickly assured her this was the only phrase I knew. And I'm so glad I learned it because it is a phrase I used- probably 10-20 times a day. When we first got here that is all the children said. "What is your name?" times 100. And then I would ask them so times that, 100 by two. So the phrase has kind of got old. So saying it in Tamil is so much more FUN! It also doesn't help that I can't say more than 90 percent of there names, and b. I have a horrible memory. I have learned like 5 of the children's names. And even those it takes me several seconds to remember.So my goal is to know, like really know and remember for the rest of my life 10 names. By the time I leave. Katie one of the session directors who has been here for 3 months knows all of them. But she also learned them in like 3 weeks. So that super impressive. Since the school has about 150 children.
Yesterday we did tutoring again. And I have either really good readers, or ones that can't even focus enough to look at the page. So it was a hard day. But it was so rewarding to hear some of the children actually sounding out the words. It made me so happy.

Also I got  to read with one of my favorite children here Basha. He is also in my family so we hung out later that night as well. He is so bright. But struggles with reading. But he has improved so much even in the last week I have been here. Yesterday during our 40 minutes time together he read 2 and a half books. Given these were picture books but they had 30-40 pages. He was stoked. He went up to "Ma'am" (which is what they call the VP of the school) and showed her the book he had finished and the one he was going to start. It was a beautiful thing to see.  Basha is special to a lot of us here, he just has a contagious smile. Selena, which is "Ma'am's" real name, told us how just a few weeks ago while Basha's mother was here she wanted to take her children out of the school. She said something to the effect that she doesn't need her children to become doctors or teachers, just being able to read is enough for her. And Selena  pleaded to let them stay, so she has left them in school for now at least. Their mother (Basha and his sister's) is one of the few who still go out and beg. Even though those with children coming here are not allowed to continue begging. But their mother knows she gets more begging when she has the children with her, so she wants to pull them out of the school. Which just breaks my heart that A. she would do such a thing, and B. that she has every right to. So seeing him excel in school is extra important to me now.
Yesterday we had a mini Birthday party because two of the children's sponsors  came for their birthday, and brought them new clothes and cake. It was so cute, we all sang and then the children hand delivered cake to all the other children before eating some themselves.
My favorite part of the day is always with the children. If its running around the playground or taking "photos" or just sitting there watching the boys interact. It's all so great. Every night when we are in our families we either help with homework, or read with them, or sometimes I just sit in the room while the boys are all huddled in a circle telling each other stories and just being boys. Every night I sit there and listen to them talk in Tamil and wish I spoke it as well. Every once in a while I can get one of the children to translate what another is saying. But most of them have this unspoken code, to not ever tell the white people what they are saying. haha.
But anyways last night Basha sat down with me and retold me one of the stories of one of the Gods (which I honestly can't remember). But it was just so adorable. Because they have these super long comic books that tell the stories of all the Gods, but none of them read them. Only look at the photos, and get the story from that. So Basha would flip between the pages telling me the story, and I would ohh and aww. And he told me like 3 different ones. It was great. Also this was all while my Henna was drying. Our house mother Kala called me over last night and drew the most beautiful henna on my hand. It took her about a half an hour, and I just sat there almost in a trance watching her carefully do different patterns on each finger- then all over my palm.  I love it.
Then today I woke up late, walked outside and it was drizzling. And rain is the most beautiful thing here. It  makes everything more beautiful. Except the new walk way in front of the volunteer house. It is called the pathway of hope, donated by many David Archeleta fans, and fans of Rising Star. But it is made with these smooth stones so when it rains it becomes the "pathway of death" which is the running joke. Because it becomes so slippery someone is bound to fall and hit there head every time. Not that I know of anyone who has, but it has funny things carved on every stone. Like "Crush Poverty" or "David is Love" or "Dave the Day." Or there is really awesome things like "Hope" and other inspirational things. But those are the fans of rising star- not David. But David has done a lot of great things for rising star, so he does deserve some credit. :)
Oh also Rising Star is selling Christmas Cards as another way of raising money. So if anyone would like me to get them a package- they want us to bring them to the states so the shipping doesn't cost a ton. Please let me know I believe they are 20 dollars per package. The cards have art done by the children on them, and they are just beautiful. So let me know!

All the love in the world.
Martha