I can't believe that I am already well into week three of my month here in Bangalore, India. It's like I got off the train and blinked and here I am. Life here is so sweet in so many ways. Even the challenging parts bring about something so fulfilling. I feel like I could sit here and write a novel about everything I've experienced here in India, but for your sake…actually mostly for my sake (hey, I'm in India, I want to be out savoring every moment of my time here) I will try to highlight the main stuff.
I have the pleasure of sharing a room with 11 other girls. We are neatly crammed together on mats on the floor. A step outside leads to our 2 bathrooms complete with a running toilet, a sink, and a faucet for bucket bathing. In most situations, 2 bathrooms would seem insufficient for 11 girls, but thankfully we are in month three and bathing has become less of a priority for us. If you were to ask any of us when we last bucket bathed I guarantee the question would be met with a moment of thought followed by an uncertain answer of maybe two or three days ago. You may even get a horrified look at the realization that it was actually four days ago.
Meals and chai are served four stories up on the rooftop. My favorite time of day is chai time, where I can relax on the rooftop, take in the view of all of Bangalore, sip on one of my favorite drinks, and enjoy quiet reading time or good conversation with friends. And lucky for me, chai time happens twice a day! For meals, we get rice, rice, and more rice. I have yet to figure out whether the the formless tunics that we wear every day hides or accentuates the negative effects of so much rice consumption.
I love being able to explore new cities via running. Here, running involves being covered from neck to ankle in baggy clothes, maneuvering through cows, tuk tuks, and potholes, being chased by stray dogs, putting up with the heat and humidity, and getting the strangest looks from the locals as running is not a common practice here. I'm thankful that I am able to run here, even with the small obstacles.
Driving in India requires great faith. There are no set traffic rules and organized lanes do not exist. Cars/mopeds/tuk tuks/bicycles basically have the freedom to drive anywhere on the road they wish to, creating as many new lanes as possible. At times it feels like a giant round of bumper cars. Horns are used every few seconds, for what reason I have no clue.
I'm taken aback by how friendly the people are here. They want to walk down the street with you and talk with you. Or exchange conversation with you on the bus. They'll even invite you into their home and offer you whatever food and/or beverage they have around.
Ministry here changes from day to day. It has involved visits to orphanages, a home for disabled women, a home for the elderly, to various churches around the city, and through the slums. I'll write more about my ministry experience here in another blog, so stay tuned!
